Comic Review: Mace Windu #1 (of 4)

Mace Windu, like Boba Fett before the Prequel films, has had a lot of mystery surrounding him that has made him unashamedly cool. The fact he was played by Samuel L. Jackson just added to this character’s personae. Fans wanted to know more, as we always do. Yet it is a very fine line to provide some exciting and well-done Mace Windu stories and on the other hand, giving fans too much of what they think they want. Mace Windu in the original Clone Wars, two three-minute episodes that just made fans go wow even more, further enhanced by the second series when he was defending Coruscant. It just made a cool character even cooler. The book Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover added another element of cool, with the character’s Shatterpoint ability. Yet for all these stories, there have also been those that have been rather lacking. The last series focusing on Mace missed the mark, it missed that coolness that a story focusing on Windu should bring. It’s very difficult to write ‘cool’, you either can or can’t and with a character like Mace, if you fall short, so does the entire story. Having reviewed the last series of Mace Windu, I was a little nervous when I saw this. It’s difficult to get Mace right. Marc Bernardin is taking on the challenge. Bernardin has had one foray into a galaxy far, far away, with a short story in Vader: Black, white and red. I was impressed with this story at the time, and I can’t lie, my nerves were slightly calmed. Bernardin knew how to use Vader, knew not to over play him, and created an incredible story. If he could bring the same thing to Windu, we might have a winner. He has also co-hosted podcasts with Kevin Smith and the gorgeous Tricia Helfer (she will always be number six to me) which shows just how ‘cool’ Bernardin is himself (I’m not envious or anything), surely if anyone can write a ‘cool’ Mace Windu, it’s him! He is joined by artist Georges Jeanty, who supplied the artwork for The Mandalorian season one adaptation. I’m intrigued to see what he brings to the story. So, without further ado, let’s see what Mace Windu brings us this time around.

This might be a personal peeve of mine, but sometimes I wish writers would just tell me from the onset when something is set. It’s a big galaxy with a lot of different times (particularly if it’s a long-lived species). I feel this issue started on the perfect note, before even the first panel, Bernardin makes it very clear that this is set before The Phantom Menace before Windu has even become a master. It takes a single line to tell the reader this, but it means before that opening panel, we can relax knowing when we are in the galaxy. It might seem like a small detail, but it makes such a difference. Immediately we know that Windu has control of the force but perhaps still makes a mistake or two, that he’s not stuck sitting on the council but actually out and about.

So, let’s look at Mace. Bernardin uses this character beautifully in this issue. That element of ‘cool’ I mentioned, there’s buckets of it here. The first, most important thing here is that Bernardin doesn’t shower Windu with lots of dialogue. We know that Windu is smart, that he makes (usually) the right choices, it’s why he’s on the council. Bernardin gives his readers the credit that he doesn’t need to establish this aspect of the character, that we can take him on his actions rather than his words. And those actions are fantastic. The opening scene on the boat plays out so well: we see Mace mind trick, we see Mace force push waves to move a boat, we see Mace thinking smartly rather than rushing into battle. As it’s the opening scene, it’s almost throwaway, it’s just to introduce the character. Yet it not only does that, but it shows us that Bernardin knows how to handle this character. (Everyone breathes a sigh of relief!). Now there’s a part of me that thinks this opening scene might mean more than has been let on, but if not, it’s very James Bond in style, a quick show of strength and intelligence before we move onto the main event.

When the main event gets underway Bernardin relies on Windu narrating the story. Straight away I could hear the tone of voice from Shatterpoint, the dry sarcasm that comes through the writing. It is used so well in this story and I’m glad that Bernardin used this method. As mentioned, Windu doesn’t talk much, and it helps to keep that mystery of the character. It’s not only Windu he gets right, but also Yoda. The opening line with the Jedi Master was perfection. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud and it was great to see Yoda’s playful side come out so quickly.

The story itself is setting up a race to get better coaxium quicker than other groups within Star Wars. The mention of coaxium beautifully links to what we know about the substance from Solo. The race to get there first sets a fast pace that really works well with a character like Mace. There is no wasted space in this issue. It’s action after action after action. It feels like a Mace story and that’s crucial to get right in this opening gambit for readers. I’m sure the story will develop a lot more in the following issues but if Bernardin keeps this sense of pace to the rest of the series, then it’ll be a series worth reading.

Jeanty has a very different style of art to what we have been used to seeing in Marvel comics of late. There is a nineties sense to the artwork, and I mean that as a huge compliment. The characters aren’t as crisp as they are elsewhere, but again, I really like that. It’s different in a good way. What Jeanty captures so well is the sense of movement and action, which considering how much of this issue is action, is most definitely a positive. However, this isn’t Jeanty’s greatest strength, it’s his landscapes. We go from the middle of an ocean to the Jedi temple to an underground ice cavern. Jeanty captures these settings so well. In the opening scene you can almost feel the rain coming out of the page, in the ice caverns, you feel like you are getting colder the longer you read on. The panels were really well drawn and laid out, I’m excited to see what the next issues bring us for the artwork.

This is a strong opening issue. I had my doubts after the last outing of Mace, yet Bernardin is quick to put these concerns to rest. He uses the character exactly how he should be. This is the cool, confident Jedi who kicks his enemies out of the water. This is the Mace we all went ‘yeah!’ When we saw him light up his lightsaber in Attack of the Clones. Bernardin has captured the character and the spirit of the character, creating a fast-paced, thrilling read. The artwork works so well with the style of story and on both accounts I’m eager to see what the next issues will bring. If you were worried that this might spoil the mystery of such a great character, then don’t be, he is finally in safe hands.