Brought home from the school library by my son.
Issue: Volume 1
Publisher: Lucas Books, Dark Horse Comics, Spotlight
Date: 2010
Writer: George Lucas, Miles Lane
Artist: Douglas Wheatley
Colorist: Chris Chuckry
Letterer: Michael David Thomas
Cover: Dave Dorman
My son is rapidly learning to love all things Star Wars. Today, he brought this graphic novel adaptation home from the school library (which has a pretty decent graphic novel selection, considering the library is relatively small overall).
This is a 24-page hardcover edition that was originally released as a standard-format comic book. The hardcover treatment is because this is a library edition, although it still seems a bit excessive. They couldn't wait and at least put all four issues in one hardcover to give the complete plot of the movie?
It is a nice-looking book, with a classic-style painted cover by Dave Dorman that evokes the Tim Hildebrandt Star Wars movie poster.
The story, well, it is what it is. None of the Star Wars prequels were all that good, and this one is generally considered the best of a bad bunch, but the action here comes off as either lacking in drama or having drama that is overly forced. Palpatine and Anakin have not subtlety, and no nuance, and the background political discussions form a kind of dull, droning infodump.
Interior artist Douglas Wheatley does a good job of adapting the look of the film, but his reliance on small panels makes the story feel rushed and misses opportunities to play up dramatic moments.
Without some big splash-page art, my son was ready to wander off before we finished this.
Rating: 4/10
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