Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi -Force Storm is a comic set 36,000 years Before the Battle of Yavin (BBY) where Luke Skywalker destroyed the first Death Star.

This first issue sets up the world in which readers can become familiar with the re-imagined origins of the Je’daii. An Issue Zero was actually released that depicted the various buildings, pre-hyperspace ships, organizations and characters that readers would come to know in Dawn of the Jedi Issue #1.

Well written by John Ostrander with penciling by Jan Duursema, this comic reads and looks fantastic. With inking by Dan Parsons and Coloring by Wes Dzioba, the vividness of the characters almost jump off the page in their lifelike movements. Lettering was done by Michael Heisler. There are two covers available from artists Jan Duursema and Gonzalo Flores. The story was conceived by both Jan Duursema and John Ostrander.

The opening of the comic, after the set up by Issue #1, is 12 years after the end of the Despot War. This was a war in which the Je’daii fought in order to defend against the growing war path that Queen Hadiya, Queen of Shikaakwa was spearheading. In the end, she fell at Kaleth, the temple of knowledge.

The Je’daii take her actions and look for resemblances in her once noble goals to unify a nation. In her, they see a loss of balance and so strive to understand the ways of the force and how it binds the universe in equality.

The Balance of the Force is another essential element to the Dawn of the Jedi comic series. As issues progress, it is likely that the polarization between the light and dark sides of the force will become more and more prevelent. Master Ketu, an adult who is watching over two children, appears to be the narrator to the founding of the Je’daii. He speaks to the children of the balance of the force, about the balance in all things and that they should focus on balance even as they are in conflict.

A precursor to the Jedi Code, the Je’daii code is different in that it seeks balance between harmony and chaos rather than only harmony and no chaos at all as with the later Jedi Code, not to mention the sith code. The Je’daii code therefore includes tenants that accept the feeling of hatred and fear, as long as hatred and fear are not the only existing emotions a Je’daii feels.

In balance, a Je’daii feels hate but also feels love, they know chaos and they know harmony and are therefore immortal in the force. Meanwhile on another planet called Tatooine, another sort of conflict waged. Dawn of the Jedi Force Storm follows the tale of Force Hound Xesh.

A Force Hound is, much as the name describes, a seeker of Force Sensitive individuals on planets that the Rakatan Infinite Empire seeks to control. Force Sensitive’s are found and then destroyed. Xesh is owned by Predor Tul’kar, a Rakatan overlord.

The Rakatan Infinite Empire is a government that currently seeks the destruction and enslavement of other cultures. As an Empire they cull Force Sensitive’s when possible, likely to remove competition and take only a select few to become Forces Hounds to hunt for other Force Sensitive’s within the galaxy. What weapons will these Force users utilize since the only sword wielding of any kind in Dawn of the Jedi will involve real steel rather than light particles.

It seems then, that through the force, Master Ketu and Xesh therefore will eventually clash. The first issue gives clues to the exciting next issue that will come as Xesh and his master Predor Tul’kar set out to hunt a new planet of Force Sensitive’s, possible Master Ketu on Tython itself. As the first issue comes to a close it seems as if conflict is imminent and only time will tell who will be the victor.

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About the author

Calvin Li
Calvin is currently a Politics and Entertainment writer, as well as the Assistant Gaming Editor for Toonari Post. He holds a Master's Degree in History and a Bachelor's degree in Marketing. A Native New Yorker, he enjoys speed reading and eating, as well as exploring, snowboarding and bowling.