http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/blog.php/74-Tycho en Fri, 24 May 2013 08:31:25 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.sirstevesguide.com/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/blog.php/74-Tycho http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2844-Unseen-Unheard-(from-Star-Wars-Tales-24) Thu, 31 Jan 2013 05:49:06 GMT This is the death of the Miraluka people (like Shanoeb Culu from TOTJ / Sith War) brought on by Darth Nihlus and it's a great black-and-white short which is made all the more frightening by the absense of color.

That Darth Nihlus would "show" the complete genocide of her people, her world, to his Miraluka Sith apprentice is just totally evil.

You have to love this. ]]> Tycho http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2844-Unseen-Unheard-(from-Star-Wars-Tales-24) http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2843-The-Old-Republic-Blood-of-the-Empire-(comic) Thu, 31 Jan 2013 05:43:47 GMT I'm confused. Who is the Emperor in this one?

This is a Sith Empire that has remained secret following the fall of Naga Sadow and never administered by Exar Kun.

I think this is what was left behind of the Sith species and the slaves they took from the Great Hyperspace War (so there are some human Sith Lords, as well as alien) and now one of the apprentices (a girl) has betrayed the Emperor and they have adopted the ways of the Rakatta, a prior Force-sensitive Dark Side civilization that pre-dates the Sith, and unleashed a Force hound on her.

This is interesting because the red skinned Sith species is actually featured and we see those that can actually call upon the Dark Side of the Force and the story seems fun.

The Force Hound has an Abyssan slave named Maggot who's a brutal tough guy but who's introduced cowering before the Sith.

There's some potential here. ]]> Tycho http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2843-The-Old-Republic-Blood-of-the-Empire-(comic) http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2842-The-Old-Republic-Revan Thu, 13 Dec 2012 01:25:03 GMT It's funny, because I'm usually a great fan of Drew Karpyshyn's writing (the Darth Bane books). But it is hard to get into Darth Scourge in this story and Revan and Bastilla Shan begin the story as a domestic couple, not very exciting - though I understand that's what they both want.

I think the story will get better but 56 pages into it is not "doing it" for me.

Revan began separating himself from the Jedi Council who was over-occupied with guarding against the return of the Sith following Exar Kun's depradations.

He disagreed with them ignoring the new Mandalore who continued the war as best as he could. So Revan led a rogue Jedi army against the Mandalorians with the Jedi Malak as his apprentice, but something turned them to the Dark Side and I haven't really found out what as of yet.

Revan added Mandalorian armor to become a lightsaber weilding "Jango Fett."

But the Jedi caught him and erased his memory and he's been living with Bastilla Shan kind of like Hauser and Sharon Stone in Total Recall.

We'll see if it goes anywhere after page 56. ]]> Tycho http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2842-The-Old-Republic-Revan http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2840-Lost-Tribe-of-the-Sith-(e-book-anthology-NOT-the-comics-series-by-the-same-author) Sun, 02 Dec 2012 07:20:34 GMT These stories start right after the Harbinger is thrown off into hyperspace in the prequel story to Crosscurrent, which eventually sets the stage for... These stories start right after the Harbinger is thrown off into hyperspace in the prequel story to Crosscurrent, which eventually sets the stage for an adventure in the Skywalker era.

The Harbringer's sister ship, the Omen crashes on a new, unexplored world with a Sith crew, originally sworn to fight for Naga Sadow during the Great Hyperspace War.

These Sith continue during the time of Exar Kun's reign, but though I do not know at this stage in my reading, they may not interact with the Sith based on Yavin at all, but be an entirely separate colony.

Then their saga moves on to the Mandalorian War era.

I believe the species aboard Omen's crew were a mixed lot, that included Sith amongst many others, enslaved or who sought opportunity originally pledging themselves to Lord Sadow.

John Jackson Miller is an excellent author and I loved his KOTOR comics. His penmanship of a traditional novel seems incredible as well. He also writes Knight Errant for fans of that series (which I have not yet gotten to either). ]]> Tycho http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2840-Lost-Tribe-of-the-Sith-(e-book-anthology-NOT-the-comics-series-by-the-same-author) http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2839-Knights-of-the-Old-Republic Sat, 24 Nov 2012 07:55:00 GMT This series is excellent on my 2nd time reading through it - ever. Hasbro made 6 figures: Jareal - an Arkanian Off-shoot and something else... This series is excellent on my 2nd time reading through it - ever.

Hasbro made 6 figures:

Jareal - an Arkanian Off-shoot and something else with Force sensitivity
Rohlan Dyre - a individualist Mandalorian Warrior known as The Questioner
HK-47 - although in the comics they are HK-23's
Bastila Shan
Darth Revan
Darth Malak

The latter's armor was for a long while usurped by the cruel Dr. Demagol, a Mandalorian research scientist of extreme unethical nature.

Zayne Carrick's figure is rumored and I'd like to see this.
Gryph - the Snivvian ought to be made (but Takeel's figure could substitute)
The Moomaw (Ithorian Bounty Hunter) Brothers ought to be made, but Momaw works
Mandalore
Cassus Fett
Lucien Draay
Kiranna Tay - but a Shaak-Ti figure could work
Lord Adasca
EeeGee - but a Duro figure could work
Slysssk - a Trandoshan "iron chef"
Rakduhl creature

And there are Republic officers, Swoop gangsters, and other Jedi that could also be made, as well as Alek before he turned to the Dark Side.

I am really enjoying the comics this time around, though I have never played the game. I'll have to check it out I guess. ]]> Tycho http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2839-Knights-of-the-Old-Republic http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2838-Vindication-(from-KOTOR) Sat, 24 Nov 2012 07:44:28 GMT Haazen's and Kryndra Draay's story arc (from back in the day) is important to note as a stand-alone.

As a direct impact of the Sith War, each life was touched with extreme consequences to come later from it.

Haazen would turn to hate and seek vengeance and ally himself with the Dark Side for the injustice he felt for being a "failed padawan," while the high society Kryndra married into the wealthy Arkanian family of the Draays, business partners with the Adasca's of Arkania. Haazen's jealousy made him turn against Kryndra's husband whom he was a humble servant to by Arkanian class standards, but his plan backfired and left him disfigured and disabled.

After losing her husband in the Sith War, Kryndra, also trained as a Jedi, formed a secret Covenant of Jedi especially talented with seeing the future. Their goal was to guard for the return of the Sith and kill any of their own kind who were falling to the Dark Side.

The Covenant's founding sets the stage for KOTOR's stories, set during the Mandalorian War. ]]> Tycho http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2838-Vindication-(from-KOTOR) http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2837-Redemption-(of-Ulic-Qel-Droma) Sat, 24 Nov 2012 07:37:31 GMT I love this story arc that introduces a teenage Vima Sunrider 10 years after the Sith War. She searches out the exiled Ulic Qel Droma, former Dark... I love this story arc that introduces a teenage Vima Sunrider 10 years after the Sith War.

She searches out the exiled Ulic Qel Droma, former Dark Lord, to train her as a Jedi.

The story re-unites the surviving cast of the Sith War epic but keeps the cast very tight with:

Ulic
Nomi
Sylvar
Tott
Vima

and a little fanboy twerp named Hogon who barely is worth mentioning.

What's important here is that Vima Sunrider should show up again in the chronology.

She ought to be in her 30's during the Mandalorian War (KOTOR) but I do not believe we see her at all in this period.

However, that is a story that could be told.

Meanwhile, Redemption is an excellent book-end to the epic saga of Ulic Qel Droma. ]]> Tycho http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2837-Redemption-(of-Ulic-Qel-Droma) http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2836-Shadows-and-Light-(from-Star-Wars-Tales-23) Sat, 24 Nov 2012 07:33:13 GMT This short story could be very important, lest I might have otherwise skipped over it.

Duron Qel-Droma (cousin of Ulic's and Cay's, male and human, the latter obviously)
Shaela Nuur (human female)
Guun Han Saresh (a Nautolan Jedi of Kit Fisto's species)

are Jedi Terentatek Hunters, 3 years after Exar Kun's SITH WAR.

The Terentatek are beasts brought to life by Sith alchemy that Exar Kun learned from studying the teachings of Naga Sadow. They hunt Force-sensitives and the Jedi Council has deployed warrior types of Jedi to hunt the creatures down in turn, to destroy them first, as they still remain where Lord Kun's Sith deployed them.

The three hunters' who this story focuses on have their mission compromised by Durron and Shaela's love and lust for one another. So much that Guun Han abandons them, unable to work with the fledgling couple on Korriban, the abandoned burial world and consecrated grounds of the Dark Lords of the Sith.

Guun Han is killed, and shortly thereafter Duron falls and Shaela is unable to save him, but strikes back in anger, seeking vengeance against all things Dark Side, unawares that her ends-justify-the-means way of operating is leading the last hunter down the path to the Dark Side - and on Korriban of all dangerous places for a Jedi.

The story is important because I think there is call for Shaela Nuur to actually be the real identity of Darth Revan. Alas, Lucasfilm did not go that way and it was decided that Revan would be a human male Jedi. Too bad.

The Revanchist movement begins 22 years later, after the Sith War, when Shaela would probably be in her early to mid-forties (the age of Darth Vader in A New Hope) and the Revanchist leader (who I trust might become Darth Revan in KOTOR) breaks from the Jedi Council's directive to not involve itself in the Mandalorian War, and leads a team of rogue Jedi like Alek Quelii (later to become Darth Malak).

It would have been fascinating if this tragedy on the terentatek hunt caused the fall of the Revanchist (Shaela with a new cause).

I guess my wish could be kept in mind as Revan could usurp the Sith Lord title from Shaela without the knowledge of many others at all.

However, the body, officially proclaimed to be Shaela Nuur's, was found in the Tomb of Naga Sadow, on Korriban, years after she'd been killed - by Revan no less. If he's to be believed. ]]> Tycho http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2836-Shadows-and-Light-(from-Star-Wars-Tales-23) http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2835-The-Sith-War-Tales-of-the-Jedi-(Beast-Wars-of-Onderon-Nadd-Uprising-Dark-Lords) Sat, 10 Nov 2012 19:23:33 GMT Ulic Qel Droma's legacy is probably one of the stories I'm most found of in the entire Star Wars expanded Universe.

Hasbro made 3 action figures:

Ulic Qel Droma (Jedi)
Exar Kun (Dark Lord of the Sith)
Mandalore (commander of the Mandalorian Raiders)

I would recommend much more from this series. It is rich enough to be its own complete toy line!

Nomi Sunrider - is the most demanded and not yet produces (and even actually likely)
Master Thon - Jedi Council Member
Oss Willum - Jedi
Cay Qel Droma - Jedi
Master Arca - Jedi Council Member
Vodo Siossk Baas - Jedi Council Member
Sylvar
Crado - Dark Jedi
Shanoab Culu - Jedi
--------
Master Ood Bnar - Jedi Council Member
(old) Master Odan-Urr - Jedi Council Member
Ulic Qel Droma - Sith Lord
Mandalorian Warrior
Satal Keeto
Aleema
Tetan Soldier
Krath Battle Droid
Onderon Soldier
Onderon Royal Guard
Naddist Loyalist Soldier
Warb Null - armored Dark Jedi
Spirit of Freedon Nadd
Queen Amanoa
King Omin (in support structure)
Princess Galia
Beast Warrior Prince Oron Kira
Beast Warrior King Modon Kira
Beast Warrior Commando
Vima Sunrider
(older) Nomi Sunrider (Jedi Council Member)
(older) Sylvar - Jedi
(older) Ulic Qel Droma (fallen Jedi Master)
Mutated Massassi Warrior

And there's more.

Plus ships:

Mandalorian Battle Pod
Exar's Starstorm-One
Ulic's Nebulon Ranger (3-seater!)
Republic Fighter
Jedi Starfighter
Tetan fighter
Krath Enchanter (Aleema's ship)
Warb Null's earth-tunneling tank
Iziz Walled City defense cannon station

and beasts: (Master Thon could ship with this assortment)

Beast Rider's air beast
Beast Rider's land beast

And there is more that I can think of.

This is an awesome Star Wars epic, pitting brother against brother, lover against lover in a vicious triangle to include Jedi and Sith adepts, and Master versus Apprentice.

You can't ask for more in a story and I really got into Ulic's character! ]]> Tycho http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2835-The-Sith-War-Tales-of-the-Jedi-(Beast-Wars-of-Onderon-Nadd-Uprising-Dark-Lords) http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2834-The-Great-Hyperspace-War-(Tales-of-the-Jedi-Golden-Age-Fall-of-The-Sith-Empire) Sat, 10 Nov 2012 19:02:32 GMT This is an awesome series! Hasbro could make the following figures: Gav Darragon Jori Darragon Empress Teta Tetan Solider Tetan Royal... This is an awesome series!

Hasbro could make the following figures:

Gav Darragon
Jori Darragon
Empress Teta
Tetan Solider
Tetan Royal Guard
Kirrek Rebel
Jedi Odan-Urr
Jedi Memit Nadil
Jedi Master Ooroo (in his tank)
Dark Lord of the Sith Spirit Markos Ragnos
Dark Lord Ludo Kressh
Sith Warrior - Kressh allegiance
Dark Lord Naga Sadow
Sith Massassi Warrior - Sadow's allegiance
Sssk-Kor - Sauren Crime Boss
Bounty Hunter 1
Bounty Hunter 2

I don't really think the ships and vehicles or beasts are necessary for this collectionm, though some fighter craft are possible, as is the Starbreaker 12 (must be a 2-seater).

Anyway, more comments on the story line later.... ]]> Tycho http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2834-The-Great-Hyperspace-War-(Tales-of-the-Jedi-Golden-Age-Fall-of-The-Sith-Empire) http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2833-Dawn-of-the-Jedi-Series-8 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 21:25:18 GMT My bet is this would be the final Dawn of the Jedi series - in stores if anything, but to attract new Disney Star Wars Episode 7 fans to a curiosity... My bet is this would be the final Dawn of the Jedi series - in stores if anything, but to attract new Disney Star Wars Episode 7 fans to a curiosity about where it all began.

This would take the whole Dawn of the Jedi series up to 40 books total - whereas I hope it's been a good ride thus far, and the series continues even further. But this stretches it to 3 years and 6 months beyond the date I am first posting this.

So I can't tell you anything more about how far into the future (earth's present future that is) Dark Horse will publish stories about events in this Pre-Hyperspace War era.

This series would run its course all the way until September 2015! ]]> Tycho http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2833-Dawn-of-the-Jedi-Series-8 http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2832-Dawn-of-the-Jedi-Series-7 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:44:08 GMT If this ever happens, it won't feasibly begin until November of 2014 and end in April of 2015, right before Disney releases the new movie.

This will bring the individual Dawn of the Jedi issue counts up to 35, by seven 5-book series and sort of mirror what we've seen Dark Horse do with Star Wars comic book series set in specific eras perviously (typically maybe 40 books like with KOTOR)

I could be wrong, and this series (hopefully not for my friends in the creative team - Jan Duursema and John Ostrander, the artist and writer respectively) could end earlier due to poor sales, or with thinking more positively, this series would go on beyond 8 story arcs towards 50 individual issues or more, due to its characters' and sales' popularity.

In any event, I've saved the space in Rogues' Gallery's continuity here so that I can edit this post and reuse it for an actual review 2 years and 8 months from now - there's nothing like planning ahead! ]]> Tycho http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2832-Dawn-of-the-Jedi-Series-7 http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2831-Dawn-of-the-Jedi-Series-6 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:37:55 GMT Begining no sooner than June of 2014, this might be the last or 2nd to last Dawn of the Jedi comic series. It might run all the way until November... Begining no sooner than June of 2014, this might be the last or 2nd to last Dawn of the Jedi comic series.

It might run all the way until November of 2014.

I think by this point, with a new Star Wars movie (set post ROTJ), that by this time, ancient Star Wars history, and prequel trilogy related Star Wars stories, will have started being phased out.

A potential 7th series could run from November 2014 to April 2015 - but that's very close to the new movie release and I think they might curtail Dawn of the Jedi here.

7 series of 5 books each would be 35 books. But I'll give it one more series to reach a 40-count - which has been near a Dark Horse standard average for series. ]]> Tycho http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2831-Dawn-of-the-Jedi-Series-6 http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2830-Dawn-of-the-Jedi-Series-5 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:33:16 GMT Should this series happen, it might begin in January of 2014. Should this series happen, it might begin in January of 2014. ]]> Tycho http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2830-Dawn-of-the-Jedi-Series-5 http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2829-Dawn-of-the-Jedi-Series-4 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:32:16 GMT Dawn of the Jedi: Series 4 is a likely possibility.

I'd expect to see it no sooner than August 2013. ]]> Tycho http://www.sirstevesguide.com/blogs/entry.php/2829-Dawn-of-the-Jedi-Series-4