Published: May 31, 2006
Writer: John Jackson-Miller
Artist: Travel Foreman
Colourist: Michael Atiyeh
Letterer: Michael Heisler
Cover Artist: Travis Charest
The synopsis;
Fugitive Padawan Zayne Carrick, charged with the murder of his fellow Jedi-in-training, has uncovered a junked droid that may contain vital information- too bad his former masters have just caught up to him! Trapped on a desolate moon surface bombarded with asteroids, Zayne’s situation seems hopeless, even with a motley crew of space stragglers at his side. But when those same scoundrels bring the droid back online, the truth revealed is far darker and more menacing than any of them could have imagined. Now, Zayne must prove his innocence, not only for his own sake, but for that of the entire Jedi order!
The review;
After fleeing the Rogue Moon with the damaged parts of T1-LB, the droid that may prove former Padawan Zayne Carrick’s innocence, the crew of The Last Resort get to work on retrieving the droid’s memory. What they find rocks Zayne to his core. However, he has no time to dwell upon the revelations because bounty hunters have finally caught up to Zayne, and while the Padawan may risk his own life, he won’t endanger the lives of the eclectic scoundrels he’s come to call friends.
In Knights of the Old Republic #5 Jackson-Miller finally answers the question that has been burning in fans’ minds since the beginning of this series – why did the Jedi Masters murder their Padawans? In their arrogance, the Master’s misguidedly acted on their own judgement based on the assumptions they made from a vague vision of the possible future. A future in which one of the Padawans supposedly became a Sith. They don’t see themselves as evil, thinking what they did was the only course of action. It’s extremely good villain writing!
One of Yoda’s many lessons is that “always in motion the future is” and how feelings can cloud judgement. Through what they have done the Masters may well have sealed their fate because there’s a little something called a self-fulfilling prophecy, which usually occurs when people try too hard to stop destiny from coming true. This also links a lot with the modern canon and how distrustful the Jedi Order are where prophecies are concerned. Sifo Dyas was distanced from the Order simply because he was a seer, and people like Dooku or Qui-Gon were distrusted because they did not see prophecies as harbingers of doom. So, what will the Jedi of the High Republic make of prophecies or visions?
For Zayne this news is obviously crushing. The mentors he trusted for most of his life turned on him and his classmates in the blink of an eye, all supposedly in the name of the Force. It’s also extremely worrying for Zayne because, as the only Padawan left standing, he could become the Sith in the vision. Plus, just when he thinks it couldn’t get any worse, the droid decides to wipe its own memory, and Zayne’s only chance of freedom disappears. As a reader it’s a heart wrenching moment, especially if you’ve been rooting for the young Padawan all along.
Actually, Jackson-Miller makes Knights of the Old Republic #5 a difficult read all the way through, isolating Zayne in the story. He deepens the uneasy friendship between Zayne and Janael (who are frenemies to be more precise), with the Arkanian acting as the mirror Zayne doesn’t want to look in. Gryph is ready to walk away from the Padawan, apologising that things have just gotten too deep, even for the old scoundrel. Everyone turns their back on poor Zayne.
Not only is the dispiriting tone of the comic rather new in this story-arc, the art is also different. For Knights of the Old Republic #5 is a new artist and Foreman’s style really suits this story. It has a sketchy quality, full of loose line-work and cross-hatching. Foreman’s panels for the Jedi Masters’ visions are particular standouts from this issue – they are jaw-dropping. It’s impossible to know where to look first; characters seamlessly merge into one another, and there’s a chaotic sense to the panels as each only offers a snapshot of an uncertain future. It’s breathtaking work and not something fans see regularly in Star Wars comics.
With only one more issue to go for this arc, Knights of the Old Republic #5 is building up the tension for what is sure to be a dramatic finale. Just like in the movies, where the lone hero goes off into the night to face his greatest enemy alone, Zayne decides to leave and face the Masters. He’s tired of running. However, he has no idea what awaits – will the Jedi Masters admit to their crime, or place the blame on Zayne? Will the young Padawan have a trial, or will he be executed?
Availability;
The original Dark Horse Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic series ran from 2006 to 2010, encompassing 50 issues. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic #5 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.
