Emissaries to Malastare (Star Wars: Ongoing, Volume 3) [Paperback]

Tim Truman (Author), Tom Lyle (Author), Robert Jones (Author)

Book Description

Series: Star Wars (Dark Horse) | Publication Date: September 3, 2001

In a time after the events of Episode I -- The Phantom Menace, half of the Jedi High Council travel to the exotic world of Malastare to negotiate a peace treaty between two of that planets warring factions. But the whole affair is being manipulated by a secret, third party out to assassinate the Jedi! Add in the fact that Malastare is one of the few planets to allow the dangerous sport of Pod-Racing and you can be sure that the Jedi are in for some extreme action! This story features many familiar characters from The Phantom Menace and continues the ongoing adventures that bridge the gap between Episodes I & II!

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

West Virginia native Timothy Truman is a true renaissance man. A talented writer, artist, and musician, Truman is known in the world of comics for his sharp, evocative writing and dramatic, detailed artwork. Outside of the comics industry, Truman has developed a stellar reputation as a leading rock-and-roll artist, working in close association with The Grateful Dead since 1991. Truman's intoxicating designs have graced many limited-edition Grateful Dead T-shirts and he was a main contributor to The Grateful Dead Almanac, Kitchen Sink's Grateful Dead Comix, and the DC/Vertigo-published Dogmoon, which he illustrated for famed lyricist Robert Hunter. Truman has contributed an outstanding body of work to Dark Horse Comics' line of Star Wars comics and graphic novels, including a long-running stint on the ongoing Star Wars comic-book series, and an original storyline based on the mysterious bounty hunter Aurra Sing from Star Wars: Episode I. Three collections of Star Wars stories featuring Tim Truman's outstanding storytelling are currently available from Dark Horse Comics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse (September 3, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569715459
• ISBN-13: 978-1569715451
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 6.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #152,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Deserves a second look, now that the saga is complete, July 11, 2005

By 

tropic_of_criticism - See all my reviews

This review is from: Emissaries to Malastare (Star Wars: Ongoing, Volume 3) (Paperback)

As has been noted in other reviews, there is a split in the book's narrative that, at first glance, makes the story seem somewhat disconnected. In fact, what appears to be the case is that the five issues collected here are actually a trilogy (set on Malastare) and duology (set on Nar Shaddaa). Though the two stories do have some common elements, and namely a common enemy, they're really two separate stories, instead of a single five-part adventure. Dark Horse does readers no favors by putting the cover art in five consecutive pages at the end of the book. It would help readers a great deal if they would instead present the storylines with their covers intact so as to make clear where one book ends and the next begins. We'd then come a lot closer to experiencing the books as the serialized adventures they were originally meant to be.

This fact makes the title of the collected volume a little misleading. Indeed, the volume is really misnamed. It almost would've been better to have simply called the work, "Jedi Emissaries", "A Failure of Diplomacy", or in some other way to have de-emphasized the whole Malastare angle. It's kinda hard to justify the current title, given that the last 64 pages don't take place on Malastare at all.

Likewise, my other frustration with the book is that the author's wrongly place the book "shortly before the Battle of Naboo"--which clearly cannot be the case. Anakin is seen as living in the Jedi Temple, fully wearing the standard padawan "uniform", which he only gets after the Battle of Naboo.

These doubts aside, there's a lot here to admire. The art, though not on a par with the higher echelon of DC, Marvel, and independent illustrators, is certainly on the higher end of Dark Horse's contributions to the STAR WARS franchise. It's not the best stuff they've ever put out, but it's closer to the best than not. Those used to the more conceptual, stylized art in, say, SANDMAN, BATMAN: YEAR ONE, or KINGDOM COME, will find the work here more reminiscent of "special" issues of "ordinary" comic books. And that's really what they are. EMISSARIES is from the first half of the second year of Dark Horse's main STAR WARS title. It's the beginning of the better art that would come to dominate much of Dark Horse's monthly output.

The two storylines--that of the diplomatic mission to Malastare and the police action on Nar Shada--effectively demonstrate the differing styles of Jedi, and there's a deft mixture of high action, solid Jedi philosophy, Sith manipulation, and appropriate comedy.

What's most intriguing to me, however, is the care with which the writers take with the franchise. It's important to remember that this book pre-dates the release of Episode II. Yet it feels like it could have been written today. Though the return of Sebulba is most obviously relating the book to Episode I, the Tusken padawan character deftly foreshadows Anakin's development in Episodes II and III, and also amplifies Dark Horse's own previous storylines. More than that, relationships described herein, like that between Mace and his ex-padawan Depa, would later surface in novels like SHATTERPOINT. Now that the film saga is complete, and the prequel-era expanded universe is much better-developed, it's fascinating to see how well-integrated even these early Dark Horse efforts are into entire universe.

Indeed, I would argue that this book is, in a way that's not typical with most comics, perhaps more relevant today than it was on first publication.

4.0 out of 5 stars Again and again- an above average TPB, February 26, 2006

By 

Z. Stern (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Emissaries to Malastare (Star Wars: Ongoing, Volume 3) (Paperback)

Emissaries to Malastare was an above average graphic novel. The binding and artwork were good, but the story had some minor flaws. The story is a conflict is going on between two races and the Jedi Council sends 6 representitives to hold talks for peace. The Council sends Mace Windu, Yaddle, Plo Koon (who finally talks,and what he has to say is cool), Even Piell, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and A'sharad Hett. An immediate flaw is Even Piell. On several pages his name is Evan Piell, and on other he is called Even Piell. This TPB was saved by its ending, however. There is a short at the back of the book about Mace Windu (joined by Depa Billaba) going to Nar Shadda to stop a Hutt smuggling operation at the Circus Horrificus. This graphic novel had excellent references. Quinlan Vos was shown, as was Villie, and Malakili was shown at his job (Malakili was the Rancor-Keeper at Jabba's Palace- Episode 6). Finally, ETM had great binding. Overall, a good buy. Not required, but still very good.

2.0 out of 5 stars Nice art but disconnected unsatisfying story, April 13, 2005

By 

C. Conrad Cady - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Emissaries to Malastare (Star Wars: Ongoing, Volume 3) (Paperback)

After having read the excellent Crimson Empire books, I wanted another taste of Star Wars graphic novels, and when glancing at it in the store, I was impressed by the nice action and artwork. I saw the story had lots to do with Mace Windu, and wanted to read it.

I brought the book home and started reading. The book has two barely related stories, one about an attempt at making peace (which six members (half) of the Jedi Council fail to accomplish) and the second which ends unsatisfyingly with a "perhaps the chancellor can exert enough influence on Nal Hutta to shut this place down."

The art is very nice, and a few scenes are interesting, but overall, a very unsatisfying book. I left the book on a table and reached for it a day later before realizing "oh yeah--I'd already finished it"--the story is that unmemorable.

Do yourself a favor and try the Crimson Empire books instead.