Qui-Gon & Obi-Wan: Last Stand on Ord Mantell #2 (of 3) [Also available Photo Cover] Story: Ryder Windham Art: Ramon F. Bachs Inking: Raul Fernandez Coloring: Bodhi Tree Lettering: Steve Dutro Cover: Ramon F. Bachs, Raul Fernandez and Bodhi Tree Released: 02/21/2001 Reviewed by: JF Boivin (11/07/2004) SUMMARY: The mystery deepens: the Jedi learn from a farmer named Orin Bold that a land baron named Taxer Sundown possesses Jedi-like powers. The farmer's daughter Nella offers to lead them to Sundown's stellar energy station. Once they arrive, they are attacked by lightsaber-wielding soldiers who seem to be in a trance. During the fight, Nella is kidnapped and taken aboard a flyer. The Jedi decide to go to her rescue.

[art cover] [photo cover]

THE STORY

The story keeps up the quality established in the first issue. We not only discover that the Bolds are owners of the moisture farm from the old newspaper strips (see review of #1), but we also learn the backstory of this area of Ord Mantell and the energy station on Ten-Mile Plateau (from Archie Goodwin's "The Bounty Hunter of Ord Mantell" strip, see Classic Star Wars #1-2). Windham even threw in the flyer with the tractor beam used by Skorr in that story to capture Han Solo. We learn a little more about the Savrips (are they animals, or sentients?) until all is revealed in the conclusion next issue. There is also a reference to the SW Radio Drama in the form of a deactivation code for droids (Epsilon Actual), and a new vehicle the Incom T-24 airspeeder. All that while keeping the story fast-paced and interesting. Who is Taxer Sundown, and how does he hypnotize all these people? I can't wait to find out in #3.

THE ART

The art is a little better with this one. It seems that Bachs is very good with exteriors and landscapes. Vehicles and buildings are pretty faithful to what was previously established, and the characters are a bit more life-like.

Only two covers this issue, with a photo cover also available for those who like this sort of thing.

CONCLUSIONS

This promises to be one of my all-time favorite series.

Rating: 9 / 10 Highly Recommended