Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Volume 2 - Flashpoint (v. 2) [Paperback]

John Jackson Miller (Author), Brian Ching (Author), Dustin Weaver (Author), Harvey Tolibao (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 22, 2007 | Series: Star Wars : Knights of the Old Republic (Book 2)

Nearly 4,000 years before the Death Star, fugitive Padawan Zayne Carrick's quest to clear his name for the alleged murder of his fellow Jedi-in-training brings him head to head with the galaxy's most feared fighting force - the Mandalorians! Along with a petty crook named Gryph and Elbee the grouchy droid, Zayne is a passenger aboard the Last Resort, a renegade ship piloted by the senile genius Camper and his fierce protector Jarael. Together, this motley crew will face kidnappings, hijackings, maniacal scientists, Mandalorian traitors, bumbling bounty hunting brothers, and a few really big explosions.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Jackson Miller is the author of the national best-selling novel, Star Wars: Knight Errant, nine Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic graphic novels, and the Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith eBook series. His comics work includes writing for Iron Man, Mass Effect, Bart Simpson, and Indiana Jones. Author of several books about comic-book history, he also runs the research website, The Comics Chronicles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse (May 22, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593077610
• ISBN-13: 978-1593077617
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.3 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #75,296 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Author John Jackson Miller has spent a lifetime immersed in the worlds of fantasy and science fiction. He's best known for his Star Wars work, including Star Wars: Knight Errant, his national bestselling novel from Del Rey; Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith; and his long-running Knights of the Old Republic comics series from Dark Horse. His Star Wars: Kenobi hardcover releases in August 2013.

He's written comics for Mass Effect, Iron Man, The Simpsons, and Indiana Jones, and has written for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game. Production notes on all his works can be found at his fiction site (farawaypress.com).

Miller is also a noted comics industry historian, specializing in studying comic-book circulation as presented on his website, The Comics Chronicles (comichron.com). He also coauthored the Standard Catalog of Comic Books series.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious sophomore effort February 4, 2008

By Daiho VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The first story arc of many comic books tends to be rather lifeless. The authors generally write them not as self-contained stories, but as a writer's guide establishing the major characters, settings, and situations that will carry on for years, if not decades.

The first volume of Dark Horse's KOTOR was as origin stories go fairly entertaining. Despite having the aroma and flavor of Lucas left-overs (a Jedi-centric story featuring a white teenage boy set in the midst of a galaxy-wide war populated with the same old species playing the same old roles), writer John Jackson Miller spiced things up with a couple of clever plot twists and great comic timing.

In this second volume, though, he hits his stride, delivering what has to be the funniest comic book of 2007, and certainly the funniest Star Wars comic ever. Forget Tag and Bink. Check out Del and Dob, the Ithorian brothers who woke up on the wrong side of the species. Assigned to track a likely contact of padawan fugitive Zayne Carrick, the pair set in motion a 2-chapter comedy of errors when they decide to take the initiative and capture their contact instead. Besides creating characters that are sure to be fan favorites, Miller also finds at last a voice for Gryph, a character that previously played only a role (the problem-solver who knows where to go and who to ask), but who comes into his own as a key player and comic sidekick in both stories of Flashpoint.

Miller in addition introduces two Mandalorians that will likely be appearing in future stories. The evil genius Demagol is rather crudely drawn. Outfitted in Mandalorian armor, we never see his face or learn much about him except that he is investigating the source of Jedi force abilities in order to neutralize or replicate such powers.... And he enjoys experimenting on live subjects. He's prepared to have his way with Jarael when Zayne and the Mandalorian deserter Rohlan show up on the penal outpost of Flashpoint to launch an expertly crafted jailbreak. Less comic in tone than the story featuring the Ithorian brothers, Miller nevertheless manages to work in some great one-liners, like the farewell between the Jedi known as Squint - "May the Force be with you." - and Zayne - "Yeah, we'll see how that goes..."

And if that weren't enough for one volume, Miller also delivers a chapter of back-story on Lucien Draay, the leader and fixer for the murderous cabal of Jedi seers, those who hired the Ithorians and who want Zayne Carrick's head.

About the only disappointment in this volume, aside from the anemic villain Demagol, is the rotating stable of artists. I have since the Clone Wars been a fan of Brian Ching and enjoyed his work on Commencement, but in Flashpoint he delivers only two chapters out of six. And compared side-by-side with Dustin Weaver and Harvey Tolibao's pencils, I find Ching's work stiffer, less life-like, less animated.

My only other concern has to do with the KOTOR universe as a whole, which is being crafted partly by Miller, but which is also in part dictated by Lucas Arts, publisher of the two popular KOTOR video games. While reading these comics, what becomes increasingly apparent - and annoying - is that time and innovation move at a glacial pace in the SW universe. For over 4000 years Mandalorians wear the same basic armor design, hyperspace travel seems not to have improved, nor has hologram technology. Humans rely on droids that mimic human form in its crudest manufacture; their design, form and function change as little as their nomenclature. The same is true of ship form and function; space battles are waged like chess matches - powerful but unwieldy capital ships supported by smaller, maneuverable craft following set rules of engagement. Perhaps some future writer will take note of these trends and craft a story explaining how the constant wrangling of Jedi and Sith retarded technological and social progress in the Galaxy Far Far Away.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Jedi Falling September 16, 2007

By Juan C. Depaz

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The writers of this series are following closely the stories of the video games. Not in continuety but in spirit. You can clearly see how the old Jedi Masters abandon and virually disown the war-effort against the brutal Mandalorians and thus condemn the younger knights. I felt that it was THIS that created the new wave of Sith Lords later on. The beleagered young Jedi had to suffer too much without guidance. Then they became powerdrunk and despised their old masters, who had sat out most of the war and all their suffering. Of course they would fall for the Dark Side. Why wouldn't they when half of their old masters already REEK of the Dark Side?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent July 10, 2008

By ZachWhaley

Format:Paperback

Very Good! Artwork and story were amazing! I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the video game Knights of the Old Republic.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An extraordinary tale from the epic saga! April 5, 2008

By Matt Stevenson

Format:Paperback

Knights of the Old Republic volume 2 is an excellant tale in both adventure and fantasy in the Star Wars expanded universe. The characters, the setting are all one fantastic set piece that holds the torch in what made the Star Wars a phenonmenon. Every page is made up of pure adventure and excitement as the story from a galaxy far, far away. This volumes makes an excellent edition to my trade paper back collection of comics that are part of the pop culture phenonmenon.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Fine Collection From Dark Horse July 21, 2007

By John Bindas

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Dark Horse continues their tradition of non-Heroes of Yavin stories with another good entry. Zayne is a different breed of Jedi from the typical mold, neither all-powerful or traditional. Great action, great artwork, and a great concept.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 2 nicely drawn stories July 18, 2007

By Julie VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Flashpoint uses some tried and true storylines, but the art is very nice and the dialogue is decent. A worthwhile read. I'm working my way through it a second time. Zayne's growing on me....at first I believed to be every stereotypical failed padawan rolled into one bumbling idiot...but he's getting more believable as the pages pass.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for star wars fans June 7, 2013

By SL13

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great product! Great product! Great Product! Great product! Great product! Great Product! Great product! Great product! Great Product! Great product! Great product! Great Product! Great product! Great product! Great Product! Great product! Great product! Great Product! I enjoy it a lot and I'm glad I ordered it. My friend recommended this product to me as well. So I'm glad I ordered it. It's great that's all can I please stop typing now?

4.0 out of 5 stars the war has officially began April 20, 2013

By Tookie

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

John Jackson Miller continues Knights of the Old Republic in volume two Flashpoint. Zayne and his crew are still trying to find a way to survive when they land on Vanquo to gather supplies. Then mandalorians arrive and after an attempt to flee, Jarael is captured. Although the rest of the crew makes it to their ship(the Last Resort) It's been hijacked by a mandalorian, Rohlan Dyre. After being acquainted to Rohlan, Zayne and his crew find themselves flying back to a small planet where the mandalorians are scientifically testing captured jedi. There are also two other chapters in the book. One shows the past of Master Lucien Draay and the other four members of their jedi council came to be. The last chapter concludes the book with a situation that reveals part of Luciens plan to capture Zayne, and this reunites Zayne with his father. This story is good, but I think I personally enjoyed the first volume just a little more. Although I also think the art in this book looks a little cleaner. I give this book 4.4/5 stars