The Force has always been a mysterious element in the Star Wars universe. It drives all living things, the world around them, and can help to shape the destiny of those that can harness it. But where did it all begin? Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi is a comic book series that is going to attempt to explain the origins of the Jedi Order and their dark force rivals, the Sith.
Issue zero is mostly background information about the galaxy and worlds that these early days of the Je’daii will inhabit this story. Je’Daii means mystic (je) and center (daii), which refers to the mysterious Force that binds everything together. And if there’s one thing this issue zero does well, it’s that it binds everything together. In this handy introduction to the series you’ll know who the characters are, what planets they’re on, and you’ll get some inside information for plot points down the road.
The artwork by Jan Duuresma feels like authentic Star Wars technology, characters, and settings. Unlike the Clone Wars stories that are so popular nowadays, this art style focuses less on super sleek and modern and goes for the more classic tech look of the original Star Wars stories. There’s also some great allusions to where some of the modern weapons and ships found in the later stories come from, and I for one can’t wait to see them in action.
The writing by John Ostrander feels almost like a video game or roleplaying guide, which isn’t a bad thing, but it does give you more of a feeling of experience with the oncoming story. All of the background information and locations will make these places feel even more real as characters begin to interact in them. The backstories of the characters don’t feel forced or contrived, and you can tell that the writer was detail oriented in a way that’s subtle and not overbearing.
If you’re a Star Wars comic book fan and are eagerly awaiting this series, then this is an issue worth having in your collection.
