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Star Wars: The Clone Wars Graphic Novellas #2
Crash Course (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Star Wars: Clone Wars (Pb)) by Henry Gilroy
In the latest galaxy-spanning The Clone Wars adventure, Anakin Skywalker and his young Padawan Ahsoka Tano go undercover in the cutthroat world of podracing in hopes of crushing a diabolical Separatist spy ring. Watch out, Jedi - speed kills!
Library Binding
First published December 24, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 25, 2024
Set in 21BBY
It was ok, just another adventure in the middle of the Clone Wars with mainly Ahsoka but other Jedi as well. Silly mostly, with pod racing and the usual action sequences and lots of lots references and reuses of quotes from the films and whatnot to make it feel more star wars-y. Nice art and coloring. Not a graphic novel that you'd miss something by not reading.
"Dwell not on the past, worry not about the future. Blinded by these things, we must not be. What matters is where we are in the present." - Yoda
It was ok, just another adventure in the middle of the Clone Wars with mainly Ahsoka but other Jedi as well. Silly mostly, with pod racing and the usual action sequences and lots of lots references and reuses of quotes from the films and whatnot to make it feel more star wars-y. Nice art and coloring. Not a graphic novel that you'd miss something by not reading.
"Dwell not on the past, worry not about the future. Blinded by these things, we must not be. What matters is where we are in the present." - Yoda
January 17, 2021
*3.75
Full RTC
Full RTC
March 17, 2017
This reader has been playing a lot of Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes on mobile lately and that has given me hankering for Star Wars comic book stories. This slim volume just appeared out of nowhere while I was browsing one of my regular book haunts. It was as if there was a Force in the Universe that wanted me to read Clone Wars era stories. For this one, this reader trusted his feelings.
I've read a few articles on how the Clone Wars animated series, which has remained canon, after Disney issued an Order 66 of its on all other expanded universe stories that culled the Star Wars timeline to the movies, the animated series, and the new adaptations from Marvel Comics. Those articles praise the series for having aspects of it that made it better than the movies, the prequel trilogy for that matter. After reading Crash Course, I must agree.
First, it gave the other Jedi a whole lot of exposure, and we got more villains too. Count Dooku's apprentice, Asajj Ventress, is the main antagonist in this story.
Second, it actually made Anakin Skywalker more likable. Granted, the limited run time of the prequel trilogy did aid much in developing the nuances of the character, but in this story and perhaps in Clone Wars as well, he's a lot more easier to take.
Third, Clone Wars gave us Ahsoka Tano. She's probably the reason why Anakin is a much better character. At least, he isn't irritating Obi-Wan as much as he once did. I never caught on Ahsola in Clone Wars, but I did enjoy her guest starring role in Rebels, where she's a bit older and more experienced warrior. She grew up to be a total bad ass. Probably she's one of the character I use in the mobile game I mentioned earlier, and why I picked this up from a pile of ignored books.
This was a great fun read. This was targeted to a younger demographic of reader but it fits an all ages spectrum. I will definitely be looking for more Clone Wars comic books.
I've read a few articles on how the Clone Wars animated series, which has remained canon, after Disney issued an Order 66 of its on all other expanded universe stories that culled the Star Wars timeline to the movies, the animated series, and the new adaptations from Marvel Comics. Those articles praise the series for having aspects of it that made it better than the movies, the prequel trilogy for that matter. After reading Crash Course, I must agree.
First, it gave the other Jedi a whole lot of exposure, and we got more villains too. Count Dooku's apprentice, Asajj Ventress, is the main antagonist in this story.
Second, it actually made Anakin Skywalker more likable. Granted, the limited run time of the prequel trilogy did aid much in developing the nuances of the character, but in this story and perhaps in Clone Wars as well, he's a lot more easier to take.
Third, Clone Wars gave us Ahsoka Tano. She's probably the reason why Anakin is a much better character. At least, he isn't irritating Obi-Wan as much as he once did. I never caught on Ahsola in Clone Wars, but I did enjoy her guest starring role in Rebels, where she's a bit older and more experienced warrior. She grew up to be a total bad ass. Probably she's one of the character I use in the mobile game I mentioned earlier, and why I picked this up from a pile of ignored books.
This was a great fun read. This was targeted to a younger demographic of reader but it fits an all ages spectrum. I will definitely be looking for more Clone Wars comic books.
October 5, 2023
****Actual Rating 4.5 Stars****
If you love the Anakin, Ahsoka, Rex, R2-D2 dynamic in The Clone Wars then you need to read this comic because that’s what this is a hundred times over and it’s so fun and great! Anakin and Ahsoka’s banter especially was so on point for them and even Obi-Wan and Ventress have a couple cameos.
From the introduction to the very end it feels and sounds like an episode of the series while still staying in comic format which I really loved as while reading I could hear everyone’s voices in my head which made the experience that much more enjoyable.
The only downside is the artwork is very…wonky. Everyone looks like they’re supposed to, but it’s an odd style I’m not super happy with and sometimes makes the characters look odd. And why does Rex’s disguise make him look like a mummy? I’m so confused by this design choice…
I love this comic and will for sure reread it often!
‼️Content‼️
Violence: fighting with weapons and the Force (PG); people are stabbed, slashed, shot, and shot at (PG); a guy falls in front of a pod-racer and dies (the death is not shown); pod-racers crash; a guy’s horns are cut off
Sexual: a kiss on the cheek and hand
Other: explosions; the Force (“magic”); death
If you love the Anakin, Ahsoka, Rex, R2-D2 dynamic in The Clone Wars then you need to read this comic because that’s what this is a hundred times over and it’s so fun and great! Anakin and Ahsoka’s banter especially was so on point for them and even Obi-Wan and Ventress have a couple cameos.
From the introduction to the very end it feels and sounds like an episode of the series while still staying in comic format which I really loved as while reading I could hear everyone’s voices in my head which made the experience that much more enjoyable.
The only downside is the artwork is very…wonky. Everyone looks like they’re supposed to, but it’s an odd style I’m not super happy with and sometimes makes the characters look odd. And why does Rex’s disguise make him look like a mummy? I’m so confused by this design choice…
I love this comic and will for sure reread it often!
‼️Content‼️
Violence: fighting with weapons and the Force (PG); people are stabbed, slashed, shot, and shot at (PG); a guy falls in front of a pod-racer and dies (the death is not shown); pod-racers crash; a guy’s horns are cut off
Sexual: a kiss on the cheek and hand
Other: explosions; the Force (“magic”); death
January 6, 2017
This book had some fun new facts for the Clone Wars. It showed some things that didn't happen in the TV series. This book was good.
July 13, 2017
This is the second book in the line of The Clone Wars graphic novellas (coinciding with TV series of the same name). This particular novella has Anakin and Ahsoka trying to find ferret out a Separatist spy who is involved in the world of podracing. Ahsoka goes undercover as a racer and inexplicably falls for a fellow racer who may or may not be the spy.
The podracing setting is the real appeal of this story, it's cool they put Anakin back in that world. I also like seeing him and Ahsoka get along, something that doesn't seem to happen too much between them. The story isn't too convoluted or anything, lots of action and some familiar Podracing faces from Episode 1, but the artwork seems very amateurish.
The podracing setting is the real appeal of this story, it's cool they put Anakin back in that world. I also like seeing him and Ahsoka get along, something that doesn't seem to happen too much between them. The story isn't too convoluted or anything, lots of action and some familiar Podracing faces from Episode 1, but the artwork seems very amateurish.
January 22, 2021
This was very cute. Ahsoka and Anakin have to leave Obi-Wan to finish fighting on Queel so they can head to Mon Gazza to recover stolen Republic data. Anakin quickly figures out that the spy must be a pod racer and so he decides to enter Ahsoka into the race. She bonds with a racer who is young like her, Kidd Kareen. With the help of Rex and R2-D2 Anakin finds the spy, but not before the spy figures out who Ahsoka is and then tries to convinced Kidd to help him kill Ahsoka during the race...and then of course Ventress shows up...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2021
The "Clone Wars" graphic novels under Dark Horse are extremely hit or miss: at best they feel like great lost episodes, but at worst the janky art design and forced plots feel too weak to have been filler episodes even. This is one of the lesser ones; though it's fun to delve into Anakin's past as an ace podracer (it's surprising how rarely Star Wars goes to that well), the story is nothing we haven't seen or heard before.
December 18, 2019
The hook here has modest potential, Anakin sending Ahsoka undercover as a podracer, and she forms a genuine bond with her target. The problem is that it rushes its most interesting parts, so Ahsoka's attachment to the other rider feels too arbitrary and shallow to bear the weight that gets put on it. And Anakin's own history with racing doesn't end up being that relevant either.
December 19, 2023
This would have made such a fun episode! Podracing with appearances from Sebulba, Ben Quadrinaros, Ventress, Dooku, Ki Adi Mundi, Kit Fisto, and Plo Koon. And of course all the wonderful Ahsoka content.
January 24, 2018
It was interesting was a good way to start reading Star Wars
January 28, 2019
Anakin in s podracer again? Sign me up!
April 29, 2023
So cute and wholesome. ☺️
September 21, 2023
A fun adventure, if extremely improbable - Ahsoka would have needed more practice in a podracer before racing, surely. Not that I have any objection to podracer stories. I quite liked this one.
October 2, 2023
Fun little quick read. I like the art style.
January 28, 2018
Star Wars Legends Project #138
Background: Crash Course came out in December of 2008, the second in a series of 11 graphic novellas that tie-in to The Clone Wars animated show. It was written by Henry Gilroy and drawn by the Fillbach Brothers. Gilroy was in charge of the first season of The Clone Wars, and the Fillbach Brothers did all of the art for the "Clone Wars Adventures" series (the tie-in to that other Clone Wars animated series).
Crash Course is set "in the early months" after the Battle of Geonosis (22 years before the Battle of Yavin). The main characters are Anakin, Ahsoka, and Captain Rex with minor appearances by various series regulars.
Summary: A traitorous senator passes vital information about the Republic off to a Separatist agent, who eludes capture as the Jedi close in on the senator. Anakin and Ahsoka track him to Mon Gazza, where Anakin hopes to exceed the Council's expectations by uncovering the whole spy network rather than merely retrieving the stolen data. Unfortunately, he misses the handoff and Ahsoka is forced to go undercover as a podracer in order to salvage the situation, assuming she can survive her first race on one of the galaxy's most treacherous courses.
Review: The basic germ of this story sounds like a great idea: Anakin has to enter Ahsoka into a podrace and teach her the ropes of the competition that was such a formative part of his childhood. It's just that the execution is so nakedly contrived, and then it shoehorns in an awkward romance subplot for Ahsoka that doesn't really make much sense. And the Fillbach Brothers still can't figure out how to draw Ahsoka well. The art style in general is not growing on me, but I could live with it if Ahsoka didn't look like a malformed scarecrow.
That said, if you can overlook the basic illogic of the plot at a fundamental level, there are still some things to enjoy here. I like that Captain Rex gets to play a part. I like the climactic finale (again, illogic aside). I like Kidd Kareen, except for his god-awful name. I like the reasonably subdued references to Anakin's racing career and the cameos by some of his ex-opponents. Mediocre, but not a complete waste of time.
C
Background: Crash Course came out in December of 2008, the second in a series of 11 graphic novellas that tie-in to The Clone Wars animated show. It was written by Henry Gilroy and drawn by the Fillbach Brothers. Gilroy was in charge of the first season of The Clone Wars, and the Fillbach Brothers did all of the art for the "Clone Wars Adventures" series (the tie-in to that other Clone Wars animated series).
Crash Course is set "in the early months" after the Battle of Geonosis (22 years before the Battle of Yavin). The main characters are Anakin, Ahsoka, and Captain Rex with minor appearances by various series regulars.
Summary: A traitorous senator passes vital information about the Republic off to a Separatist agent, who eludes capture as the Jedi close in on the senator. Anakin and Ahsoka track him to Mon Gazza, where Anakin hopes to exceed the Council's expectations by uncovering the whole spy network rather than merely retrieving the stolen data. Unfortunately, he misses the handoff and Ahsoka is forced to go undercover as a podracer in order to salvage the situation, assuming she can survive her first race on one of the galaxy's most treacherous courses.
Review: The basic germ of this story sounds like a great idea: Anakin has to enter Ahsoka into a podrace and teach her the ropes of the competition that was such a formative part of his childhood. It's just that the execution is so nakedly contrived, and then it shoehorns in an awkward romance subplot for Ahsoka that doesn't really make much sense. And the Fillbach Brothers still can't figure out how to draw Ahsoka well. The art style in general is not growing on me, but I could live with it if Ahsoka didn't look like a malformed scarecrow.
That said, if you can overlook the basic illogic of the plot at a fundamental level, there are still some things to enjoy here. I like that Captain Rex gets to play a part. I like the climactic finale (again, illogic aside). I like Kidd Kareen, except for his god-awful name. I like the reasonably subdued references to Anakin's racing career and the cameos by some of his ex-opponents. Mediocre, but not a complete waste of time.
C
September 8, 2015
As previously mentioned, I've been revisiting the early Clone Wars stuff in an attempt to work out a coherent timeline. So, without further ado, here's the second Clone Wars digest comic!
After a series of failed offensives, the Jedi surmise that a Separatist spy ring is operating on Coruscant, feeding the enemy classified information. When a Separatist agent escapes with important data, Anakin and Ahsoka go undercover in the world of high-stakes podracing to catch the culprits. But even if the spies never realize they've been made, podracing is one of the deadliest sports in the galaxy....
Again, this was a fun little side adventure. Though I'm not a huge fan of the Fillbach Brothers' art, it's serviceable enough to get by. The story itself worked well, with the characters all ringing true to their TV personas. It was also fun to stick Anakin back into the world of podracing and see him confront his childhood once more. It's also interesting to see Ahsoka accumulating her own small network of contacts that will serve her well after she leaves the order. As with the previous comic, whether you're a fan of this story or not will likely depend on your familiarity with the show.
CONTENT: No profanity. Mild violence. No sexual content.
After a series of failed offensives, the Jedi surmise that a Separatist spy ring is operating on Coruscant, feeding the enemy classified information. When a Separatist agent escapes with important data, Anakin and Ahsoka go undercover in the world of high-stakes podracing to catch the culprits. But even if the spies never realize they've been made, podracing is one of the deadliest sports in the galaxy....
Again, this was a fun little side adventure. Though I'm not a huge fan of the Fillbach Brothers' art, it's serviceable enough to get by. The story itself worked well, with the characters all ringing true to their TV personas. It was also fun to stick Anakin back into the world of podracing and see him confront his childhood once more. It's also interesting to see Ahsoka accumulating her own small network of contacts that will serve her well after she leaves the order. As with the previous comic, whether you're a fan of this story or not will likely depend on your familiarity with the show.
CONTENT: No profanity. Mild violence. No sexual content.
June 11, 2024
Review ⭐⭐⭐
Ahsoka 2: Crashkurs von Henry Gilroy
Die Handlung:
Ein Spion droht den Separatisten wertvolle Insiderinformationen aus den Rängen der Republik zuzuspielen. Die Jagd bringt Anakin und Ahsoka zu den Podrennstrecken von Mon Gazza, wo alte Erinnerungen wach werden und die junge Padawan ihre Fähigkeiten als Pilotin beweisen muss...
Meine Meinung:
Mit „Crashkurs“ liegt die Neuauflage einer „The Clone Wars“-Geschichte vor. Es ist den Autoren gelungen genau die richtige Mischung aus Humor und Ernst in ein ansprechendes Storygerüst zu packen. Insbesondere die Beziehung zwischen Anakin und Ahsoka wird passend dargestellt, während Ahsoka ihr Gefühlsleben untersucht. Zusätzlich gibt es Anspielungen auf die Podrennen-Vergangenheit des Jedi-Ritters. Leider ist die grafische Umsetzung auch in diesem Band gewöhnungsbedürftig. Die Figuren gelingen den Zeichnern fast nie, während die Darstellungen der Umgebung (wie Coruscant und Mon Gazza) durchaus ansprechend und detailliert sind.
Fazit:
Unterhaltsame Story mit stark abstrahiertem Zeichenstil, der sicherlich nicht jedem zusagen wird.
Werbung: Vielen lieben Dank an Panini für die Bereitstellung des Rezensionexemplares!
Ahsoka 2: Crashkurs von Henry Gilroy
Die Handlung:
Ein Spion droht den Separatisten wertvolle Insiderinformationen aus den Rängen der Republik zuzuspielen. Die Jagd bringt Anakin und Ahsoka zu den Podrennstrecken von Mon Gazza, wo alte Erinnerungen wach werden und die junge Padawan ihre Fähigkeiten als Pilotin beweisen muss...
Meine Meinung:
Mit „Crashkurs“ liegt die Neuauflage einer „The Clone Wars“-Geschichte vor. Es ist den Autoren gelungen genau die richtige Mischung aus Humor und Ernst in ein ansprechendes Storygerüst zu packen. Insbesondere die Beziehung zwischen Anakin und Ahsoka wird passend dargestellt, während Ahsoka ihr Gefühlsleben untersucht. Zusätzlich gibt es Anspielungen auf die Podrennen-Vergangenheit des Jedi-Ritters. Leider ist die grafische Umsetzung auch in diesem Band gewöhnungsbedürftig. Die Figuren gelingen den Zeichnern fast nie, während die Darstellungen der Umgebung (wie Coruscant und Mon Gazza) durchaus ansprechend und detailliert sind.
Fazit:
Unterhaltsame Story mit stark abstrahiertem Zeichenstil, der sicherlich nicht jedem zusagen wird.
Werbung: Vielen lieben Dank an Panini für die Bereitstellung des Rezensionexemplares!
September 25, 2011
These Clone Wars digests can be hit-or-miss and I can safely say that "Crash Course" is one for the hit list. Anakin and Ahsoka go undercover as a podracing team to weed out a Seperatist spy ring. The script, co-written by CLONE WARS writer Henry Gilroy, feels so much like the show. The dialogue is spot-on and everyone is true to character. And while I'm not a huge fan of the Fillbach Brothers' art style, they do a very good job keeping the pace and tone in-line with the script and the likenesses and environments are tight and consistent. This is one for the bookshelf.
October 4, 2013
Suitable for children aged 8+ and those who watch the cartoons.
Anakin and Asoka are sent to recover some sensitive data. This involves going undercover at a podrace. There's some nice character bits with the padawan. This is significantly better than the first volume, with the action being more character led. A good read.
Anakin and Asoka are sent to recover some sensitive data. This involves going undercover at a podrace. There's some nice character bits with the padawan. This is significantly better than the first volume, with the action being more character led. A good read.
January 18, 2009
This was a fun read involving Anakin and Ahsoka having to infiltrate a podrace on Mon Gazza to uncover a spy network. The art has clear storytelling plus there are nice character interactions, particularly between Ahsoka and Kidd Kareen. It was a unexpected treat.
July 22, 2022
Read again in English and understood a lot more! It was very cute. I really liked the dynamic of the relationship of Anakin and Ahsoka and him sharing this part of his past with her. Up to 5 stars now.
Ahsoka podracing in German was pretty cute!
Ahsoka podracing in German was pretty cute!
Want to read
April 10, 2011sounds sooo different from most Star wars books i've read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
September 19, 2011this sounds really squishy to me and that i think preety much all SQUISHY HEY HO LETS GO secret dude.
June 12, 2013
Obviously for kids. A bit boring. It has a very similar feel to the TV series.
December 4, 2014
Another edition of The Star Wars saga that is geared toward the YA audience.
March 7, 2019
Ahsoka and master must race in a podrace. Well looking for a separatist spy. Could it get any better...
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews