Star Wars: Blood Ties #1

Written by Tom Taylor
Art by Chris Scalf

Review by Dan Tres OMi

When Jango Fett was introduced in Episode II, I was amped. I gobbled up all of the Dark Horse stories about the Fetts. There wasn't too many. I wanted to see more stories with Jango and Boba. The story was near and dear to my heart. People say my oldest son is a clone of me. I have to agree. We don't get to spend too much time together yet when we are, we think alike. So it does seem like we aren't really father and son but template and clone. Not to mention the fact that he loves everything Mandolarian. When I heard that Dark Horse was doing a series centered around Boba and Jango that spans decades, I had to cop it.

The artwork is superb. Chris Scalf brings that majestic oil painting style that makes the story come alive. Scalf works the splash pages well and does not overwhelm the reader. Taylor's Jango is on point. He is ruthless and takes no prisoners. Jango puts Boba in so many perils. He is the toughest and deadliest drill sergeant. He cuts Boba no slack.

I am glad that this will be a four issue series and with the same team, I am sure there will be surprises. It will add more depth to the Fett's relationship. I forgot to mention that the first scene shows Boba Fett being set up by one of his customers. So the back story takes place in the present. I look forward to seeing what happens.

My only gripe with the story is that issue one reveals Jango Fett's current job is tracking down someone who happens to be another one of his clones. Of course this takes place before the events on Geonosis. I was hoping it would not have to come to another clone tale.

Star Wars Republic Commando: True Colors

by Karen Traviss

Book Review by Dan Tres OMI

There's one thing that bothers me, sir. They say Master Yoda referred to the war as the Clone War after the Battle of Geonosis. It was the very first battle of the war. Why did he identify the war that way, by the clones who are fighting it? Have we ever said the Fifth Fleet or the Corellian Baji Brigade War? What does he know that we don't?

-- General Bardan Jusik, confiding in General Arligan Zey ( an excerpt from Karen Traviss' True Colors).

I thoroughly enjoyed Traviss' third installment of the Republic Commando series. There is not much action in this book but Traviss goes to work in the drama department. We learn more about Omega squad and the other Clone Commandos and Null ARC Troopers who Kal Skirata, the Mandalarian who Jango Fett had hired to train several units of the Clone Commandos, takes under his wing as his own sons. The story made me want to read more versus waiting on action scenes. I assumed that Traviss would begin the story close towards the end of the Clone Wars. Instead she starts about 18 months after the battle of Geonosis.

Traviss also throws in several interesting intelligence reports about how the war is being conducted. As the Null ARCs learn that the Separatists' droid production has been over exaggerated and that the war could be over if a series of strong pushes were conducted instead of spreading the Jedi and the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) thinly across the galaxy. Jedi General Arligan Zey, head of the Special Forces, makes note of this several times and notifies Master Mace Windu who in turn let's Supreme Chancellor Palpatine know what the intelligence on the ground is telling him. Like most wars, the Clones realize that it is the politicians who run the war. Doing the math, the Commandos and Skirata learn that the Clone Wars are being fought for entirely different reasons then everyone expects.

We also learn that the Republic has no plans to purchase new clones or take care of the ones they already have. When one of the members of Omega is put in a coma, they learn the shocking truth that any clones who are too hurt to return to the field are exterminated, Skirata decides to take matters into their own hands. Skirata has always wanted to reverse the aging process of the clone army. When he learns that Ko Sai, the Kaminoan chief geneticist, faked her death during the Battle of Kamino the chase is on. The Commandos also learn that Palpatine is also looking for Ko Sai for her secrets into the aging process. Add the Separatists and other companies who are involved in cloning and time is winding down.

Again, there is not much action but the story seems to be winding for a big spring. Traviss must have some great stuff in the works for all the Republic Commando fans. Again Traviss' expertise with all things military shines through. Her tweaking of the Mandalore culture is just the icing on the cake.