Dark Force Rising #5 (of 6)

Story: Mike Baron (adapted from Timothy Zahn)
Pencils: Terry Dodson
Inks: Kevin Nowlan
Color: Pamela Rambo

Mara and Luke attempt to save Karrde from Thrawn's Star Destroyer. Leia attempts to bring the truth about the Noghri home world to light. Reviewed 10/04/97 Story As I've mentioned before, compressing someone else's novel into a comic is much harder than writing a new story for the medium. Even with six issues, a lot has to be left out in order to fit in the allotted space. To me, this issue felt a little choppy/less natural than the previous issues. Don't get me wrong... it's still good, it's just not as extraordinary as we've come to expect. (It's like comparing Gretzky today with Gretzky in 1987.) I also suspect that because this is the point in the novel where the many varied subplots begin to merge that DH can't focus the issue as it had the freedom to do in the past. I guess this isn't a bad thing. Art My same general opinions of the art in this series remain unchanged from issue #1... good technology, acceptable people, acceptable coloring, nice overall look and effect. Since I've got only seven issues left of Mara Jade, (have I mentioned recently that I desperately want a Jade series from DH?) I'll choose to comment on her rendering in issue #5... Most of Mara's appearances in this issue hide her face or show only the back of her head. Normally I'd say that this is an injustice... but Dodson's backslidden and has Mara looking just wrong in a new way in each of her facial shots, so I'm just as happy that the opportunities were kept to a minimum. Please return Mara to her European look from HTTE. She was PERFECT there!! My over-all impression of the pencils in this issue is that this one was done in an abnormal hurry. Attention to detail seems to be lost... from just basic leg/body proportions to Leia looking more like Kirsty Alley than Carrie Fisher. This wouldn't surprise me considering the tight schedule for this book as compared to HTTE. Summary This issue is lesser only in the light of #1-#4. It's still a great read with truly SW-worthy visuals. 7.5/10. Recommended.
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