MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Jody Houser
PENCILS: Cory Smith
INKS: Walden Wong
COLORS: Java Tartaglia
LETTERS: VC's Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Mark Paniccia
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: Paolo Rivera
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Cory Smith with Romulo Fajardo, Jr.; Giuseppe Camuncoli with Elia Bonetti; Mike McKone with Guru-eFX
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2019)
Rated T
“Balance”
Qui-Gon Jinn, a Jedi Knight, was one of the breakout characters in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. He was killed in that movie, but his presence was a fixture in later films and animated television series, directly and indirectly.
Marvel Comics is currently publishing a new Star Wars maxi-series project that comprises three books: Star Wars: Age of Republic, Star Wars: Age of Rebellion, and Star Wars: Age of Resistance. This project will span 30 issues in total (reportedly), with each issue spotlighting one hero or villain from one of three particular Star Wars eras: Republic (prequel trilogy), Rebellion (original trilogy), and Resistance (sequel trilogy).
Star Wars: Age of Republic – Qui-Gon Jinn #1 (“Balance”) was the first release (December 2018) in the nine-issue Age of Republic series. It is written by Jody Houser; drawn by Cory Smith (pencils) and Walden Wong (inks); colored by Java Tartaglia; and lettered by Travis Lanham. The story is set sometime before the events depicted in The Phantom Menace.
The story entitled “Balance,” opens on the planet of “Bri'n.” Qui-Gon was trying to negotiate a peace between Mistress Th'er, the “Priestess of the Wood,” who wants to save the trees of the planet and the “Metal Clan,” who want to cut down the trees. Ultimately, Qui-Gon and his padewan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, have to take Th'er back to Coruscant, much to her chagrin.
Troubled by what happened on Bri'n, Qui-Gon has a philosophical discussion with Master Yoda of the Jedi Council. The result of this conversation is that Qui-Gon seeks a place where he can commune with the Force, but only the Force will decide this place of communion.
Star Wars: Age of Republic – Qui-Gon Jinn #1 is a nice read. Perhaps, here, writer Jody Houser is offering a tale that is a little stronger than the one she offers in Star Wars: Age of Republic – Darth Maul #1. “Balance,” with its refusal to offer concrete answers, seems to personify the Qui-Gon of The Phantom Menace, a Jedi conflicted about the state of things concerning and surrounding the Jedi.
Artist Cory Smith is certainly a good Star Wars comic book artist. The environments, characters, costumed, ships, etc.: Smith illustrations here are convincing, and Walden Wong's inking makes Smith's pencils seem solid. That is good thing in a story that can be a bit dreamy and ethereal in places. Java Tartaglia's coloring is quite good, especially on the Bri'n scenes and in the “dream” sequence. Travis Lanham keeps his lettering unobtrusive, but he tells the story in an effective manner while his lettering seems to blend into the scenery of the story.
I would like more of Star Wars: Age of Republic – Qui-Gon Jinn #1. In fact, like all the Age of Republic comic books, this one especially should be a double issue.
7 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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