Coinciding with the release of the new Star Wars Old Republic MMORPG, The Old Republic comic is set 25,000-1,000 years Before the Battle of Yavin (BBY) and the destruction of the first Death Star by Luke Skywalker. By virtue of being a Sith Apprentice, Teneb Kel could potentially been the antagonist of this story.

However because he is the main character, Teneb is in actuality the protagonist even as he uses the Dark Side of The Force. Trained at the feet of one of the greatest Sith Lords, Darth Calpypho, who was his mentor until the time of Calypho’s fall from the graces of the Dark Council.

The aptly named Dark Council is the ruling council of the Sith Empire and is composed entirely of Darth Lords of the Sith. They were founded sometime during the 4,900′s BBY and in this story, Teneb Kel does their bidding during his rise to power. At the time of this comic, it has been nearly 1,000 years since the founding of the Dark Council, and thus this story takes place sometime in 3,600 BBY.

Nearly 100 pages in length, this is now small release by any means. With scripting by Alexander Freed and penciling by Dave Ross, the pace of the comic is just right to move fans along the harrowing journey of rising Sith Lord Teneb Kel. Alexander Freed fans will happily note that he is a senior writer on the new Old Republic MMORPG as well.

The inking was done by Mark McKenna with coloring by Michael Atiyeh. Michael Heisler handled lettering and the front cover art was done by Benjamin Carre. The Sith is a constantly brutal test of strength and paranoia. To be Sith is to suspect treachery at every turn, especially by your apprentice.

It can almost be said to be a founding tenant of Sith culture. Darth Calypho experiences this very thing, as evident by his fight against his apprentice Teneb. The other tenant which seems to pervade Sith culture is suffering no competition against a lesser power. Only equals in power on the Dark Council are safe and even then the first hint of weakness is like blood in the water.

If Teneb is our Protagonist then Exal Kressh, the now former Apprentice to Emperor Vitiate, is undoubtedly our Antagonist. She turns against her Master, gaining her freedom using skills she was taught and defying the Emperors’s lies as well as his Assassin’s. Teneb is thus far the only one whom has been able to find her and their duel is noteworthy because of the apparently difference in skill and her dismissive attitude towards Teneb.

The Jedi Order play a role here, with Master Jedi Jerbhen Hulis also investigating Exal Kressh. The Republic is not a floundering rebellion here. They have a presence all their own that is yet another turn of opposition for the Sith Empire. In an odd twist, Master Hulis and Sith Apprentice Kel do not come to blows as one might suspect, but in fact bargain with one another.

Still, Sith treachery makes itself known before the end of this volume, resulting in a death that will change the ending of the story greatly for Teneb Kel. He has seen the future through a Force Vision now and knows that to become an apprentice to another master is pointless. His rise in power continues, gaining the title of Dark Lord of the Sith, one of many to be sure, but still a power unto himself now.

Teneb Kel’s path, his destiny will be of his own making. His knowledge of Exal Kressh’s betrayal and the Emperors plans give him strength and guidance to forge ahead as he continues his dark path. The story within this 100 page Trade Paperback will not only continue to captivate fans of the Star Wars Universe, but give great insight into the mind of the Sith as never before.

Thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader, there was an entire empire of Sith Lords and Apprentices. Only time will tell how they will fall, either through their own treachery or through conflict with the rising Republic.

Order here directly through Dark Horse Comics.

The article Comic Review- Star Wars: The Old Republic Volume One-Blood of The Empire appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Set directly between Episode IV: A New Hope and Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, “At War with the Empire- Volume 2″ is the second half of the story which covers what happens to fledgling heroes Luke, Leia, Han and Chewbacca after the defeat of the first Death Star.

In true comic book fashion, available here, the gaps between the two films are expertly covered by various writers and artists, resolving some of the series’ unanswered questions and alluding to some of the new challenges they will eventually face. Omnibus reads like a movie, though not always in chronological order, by carefully selecting only the most important single issues to best exemplify how each individual character is developing over a period of time.

A serious undertaking by Dark Horse, this is simply an enormous wealth of information and storyline no true Star Wars fan should be without. Packed into 400+ pages of action and adventure, despite the early time line in the Prequel Trilogy, there are just enough Jedi powers featured to keep fans satisfied.

Remaining largely untested, Luke Skywalker still keeps his sense of humility and is just a touch shy despite being an X-Wing pilot. The confidence he later exhibits in the proceeding films has not been tempered by the experiences of combat and learning of his father’s true history.

At the beginning of the omnibus Skywalker is still finding his way, making the choices that are instinctive to him, rather than what is practical. However, towards the end it is evident that the writers and editors planned Luke’s thoughts to echo those that would be depicted in the successive movies.

Leia Organa, likewise, goes through a similar, if less noticeable, change. In a series that was always about character growth, her personality remained remarkably the strongest, the most steadfast in her beliefs. Unlike Luke, her abilities are more geared toward those of a politician, of which Luke personally laments his lack of skill.

Leia herself is practical and courageous, not at all afraid to get her hands dirty on dangerous missions. Leia, despite being a Princess, is also accepting of Han Solo, a man she initially views as a competent pilot and not good for much else. Han Solo, the cheeky smuggler extraordinaire, is fully fleshed out in this large collection towards the end.

The omnibus features a single issue about the budding relationship between Han and Leia as well as mentioning Han’s past with Chewbacca.Solo’s words elevate his presence within the story and give his character great depth and authenticity. For fans that have wondered how Han and Leia began their relationship, this collection is a treat that will give fans a greater appreciation for Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.

Obi-Wan also has his role to play since Luke still thinks about him and wonders if his first teacher told him everything about his father’s past. Obi-Wan’s role is the simplest, with only a few flashbacks of him featured through Luke’s thoughts. The overriding theme is that Luke will eventually find out that, although far from being perfect, Anakin Skywalker did bring balance to the force: by betraying everything that it meant to be a Jedi.

Obi-Wan’s one time student, Darth Vader, is firmly established as the treacherous Sith apprentice to Darth Sidious. Vader still has his code of ethics, skewed though they may be. He’ll still betray or utterly destroy a subordinate, but not casually, always with a reason. In Vader’s mind no other competition for his Masters’ attention must exist, and so he kills even those that work for the dark side.

In that way, Vader’s character is multi-dimensional, never boring or stereotypical. His dramatic one liner’s are some of the best within the Star Wars Universe. Deena Shan is one of a few side characters that are featured throughout the series to be included in this Omnibus. Though she is bitter about possessing no Force abilities, she quickly finds herself surrounded by larger than life Heroes Luke and Leia.

Torn between saving herself and continuing to fight against the Empire, she struggles repeatedly with the impulse to leave what she previously perceived to be a glamorous lifestyle. Her character arc most resembles that of Han Solo before he decided to join the Rebel Alliance permanently.

Able 1707 is a stranded Clone Wars trooper from before the Fall of the Republic. Able treats Luke with a great amount of deference and respect, which causes no small number of jokes. His faith in Luke can be taken as a foreshadowing of what Luke will one day achieve after the Fall of the Empire.

His character exemplifies the status a Jedi had during the Republic’s days and also reminds readers of the Prequel Trilogy. Wyl Tarson is an equally complex character, if not more so than the other two previously mentioned. At once an Alliance spy and Empire informant, he is a man torn between his past and present.

He makes no secret of the fact that he looks out for himself and no one else. On the darker end of the spectrum, his life and future are intrinsically tied to the Empire and the Rebellion. With a betrayal that nearly halts the Empire and the Rebel Alliance in its tracks, Wyl Tarson is not to be underestimated.

Character building is an integral part of creating the Star Wars universe, giving readers the ability to sympathize with both their heroes and their less known counterparts. In the Volume 2 Omnibus of “At War with the Empire”, readers will get to explore select parts of the Star Wars storyline that most likely would have made a great short companion film in between Episodes IV and V.

Coincidental or not, the comic is structured in such a way that its single issues are compiled to read like a movie. With a climax scene that makes the reader sit up and take notice as the cavalry arrives, fans are sure to enjoy this comic and want to go watch the movies all over again.

The article Star Wars Omnibus: At War With The Empire- Volume 2 Review appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

If dreams are the thoughts of our subconscious as many believe, then those of Darth Vader himself during his brief periods of rest show his longing for his former life. Once upon a time, he was a young Jedi knight in love. Now lost, Darth Vader is exceedingly calculated and powerful, the picture-perfect Sith Lord in some ways.

Featuring priestesses and betrayals, combat through space and gunfights through an ambush, this has the makings of an excellent storyline. Available for pre-order here and releasing at the end of November, The Lost Command is a hardcover release that details the complete mission of Darth Vader’s search for Garoche Tarkin, the son of Moff Tarkin, in the Ghost Nebula System.

This story takes place some 20 years BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) and the destruction of the first Death Star on the galactic calendar. Fans may remember Grand Moff Tarkin as the man responsible for the Death Star’s attack and destruction of Alderaan in Episode IV: A New Hope.

Scripted by Haden Blackman, penciled by Rick Leonardi, ink and colors done by Dan Green and Wes Dzioba respectively, lettering from Michael Heisler, and cover art by Michael Kutsche, this is a tale of three men haunted by their past deeds and their continued fight for the survival of their futures.

Traditionally, Garoche Tarkin is not a character that appears in the main storyline, but is featured in this comic as a man torn between his sense of duty and his moral compass. Garoche’s development throughout the story showcases the possibility of what his father, Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, might have been like in a different life without the Empire’s controlling hand.

However, Moff Wilhuff Tarkin is not without a heart and thus is still a father that is concerned about the disappearance of his son. The loss of his son would make Moff Tarkin furious, a man second only to Darth Sidious in his ruthlessness and military savvy. His anger would be great and his vengeance swift should Lord Vader fail to find his son.

The beginning and ending depictions of Lord Vader almost mirror each other in his subservience to his master, Darth Sidious. In addition to that portrayal, Vader’s reality is one of literal and figurative disrepair. For every part of his arms and legs that are damaged, there are replacements being fitted at each turn of the story, the beginning and ending sections showcasing his return to full-figured misery.

In contrast to his reality, Vader is plagued by dreams where he is healthy and whole, not half a man consumed by his anger. They depict his would-be life had Padme and his unborn son both survived. Vader’s dreams are a bitter joy to dream of and wake from, as they show Lord Vader not as a Sith Lord, but as a happy and loving man.

Against all preconceived notions of power and ruthlessness, guilt is what culminates in the ultimate ending of the story, with Vader returning damaged and Moff Wilhuff Tarkin coldly plotting the death of his enemies due to the loss of his son. This gives yet another avenue of insight into the mind and story of Moff Tarkin and his relentless pursuit of his enemies throughout the rest of his lifetime in the Star Wars Universe.

The article Darth Vader and The Lost Command: A Haunting Past appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Since the first Star Wars film was re-released on VHS in 1981, director George Lucas has changed at least one element of every film with each new release, often causing a stir among the most loyal fans of the franchise. With the release of the 9-disc special edition Blu-Ray of episodes I-VI on September 16, Lucas has upset fans once again by making a number of changes to episodes IV, V, and VI.

Some of the most controversial changes are the addition of the word “NO!” two times to Darth Vader’s dialogue when he throws the Emperor over the edge in Return of the Jedi, the Ewoks’ eyes now blink, and Obi-Wan’s fake “Kryat Dragon” roar has been changed.

Not since Lucas decided to make Greedo shoot Han first in the Cantina in episode IV for the 1997 Special Edition have fans been so upset about the changes made to one of film history’s most popular series. Twitter has exploded with commentary on the subject, and there are even a number of Facebook pages dedicated to voicing their dissatisfaction with a number of Lucas’ decisions.

One of the most upsetting aspects of the changes is the fact that the original versions won’t be available on Blu-Ray. In 2006, after years of strong protest concerning the 1997 revisions, the original trilogy was released on DVD, but the quality of the picture was not improved.

Lucas has made it clear that he does not want the originals to be preserved. In a 1997 interview with American Cinematographer he stated that “[a] hundred years from now, the only version of the movie that anyone will remember will be the [Special Edition] version.” This view has left fans looking to purchase old copies of the original VHS tapes as a part of their protest against this mentality.

Despite the strong dissatisfaction with many of the content changes, there are still a number of additions and revisions that have been mostly accepted by fans. Notably, the decision to change the puppet version of Yoda in episode I into a CGI version that more closely resembles the original trilogy has met general approval, both for continuity and visual appeal.

George Lucas has been on a quest to make his films better than they were originally, and to include aspects of the film to help make his newer Star Wars films match more closely with the original trilogy. The problem with this mentality is the huge number of fans that liked things the way they were, even with all of the flaws and mistakes.

Who knows, perhaps t-shirts protesting Darth Vader’s comical “no!” will become just as popular in a few years as “Han shot first” t-shirts are today. But unless Lucas makes a sudden change of heart, or loses the creative rights to his films, fans will have to accept whatever creative decisions George Lucas makes.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.facebook.com/StarWars

The article Star Wars Fans Upset by Several Changes to Blu-Ray Release appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The general image of the Apple Store is to “do what you want so long as you don’t break or steal anything.” To see just how far he could go, comedian Mark Malkoff pulled some interesting pranks on one Apple Store.

“It’s amazing what the Apple Store will allow,” Malkoff said. “There are hundreds of videos online of customers singing and dancing in the middle of the store. Not only do they allow house pets, but I have heard of customers successfully bringing in snakes. I can’t imagine that being tolerated at any other store.”

His first plan was to see if he could get a pizza delivered to him while he was shopping on the second floor of a Manhattan Apple Store. He gained positive reactions from the staff, one of whom remarked that the stunt was awesome when the pie was delivered and was also shocked that the pizza place was willing to deliver to someone inside a large retail store.

Malkoff was later joined by his wife for a romantic in-store dinner, complete with waiter service and dancing under a mirror ball while a solo trumpeter played a song.

The stunts do not stop there. On another day, Malkoff was able to receive help for his broken iPhone dressed as Darth Vader. One employee even urged him to use the force.

Though, the latest stunt may be the best yet. To see just how far he could push his luck, Malkoff brought in a goat. While there were more strange looks than before, he still was not rejected from the store.

“The staff at the Apple stores could not have been any nicer.” Mark said. “The fact they let me bring in a goat still makes me laugh.”

1000 Words / Shutterstock.com

The article How Far Can Someone Push Apple Store’s Hospitality? appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.