Published: May 19, 1999
Rating: Rated T
Writer: Jan Strnad
Penciler: Anthony Winn
Cover Artist: Ken Kelly
The synopsis;
As Ki races to save his daughter from the clutches of the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt, he inadvertently discovers that the Hutt crime lord is secretly procuring munitions for a war fleet massing in orbit above Tatooine. Suddenly, Ki’s problems on his home world of Cerea seem very small indeed!
The review;
The final issue of the arc. When this was first released, it was mere days away from The Phantom Menace coming out in theatres for the first time. Anticipation for any film had never been higher. I imagine too, people were scouring this final issue for clues to the upcoming movie, looking for what might make an appearance. So, onto the last issue in this incredible story arc….
Let’s begin with the clues, the hinting, the teasing. Throughout this issue there is a lot of hinting towards something (and I’ll try not to pause and say elusive) that is coming, that is approaching the galaxy. For readers in 1999, I’m sure this would have made them sit up, for this is surely talking about the events of Episode One. It still works now, that there is a sense of a growing danger. What I do find interesting is that the Jedi seem to be aware of it, yet in the film, they are almost completely oblivious to the darkness that has grown in their very reaches. I wonder how much information Strnad was given before the film came out, to help him write these comics. The impression I get is that he was very much left out and tried his best to navigate through the story. Perhaps slightly problematic, is I prefer the fact that the Jedi know something is coming and are a bit more aware of it! Funny how things turn out! There is also the mystery at the end of the story as to who is speaking to Yoda. One probably assumes Mace Windu, but we don’t actually know. They are aware of the threat looming, which going from the films, Mace wouldn’t have known at this stage. It’s difficult to know what is written on purpose and what is written due to lack of information but the story surrounding what is coming next is very engaging, even now.
Action is the word for this finale. Strnad has put all the foundations in, meaning that this last issue doesn’t have a lot of thinking needed, but instead brings you along for the final battle. It is the art that pulls us through, and Winn does a great job. We have the pages that are panelled with black backgrounds still and full-page spreads to absorb us in. The panels are bigger, signifying that this is the end of the act. It all works beautifully, the journey, the action, the movement, there’s no mistake to what is trying to be conveyed here.
Ki-Adi is central to all of this and even with such an action heavy issue, there is still space to explore Mundi’s character further. The part that I truly loved in this comic was Mundi and the droids. Coming from a planet that doesn’t like to embrace technology, you would assume Ki-Adi might not be too thrilled by droids, particularly one with the history Ki-Adi has with FLTCH. And this doubt in the reader’s mind is played throughout the story, until we realise that Mundi does respect all forms of life, no matter whether they are living or droid. It shows that Mundi is different to others, that he respects droid. Last review, I said that there is a striking similarity between Ki-Adi and Anakin and that further cements this belief. Ki-Adi is almost the version of Anakin that could have been, that we may have imagined, if he hadn’t have fallen to the dark side. But then, Ki-Adi has to rediscover his emotional attachments to be a better father, whereas Anakin needed to let go. It’s an interesting portrayal of two similar characters.
I said that Ki-Adi learns to find his emotional attachments and it’s interesting with our current situation in the real world. Ki-Adi is told to enjoy family time while he can, that you never know what is around the corner. With lockdown still in force (even if it has been eased off slightly), people may be getting fed up of so much family time, of not been able to go out. Over twenty years after this comic was written, the lesson of appreciate what you have maybe needed now more than ever.
This issue also sees the conclusion of ‘Vow of Justice’. Like the first story, the foundations have been set and it’s following this story to its conclusion. We are seeing Ki-Adi when he is still emotional, where his pride, his family and his anger can still get the better of him. Between the two stories, one where Ki-Adi is too emotional and one where he needs to be more emotional, you really get a sense of what a fine line the Jedi have to walk. It’s not an easy one for any normal Jedi. Yet for Ki-Adi, it’s even more difficult. He has to have a wife (or wives) and children and so the burden he carries is that much more. This is of course the same issue for Anakin, his love for Padme is an extra burden, one, unlike Ki-Adi, that is too heavy for him.
And thus, concludes Prelude to Rebellion, the first arc in the Republic series. It has always been one of my favourite series, both old and new and having the time to go back has been wonderful. There is a relevance in these issues that comes again and again. Yes, the style of a narrative telling story is a little old these days, but it’s one that I now realise I miss. These issues have seemed Star Wars through and through, that they belong in a galaxy far, far away. There is a hopeful energy to them that seems to be lacking in some more modern stories. Strnad had an extremely difficult task, to work with the hype surrounding the release of Episode One. Yet, every issue, although fed into the one arc, comes across as its own unique story with its own unique feel to it. Not an easy job but Strnad does it flawlessly. There is a reason this series ran for as long as it did. This is a series that is deserving of your attention and in this quieter times it makes absolute sense to go back to these issues. I’m hoping to continue reviewing these issues, the next being the arc Outlander. But before then, I’m going to have a short break from the series to look at another of my all-time favourites, Crimson Empire. I hope you can join me…
Availability;
Star Wars Republic was an ongoing series originally released by Dark Horse that ran from 1998 till 2006 encompassing 83 issues. Prelude to Rebellion is currently available in digital format via the Marvel App, comiXology or by subscribing to Marvel Unlimited. A physical copy can be found in one of the many trade paperback releases from Marvel. Please check with Amazon UK and US or your local comic bookstore for availability.
