Posts Tagged ‘Star Wars: Adventures The Will of Darth Vader’

Reviews – The Authority #25, The Will of Darth Vader, Star Wars Invasion: Rescues #3

Saturday, August 7th, 2010

A whole lot of good reviews have been appearing recently, including some great words for Will of Darth Vader (Dark Horse’s top-selling trade for July).  Here’s a ‘best of’ to check out…

Star Wars Adventures:  The Will of Darth Vader AND Luke Skywalker and the Treasure of the Dragonsnakes

“…offering two thought provoking, yet action-filled stories. Luke Skywalker and the Treasure of the Dragonsnakes takes place during Luke’s training on Dagobah with Master Yoda. Taylor allows himself to have fun with Yoda as Yoda in turn has fun with Luke in the name of training. (Teachers who can get this volume away from their students will completely sympathize with Yoda’s desire to gently torment his disciple.) When Yoda sends Luke on a journey to rescue treasure from a ferocious beast, Luke at first cannot understand why his monastic mentor would suddenly be making a selfish request. But, as with all of Yoda’s teachings, there is a deeper meaning. Daxiong’s art is vivid and perfect for action scenes, though he seems unable to draw any facial expressions which would allow his characters to show emotion. Luckily Taylor’s writing is strong enough to carry the story through to a full-circle finish that is not preachy or overly pat.

From there, Taylor turns his focus onto Darth Vader, crafting a story which shows off the massive power Vader commands, while also clearly pointing out the flaws in his philosophy of servitude to the Dark Side. Vader uses a captured smuggler named Luca to get to a Rebel base hidden deep within an asteroid field, but Luca is a wisecracking man who does not lightly given into authority. The brilliance in Taylor’s story is that Luca is not a stand-in for Han Solo. He is very much his own person, a theme which is central to the point Taylor aims to make. The ending of the tale is shocking, powerful, and will force readers to think about the nature of free will.” - Graphic Novel Reporter

The Authority #25“This is Gonna Suck”

“Don’t let the title of the issue fool you. It does everything BUT suck! But rest assured, Tom Taylor finds a clever way to present the title too. I personally thought it was hilarious how he did it.  But the creative team’s not done with us yet. As the solicits reads ‘The Carrier appears to finally be approaching its ultimate destination’. Taylor not only gives us a cool little twist at the end but also leaves us with a great cliffhanger!” - Wildstorm Addiction

Star Wars Invasion: Rescues #3

“Probably one of the best issues in terms of action and moving the story along.”

“I definitely will say I liked this issue. The action was there and the story didn’t drag out but thrust us to the next level.
Overall the issue was solid and action intense. Taylor and Wilson delivered.”
- NJOE.com

‘Star Wars Adventures: The Will of Darth Vader’ Released Next Week!

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Star Wars Adventures: The Will of Darth Vader is no longer being released in August… it’s now coming out next week!

I seriously urge everyone to pick up this book.  I had such a great time writing Vader and I couldn’t be much happier with how the script came together on this one.  A few people have been worried that Vader will be less menacing or less powerful in this book.  Trust me; Vader gets to be Vader;  the Vader I know and respect (and fear), one of the greatest bad guys of all time.  And the supporting character in this book, Luca, gets away with more than you would expect from an Adventures tale.

Gun fights, space battles, pathos and humor.

Get this book!

I will be over at the San Diego Comic Con when it’s released… I imagine I’ll be able to find a copy there.  I’ve been waiting for the release of this book for a very long time.

You can see a preview for The Will of Darth Vader right here – with art by Brian Koschak.

Full SDCC appearance schedule coming soon…

Solicited – The Will Of Darth Vader AND Star Wars: Invasion – Rescues Part 2.

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Two books.

Twice the eye-candy.

Jo’s Chen’s latest Invasion cover has been on high rotation as my desktop wallpaper for the last month.  I love it.  And, hey, the other one is Vader looking like a bad ass.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/images/solicits/darkhorse/201006/SWAdventuresWillVaderFC.jpg

STAR WARS ADVENTURES: THE WILL OF DARTH VADER

Tom Taylor (W), Brain Koschak (P), Dan Parsons (I), Michael Wiggam (C), and Sean McNally (Cover)

On sale Aug 11
FC, 80 pages
$7.99
TPB, 5 1/4″ x 7 1/2″

Darth Vader is on a mission for the Emperor!

When the Rebellion’s hit-and-run attacks on Imperial cargo ships become too audacious to be ignored, Darth Vader is sent in to find the Rebel base and destroy it. But the base, hidden in the center of a constantly shifting asteroid field, cannot be attacked directly.

To reach his target, Vader will have to team up with a recently captured smuggler named Zika—and dealing with an unwilling, wisecracking partner may be more of a trial for the Dark Lord than the actual mission!

http://www.comicbookresources.com/images/solicits/darkhorse/201006/SWInvasionRescues2FC.jpg

STAR WARS: INVASION—RESCUES #2 (of 6)

Tom Taylor (W), Colin Wilson (A), Wes Dzioba (C), and Jo Chen (Cover)

On sale June 30
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

New and vital knowledge sends Finn Galfridian with Jacen and Jaina Solo on a mission to the planet of Artorias. Though Finn does not know if his father, Caled, lives, if there is any chance, he must be warned of new dangers. It’s a hot and dangerous ride to Artorias, and the occupying Yuuzhan Vong are ready with a toothsome, ravaging welcome . . .

Meanwhile, Kaye and Nina, board their newly acquired Vong ship, embark on their own mission. It’s one they can’t refuse: rescuing captives held on a dead planet. There is no telling what peril will meet the rescue party . . .

‘The Will of Darth Vader’ Announced In Star Wars: Insider Magazine

Monday, January 25th, 2010

I live a working life of secrecy.  One of my secrets has been announced this week.  My next Star Wars: Adventures story is “The Will of Darth Vader”.  I haven’t seen a cover image posted anywhere (so I won’t post it yet) but this was seriously one of the most fun scripts I’ve ever written.

I went into Luke Skywalker and the Treasure of the Dragonsnakes with some trepidation.  Writing an untold story of Yoda, Luke and Artoo set during Empire Strikes Back was a real honour and a responsibility I didn’t take lightly.  I agonised over every word in that book and hopefully people will dig it.  Daxiong’s beautifully drawn Yoda is worth the cost of admission alone.

With the script to The Will of Darth Vader I was able to let loose, have fun, and show piles of destruction.  Oh… and I was given the chance to write Darth Vader – the greatest villain of all time!!

I’m actually interviewed in two separate articles in this month’s Star Wars: Insider magazine; an article about the future of Star Wars: Invasion and an article about Luke Skywalker and the Treasure of the Dragonsnakes – which is due out on the 3rd of February.

It’s a big week, with Star Wars: Insider one of two internationally released magazines I’m interviewed in.  There are also a pile of other things happening which I’ll be posting about later.