Being part of Lockdown Legends is an absolute honor! It is not only an important movement to help the comic book industry, but also a chance for readers like myself to explore and discover (or re-discover) the Expanded Universe that is Legends. My first instinct was to pick something I’ve already read countless times—something I was comfortable with. Instead, I went to Comixology and looked for a comic book series that I was not familiar with. The reason why I picked Knight Errant: Aflame was because I wanted an original story that was not tied to the main timeline and that would feel fresh and new enough for me to be completely free and open when writing this review. And plus, it is written by none other than John Jackson Miller!
I hope you enjoy the review!
Published: July 13, 2011
Writer: John Jackson Miller
Penciller: Federico Dallocchio, Ivan Rodriguez
Inker: Mark Kenna
Colourist: Michael Atiyeh
Letterer: Michael Heisler
Cover artist: Joe Quinones
The synopsis;
Kerra Holt is a new kind of Jedi for a new era of Star Wars!
More than one thousand years before Luke Skywalker, the galaxy experiences a dark age as an ineffectual Republic abandons entire systems to Sith control. On her first mission, eighteen-year-old Jedi Kerra Holt has joined a band of Jedi volunteers traveling behind enemy lines. She thinks she is prepared for anything, but when the mission goes awry and she is left in Sith space without any support, Kerra realizes just how wrong she was . . . But she can’t abandon the mission or the colony that the Jedi came to help!
This Jedi foundling has her work cut out for her: she is alone, unprepared, without resources, and stuck in a battle between two warring Sith brothers, Lord Odion and Lord Daiman!
The review;
Who is the Knight Errant? Her name is Kerra Holt, and she is a Jedi. A Jedi from a different era, from a time where Jedi and Sith were numerous and their constant and immense wars brought destruction to many star systems. A Jedi who has lost her mentor, Vannar Treece. Without guidance—and being the true, last Jedi on Chelloa—Kerra is left alone to complete Vannar’s mission to save the mid rim planet from Sith occupation.
On the opposite side of the conflict, we have the two Sith Lords Daiman and Odion. They are the Yin and Yang of the dark side of the Force: Daiman is a self-proclaimed god, creator of everything in the universe; Odion is a brute warrior whose sole purpose is to spread destruction to counter his brother’s nature.
In between the sibling rivalry is Kerra Holt, whose mission is to end it all by defeating the Sith threat. Throughout the series, we learn her tragic past as a child of war—losing her parents at an early age presumably by the hands of Lord Odion himself. This event encourages her motivation to destroy Odion and his brother—and defines Kerra’s determined and almost reckless personality.
This war triangle creates unique character dynamics and is the epicenter of Aflame, the first miniseries of Knight Errant written by John Jackson Miller—coming to life through a variety of artistic talents. The story in its entirety feels fresh while still keeping some familiar themes from the Star Wars universe.
The author’s choice to focus less on the mystical nature of the Force and more on armies and instruments of destruction—by means of fighting the war—emphasizes the state of despair and hopelessness within Sith space.
The constant mining of baradium—the explosive used for thermal detonators—ordered by Lord Daiman slowly exploits planet Chelloa and its inhabitants. Adding to the destruction of the once peaceful planet, Lord Odion brings over a colossal machine—the kinetic corruptor—igniting the underground baradium and taking the lives of anyone standing in the weapon’s range.
Knight Errant: Aflame introduces some amazing character designs:
- Lord Daiman’s extravagant shiny armors—which have a Roman Empire flair—his iconic blonde mullet, and his heterochromia (he has different colored eyes, one blue and one red, perhaps symbolizing both sides of the Force) accentuate the godly and narcissist nature of the character.
- Lord Odion’s brute stature and Mad Max-style look perfectly match his destructive nature.
- Kerra Holt’s short lightsaber hilt, her Jedi street outfit, her yellow eyes and short dark hairstyle are a perfect combination for recognizability.
The Sith trooper designs are bold and have a familiar flair—reminiscent of the first batch of clone armor design, down to the helmet front lines. And the thing that stands out is the use of metallic crimson details in armors and weapons—pairing perfectly with the lava tones of the breaking world of Chelloa. Finally, the blue glow used to identify Force powers was a nice, subtle touch.
Knight Errant: Aflame is a solid read. Its originality in storyline and character design is what sets it apart from the usual Star Wars reads. Kerra Holt is the perfect anti-hero—almost comparable to Doctor Aphra. The villains are fascinating to say the least, bringing a level of mystery to the story. The series feels cinematic panel after panel and at the end leaves the reader eager to discover more about Kerra Holt’s path. It is almost an appetizer to the sequel stories from the Knight Errant adventures—which continue in the comic book universe with Knight Errant: Deluge and Knight Errant: Escape.
Availability;
The Knight Errant: Aflame series encompassed 5 single issues (#1 to #5) and was released by Dark Horse Comics during 2010 and 2011. Knight Errant: Aflame is currently available in digital format from the Marvel Online Comic Store, 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.
