Customer Reviews

The Freedon Nadd Uprising (Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was a great beginning to the TALES OF THE JEDI saga. It properly followed the story outline provided by Tom Veitch in the end text of DARK EMPIRE number 5 (It's too bad that the future stories strayed from that superb plotline). Some of my favorite scenes involved Satal Keto and Aleema discovering the ancient Sith medallion and unknowingly succombing to the dark side of the force. This was a great set-up to a story that would later be ruined by Kevin J. Anderson's interference. The only reason that I did not give this a five star rating was because a certain character gets his arm sliced off and then hooks a fully functioning droid arm on as an instant on the spot replacement! UGHH! Other than that, you have a really cool story.

"The Freedon Nadd Uprising" is another example of the good decision Lucas Books made in deferring to Dark Horse Comics to telling of the Tales of the Jedi series. This is brief graphic novel, about half the size of the traditional comic books. It serves as a means to introducing the characters and the events that will change the lives of the Jedi and the Republic some 4000 years before "A New Hope" (It should be noted that there is another "Tales of the Jedi" graphic novel series set 1000 years prior to this one). It introduces the reader to the characters of Ulic Qel-Droma, Cay Qel-Droma, Nomi Sunrider, Exar Kun, Alema, and numerous other names that became major players in "The Sith War". The story follows an uprising of the followers of a dead Sith Lord named Freedon Nadd on the planet of Onderon. The spirit of Freedon Nadd is still present and using the frail body of the evil former king of Onderon as temporary means to further his evil agenda. Most of the action in the novel deals with the Jedi putting down the uprising and rescuing Jedi Master Arca Jeth. However, the more important developments involve Nadd's identifying the idle rich cousins Satal Keto (sp?) and Alema as greater instruments to enforce his will. The uprising and the former King's role in it were merely distractions to mask Nadd's greater plans. This quick little graphic novel does a marvelous job at laying the groundwork for the treachery that is to come.

Although the bulk of the story happens in the next two books in the Tales of the Jedi series, this is a good setup with enough action to keep you waiting to read Dark Lords of the Sith. Those of you who may be looking for the story of Exar Kun (freed thousands of years later by students of Luke Skywalker) can start reading here, also if you're looking for early tales of Light Side vs. Dark Side, this is a great starting place. But I wouldn't suggest reading this without its sequels.

One can't help but become enchanted with the fate of Ulic and Nomi after reading Knights of the Old Republic. However, Freedon Nadd uprising is a disappointing continuation.

Only the most irrationally fanatical star wars lover could read this and feel anything but disappointment afterwards. This is a work that is deeply unfulfilling not just as a pure work of science fiction but as a piece of the star wars universe.

As a comic, this is awkwardly executed. The exposition and writing suffer from a level of mediocrity that shouldn't be seen outside of a remedial high school classroom. The characters are wooden, the storyline perhaps interesting in conception is embarrassingly weak in execution.

Ulic's treatment as a character epitomizes the total lack of skill wontonly displayed by the writers. He's under the spell of dark force magicians throughout the book but rather than getting a sense of this from his thoughts, behaviors, interactions etc there is simply a voiceover panel saying he looks haggard.

Null whatshisface, appears out of nowhere as a fearsomely clad sith knight but we get no character development, we get no motivation or really even what he's up to. We get no backstory about the characters and very little greater insight into the star wars universe. That's typical of nearly every character. He's dispatched just as quickly. Even the main character, Nomi Sunrider just doesn't really do much or have anything in particular going on.

Nomi's daughter is supposed to be a great jedi, but we see no demonstrations of things to come. Only a couple couple jedi masters mentioning it offhand.

There are a couple panes in each comic that display kind of cool artwork but there's a general inattention to detail that leaves this as mostly C and C- comic. There are even basic things such as Nomi's haircolor changing from blonde to red midcomic. Seriously, don't read this.

Maybe when this first came out over 15 years ago there wasn't the sheer volume of work in the star wars universe. There's new stuff coming out all the time that makes this a total waste of time.

This TPB comic seems to take place after TALES OF THE JEDI, THE COLLECTION so I am placed it in Timeline year 3998 before NH. Released in dec 1997 we get about the same quality art and coloring as TOTJTC (about a C) but dave dorman did the cover art, and he it great! The story also rates a 3. It has good action and is more tightly written than some of the other Old republic era comics. This one is a worthwhile read, but not as good as Darkhorse will start putting out in the future.

The binding on this comic is good and can handle some abuse. Some of the new TPB comic binding since production was moved to China is inferior. I have had a comic fall apart in my hands while reading it.

Although the Freedon Nadd Uprising is short, it is a starting point to begin your Tales of the Jedi readings. It excellently sets up the the events of the Sith War and the following graphic novels. It is action-packed and filled with the kind of drama and violence that only the Star Wars universe can provide.