Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, Vol. 5

Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures #5

by Matt Jacobs, W. Haden Blackman, Shawn Fillbach

Strap in for another tour through the highly charged Clone Wars Adventures!

As the fires of the Clone Wars burn across the galaxy, heroes on both sides of the conflict emerge, and no matter what the outcome, the galaxy will be forever changed. Presenting four more pulse-racing tales of knock-down, drag-out action and adventure, all told in the same stripped-down stylization as Cartoon Network's micro-series.

Genres: Star Wars, Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2006

Reviews

[Sophie_The_Jedi_Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, this whole volume is... wow.

The first story is about Aayla Secura, who was my favorite prequel Jedi growing up. Again, I didn't watch Clone Wars, but I liked her design and knew that she kind of had a romance with Kit Fisto. She's really great in this story, and I loved the battle droid. It's surprisingly emotional.

This next one is technically the weakest in comparison to the others, but it's still so cool seeing Bail Organa off on a mission. I love how these comics feature even the smaller characters in their stories.

The third story was one with the clones that I vaguely remembered, but I didn't know how it ended. And let me say - that last page shot chills right down my spine. Wow. And the parallel artwork throughout... wow.

I remembered only bits and pieces of the final story, but my gosh, that ending! It gives me chills too, seriously, it's amazing! It has a bit of an open ending, but not an unsatisfying one. And I love stories that take place during Order 66!

5/5 stars, not a slow story in the bunch!

[Dimitris Papastergiou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in 22BBY

Fun times with the Jedi during the Clone Wars!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

probably my least favorite one. the first story was pretty cool but the rest were just mediocre.

[Graham Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Read in 2006, review from 2024)

The last of these Clone Wars Adventures comics I read when I was a kid. This one was entertaining seeing Endor/Ewoks during the Clone Wars era, the pretty unique story of a clone officer and Separatist ally unknowingly/inadvertently teaming up for a mission (ends tragically though), and the closing comic of a Jedi padawan teaming up with a gang during Order 66. It was entertaining at the time but my Star Wars/comic interests had shifted away from this series afterwards so I don't know if the rest of the comic series was worth checking out.

[Rivulet027 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first story in this collection Aayla and Bly have discovered that the Separatist outpost is deserted and there's no sign of the scouting squad they sent for recon. Then they find evidence of a battle with destroyed battle droid and empty clone trooper armor. Aayla goes to scout on her own and quickly finds a battle droid. She cuts off it's legs and arms...and then Aayla is knocked out. When she wakes up she surrounded by Ewoks with the battle droid tied up. The battle droid says he hopes the Ewoks eat Aayla. It takes a moment for everyone to get along. Aayla is not pleased that her troopers are missing and the battle droid gets sassy, but eventually agrees to translate. It turns out there's a monster (which is very um arachnoid in nature) that's dragging people back to it's lair and eating them. Aayla takes the droid with her and goes to fight it. She wins, but in doing so the battle droid is destroyed. Aayla meets back up with Bly and tells him, " We must find out why the Separatists are building these small outposts in these remote systems. I'll discuss this matter with Master Yoda once we've returned from Felucia." And then they take off together.

The nest story is called Bailed Out. I'm sure the pun is intended. Bail, Captain Antilles, and an unnamed woman are meeting 'Foreman' Tambor on Metalorn so Bail can be shown how if Alderaan joins the Separatists he can start using all of Alderaan's natural resource to make money. Bail is more interested in seeing how they handle crime and their jailing system. Tambor is all why would you want to see that when I can show you how to use all your planet's nature resources and subjugate your people, to which Bail responds, "Well, if I'm to Indenture Alderaan's entire population as my workforce I'll need a secure place to house dissidents." Tambor is convinced and they head off to the jail, though Captain Antilles heads back to the ship and Bail apologizes for his weak stomach. Then Bail insists on seeing where the worst offenders are held, the most secure cells. There is currently only one occupied cell. Bail throws the box he's been carrying this entire time and yells "Shaak Ti!" Her lightsaber comes out of the box and she uses it to cut herself out of her cell and then they escape! When they're safely flying away they decide that their first priority is to report the Metalorn situation to the council.

The third story has Count Dooku and General Grievous orbiting Vidaav. The Republic has arrived with troops and Count Dooku had the battle droid rig the planets mining charges to activate in a sequence that will leave the planet's surface destroyed. A battle droid asks about the mining colonists. Count Dooku says, "We need them to keep the Republic troops pinned down, let them live on in history." The Republic troops quickly realize what's going on and that the planet will be destroyed. They don't have enough time to evacuate themselves so they decide to fight their way through the colonists in the hopes of being able to deactivate the mines. Only the Commander survives to make it into the building. a Viidaav follows him in. They both make it to the computer and are pointing their blasters at each other. Then they fire. The Viidaav dies wounded. The ship contacts the commander saying the mines didn't go off, but they heard blaster fire and want to know if he's okay. The Commander said he was never the target, the Viidaav had shot the computer and not the Commander.

The forth story is Master Sev and Padawan Joc. They're on Ragmar V. Joc is upset because he thought his first solo battle would be "real action" and not a small fight that will create a staging ground for the larger battle. There's a settlement and they man leading them gets everyone ready to fight the Republic and demands that the Jedi be left for him. Then Order 66 happens. Joc is very confused as he hides from his troopers. The guy in charge of the settlement is upset because he wanted to kill the Jedi...he orders the other settlers to take out the clone troopers and then realizes the clone troopers are about to kill him and hides in the same place Joc did. Joc is trying to reach Master Sev...and then you see him dead and the Commander on the ship ordering a detachment to be sent to Ragmar V so that they can eliminate Joc. Joc and the settlers decide to team up to have a last stand against the clone troopers and the ending is of them fighting together.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most consistently decent volume so far. An interesting choice to send Aayla to Endor--the movie planets get so atrociously over-visited in the EU, and yet Endor is mostly left out. Likely that's for the best, though, and this is nothing particularly special as a story. The way the B1 droid is written here feels really off, though less annoying than the Clone Wars voice. It's like a full well-adjusted person now?

I enjoyed Bailed Out; the presentation is a bit kitschy, with ships that look like delivery trucks, but seeing Metalorn as this Factorio planet, watching Bail lie to Wat Tambor, the prison break-out--it all worked for me. Fun enough. Interesting to note the strong parallels to Leia's breakout of Lor San Tekka on Cato Neimodia in the Poe Dameron comics. Apparently decieving CIS council members to break important people out of high-security prisons runs in the (adoptive) family?

Heroes on Both Sides is a relatively quick but dark story about the way the CIS dupes their allies into putting themselves into harm's way for no real reason, then abandons them to the inevitable Jedi onslaught. The POV choice was a bit odd and I think reduced the impact somewhat--the Vidaav natives feel a bit objectified, pitiable rather than empathetic.

The Order of Outcasts is another Order 66 story, and I think a clever concept. It doesn't hit quite as hard as the clone highlights of the series, but I liked the idea and the execution is solid if not as good as the idea deserved. Then again, a longer take would wear out its welcome without deeper characterization to back it up.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this review and more on my blog, uncovered-books.

Well this was a blast from the past. If you did not know, before The Clone Wars animated tv series that came out in 2008 with the characters the we have now come to know and love; there was another animated Clone Wars tv series on Cartoon Network from 2003 – 2005 for 3 seasons.

In this volume, we have 4 different stories. The first is around Aayla Secura and her adventure on Endor. The second is with Bail Organa and his visit to the plant Metalorn. The third is around Clone Trooper Captain Rex and one of his battles. The last is with Padawan Joc Sah and his first solo mission.

The art style in this is exactly what you see one the cover. Blocky with heavy lines, so very much in line with the 2006 tv animated series. I personally liked this more older style of illustrations and found that it suited the stories.

This would be the perfect book to introduce young readers to the expanded universe of Star Wars, or if you really just enjoy the old Star Wars material.

[Jedi Sunni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the stories in this book were highly entertaining and fun to read. I like the art style as it adds depth to the characters. My favorite story was "heroes on both sides" as It was the one story that had a thought provoking narrative. It spoke to not always trying to predict someone's motives. They sometimes have the ability to surprise us. Overall I thought this was a pretty good book and I give it 4.5 out of 5.0.

[Greg Kerestan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the distinct art style and minimalist dramatic structure is gone by now, these four stories show an unexpectedly dark, even gory, side of the pre-canon all ages universe. The first story has a janky art style, but who can say no to a Jedi fighting Cthulhu?

[Gabriele]

The last story is again an Order 66 story. These recurring stories in the Clone Wars Adventures issue are always very emotional for me. I also find that I prefer it when Obi-Wan and Anakin don't appear. Those two are boring, sorry.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always did wonder about the "There are heroes on both sides" bit at the opening crawl of Episode III. How could there be heroes on the side of the Separatists when they're all droids?

Well, this explains that. Pretty good story, too.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four more adventures during the Clone Wars, though none centered around the usual folk. Bail Organa gets to star in one, and General Grievous and Count Dooku make a brief appearance in another. The first three take place pre-Order 66, while the order shows up again in the final story. 3.5/5*

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun addition.

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four somewhat average tales in this one. I do wish they'd put all of the Order 66 stories towards the end of the series, but I guess they were aiming for variety. Not always a bad thing.

[Paula Greenfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Clone Wars adventures with Jedi and others. More fun and adventures.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

review to come

[Jared · Rating 2 out of 5]

Star Wars Legends Project #162

Background: Clone Wars Adventures, Volume 5 was released in April 2006. It collects four stories in the style of Cartoon Network's animated Clone Wars series: What Goes Up..., Bailed Out, Heroes on Both Sides, and The Order of Outcasts. The first, second, and fourth were all drawn by the Fillbach Brothers, who also wrote the first one. The second was written by Justin Lambros, the third was written by Chris Avellone with art by Stewart McKenny, and the fourth was written by Matt Jacobs.

What Goes Up... stars Aayla Secura on Endor. Bailed Out features Bail Organa (obviously) and Captain Antilles. Heroes on Both Sides centers around an ARC trooper and a Separatist commander. The Order of Outcasts is about a one-off Jedi Master/Padawan duo. All 4 stories are set near the end of the Clone Wars, 19 years before the Battle of Yavin. The last one deals specifically with Order 66 and its aftermath.

Summary: In What Goes Up..., a tribe of Ewoks forcibly recruit Aayla Secura to fulfill the prophesied defeat of a fearsome monster.

In Bailed Out, Bail Organa meets with Wat Tambor to discuss joining the Separatist cause, but he actually has another purpose in mind.

In Heroes on Both Sides, the natives of Viidaav find themselves abandoned in a trap set for the Republic forces by Dooku and Grievous, with the destruction of everyone on the planet the likely outcome.

In The Order of Outcasts a Jedi Padawan finds some very unlikely allies when the troopers under his command suddenly turn on him.

Review: Check out my review of Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, Vol. 1 for some general thoughts that apply to the series as a whole.

The Order of Outcasts is probably the weakest of these. It has some fun character design, but forgets to make the characters themselves compelling. The rest all have at least something going for them. What Goes Up... is probably a bit too long for what it is, and it doesn't make sense that a battle droid can translate for Ewoks, but it's a funny device so I'll let it go. I'm always game for a good Aayla Secura story. Bailed Out features a nice little twist in the middle, and of all the characters in these stories I think Shaak Ti looks the best in this highly-stylized aesthetic. Heroes on Both Sides does a lot with very little, and relies heavily on visuals over dialogue in a way that's pretty effective. Overall, fine but still ultimately forgettable.

C-

[Jaime K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a weird compilation of stories.

In What Goes Up, Aayla is on Endor. ENDOR! That was honestly irritating, even though it's not like Endor is in the Unknown Regions. Anyway, she discovers both Clone and droid carnage, and comes in contact with a battle droid that acts abnormal for a droid. The droid explains the situation: the Ewoks want a monster destroyed, the same one that took down the Clones and droids.

Bailed Out was about Bail going to Metalorn, where there is an intense prison system that Shaak Ti is held up in. This is the strangest one, though it's perfect Bail.

Heroes on Both Sides was a great story of the Clones fighting Dooku and Grievious's troops on the Viidaav mining world. They hope to detonate the surface, despite the fact that the Viidaavs are fighting for them. The Clones discover that the Viidaavs have additional plans.

The Order of Outcasts takes place on Ragmar V. A Jedi apprentice is on his first solo mission when Order 66 is issued. He has to learn to trust the local outcasts to no longer be against him.

[Austin Dahlke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my favorite of the Adventure novellas. I enjoyed the final story the most, where the Padawan Joc was forced to suffer some survivor's guilt after Order 66. The Ewok story was also good with a somewhat bittersweet ending. It was also nice to see a story centered on Bail Organa, Shaak Ti, and Antilles, especially the latter who hasn't appeared much. The story about the clone troopers also came to a fairly bitter sweet, if not downright downer, ending. Interesting stories that look at death and the unfortunate casualties of war.

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

These little digest-sized comics are anthologies full of short stories about the Jedis in action, with the occasional story of the clone troopers.
Really nice, done in one stories, full of action, adventure, humor and hardly any of the angst and heavy foreshadowing that hurt the other Clone Wars comics and novels.

Also, fun to see a lot of background characters getting a turn in the spotlight.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suitable for children aged 8+ and those who have seen the cartoons.
Four tales in this volume. Secura helps some Ewoks, yes Ewoks, kind of fun and unexpected. Senator Organa goes on an important mission and shows how brave he is. Clone troopers try to save a planet. A padawan is on a hostile planet when order 66 comes through. This series is starting to look at death more, and that's good for a book that is based on a war. A good read.

[Hillingdon Libraries]

Find this book at Hillingdon Libraries

[Ana (Lorien's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Que decir?
Me encantó!! Ok me encantó ver pequeñas aventuras de otros Jedis como Ayla o Shaak Ti, así como ver cómo se vivió la Orden 66 en otros mundos más alejados del centro de la Galaxia.
Lleno de acción, batallas con sables de luz y de Jedis.

[Sisp4c_ryanlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book!

[Marco · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book and a graphic novel book.

[Chantell Petrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was okay. Plot was a tad weak.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked every story in this volume, but especially the one featuring Bail Organa (and Leia making a cameo)!

[Chad Hansen-Saunders · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first story was the best. There was a huge continuity error in the last one. Strange since this is a Dark Horse comic and they contradicted their own story lines.

[Ata · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was surprisingly good. Liked both the art and the stories. Need others in the series now.

[The Third Place A Teen Library]

SW cwa v.5