The Jedi Go to War in Jedi of the Republic: Mace Windu #1

Written by Matt Owens

Art by Denys Cowan

 

For over a thousand generations, the Jedi have been the peacekeepers of the galaxy…but now, at the dawn of the Clone Wars, they find themselves in a new role: generals in the Army of the Republic. As Mace Windu, one of the Jedi’s greatest warriors, leads a small unit of Jedi into battle shortly after the war begins, the Jedi must make peace with their new role, or be lost to the violence around them!

 

 

 SPOILERS AHEAD

 

 

 

 

The new Marvel miniseries Jedi of the Republic – Mace Windu is set shortly after Attack of the Clones and the battle of Geonosis. The issue opens with Mace in conversation with Ki-Adi-Mundi. He is troubled with the new role Jedi must take in the galaxy – the role of warriors and generals rather than peace makers – though he sees the necessity of it.

 

In the Jedi Council, Yoda tasks Windu with a new mission. The Jedi numbers are diminished, while the Separatists’ numbers continually grow and the Jedi are spread thin. A small unit led by Mace (without clone trooper support) is to survey the jungle planet Hissrich where an increasing number of Separatist forces was observed. They are to determine their purpose in secret.

 

 

Mace Windu has chosen Kit Fisto – for his lightsaber prowess and his ability to survive in harsh environments, Prosset Dibs – a blind Jedi gifted with great intuition and Rissa Mano – a young Jedi Knight who is an excellent pilot and engineer, to accompany him on this mission.

 

 

The dynamic between the Jedi is very interesting. Prosset is another Jedi reluctant to join the war and he is not shy of voicing it, while Rissa is somewhat of an eager puppy – happy to be on the mission with the legendary Mace Windu. The banter between all of them is refreshing, especially with the way the Jedi of the Republic were described in the prequels (with Obi-Wan being the exception) as dour and serious. I like how Kit Fisto interacts with pretty much everyone and doesn’t take himself too seriously.

 

 

It doesn’t take too long for the Jedi to get challenged by Separatists’ “clankers”. It’s not surprising that they deal quickly with them. However, they are swiftly surrounded by the members of a local species. It’s not clear whether they work for or with the Separatists, though they certainly don’t seem friendly.

 

The Jedi’s covert mission is completely blown when they are seen from afar by another B1 battle droid who hurries to inform his “commander” of his discovery. He mocks the Jedi for their faith though he still has belief in the highest power.

 

 

As first issues go, Mace Windu #1 does a very good job of establishing the state of the galaxy, but also the dynamic between the characters. The story is set very early in the Clone Wars, before the bodies of the Jedi fallen in the Geonosis arena have even cooled down. It was good to see the uncertainty in the Jedi, especially in someone presented as hardcore as Mace, because this shouldn’t have been an easy path to take – to abandon their quest for peace and join the war on the front lines. It is good to see that there was no firm consensus among the Jedi on how to deal with the situation and that there were opposing voices along the way. At the same time, we can see how sense of duty easily becomes delusion.

 

We are introduced to two new Jedi – the Devaronian Rissa Mano and Miraluka male Prosset Dibs (who is already my favorite) – as well as the completely new and impressive looking mercenary droid, AD-W4 (though the callback to HK-47 is clear). As I said, I really liked the dynamic between the Jedi, from the probing humor in an attempt to get to know one another to their cooperation in the battle, and every story with Kit Fisto in it is already promising. I was also pleased with the take on Mace Windu as not just the single minded warrior we were presented with in the movies, but also a thoughtful leader who is not beyond doubt.

 

I liked Deny Cowan’s art which was significantly enlivened by Guru-eFX’s coloring. I wish we had seen more of the jungle planet and its inhabitants, but that will surely come in the following issues.

 

This was a very solid start to the new miniseries and, if everything goes well, possibly to a string of Jedi of the Republic stories. I wouldn’t mind reading a miniseries about Plo Koon, Ki-Adi-Mundi or one of the lesser known Jedi, especially if they go more into their backgrounds and opinions about the war and the state of Jedi Order. But, that is in the future. For now, we have Mace’s adventure to look for as it continues in…

 

 

THE NEXT ISSUE:

 

 

  • On a planet of near-perpetual darkness, the Jedi must bring light.
  • Mace finds both his faith and skill tested.
  • For is it truly the place of the Jedi to go to war?

 

In the meantime, this issue gets 7/10.

 

 

+ posts

Staff member, comic and book reviewer. Cheers for the Light Side, but would drink with Grand Admirals.

Jelena Bidin (LadyMusashi)

Staff member, comic and book reviewer. Cheers for the Light Side, but would drink with Grand Admirals.

25 thoughts on “The Jedi Go to War in Jedi of the Republic: Mace Windu #1

  • August 31, 2017 at 1:30 am
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    Anyone care about this guy?

    • August 31, 2017 at 2:05 am
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      Here we go with another ..” I don’t like him, how could anyone else possibly like him…” comment.

      Yes, to answer your question.

      • August 31, 2017 at 2:35 am
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        While I do think Mace is a cool character, they probably should have made a new Jedi character and call the comic, ‘Jedi Order’ or something.

        • August 31, 2017 at 2:57 pm
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          That’s hard to see, given we don’t know where the story is going. There might be a reason they chose Mace.

        • August 31, 2017 at 3:28 pm
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          Jedi Of The Republic looks to be exactly what you are asking for, just starting with Mace. After 4 or 5 issues, we’ll see another Jedi. I am willing to go out on a limb and say that if the series is successful, we may even see the series centered around an all-new Jedi.

    • August 31, 2017 at 2:43 am
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      Yes.

    • August 31, 2017 at 6:40 am
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      Yes. Next question?

    • August 31, 2017 at 10:05 am
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      They keep trying to make him “cool”, but he’s such a dull uninteresting character imo.

    • August 31, 2017 at 2:44 pm
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      Yea, he coo.

    • August 31, 2017 at 3:18 pm
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      I care.

  • August 31, 2017 at 2:17 am
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    The art was absolutely atrocious.

    • August 31, 2017 at 10:50 am
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      Atrocious? What kind of standards do you have? Maybe this is not an art-style that you like but this is by no means atrocious. I bet you can’t even draw a straight line which is why you are unable to make a distinction between the artist’s drawing style (which you are free to dislike) and his skill (which is definitely not “atrocious”).

      • August 31, 2017 at 2:56 pm
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        A person can have an opinion. It’s not objective. It’s subjective. Just like your opinion.

        • August 31, 2017 at 3:56 pm
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          Again, you might disagree in terms of “appeal” but the artist’s skill is evident. Getting perspective, proportions, lighting etc… right is not a subjective thing.

          • August 31, 2017 at 8:08 pm
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            And yet you can still think it is bad. I don’t, but he does. Let him. Who cares?

          • September 1, 2017 at 9:49 am
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            I care. As an artist I am offended by people who are unable to do anything creative themselves but are always ready to call a movie or game or book “the worst thing ever” or “atrocious”. Have they never heard of constructive feedback? This for example is useful feedback >I don’t really like the artist’s artstyle. It is too stylized and cartoony and not clean enough for my taste. The overall shapes that the artist uses are too edged and bulky for my taste. If he went for more naturalistic artstyle and cleaner lineart I would enjoy reading the comics moreThe art is absolutely atrocious!<

          • September 1, 2017 at 2:41 pm
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            You don’t know that they can’t do anything creative themselves.

            I doubt the artist is reading this, so constructive feedback here would be odd, but maybe he doesn’t know enough to know anything more than “I don’t like it.”

    • August 31, 2017 at 12:57 pm
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      I wouldn’t call it atrocious, but this style is not my favorite either. For what it is, I think it’s consistent and well-implemented, but I prefer a more realistic style over the stylized look. Oddly enough though, I really enjoy Kev Walker’s art in Aphra. But generally speaking, artists like Esad Ribic, Jason Fabok, and Sara Pichelli are more my speed.

    • August 31, 2017 at 3:21 pm
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      …?

  • August 31, 2017 at 2:29 pm
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    I thought this issue was really cool. I always thought that Mace Windu was the Boba Fett of the prequels that was supposed to be cool but didn’t really do anything. I found a lot more inside this character from this comic. I’m interested.

    • September 1, 2017 at 9:10 am
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      You should read Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover

  • August 31, 2017 at 3:20 pm
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    Marvel are doing an amazing job with the new Star Wars comics, i’m interested to see where this series goes from here, great first issue.

  • August 31, 2017 at 3:34 pm
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    I hope this comic means we will get stories about other prequel/CW characters such as General Grievous, Jango Fett and Plo Koon, it’s always good to see the Clone Wars getting the love it deserves.

  • August 31, 2017 at 8:01 pm
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    always loved Windu! I especially love the Tartakovsky clone wars and thought they should have kept them canon.

    Let’s hope they give Mace, the credit he deserves as being a badass mother!

  • September 1, 2017 at 5:51 am
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    I have to be honest. You have one of the worst, if not the worst, mobile websites on the entire internet. Please change it. If you do not know what I refer to, get on an iPhone and scroll around a bit.

    With respect,

    MJM

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