Star Wars: Dark Force Rising TPB [Paperback]

Mike Baron (Adapter), Timothy Zahn (Author), Terry Dodson (Illustrator), Kevin Nowlan (Illustrator), Michael Stackpole (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 4, 1998

The Empire is dying, perhaps in its final throes. But like a dog near death, that's when it is most dangerous, when it will lash out with nothing to lose. The ruthless warlord Grand Admiral Thrawn may have found just the firepower needed to take a bite out of the New Republic: some two hundred Dreadnaught heavy cruisers, lost to hyperspace in the days of the Old Republic. Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewbacca may be up against more than they bargained for, but it's not the first time the odds have been stacked against them!

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse (February 4, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569712697
• ISBN-13: 978-1569712696
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 6.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #833,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good story, but read the novels first, June 25, 2001

By 

Anthony (Makati City, Philippines) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Wars: Dark Force Rising TPB (Paperback)

For starters, I read the novel version of this Star Wars story prior to the graphic novel when I was still in college. Fortunately, it's safe to say that I wasn't disappointed in any way. SW: Dark Force Rising was one of my favorite books in the SW mythos and it still is up to now. It features the classic SW characters fans have loved throughout the years of their existence. The book also features some of the really cunning newcomers, which rival that of Darth Vader's infamous exploits. Although I'm sure right now there are better books out there (i.e., Shadows of the Empire, Episode I: Phantom Menace, etc.) Dark Force Rising is an exceptional read and serves as the best intermediary book in Timothy Zahn's Star Wars trilogy.

I admit the Dark Horse Comics adaptation have some faults in them that tends to 'lessen' the depth and impact of the characters as well as put to vagueness the tactical intelligence of the villains originally depicted in the novels, but we can't squarely put the blame on the creative team's shoulders. I know they did their best to cram 400-plus pages of written material into a 144-page graphic album format. In fact they did quite an impressive job despite certain art flaws and story sequence gaps. Dark Horse has managed to give itself some of the much needed credit by telling a very good story for readers (average and avid alike) to be permanently hooked to the Star Wars mythos.

A cool graphic novel to collect if you're the 'completist' type. Though the graphic novel is a real eye candy, I only give it four stars for the little details the creative team failed to put in. Otherwise the book is a good read and well worth your hard-earned cash. But, if you have a better alternative, look for other Star Wars graphic novels instead.

5.0 out of 5 stars The middle of a great trilogy, January 14, 2009

By 

David Pruette "Rancors Love to Read" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Star Wars: Dark Force Rising TPB (Paperback)

Dark Force Rising is the second book in the Thrawn Trilogy and is a great continuation of the struggle between the Republic and Grand Admiral Thrawn's forces. What we are most interested in this time is the legendary Katana fleet, a large fleet of dreadnoughts lost years ago in the depths of space. It is somewhat difficult to imagine that a fleet of this size has never been found, but space is a big place. The fleet is considered to be a myth by most people, but a few know otherwise. Both sides desperately want to find the dreadnoughts as they could prove to be the difference in the war.

Mara Jade and the smuggler Talon Karrde play major roles in this tale. Karrde wants to remain neutral and profitable, but Thrawn forces his hand by attacking the smuggler's base of operations on Myrkr. Mara Jade is an extremely interesting character. She is determined to kill Luke because of his role in the death of the Emperor, but she just never seems to be able to actually do it. She works with Karrde and then with Thrawn and creates several interesting complications.

Luke is still involved with trying to shape the Jedi movement, and he is drawn into a confrontation with the rogue Jedi (or Jedi clone) Joruus C'baoth on Jomark. C'baoth considers himself to be the true leader of the Jedi, and he wants Luke as well Leia and her twins so he can train them in what he espouses to be the correct Jedi way. Leia is busy for much of the book trying to make allies of the Noghri, an alien species that is an excellent addition to the Star Wars realm.

The Thrawn Trilogy is consistently outstanding. I believe that any Star Wars fan will love all three books in this series.

4.0 out of 5 stars Star Wars fans must read, simply as good as it gets., January 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Star Wars: Dark Force Rising TPB (Paperback)

I feel that if you have seen the movies and can't wait for the next Trilogy then you have to revert to reading some books. Well these are about as close as you are going to get to the original characters and action without actually watching the movies. Good story, clever settings. The only complaint would have to be the ending, but it's still ok. - J.A.S.