Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith

    (Dark Horse, 2005)
™ and © 2005 Lucasfilm Ltd.

Released ahead of the film’s debut, this volume should be stickered: “Warning: Watch for spoilers ahead.” In the sixth and final movie, Star Wars fanatics get to see the origin of Darth Vader and his progeny Luke and Leia, as well as the demise of all those miscellaneous Jedi whose back stories Dark Horse has spun off in recent years.

Chancellor Palpatine manipulates both sides of the Clone Wars as the fight against the Separatist Droid Army is a smokescreen to strengthen his grip on young Anakin Skywalker, to assume absolute power, and to rid the Republic of the pesky Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Mace Windu.

Compared to its maudlin and hackneyed predecessors, this installment is heavy on the action and short on the sentiment. To be sure, Anakin and Padme’s relationship grates as badly in print as it does on screen, but lightsaber duels and high body counts provide both shock and awe. Doug Wheatley renders the actors photo–realistically yet stiffly, but Lucas’ galaxy is expanding fast enough to accommodate endless adaptations.

— Oliver Chin
Jump to issue:
  NotesWriterArtist