Star Wars Adventures: The Clone Wars – Battle Tales #1: Begun, the Clone Wars Have…..Again

Okay, I’m just gonna get this out in the open. I really didn’t need anymore Clone Wars. I enjoyed the series, I loved the comics, I really loved the “lost season” on Netflix but after that, I was done. It was just the right amount of stories from that particular era in the Star Wars saga. But, when IDW announced they were doing a weekly mini-series, I was really intrigued because I’ve been loving the Star Wars Adventures books from IDW. It turns out that I was totally wrong, I DO need more stories from the Clone Wars era. Well, as long as they’re done like this comic, anyway. Author Michael Moreci lays out a really fun, exciting story that has all the hallmarks of what made the tv show so enjoyable to watch. He really brings the dynamic out of the clones themselves, how they have a brotherhood, yet each with their own individual personality. Now, I don’t want to spoil anything, but there’s a story within a story this issue, and he really gets the slam dunk with both of them and leaves you in suspense with one. The story within the story is amazing because it kind of felt like it was from a different TV series. One that was done during the Droids/Ewoks era. He took a total 180-degree turn story-telling wise, and it worked perfectly. Just some really solid work by Moreci here!

But, he’s not alone. Remember what I said about the stories being from different eras? It’s due in large part to the art. Artist Derek Charm handles the “current” story while Arianna Florean & Mario Del Pennino take us back in time for the other story. Charm does a great 2D interpretation of the CGI cartoon, but Florean & Del Pennino take these characters and setting to places they’ve never really been as they produce what looks like the vintage style of an 80s cartoon, and that style fits the story like a glove. I really hope to see more from this art team, as they’ve only scratched the surface of what I believe they can do.

This is a great book, and you really owe it to yourself to pick it up. It captures the look, feel, and tone of the series perfectly.