CELEBRATING STAR WARS I: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

This month marks the 30th Anniversary of George Lucas’ sci-fi masterpiece, which started with Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope in 1977.

Dark Horse Comics and many of its Star Wars artists will be appearing at Star Wars Celebration IV May 25 to 28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Dark Horse has published Star Wars comic books for more than 15 years, with the first series, Dark Empire, released in 1991 and 1992 as a six-issue limited series.

While Dark Empire was set after Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, the publisher has also introduced the ancient history of the Star Wars universe in a series of seven Tales of the Jedi books – Knights of the Old Republic, The Freedon Nadd Uprising, Dark Lords of the Sith, The Sith War, The Golden Age of the Sith, The Fall of the Sith Empire, and Redemption – from 1993 to 1998.

Tales of the Jedi, which covered the Great Sith War and the Nadd Uprising, the Great Hyperspace War, and others, showed the first glimpse of the legendary eras of the Old Republic, and subsequently inspired the popular Knights of the Old Republic game series.

2006 saw the release of a new ongoing series, Knights of the Old Republic, by writer John Jackson Miller. Set eight years before the 2003 game of the same name, Dark Horse’s Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic series also puts the characters right in the middle of The Mandalorian Wars.

As part of Star Wars Celebration here at Newsarama.com, we journeyed back into time with Jackson Miller for a chat about the past, present and future of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

Newsarama: In terms of Jedis in film, we’ve most recently seen the Great Jedi Purge in 2005’s Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Why did you choose this period – a golden age for the Jedi - in the history of the Jedi when you were asked to pitch to Dark Horse (and Lucas Licensing)?

John Jackson Miller: Dark Horse had wanted to revisit this era for some time. It had done the first fiction set in the Old Republic in the Tales of the Jedi comics, using Ben Kenobi’s line about the Jedi keeping peace and order for a thousand generations as the springboard. That work provided a backdrop to the hugely successful Knights of the Old Republic video games — and it seemed high time to return to it in comics.

As I got further into studying the era, it was apparent that all the raw materials for the kinds of stories we saw in the movies were here. Instead of the Rebellion challenging the Empire, you’ve got hordes of Mandalorians charging at the gates of the Republic – and that conflict provides a backdrop for a very basic kind of rethinking of the Star Wars movies. Where the “student betraying the master” was one of the themes of the films, I asked what might make a Jedi Master betray his students.

And that gave rise to the set-up — a seemingly ineffectual padawan who finds himself in the cross-hairs of the Jedi Covenant. A fugitive’s flight, which evolves into a quest for justice…

NRAMA: The Jedi Covenant was first established to prevent the return of the Sith, and to watch for the fall of another Padawan to the dark side, as had happened to Exar Kun. We all know that the acts done by this organization will eventually lead to the New Sith Empire, Palpatine’s New Order as seen in the Prequel and Original Trilogies, and Darth Krayt’s New Sith Order in the Legacy comic series. In your opinion, is Star Wars more than just another rendition of the age old battle between good and evil?

JJM: Star Wars draws on some very old and basic dramatic themes — and it’s in fact the cyclical nature of the battle that partialy inspired the Jedi Covenant, who are some of the “Knights” of this series.

The Covenant sounded to me like something that a few Jedi, at least, would consider a rational response to history’s habit of repeating itself. They know what Jedi can do — and they know what a Jedi who goes bad can do. And so a group of Jedi who can predict the future goes off the ranch to do something about it. It happens that the biggest threat they perceive is right in their midst — their own students — and their rash act to preempt it provides the springboard for our series. They kill four of their students in cold blood, but the fifth, whom they consider the least talented — escapes. But he proves a lot harder to catch than they imagine, even after they pin the murders on him -- because, like Luke Skywalker, he’s got his own dysfunctional band of fellow travellers to rely on. Criminals and fugitives with mysterious pasts all — but people who have helped keep him alive thus far!

And, in fact, we don’t know yet whether the acts of The Covenant will have all those negative effects you describe. The members of The Covenant certainly seem to believe they’re doing the right thing, and for all we know right now, they may be right. We see the debate going on on “Flashpoint”: Did the Mandalorians invade the Republic when they did because Zayne escaped from custody – or was it a coincidence? And as we saw in “Days of Fear,” he does have an uncanny ability to show up right in the thick of things at a lot of pivotal, historical events. It’s very possible that his Masters could be right about him, if for the wrong reasons.

One of my favorite moments in “Days of Fear” was putting Zayne in his Masters’ shoes — predicting a colossal tragedy, and wondering what lengths he might go to to prevent it. It reminded us that things may not be quite so clear-cut – and that when the premise has appeared in fiction, we don’t always approach it with the same assumptions. We’re on Johnny Smith’s side in The Dead Zone – but when the state’s doing the job in Minority Report, we think something else entirely…

NRAMA: The lead character, Zayne Carrick, is a Padawan Jedi who’s still on the run after being framed for the Padawan Massacre of Taris. What’s coming up in the next few arcs, “Nights of Anger”, “Daze of Hate”, “Knights of Suffering”, etc?

JJM: As I mentioned above, Zayne’s Masters are sill hunting him, trying to finish the job — and the current arc, “Nights of Anger,” finds Zayne in military custody, heading toward a reunion he isn’t looking forward to. We heard him pledge at the end of “Commencement” that he would find his murderous Masters before they found him — but this can’t be what he had in mind. A reunion will happen in 2007 — more than one, actually — but I can guarantee it won’t be like anyone imagines!

“Nights of Anger” also finds three of Zayne’s other fellow fugitives -- the addled inventor Camper, his fierce protector Jarael, and the Mandalorian deserter Rohlan – as the unlikely “guests” of Lord Adasca, one of the galaxy’s most powerful industrialists. He approaches as a friend, but it’s clear he’s got a lot on his mind. With the Mandalorian War bringing civilization down around everyone’s ears, what would you do to protect your own? We’ll reveal the truth once and for all about one of our mysterious fugitives, while the questions about the others will deepen. And we’ll find out a lot about a mystery from the movies that’s been floating around for years!

All the forces converge in “Knights of Suffering,” which closes out the year. I don’t want to get too deeply into that yet except to say that not everyone’s getting out of 2007 alive!

NRAMA: Do you have an ending point in mind for this storyline, and launch the series into a whole new direction? Why, or why not?

JJM: I made a pledge when I began that I wouldn’t introduce any mysteries that I didn’t know the answers to. There are number of mysteries within the subplots now — what Camper and Jarael are running from, what Rohlan is searching for, what’s really going on between Lucien and his superiors — and those aren’t even counting the “open questions” from the games and the rest of the continuity. These are all stories with definite resolutions, as I see it, and while we can’t make progress on all of them every issue, we have answered some questions already, and there are more to come.

Now, I won’t promise that those answers won’t raise more questions — as Lucien’s origin story did — just that the ride will be enjoyable!

NRAMA: With characters from the 2003 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic game such as Vrook Lamar, Vandar Tokare, Gadon Thek and Carth Onasi either having made appearances or mentioned in the KotOR comic series, will more characters from the two KotOR games like Canderous Ordo, Bastila Shan (already appeared in “Shadows and Light” in Star Wars Tales #23 previously), Visas Marr (“Unseen, Unheard” in Star Wars Tales #24), Bao-Dur, Mission Vao, Juhani, Darth Traya and others be seen in the upcoming arcs?

JJM: It’s a big galaxy, so even with the large cast of characters and locations mentioned in the games, we wouldn’t expect to keep stumbling over them. We started the series on Taris, just as the first game does, but we quickly went our own way, developing our own cast and situations. That said, there are some more familiar faces in store — some, where we least expect them.

I always try to approach talk about the games cautiously, because the series does stand alone. It’s in the same general realm and time-frame, so it’s obviously part of a larger continuity – but we’re not just about those things. It’s a lot like the super-hero universes in that respect. There’s always the potential to bring in characters and events from other titles — and some of them may even be major subplots. But for the most part, each title has its own mission and tries to break new ground.

So I always try to make sure that when we do bring in someone or something from the comics or games of the past, they’re fully explained. I think the meetings we got with Carth, Vandar, and Admiral Karath gave comics readers a sense of those characters similar to what the veteran gamers already had. I do the continuity-as-Easter-egg thing

NRAMA: Are there also plans to bring back characters from the old Tales of the Jedi series such as Vima Sunrider, for instance?

JJM: I won’t get into specific names, but clearly, there’s already one subplot — the birth of the Covenant — with its roots in those early Dark Horse comics. It is not the only one.

NRAMA: Many are speculating that Alek will eventually become Darth Malak – and many fans have predicting that Zayne might become Darth Nihilus, judging by the “destroyer of worlds” prophecy. With Nihilus already appearing in a Sith holocron in Legacy, is there a big plan that ties everything (the films, comics, games, novels) together? What are you able to tell the readers about Zayne and his role in the great Star Wars saga?

JJM: His role is certainly bigger than he ever imagined it would be, given his inauspicious beginnings. Just so far, he’s done several things that would get him into the history books — that is, if people knew his real role. We don’t — and he doesn’t — yet have the perspective to be able to tell whether he’s been a net force for good or not. It’s through this journey of finding that out that we and he will be able to say whether he’s a great unsung hero — or a despot waiting to crack.

And this is part of the fun of the series — that since there are these games that are out there that have established future villains without full origin stories, that we’re watching those characters being made. You’ve mentioned two theories. I’ve counted 11 that have been seriously argued to me. Any of them could be true – or none.

That’s why the new reader is very much on a level playing field with the old hands. The clues are all there, but you can overlook their meaning if you’re trying to force them into the wrong theory.

NRAMA: What do you think is the appeal of the Star Wars Expanded Universe?

JJM: That so many people can speculate on these kinds of things!

Seriously, imagine going to see the prequel movies not knowing who Darth Vader and the Emperor would turn out to be. I don’t know that anybody in the world did that, but the Expanded Universe gives us that chance to repeat that kind of experience while changing the variables. Many Knights readers know enough about the future to know that the galaxy is spinning out of control, but they’re not sure of everyone’s role in making that happen. That’s a fun way to enjoy some what we liked about the movies, with some new conditions in play.

And I like that there are these iconic, well-defined roles that the films gave us — and that the Expanded Universe allows us to play with those roles.

One of the things I thought of in the beginning of KotOR was, “What if Luke Skywalker had gone to become a smuggler with Han Solo and Chewbacca?” (Yeah, yeah, the Death Star blows up Yavin 4 real good. But I mean, after that.) What would a Jedi’s skills be like in the service of a scoundrel? It’s a question I was interested enough in that it was one of the pitches I did in the beginning with Empire – a Luke/Han role-reversal. That’s not the plot they went with, but I was able to explore those issues with Zayne and Gryph.

NRAMA: It’s interesting to note that your very first Star Wars story was actually “Model Officer” in Star Wars: Empire #35. Do you have more stories from the Original Trilogy featuring Darth Vader and other familiar favorites to tell, if you’re given an opportunity or two again in the future?

JJM: I’m really enjoying working with the Old Republic and hope to keep at it for a long time to come, but if there’s time, sure, I’d love the opportunity. “Always in motion the future is,” as the green guy said, so check your local listings!

The first 12 issues of the ongoing Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic series are now collected in two trade paperbacks, Commencement and Flashpoint.

August will see the release of Star Wars Omnibus: Tales of the Jedi Volume 1, collecting
The Golden Age of the Sith, The Fall of the Sith Empire, Knights of the Old Republic, and The Freedon Nadd Uprising.

For more information on Star Wars Celebration IV, go to starwars.com and click on the Celebration IV button.

[Brankind]

I love the games and enjoying the books

also , first time getting first post , sweet

[Don Mega]

I love Star Wars!

Kotor? Well, the first game was fantastic! The second a big let-down.

The comics? The issues 0 - 6 were veeeeeeeeeeery entertaining. But I dropped the book after issue 9 because the second arc was not what I wanted it to be.

@Brainkind: LOVE your avatar! Great!

[AuH20]

As much as a prefer the EU that exists in and around the six episodes of the Saga, I must say that KOTOR is BY FAR my favorite current Star Wars series. It really captures both the drama and the comedy of the Original Trilogy.

Good job, Mr. Miller.

[SouthtownKid]

The new stuff looks extremely promising... for some reason, the KotOR-era stuff is the only Expanded Universe stuff I've really been able to get interested in. I hope Dark Horse brings the old TPBs back in print. I never got to read one of them (forget which one; it's been a while), and at the time I was looking for it, Dark Horse had let them slip out of print and I wasn't able to find it anywhere.

[jedifish]

This series is all kinds of wonderful and continues to defy my expectations.

[0bsessions]

I must say I'm quite enjoying both this and Legacy in their own distinctive niches. This one has slowed a bit compared to the beginning. Not so much that I'd bring myself to drop it, though.

[ziza9]

Great comic series...still waiting on that damn KOTOR 3 game though. grumble grumble.

[Ace]

I didn't realize that JJM was doing anything right now.

His Iron Man is my favorite take on the character ever.

[artiepants]

i wasn't really down with KOTOR, but i'm lovin' Legacy and Dark times...

[The Mirrorball Man]

The new Star Wars series (in TPB form) have pretty much replaced what was left of my super-heroes fix. I think they're great.

[cindercatz]

This KoTOR series is all kinds of great. This is currently one of my favorite books on the stands. Strangely, it's also the only expanded universe stuff I've really been drawn to (both the games and the comic). I'm reeaallly hoping he manages to work in Mission Vao at some point, (Please?) and also the backstory stuff of (can't remember her name) the surviving fallen Jedi archiver woman from the KoTOR 2 game. She seems like she should be at her height right in the middle of this time, along with the Exile (who we shouldn't see, I think, but might hear about?). Anyway, awesome job and keep it up!

If I want more Knights (specifically this era, more than during the first Sith War, Exar Kun, etc.), where else should I look? Tales, or..?

And I'm also stuck waiting for KoTOR 3. Any word from Lucas? lol

[ziza9]

Originally Posted by cindercatz

This KoTOR series is all kinds of great. This is currently one of my favorite books on the stands. Strangely, it's also the only expanded universe stuff I've really been drawn to (both the games and the comic). I'm reeaallly hoping he manages to work in Mission Vao at some point, (Please?) and also the backstory stuff of (can't remember her name) the surviving fallen Jedi archiver woman from the KoTOR 2 game. She seems like she should be at her height right in the middle of this time, along with the Exile (who we shouldn't see, I think, but might hear about?). Anyway, awesome job and keep it up!

If I want more Knights (specifically this era, more than during the first Sith War, Exar Kun, etc.), where else should I look? Tales, or..?

And I'm also stuck waiting for KoTOR 3. Any word from Lucas? lol

Krei/Darth Traya. The dark Jedi who trained Nihilus, Sion and Revan.

The only word from anyone has been "Mass Effect will be awesome, play that in the meantime." lol We'll see. Other than that the folks at Lucas have said that they won't abandon KOTOR on the next gen systems. In the meantime at least we have some cool comics to hold us over.

[cindercatz]

Krei, yes. Thanks.
Mass Effect does look cook, and that's definitely good news about KoTOR. Thank ya again.

[cindercatz]

Wait, it's not Kreia. She's the mentor in the Exile's party. I'm talking about the Arkanian (if I remember) Jedi outpost Archiver woman, the one who forbid the Handmaiden from training as a Jedi, the Fallen Jedi that debated the Exile about his/her actions during the war towards the end of the game, and about the actions of the Jedi council. She was a Knight, similar to the Exile, I believe, during the Mandalorian War.

[The Mirrorball Man]

Originally Posted by cindercatz

Wait, it's not Kreia. She's the mentor in the Exile's party. I'm talking about the Arkanian (if I remember) Jedi outpost Archiver woman, the one who forbid the Handmaiden from training as a Jedi, the Fallen Jedi that debated the Exile about his/her actions during the war towards the end of the game, and about the actions of the Jedi council. She was a Knight, similar to the Exile, I believe, during the Mandalorian War.

You're talking about Atris.

[CATT]

As some one said above"This KoTOR series is all kinds of great."