It’s quite simple really. Galactic despot and connoisseur of spikes Darth Krayt, is dying. Scion of legacy and Bush-era edgelord Cade Skywalker has magical healing powers. Can I make it any more obvious? This third arc, ‘Claws of the Dragon’ is where “Star Wars Legacy” gets good. Enticing mysteries are solved, the plot kicks off in earnest, and we get to look at some familiar Star Wars themes in new light. I’m thrilled to find that this series is finally as good as I remember.
“Star Wars Legacy” #13-19
Story by John Ostrander and Jan Duursema
Written by John Ostrander
Illustrated by Jan Duursema
Inked by Dan Parsons
Colored by Brad Anderson
Lettered by Michael Heisler
Published by Marvel
Originally published by Dark Horse
Up until now, this series has been extremely front loaded with exposition. After all, it took until issue #14 for our hero to answer the call. Imagine if an adaptation of A New Hope didn’t have Luke arrive in Mos Eisly until issue #14. That would be over a year of monthly releases! We are looking at some serious decompression. But not only has the plot kicked off in earnest, we’re also just getting to enjoy some Star Wars, pure and simple. Cade announces his arrival in a new town with a one-liner and a blaster bolt to the face of some nameless thug. Then we meet Jool the Hutt.
And she’s not all that important, but Jool the Hutt is glorious. What good character design! She’s just this porcine, badass, promiscuous Hutt crime boss? That rules. And as long as we are singling out Jool’s design, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the good work of Jan Duursema. While the colors, inks, and finishes are still a little disconcerting, this arc is a great remind of everything Duursema does well. The character designs are memorable and on point. Despite the many scenes of crowds in uniform, every character has a look that really leaves an impression. But Duursema’s greatest asset is her cinematic framing. Her camera angles are taken right out of the movies, but she blocks her scenes more like a Renaissance painting. The combination creates the illusion that she is simply capturing these amazing moments like the galaxy’s greatest photographer. Meticulous framing that still feels naturalistic- that’s the Duursema guarantee!
As for our hero Cade, his mission to rescue the very man he ratted out is over before it begins. The Sith have already captured Syn and Blue, and some quick negotiations leave Cade a prisoner. He quickly learns the secret origins of Darth Krayt, who was once a Jedi named A’Sharad Hett. Hett was a character from the old EU, and by the end of the arc we have filled in his life from the prequel era to this comic. He battled Obi-Wan on Tattooine, studied on Korriban during the Galactic Civil War and emerged just in time to encounter the Yuzhan Vong.
There are those who don’t like when Star Wars characters get so interconnected. It makes the galaxy feel so small, they argue. And while I acknowledge that position, overexplaining silly bullshit is a proud Star Wars tradition. And in this case, it’s thematically relevant. By the end of the arc, you really feel the weight of all that history on Darth Krayt. This guy has seen the whole history of the Star Wars movies, and lived for centuries. He’s learned all sorts of lessons (some of them bad) and now he’s trying to do all the things Star Wars fans talk about. He gets rid of the rule of two! Explores the secrets of the Force! He’s the kind of bad guy that long-time fans think they would be.
The grand finale of ‘Claws of the Dragon’ is truly thrilling. Krayt orders Cade to execute the Jedi he originally intended to rescue. Cade refuses, at the exact moment his friends show up to rescue him. The ensuing battle is drawn gloriously by the art team, who remembers that lightsaber duels are cool! And all the character work thus far starts to pay off. I was particularly moved by Cade’s goofy reunion with Syn. The two of them have been talking so much smack, but the second they can touch each other, they are hugging and laughing. I also got a chuckle out of Cade’s confusion that this hot imperial spy is somehow his mom.
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Now this story is taking us into new territory. Sure there’s a surprise parent reveal and the temptation of evil, but those themes feel so different. Corde is so different from Vader. Cade’s morality is far from Luke’s. But at this point, it’s hard to predict where this is all going. It doesn’t look like Cade will ever embrace the light, but the story would be a bummer if he succumbs to the dark. But now that this comic has a bit of momentum, prediction games are tons of fun. Good luck to you, and may the Force be with you.
Star Wars Track of the Week: ‘The Ways of the Force’ from The Force Awakens by John Williams
