The Defense of Kamino and Other Tales (Star Wars: Clone Wars, Vol. 1) [Paperback]

John Ostrander (Author), Haden Blackman (Author), Jan Duursema (Author), Tomas Giorello (Author)

Book Description

Series: Star Wars: Clone Wars (Dark Horse Comics Paperback) | Publication Date: September 15, 2003

For 25 years, fans have wondered about the Clone Wars. With the release of Episode II, audiences witnessed the events that started that epic conflict. Starting this year, LucasBooks is chronicling these historic events through comics, adult novels, middle grade fiction, audio books, short stories, and more - revealing the all-important events that occur between Episodes II and III in preparation for the latter's release in 2005. This volume collects the first issues of Dark Horse's ongoing Star Wars: Republic comic book that chronicle the Clone Wars, starting with issue #50.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse (September 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569719624
• ISBN-13: 978-1569719626
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,839 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stories providing key details about the Clone Wars., July 25, 2003

By 

JediMack (VALRICO, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Defense of Kamino and Other Tales (Star Wars: Clone Wars, Vol. 1) (Paperback)

This is a review of Dark horse TPB Star wars Clone Wars Volume 1 The Defense of Kamino (CW-DOK) and other tales. It collects Republic series 49 and 50 plus Jedi Mace Windu. It takes place 1 TO 3 months after the battle of Geonosis but before the excellent novel SHATTERPOINT, year -21 BNH on the timeline.

It was amazing to read this comic jus a couple days after finishing Shatterpoint. The coordination between Dark horse and Del Rey is a thrilling thing. After the hideous results of NJO the whole Expanded universe prequel effort is spine chillingly amazing!

Story one Sacrific. This story takes place 1 month after the battle of Geonosis and is another glorious effort from the team of Ostrander and Duursema. This story includes Zenex, who is of the same race as Xizor, future head of black sun. We also see Aalya Secura as a jedi after her trials and tribulations earlier and her master Quinlan Vos, a favorite of my son and I. The story and artwork are superior. The decision as to coloring is puzzling, as it seems to mute and darken the whole visual effect. And why color the light sabers in predominant white with only a hue of color around the energy blade? Dooku and our buddy Sidious are of course in this story.

Story 2 The Defense of Kamino is broken up into 3 tales.

Tales A. Brothers in Arms. Good story with impressive artwork and awesome coloring. The coloring is still done as if in a dark atmosphere, but the inker Parsons was created a richer for satisfying visual look than we saw in story one. The pencil work by Duursema is awesome as usual, and the drawings of Ben and Anakin are perfect.

Tale B Jango's Legacy is very good, but I have one negative comment. Duursema must not have given Thompson the pictures of what Ben and Anakin look like because he didn't do a very good job. Stephen, you got to be more careful when drawing someone that everyone knows. Good job otherwise.

Tales C. No End in Sight. This has an awesome space battle that is a visual marvel on all levels.

Story 3. Schism. Features Windu and is another masterful job by Ostrander - Duursema and Parsons.

ONE OF MY PET PEEVES HAS BEEN THE BINDING PROBLEMS WITH THE COMICS MADE IN CHINA. THIS ONE HAS SEEN SOME ABUSE ALREADY AND IT IS NOT FALLING APART IN MY HANDS.

This story here ties into the movies and other comic so well and, with only minor complaints, is a visual marvel, is it OK to mention the enemy?, that I am awarding this comic SOMETHING I RARELY DO... 5 STARS.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Entertaining Graphic Novel with A Few Stumblings, July 30, 2006

By 

E - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Defense of Kamino and Other Tales (Star Wars: Clone Wars, Vol. 1) (Paperback)

To the knowledge of any person who has read a Star Wars comic, you get a grab bag of exciting adventure or a headache of boring drivel; the first volume of the Clone Wars graphic novel series is no different. Here, you get five different, self-contained stories (with the exception of Jedi master Quinlan Vos' story, which spans over into a few more volumes of the Clone Wars series) that have to do more or less with the entire Clone Wars saga, and events leading up to those that take place in Episode III.

Two of the five stories I really like; one is slightly interesting only in a whimsical sense; and the other two are just crap put into the graphic novel to thicken it up a little bit and give it some more pages so that the title 'trade paperback' may be more appropriate and fitting.

We'll start with the bad. The third story has to deal with Shaak Ti, Obi, Anakin, and a (slightly insane) clone trooper, the latter who insists on killing clone fetuses of Jango's stock. The Jedi knights Ti and Obi convince the trooper not to eradicate the unborn fetuses; I get the overall scientific/tolerance paradox this tries to feed readers, but...well, the stories sucks. Who cares? (This isn't a lecture on stem cell research or "designer babies".)

The other dumb story is where Obi and Anakin get stranded in the middle of an ocean on Kamino as their plane blows up over it. That entire storyline was just stupid, boring, and pointless.

Next up is a battle fought between Mon Calamari soldiers on an underwater vessel...? What's the point to this stuff?? This story was interesting in the sense that it deals with a species of aliens that we don't get to see much about, but the story is...moronic.

The cool stories, in my opinion, are the first and the last one. The first begins the story arc with Jedi master Quinlan Vos, his apprentice Aayla Secura, and Vos' to-be lover Khayleen. Vos and Secura duke it out with a Confederacy-sympathizer named Zenex.

The last story is truly a gem. It explains the fall of the Jedi Sora Bulq (who joined the leagues of Count Dooku) and his followers. Besides that fact, the main story focuses on the character Mace Windu, whom I absolutely love! (I like his witty sarcasm and overly seriousness that is so snaringly dire it's funny!) The artwork in the first and last stories is just breathtaking and amazing.

If you're looking to be entertained, then "The Defense of Kamino" is a worthwhile effort. However, you'll only enjoy it if you're willing to look past the couple shortcomings and stumblings. You'll only consider to be worthy of 4 or 5 stars unless you're a complete Star Wars junkie who loves anything George Lucas does (even if he sold his dentures). However, I'm no Star Wars junkie (in fact, SW sometimes can be downright corny, cheesy, and overly campy) and don't worship the holy ground the demagogue George Lucas steps on. But I thought the first volume of this series was worth a shot: it is.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Clone Wars in living color, September 13, 2005

By 

Ryan Phoenix (Cali) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Defense of Kamino and Other Tales (Star Wars: Clone Wars, Vol. 1) (Paperback)

Dark Horse has emerged as one of the greatest publishers of Star Wars stories--through their epic comic books. Kicking off the epic, The Defense of Kamino assembles a set of issues that range in topic from, of course, the Battle of Kamino to the Schism in the Jedi Order. For ANYONE looking to get a detailed look inside the Clone Wars and the hearts of the Jedi behind them, Dark Horse's Clone Wars series is the perfect place to look.

In this volume, you'll find not only the gorgeous artwork of your favorite Jedi, but a deep and meaningful few stories. There are six total (as of writing this) volumes of the "Clone Wars" series, and what a way to kick it off here.

From the father-son relationship Obi-Wan and Anakin share to Mace Windu's attempt to lead fellow Jedi back on the path of the light to a fresh and incredible character most would not have heard of before--Quinlan Vos--and his "Mission Impossible".

For Star Wars fans, it's all here in the comics. I highly recommend reading the Clone Wars series of Dark Horse comic books. You will love every page of this.