“Their lives became a moving meditation on the Force”
Creative Staff:
Writer: John Ostrander
Artists: Jan Duursema, Dan Parsons
What They Say:
On the planet Tython, in the center of the galaxy, an order of warrior monks strives to maintain peace and to balance the mysterious power known as the Force. But a stranger is coming–one who will destroy both peace and balance, and open the galaxy to exploration and conquest. This is where it all begins!
John Ostrander and Jan Duursema of Star Wars: Legacy fame reveal the mythic age of the Jedi’s beginnings!
The Review:
We begin our tale as all Star Wars tales should…. “a long, long, time ago.” The deepest, oldest origins of the Jedi – or “Je’daii” are they were first named – are finally being revealed, and the first issue comes out of the gate with beauty and strength.
I loved the parallel structure of the calling of the Force sensitives into the Tho Yor – with each group discovering what they needed in the Force. The lyrical text was just the right accompaniment to the art. It’s not often that I really notice the writing style itself in a comic, and I thought it set just the right tone for the sense of awe that surrounds the understanding of the Force. This segment of the issue was just the right length, too. We understood the purpose of the call, and we could see the focus on the balance of the Force.
Next, we saw the ages pass, and the struggles faced by the non sensitives in this culture, with some rebelling against the Je’daii, and the aftermath of that rebellion. Again, there was just enough detail to help us understand the foundation of the society where the rest of the story will take place.
The next jump in the text takes us forward to a focus on individual characters, starting with students and a teacher of the Je’daii. The emphasis on balance stood in stark contrast to the light side versus dark side mentality of the Jedi I am used to. I’m hooked, just in that one little change, and I have to learn how it all changes. A final hook is introduced in the characters of the Force Hounds, used by their masters to seek out Force rich places and cull those sensitive in the Force. As it stands, they don’t yet know about the world of Tython, but the stage is set for the conflict that is coming, and I’m eager to see how it plays out.
In Summary:
Jumping in at the start of a new series is an exhilarating feeling, made even more exciting for me because this is Star Wars – and where it all begins. This was an amazing way to start off a story. The setup of the issue is well paced; the writing is lyrical and lovely. They spent just the right amount of time on the arrival of the Force sensitives on Tython, jumping into the more recent story smoothly. The art is amazing throughout, showcasing the varied climates and sentient lifeforms beautifully. Dawn of the Jedi definitely has made it into my monthly “must read” list.
Grade: A
Readers Rating: [ratings]
