The Tython system has been plunged into war! With the arrival of the armies of the Rakatan Infinite Empire, it is up to the Je’daii to defend the remaining free worlds of the system.
The Je’daii armies are led by Daegen Lok and the offworlder Xesh, who were both exiles on the dark moon Bogan. When the two escaped custody, it was discovered that Loki’s mad visions of the system under siege were about to come true, and that Xesh’s mastery of the Rakatan technology for creating Forcesabers might be the Je’daii’s only hope against the Infinite Empire.
But can even the Je’daii stand against the Rakjatan shock troops known as Flesh Raiders – mutated versions of the Rakatan themselves, bred only for battle?
The Review
A year has transpired since the events of The Prisoner of Bogan, the second installment in the Dawn of the Jedi series, set some 36,000 years prior to the events of the original Star Wars movies. In that time, the natives of the Tython system have been waging war with the invading Rakatan Infinite Empire. The Je’daii (Jedi predecessors), led by former Force Hound Xesh and Je’daii Master General Daegen Lok, have taken their rightful place as protectors of the universe. The titular, former prisoner of Bogan has gone from perceived madman to admitted hero (or powerful warrior, at least), his previous visions largely allowing him to become the de facto military leader of these heroic armies. After much deliberation and internal struggle, the Je’daii council have acquiesced and agreed to allow Xesh to draw upon his former, “evil” life to help forge forcesabers, the weapon of choice of the invading army, and therefore a natural defensive choice. However, the light swords draw on the evil aspects of the Force, hence the hesitation of the Council. Nothing like a good Catch 22 to get the ball rolling plot-wise.
The issue largely is one fight after another, keeping the pacing tight. During the course of these various battles, the reader is introduced to Flesh Raiders, lower caste Rakatans who have been mutated into berserker killers and act as the main land forces of the Infinite Empire. Underlying all this action is each character’s various struggles balancing the light and dark sides of the Force.
The Je’daii forces catch a break when Lok discovers the main position of the enemy armies. An airstrike is called in, nearly destroying the surrounding local armies, as well, but Je’daii clearly are a hardier lot than that. While that battle rages, additional, secondary plot lines are set forth, mainly romantic relationships between Xesh and Shae Koda, Sek’nos and Trill. Though Xesh and Trill once were slaves and essentially partners, Xesh’s mind has been wiped of the memories. It appears those memories are starting to return, however. Sek’nos and Trill depart together, and it appears that Xesh and Shae will share their first kiss when Shae turns away, possibly jealous of the shadowy bond between the two former Force Hounds.
The issue ends on a nicely gruesome note, with two Rakatans waging an internal war. Ceh’let questions the might and authority of Predor Skal’nas, the latter leading the invaders. Skal’nas seemingly confides and commiserates with her before destroying her with force lightening for daring to ever question him. You can’t get much more Sith-like than that.
Force War mostly does away with the burdensome back stories that occasionally slowed the first two installments of the Dawn of the Jedi series. The artwork is as good, if not better, than it has been throughout the entire series, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t enjoy multiple prototype lighsaber fights among numerous alien species, interspersed with the occasional star fight and political backstabbing? These are the elements of what makes the Star Wars universe so appealing to so many fans. If they keep this up, Force War looks to be the best story arc yet.
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