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Star Wars: Jedi vs Sith #1-6
Star Wars: Jedi vs Sith
According to legend, the Sith always number two -- a Master and an apprentice. It was not always this way. A thousand years ago the Sith were many and they battled endlessly with the Jedi Army of Light. Lord Kaan ruled the Sith Brotherhood of Darkness and sought the destruction of Lord Hoth and his Jedi followers. Recruited into the war by a scout, three friends venture onto the battleground and march into destinies far greater and different than any of them could have ever imagined...
144 pages, Paperback
First published March 8, 2002
12 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Darko Macan
204 books64 followersDarko Macan is a Croatian author and illustrator who has created and collaborated on comics, essays and science fiction and fantasy. He is also an editor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 5, 2019
When people think of the rise of Darth Bane, they point to Drew Karpyshyn's Darth Bane Trilogy. However, the first source to tell the story of his rise actually comes from the comic we will be looking at today: Jedi vs Sith!
I remember being incredibly disappointed by Darth Bane: Path of Destruction. Despite its insane levels of praise, I had a ton of problems with it, including the worldbuiling. However, after this comic, I'm starting to feel like I may have been too harsh. This came out before Karpyshyns novel, and he had to work around the lore established in Jedi vs Sith.
THE STORY: its a millenium before the Skywalker saga, and the Jedi and the Sith are at each other's throats. Three kids are recruited into the army of light, lead by a Jedi named Lord Hoth. They are sent to Ruusaan, right into the thick of battle.
THE BAD: this one is a mess on many levels.
The storytelling is barely coherent. The comic doesn't seem to know if it wants to focus on the three children or the rise of Darth Bane. And in the middle of it all it jumps to too many different points of view.
The tone feels way off. The comic is told as this whimsical adventure yet it focuses on three kids being recruited into an army. This, along with some very gruesome panels, gives me the sense that this material felt way to lighthearted for a story that is actually very grim and bleak.
Most of the characters are quite bland and one note. Githany and Kaan are one dimensional Sith baddies. Hoth and Farfalla are boring Jedi. Bug and Rain are bland kids who happen to have the force.
And by kriffing goodness, Tomcat annoyed the living crap out of me. His attitude made me want to smack him so many times, and his arc is an eye rollingly overdone rehash of so many different Jedi characters from the EU, particularly the Old Republic era. His powers didn't make sense either. At one point he gets swatted aside by a cook. The next, he's hacking down Sith soldiers, one even armed with a lightsaber.
And finally, the Jedi in general don't act like Jedi at all. I get that this is a troubling time in galactic history but it took the EU years to flesh this out. At the time of this comic's publication there is no buildup to anything going on, so the idea of Jedi recruiting prepubescent children in this is nonsense.
The worldbuilding is confusing too. Why the kriff does Hoth refer to himself as lord? He's a Jedi, not a Sith! It is never explained why Tomcat is unaffected by Lord Kaan's weapon, making Tomcat feel like a Gary Stu.
And again, why are the Jedi recruiting children to fight the worst evils in the galaxy on the front lines? Even when the Jedi numbers dwindled in other points of galactic history, they never stooped to this level. Not even the Sith were using child soldiers during this conflict!
THE GOOD: a few redeeming qualities can be found here.
The artwork looks great. There are some questionable design choices (namely Farfalla's ship) but even then, its drawn very well. The action is also well rendered, and I like how ballsy this comic went with some of its gruesome and dark imagery.
This is Darth Bane's first appearance in the expanded universe, and his introduction was very well done. He was very intimidating, both from his design and his dialogue. He was by far the best character in this.
The other character I liked was Torr. He was an interesting and likeable Jedi character. It just so happened that the trio of kid protagonists were at their best when he was around.
THE CONCLUSION: final rating is 2 stars.
I didn't like Jedi vs Sith at all. The tone is misguided, the story is unfocused, the characterization mostly sucks, and the worldbuilding is incoherent.
I am starting feel like I need to take another stab at the Darth bane trilogy, especially the first book. After realizing that Karpyshyn was essentially adapting this comic for a big portion of his story, I need to reevaluate the novel- and if karpyshyn actually was able to integrate this flimsy comic's material into his darth bane origin story.
But as for the comic itself, skip it. All of the most important elements (ie, the Darth bane stuff) are done better in the first Darth Bane novel. I adore the Old Republic era, but Jedi vs Sith is one of its biggest duds.
I remember being incredibly disappointed by Darth Bane: Path of Destruction. Despite its insane levels of praise, I had a ton of problems with it, including the worldbuiling. However, after this comic, I'm starting to feel like I may have been too harsh. This came out before Karpyshyns novel, and he had to work around the lore established in Jedi vs Sith.
THE STORY: its a millenium before the Skywalker saga, and the Jedi and the Sith are at each other's throats. Three kids are recruited into the army of light, lead by a Jedi named Lord Hoth. They are sent to Ruusaan, right into the thick of battle.
THE BAD: this one is a mess on many levels.
The storytelling is barely coherent. The comic doesn't seem to know if it wants to focus on the three children or the rise of Darth Bane. And in the middle of it all it jumps to too many different points of view.
The tone feels way off. The comic is told as this whimsical adventure yet it focuses on three kids being recruited into an army. This, along with some very gruesome panels, gives me the sense that this material felt way to lighthearted for a story that is actually very grim and bleak.
Most of the characters are quite bland and one note. Githany and Kaan are one dimensional Sith baddies. Hoth and Farfalla are boring Jedi. Bug and Rain are bland kids who happen to have the force.
And by kriffing goodness, Tomcat annoyed the living crap out of me. His attitude made me want to smack him so many times, and his arc is an eye rollingly overdone rehash of so many different Jedi characters from the EU, particularly the Old Republic era. His powers didn't make sense either. At one point he gets swatted aside by a cook. The next, he's hacking down Sith soldiers, one even armed with a lightsaber.
And finally, the Jedi in general don't act like Jedi at all. I get that this is a troubling time in galactic history but it took the EU years to flesh this out. At the time of this comic's publication there is no buildup to anything going on, so the idea of Jedi recruiting prepubescent children in this is nonsense.
The worldbuilding is confusing too. Why the kriff does Hoth refer to himself as lord? He's a Jedi, not a Sith! It is never explained why Tomcat is unaffected by Lord Kaan's weapon, making Tomcat feel like a Gary Stu.
And again, why are the Jedi recruiting children to fight the worst evils in the galaxy on the front lines? Even when the Jedi numbers dwindled in other points of galactic history, they never stooped to this level. Not even the Sith were using child soldiers during this conflict!
THE GOOD: a few redeeming qualities can be found here.
The artwork looks great. There are some questionable design choices (namely Farfalla's ship) but even then, its drawn very well. The action is also well rendered, and I like how ballsy this comic went with some of its gruesome and dark imagery.
This is Darth Bane's first appearance in the expanded universe, and his introduction was very well done. He was very intimidating, both from his design and his dialogue. He was by far the best character in this.
The other character I liked was Torr. He was an interesting and likeable Jedi character. It just so happened that the trio of kid protagonists were at their best when he was around.
THE CONCLUSION: final rating is 2 stars.
I didn't like Jedi vs Sith at all. The tone is misguided, the story is unfocused, the characterization mostly sucks, and the worldbuilding is incoherent.
I am starting feel like I need to take another stab at the Darth bane trilogy, especially the first book. After realizing that Karpyshyn was essentially adapting this comic for a big portion of his story, I need to reevaluate the novel- and if karpyshyn actually was able to integrate this flimsy comic's material into his darth bane origin story.
But as for the comic itself, skip it. All of the most important elements (ie, the Darth bane stuff) are done better in the first Darth Bane novel. I adore the Old Republic era, but Jedi vs Sith is one of its biggest duds.
July 3, 2015
I had no idea that Karpyshyn's novel was so heavily based off of... this. It's honestly kind of strange to read this while also reading his Darth Bane trilogy. And I will thank Karpyshyn kindly for writing Path of Destruction better than this, but also I know now a lot of the scenes from it were stolen (some of them even word-for-word from the comic). But is this comic any good? ... Not really. I wouldn't recommend it to really anyone. Writing the children as main characters had me a little unnerved. And rightfully so. The only one with a good arc was Zannah. Darovit and Bug's were both so forced and made them seem like these powerful figures that could cut down Sith in one stroke. Full-grown Sith adults! I found it odd how this massive, intimidating bloke with a skull for a face got his legs chopped off and then his head removed by Darovit, like he was taking out the trash. Also the novel gives no humanity to the Sith. They're all just evil guys with different motivations (and, yes, that's what they were in Path of Destruction, but they were more well-rounded than this.) I say this is a piece of Star Wars EU that can be well-forgotten. Path of Destruction improves so much more from this original concept.
January 5, 2016
Star Wars Legends Project #37
Background: Jedi vs. Sith was released in 6 issues throughout mid-2001. The trade paperback came out in May 2002. It was written by Darko Macan with art pencilled by Ramón F. Bachs. Macan's other Star Wars comics include Chewbacca and an X-Wing storyline. He has also written and edited a variety of things in his native Croatia. In addition to a smattering of work on a grab-bag of random Star Wars titles, Bachs is best known for his work on Marvel's Civil War and World War Hulk and for a dozen issues of DC's famed Detective Comics.
Jedi vs. Sith is set 1000 years before the Battle of Yavin, just like Path of Destruction (my review). In fact, the comic takes place entirely within the final third of Path of Destruction essentially depicting most of the same events as the novel from different perspectives.
Summary: Young, Force-sensitive cousins Tomcat, Bug, and Rain jump at the chance to join the Jedi war effort as the Army of the Light slugs it out with the Brotherhood of Darkness on the planet Ruusan. However, they soon find out the hard way that life on the Jedi front-lines is not as glorious as they thought it would be. Split apart, each of them reacts to the situation in their own way, with consequences that could affect the outcome of the whole war.
Review: Oh, man. What if I miss something? What if I forget to mention something while I'm explaining how terrible this story is, and then you don't get the message and you accidentally read it? How could I live with myself? Maybe I'm being too dramatic, but wow did I hate this story.
Here's the thing: I hadn't realized, either time that I read Path of Destruction, that a significant fraction of its storyline was forced to adhere to the track laid down in this earlier comic. Now that I know that, and I am aware of the full extent of what Karpyshyn had to work with, I'm almost tempted to go back and raise the score I gave that book. The one reason I won't is, even Karpyshyn couldn't bring himself to adhere completely to the story as it was told here, and his version departs from it in several key ways. Which, if you're just going to do that anyway, why not pretend this doesn't exist at all and start from scratch?
I was shocked to find that almost all of the problems and minor annoyances that I had with the novel came straight out this comic. Everything from stupid character names (Githany, Hoth, Valenthyne Farfalla) to the occasional plot development or character decision that seems to come out of nowhere (no spoilers, but there were several nagging examples of this in the novel's final section). Even the littlest stupid things, like Githany's use of a "lightwhip" instead of a lightsaber (what the heck? and how . . .?), turned out to be the comic's fault.
And yet, it was also clear that without Karpyshyn's skill, the novel could have been so much worse. He weaves a coherent character and narrative for Darth Bane around Bane's portrayal in this comic that is nothing short of masterful. For example, in the opening scene of Jedi vs. Sith, Bane is introduced with an act so pointlessly and malignantly evil that it seems impossible to even understand. And yet, although this same act appears in the novel (and is still probably the single most evil thing Bane does), it barely registered in my mind because the context of the situation and his character were so perfectly explained.
But so many of the ideas and threads that didn't really make it into Path of Destruction are awful. Vaguely hinted at in the novel, but front-and-center in the comic, is the Jedi decision (totally unquestioned) to use untrained child soldiers on the front lines of their war with the Sith. Why are we rooting for these guys, again? There is some nonsensical throw-away line about how if the Jedi don't recruit these kids, the Sith will find them, but no explanation about why they can't send them to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant for training and safekeeping rather than throwing them directly into battle.
Of course, that solution would deprive us of our ill-chosen protagonists, the ridiculously-named Tomcat, Bug, and Rain. (And, really? Tomcat? Not a Star Wars thing. Come on.) Those aren't even their real names. They actually have proper Star Wars names, which we eventually learn, but they don't go by them for reasons too silly and tedious to explain here.
And when I said they're "young" above, I should clarify that I meant somewhere between 10 and 12 years old. But no one they encounter on Ruusan seems to notice their youth, nor does that or their lack of training seem to have any effect on their ability to, say, successfully wield a lightsaber in combat that they just picked up a few minutes before. The decisions these characters make are as incomprehensible as their abilities. Badly-defined to begin with, Tomcat and Bug undergo huge, ridiculous transformations at the drop of a hat, dictated more by the whims of where the writer wants the plot to go than by any actual human logic.
There are plenty of bad ideas at the conceptual level, as well. For instance, the sentient species native to Ruusan are called "bouncers" (no, really), which is bad enough, except they don't . . . bounce. They're like large, furry green fish who fly through the air and only communicate telepathically. (They look like something straight out of Dr. Seuss.) But here is the one place that my critique gets a little tricky. I actually kind of love the way the bouncers look. I love a lot of the artwork, actually. That was the one redeeming quality to this whole trainwreck . . . It's a gorgeous trainwreck.
The problem is, as awesome as the art is, it doesn't fit this universe even a little bit. A bunch of the Jedi wear really ornate plate armor, for some reason. There are Jedi who look like fauns, satyrs, and harpies straight out of a fantasy novel. In battles with lightsabers and blasters, a lot of characters (including some Jedi?!) wield spears and bows and arrows, which makes no sense at all. One of the Jedi flies around in what appears to be Captain Hook's pirate ship, gleaming golden like when it was coated in pixie dust at the end of Disney's Peter Pan. And it looks awesome, don't get me wrong, but it just doesn't belong here. I mentioned in my review of Path of Destruction that some elements of the story had an epic fantasy feel to them, but this takes that idea way too far aesthetically.
In the end, I know I've missed some things that I wanted to complain about, but maybe I'm being too harsh. If you don't think of this as Star Wars, or don't think too hard about what's going on in the story or the implications of, say, the whole child soldiers thing, there's probably some enjoyment to be had. I just wasn't able to overlook any of that, despite the pretty, pretty pictures. So I'm going to pretend that this doesn't exist and move on with the rest of Karpyshyn's Darth Bane Trilogy.
D-
Background: Jedi vs. Sith was released in 6 issues throughout mid-2001. The trade paperback came out in May 2002. It was written by Darko Macan with art pencilled by Ramón F. Bachs. Macan's other Star Wars comics include Chewbacca and an X-Wing storyline. He has also written and edited a variety of things in his native Croatia. In addition to a smattering of work on a grab-bag of random Star Wars titles, Bachs is best known for his work on Marvel's Civil War and World War Hulk and for a dozen issues of DC's famed Detective Comics.
Jedi vs. Sith is set 1000 years before the Battle of Yavin, just like Path of Destruction (my review). In fact, the comic takes place entirely within the final third of Path of Destruction essentially depicting most of the same events as the novel from different perspectives.
Summary: Young, Force-sensitive cousins Tomcat, Bug, and Rain jump at the chance to join the Jedi war effort as the Army of the Light slugs it out with the Brotherhood of Darkness on the planet Ruusan. However, they soon find out the hard way that life on the Jedi front-lines is not as glorious as they thought it would be. Split apart, each of them reacts to the situation in their own way, with consequences that could affect the outcome of the whole war.
Review: Oh, man. What if I miss something? What if I forget to mention something while I'm explaining how terrible this story is, and then you don't get the message and you accidentally read it? How could I live with myself? Maybe I'm being too dramatic, but wow did I hate this story.
Here's the thing: I hadn't realized, either time that I read Path of Destruction, that a significant fraction of its storyline was forced to adhere to the track laid down in this earlier comic. Now that I know that, and I am aware of the full extent of what Karpyshyn had to work with, I'm almost tempted to go back and raise the score I gave that book. The one reason I won't is, even Karpyshyn couldn't bring himself to adhere completely to the story as it was told here, and his version departs from it in several key ways. Which, if you're just going to do that anyway, why not pretend this doesn't exist at all and start from scratch?
I was shocked to find that almost all of the problems and minor annoyances that I had with the novel came straight out this comic. Everything from stupid character names (Githany, Hoth, Valenthyne Farfalla) to the occasional plot development or character decision that seems to come out of nowhere (no spoilers, but there were several nagging examples of this in the novel's final section). Even the littlest stupid things, like Githany's use of a "lightwhip" instead of a lightsaber (what the heck? and how . . .?), turned out to be the comic's fault.
And yet, it was also clear that without Karpyshyn's skill, the novel could have been so much worse. He weaves a coherent character and narrative for Darth Bane around Bane's portrayal in this comic that is nothing short of masterful. For example, in the opening scene of Jedi vs. Sith, Bane is introduced with an act so pointlessly and malignantly evil that it seems impossible to even understand. And yet, although this same act appears in the novel (and is still probably the single most evil thing Bane does), it barely registered in my mind because the context of the situation and his character were so perfectly explained.
But so many of the ideas and threads that didn't really make it into Path of Destruction are awful. Vaguely hinted at in the novel, but front-and-center in the comic, is the Jedi decision (totally unquestioned) to use untrained child soldiers on the front lines of their war with the Sith. Why are we rooting for these guys, again? There is some nonsensical throw-away line about how if the Jedi don't recruit these kids, the Sith will find them, but no explanation about why they can't send them to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant for training and safekeeping rather than throwing them directly into battle.
Of course, that solution would deprive us of our ill-chosen protagonists, the ridiculously-named Tomcat, Bug, and Rain. (And, really? Tomcat? Not a Star Wars thing. Come on.) Those aren't even their real names. They actually have proper Star Wars names, which we eventually learn, but they don't go by them for reasons too silly and tedious to explain here.
And when I said they're "young" above, I should clarify that I meant somewhere between 10 and 12 years old. But no one they encounter on Ruusan seems to notice their youth, nor does that or their lack of training seem to have any effect on their ability to, say, successfully wield a lightsaber in combat that they just picked up a few minutes before. The decisions these characters make are as incomprehensible as their abilities. Badly-defined to begin with, Tomcat and Bug undergo huge, ridiculous transformations at the drop of a hat, dictated more by the whims of where the writer wants the plot to go than by any actual human logic.
There are plenty of bad ideas at the conceptual level, as well. For instance, the sentient species native to Ruusan are called "bouncers" (no, really), which is bad enough, except they don't . . . bounce. They're like large, furry green fish who fly through the air and only communicate telepathically. (They look like something straight out of Dr. Seuss.) But here is the one place that my critique gets a little tricky. I actually kind of love the way the bouncers look. I love a lot of the artwork, actually. That was the one redeeming quality to this whole trainwreck . . . It's a gorgeous trainwreck.
The problem is, as awesome as the art is, it doesn't fit this universe even a little bit. A bunch of the Jedi wear really ornate plate armor, for some reason. There are Jedi who look like fauns, satyrs, and harpies straight out of a fantasy novel. In battles with lightsabers and blasters, a lot of characters (including some Jedi?!) wield spears and bows and arrows, which makes no sense at all. One of the Jedi flies around in what appears to be Captain Hook's pirate ship, gleaming golden like when it was coated in pixie dust at the end of Disney's Peter Pan. And it looks awesome, don't get me wrong, but it just doesn't belong here. I mentioned in my review of Path of Destruction that some elements of the story had an epic fantasy feel to them, but this takes that idea way too far aesthetically.
In the end, I know I've missed some things that I wanted to complain about, but maybe I'm being too harsh. If you don't think of this as Star Wars, or don't think too hard about what's going on in the story or the implications of, say, the whole child soldiers thing, there's probably some enjoyment to be had. I just wasn't able to overlook any of that, despite the pretty, pretty pictures. So I'm going to pretend that this doesn't exist and move on with the rest of Karpyshyn's Darth Bane Trilogy.
D-
July 27, 2012
This is Star Wars meets Narnia, and is as such a comic for people who are not me.
I found the story crazy. Force sensitive kids who seem to be 8-12 years old are sent by a not so very wise old Jedi into war, where they have no business being and can only be a dangerous liability. Did he think they could be trained into Jedi in a crash course, with opportunities for lots of field practice in a realistic environment? It doesn't help that the words and actions of the two boys make them seem perfect Sith candidates even before they get to the war. Guess what? Things go baaaad. Okay, this is a criminally gross simplification of events. There are in fact things that I do like. Character development is one such thing. Even if I cannot relate to them in any way, I appreciate seeing the characters change in response to what happens to them. That represents my 1 Star in this review. In all too many stories, the main characters remain the same in spite of experiencing the most amazing or terrible events imaginable.
The setting is about 1000 before the SW movies. If the artwork of this comic is anything to go by, technological levels have by this time plunged to an all time Galactic low. Seriously, bows and arrows are perfectly adequate weapons for the two warring sides that are supposedly the two most formidable powers in the Galaxy. Blasters, armored vehicles, snubfighters - all that has been around for thousands of years but are inexplicably absent. As it is, Ulysses S Grant and his army could have given the combined forces of Jedi and Sith serious trouble. And I would have cheered him along.
The artwork is... difficult to stomach. I have seen worse. However, the images dreamed up make me want to tear my own eyes out. Spaceships that look like flying sailing boats and crewed by Narnians? Yup. Could hardly believe it at first, but they're in this comic too. Some things just don't mix well. Star Wars and Narnia don't; no more than Judge Dredd and Donald Duck would. There is also the aspect of the children being depicted as so very young and childish children, and in the same panel show rotting corpses. That is either outright strange or a stroke of genius, depending on how you see it.
The legacy of the events in this comic is Darth Bane's "Rule of Two". Makes sense in a way. Too many bad-ass mothafu---rs, all fueled by hate and ambition, in the same gang sounds difficult. Especially since the only real focus for their attention is killing Jedi. What if there are no Jedi around to fight some afternoons? Time for some backstabbing! The main problem I can see with only having two Sith at a time is that at any one time there will be only two Sith. It severely limits their ability to influence the galaxy in their desired direction. It requires the, in my humble opinion, outrageously convoluted schemes and neantherthal opposion of the Star Wars prequel movies to finally bring about the Sith victory after centuries of planning.The Jedi should have learned something too. How about "Never bring children to a war zone"? Or perhaps "Children are not mature enough to shoulder the responsibility of the Force"? Or why not "Don't train angry little boys in the ways of the Force and at all times keep your lightsaber away from them"?
I realize that this piece of fiction is intended to be candy for the moment, not meant to withstand the murderous criticism of bitter and vengeful reviewers like myself. Still, I do believe that some care should be taken to maintain the Star Warsey feel when writing and picturing Star Wars. Here it's like the attempt hasn't even been made.
I found the story crazy. Force sensitive kids who seem to be 8-12 years old are sent by a not so very wise old Jedi into war, where they have no business being and can only be a dangerous liability. Did he think they could be trained into Jedi in a crash course, with opportunities for lots of field practice in a realistic environment? It doesn't help that the words and actions of the two boys make them seem perfect Sith candidates even before they get to the war. Guess what? Things go baaaad. Okay, this is a criminally gross simplification of events. There are in fact things that I do like. Character development is one such thing. Even if I cannot relate to them in any way, I appreciate seeing the characters change in response to what happens to them. That represents my 1 Star in this review. In all too many stories, the main characters remain the same in spite of experiencing the most amazing or terrible events imaginable.
The setting is about 1000 before the SW movies. If the artwork of this comic is anything to go by, technological levels have by this time plunged to an all time Galactic low. Seriously, bows and arrows are perfectly adequate weapons for the two warring sides that are supposedly the two most formidable powers in the Galaxy. Blasters, armored vehicles, snubfighters - all that has been around for thousands of years but are inexplicably absent. As it is, Ulysses S Grant and his army could have given the combined forces of Jedi and Sith serious trouble. And I would have cheered him along.
The artwork is... difficult to stomach. I have seen worse. However, the images dreamed up make me want to tear my own eyes out. Spaceships that look like flying sailing boats and crewed by Narnians? Yup. Could hardly believe it at first, but they're in this comic too. Some things just don't mix well. Star Wars and Narnia don't; no more than Judge Dredd and Donald Duck would. There is also the aspect of the children being depicted as so very young and childish children, and in the same panel show rotting corpses. That is either outright strange or a stroke of genius, depending on how you see it.
The legacy of the events in this comic is Darth Bane's "Rule of Two". Makes sense in a way. Too many bad-ass mothafu---rs, all fueled by hate and ambition, in the same gang sounds difficult. Especially since the only real focus for their attention is killing Jedi. What if there are no Jedi around to fight some afternoons? Time for some backstabbing! The main problem I can see with only having two Sith at a time is that at any one time there will be only two Sith. It severely limits their ability to influence the galaxy in their desired direction. It requires the, in my humble opinion, outrageously convoluted schemes and neantherthal opposion of the Star Wars prequel movies to finally bring about the Sith victory after centuries of planning.The Jedi should have learned something too. How about "Never bring children to a war zone"? Or perhaps "Children are not mature enough to shoulder the responsibility of the Force"? Or why not "Don't train angry little boys in the ways of the Force and at all times keep your lightsaber away from them"?
I realize that this piece of fiction is intended to be candy for the moment, not meant to withstand the murderous criticism of bitter and vengeful reviewers like myself. Still, I do believe that some care should be taken to maintain the Star Warsey feel when writing and picturing Star Wars. Here it's like the attempt hasn't even been made.
September 17, 2023
I expected to learn more and read more of Darth Bane in this book, but he was not the focus of this story. This one takes a look at the Jedi and the Sith through the eyes and allegiances of children who are eager to be a part of something bigger than they’ve ever experienced. I thought the emotion was conveyed very well and that this was a very solid Legends story in the Star Wars universe.
August 31, 2014
On a backwards planet, there lived three children: Tomcat, Bug, and Rain. Tomcat dreams of being a Jedi, so much that when a Jedi recruiter comes, he signs up without hesitation. Bug and Rain come along to be with their cousin.
But on Ruusan, things aren't as pleasant as they always thought. The Jedi are weathered, perilously low on morale, and nearly defeated. In the midst, we see the rise of Darth Bane, the birth of the Rule of Two, and how fine a line separates the Jedi from the Sith.
I enjoyed the story, seeing the events from my recent read, Path of Destruction (Star Wars: Darth Bane, Book 1), from the view of the children. I also found Githany a less annoying character, less Mary Suish. I felt she not only had sex appeal but fighting skill to back it up.
The drawings were childish, but since this story was told "from the kids' point of view", it made since to me and didn't bother me too much. Plus, the "childish" drawings mostly were reserved for the kids. The Jedi and particularly the Sith were drawn much more adult-like (and in the Sith case, very angular).
The other "problem" I had was the fact that without reading Karpyshyn's book, this would have been relatively confusing. I love how the two intertwine, but I can't believe that they weren't written simultaneously (well, there are areas when it is obvious, such as how certain characters die, Bane's motivation, etc.). So people who plan on reading one and not the other are due for a bit of confusion and disappointment.
Foul language is here, but tame. Githany's character is rather sexualized, but nothing explicit. Violence is what really resounds across these pages. Many people die and some of it is quite gruesome...particularly one skeletal character at the end.
If a person has read or is going to read Darth Bane, this comic is a must. If you only want to read this, you will be more than a little confused. Four stars.
But on Ruusan, things aren't as pleasant as they always thought. The Jedi are weathered, perilously low on morale, and nearly defeated. In the midst, we see the rise of Darth Bane, the birth of the Rule of Two, and how fine a line separates the Jedi from the Sith.
I enjoyed the story, seeing the events from my recent read, Path of Destruction (Star Wars: Darth Bane, Book 1), from the view of the children. I also found Githany a less annoying character, less Mary Suish. I felt she not only had sex appeal but fighting skill to back it up.
The drawings were childish, but since this story was told "from the kids' point of view", it made since to me and didn't bother me too much. Plus, the "childish" drawings mostly were reserved for the kids. The Jedi and particularly the Sith were drawn much more adult-like (and in the Sith case, very angular).
The other "problem" I had was the fact that without reading Karpyshyn's book, this would have been relatively confusing. I love how the two intertwine, but I can't believe that they weren't written simultaneously (well, there are areas when it is obvious, such as how certain characters die, Bane's motivation, etc.). So people who plan on reading one and not the other are due for a bit of confusion and disappointment.
Foul language is here, but tame. Githany's character is rather sexualized, but nothing explicit. Violence is what really resounds across these pages. Many people die and some of it is quite gruesome...particularly one skeletal character at the end.
If a person has read or is going to read Darth Bane, this comic is a must. If you only want to read this, you will be more than a little confused. Four stars.
June 22, 2019
Sooo..... I read the first Darth Bane novel before I read this. If I hadn't, I'm not sure I would have had much clue what was going on. I can't believe this came before the novel. So many of the scenes in this that are just randomly thrown in, like the opening scene with Darth Bane.... Karpyshyn managed to fold them seamlessly into the novel and give them reasons for existing, but in this comic they barely stand on their own. It was mildly interesting to see more of Rain's backstory with her cousins, but Tomcat was such a jerkwad... and I already knew what would happen with Rain... I can't really say it was enjoyable.
The novel (rightfully, I think) rewrote many plot points and details so they don't agree with each other at all. In pretty much every case, the novel version makes more sense or ar least gives more depth to what is going on.
As far as the actual technical parts of the comic, I wasn't a huge fan of the artwork (although it is nicely consistent), and there were lots of typos, usually involving names (Ghitany vs Githany, Kel Charny vs Kiel Charny).
My recommendation would be to skip this and just read Darth Bane: Path of Destruction. It *might* be worth it for a visual of some of the characters and some tiny snippets of story that aren't covered in the novel.
The novel (rightfully, I think) rewrote many plot points and details so they don't agree with each other at all. In pretty much every case, the novel version makes more sense or ar least gives more depth to what is going on.
As far as the actual technical parts of the comic, I wasn't a huge fan of the artwork (although it is nicely consistent), and there were lots of typos, usually involving names (Ghitany vs Githany, Kel Charny vs Kiel Charny).
My recommendation would be to skip this and just read Darth Bane: Path of Destruction. It *might* be worth it for a visual of some of the characters and some tiny snippets of story that aren't covered in the novel.
October 19, 2022
I mean, I liked it, but it's not much.. nothing that you won't read and be much more entertained in the Darth Bane Path of Destruction and Rule of Two novels. Especially the second one, is pretty much what happens here but here you get to put an image to certain characters, even though there's not much explanation as to why Bane does certain things, fret not because you get that explanation in the novels.
August 12, 2023
4/10:
There are two key aspects of this story that kept me invested and they’re both related to Darth Bane; his presence and the induction of his Sith Apprentice Darth Zannah.
The rest of this story is really bleh though, with lots of Crusades-style warfare between the Jedi and the Sith. I know that this film takes place during the Old Republic, but it could’ve been much better than this.
There are two key aspects of this story that kept me invested and they’re both related to Darth Bane; his presence and the induction of his Sith Apprentice Darth Zannah.
The rest of this story is really bleh though, with lots of Crusades-style warfare between the Jedi and the Sith. I know that this film takes place during the Old Republic, but it could’ve been much better than this.
May 20, 2023
And my future? I failed as a jedi, failed as a sith... What could I hope to become?
man?
A man?
A man.
Why not?
man?
A man?
A man.
Why not?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2019
This one is rather bleak story.
After years and years of conflict Jedi and Sith are reduced to the small armies scavenging food and materiel on the devastated world of Ruusan. Although they speak between themselves as if they are mighty commanders and lords (you gotta love Bane commenting "Now everybody is a lord?") these armies are gutted by long attrition warfare on surface of Ruusan.
In order to deprive their opponents of any Force-wielders as reinforcements both sides heavily recruit everybody with Force talent they can find. They recruit everybody - both adults and kids. This might be off putting to some but it does make sense - history has shown that Dark Side is very adept at recruiting people to its cause so Jedi (although it makes their commander Hoth sick) are aware that Sith must not be allowed to reinforce their ranks.
And so we come to follow our "mighty" trio - Tomcat, Bug and Rain. Together they will experience both horrors of war (particularly bloody reception they receive when they arrive to Ruusan) and their failings as persons - some will fight to the death for their ideals, some will prove to be of traitorous spirit while others will find their calling in most unexpected places.
This is not story of hope but story where both sides - Brotherhood of Darkness and Army of Light - are aware that to break the stalemate everything needs to go. Both sides are aware that they are no longer forces fighting out of ideals but for mere survival and it is better to perish on the battlefield then to live with shame. And so from the utter destruction modern Sith and new Jedi order will rise.
Some will compare this book with novels of Darth Bane and story does complement the novels but if you expect Darth bane to play major role here you will be disappointed. He does appear but only in the background because he has his own agenda to attend to and decision of warring parties [that he utterly detests] to wipe themselves out he welcomes with his whole heart.
I liked it a lot, especially because of depictions of war and unnecessary sacrifices and the ways immature people see war - in songs and epics it is usually depicted as something noble, idealistic but on the ground, no matter if one is civilian or member of warring factions, war is nothing but constant worry about survival.
Recommended to all Star Wars fans.
After years and years of conflict Jedi and Sith are reduced to the small armies scavenging food and materiel on the devastated world of Ruusan. Although they speak between themselves as if they are mighty commanders and lords (you gotta love Bane commenting "Now everybody is a lord?") these armies are gutted by long attrition warfare on surface of Ruusan.
In order to deprive their opponents of any Force-wielders as reinforcements both sides heavily recruit everybody with Force talent they can find. They recruit everybody - both adults and kids. This might be off putting to some but it does make sense - history has shown that Dark Side is very adept at recruiting people to its cause so Jedi (although it makes their commander Hoth sick) are aware that Sith must not be allowed to reinforce their ranks.
And so we come to follow our "mighty" trio - Tomcat, Bug and Rain. Together they will experience both horrors of war (particularly bloody reception they receive when they arrive to Ruusan) and their failings as persons - some will fight to the death for their ideals, some will prove to be of traitorous spirit while others will find their calling in most unexpected places.
This is not story of hope but story where both sides - Brotherhood of Darkness and Army of Light - are aware that to break the stalemate everything needs to go. Both sides are aware that they are no longer forces fighting out of ideals but for mere survival and it is better to perish on the battlefield then to live with shame. And so from the utter destruction modern Sith and new Jedi order will rise.
Some will compare this book with novels of Darth Bane and story does complement the novels but if you expect Darth bane to play major role here you will be disappointed. He does appear but only in the background because he has his own agenda to attend to and decision of warring parties [that he utterly detests] to wipe themselves out he welcomes with his whole heart.
I liked it a lot, especially because of depictions of war and unnecessary sacrifices and the ways immature people see war - in songs and epics it is usually depicted as something noble, idealistic but on the ground, no matter if one is civilian or member of warring factions, war is nothing but constant worry about survival.
Recommended to all Star Wars fans.
November 11, 2025
Star Wars: Jedi vs. Sith is a remarkably unique entry in the Star Wars comic canon—and it's also an absolute blast to read. Set 1,000 years before the films during the Battle of Ruusan, this 6-part series depicts what is essentially the Star Wars middle ages, and it fully embraces that distinction.
I read this alongside the final portion of Darth Bane: Path of Destruction, which proved to be a fascinating experience. Both works chronicle the same events but from notably different perspectives. Darko Macan builds on previously established lore (primarily from the Dark Forces series) and leans heavily into the fantastical elements of the Star Wars universe, which works beautifully.
The characters—most of them original to this work—are genuinely compelling, with great dialogue that brings them to life. Despite some slightly over-the-top elements, the story is remarkably well put-together, balancing epic scope with engaging character moments that keep you invested throughout.
Ramón F. Bachs' visual style is absolutely stunning. Though the art might initially strike some as too kid-friendly, the sheer brutality of certain sequences quickly dispels that notion. The violence here is unflinching, often shocking, and serves the story's weight—this is the climactic battle that shapes the Force users power dynamics for a millennium.
What impressed me most is how the comic achieves a delicate balance: it feels firmly rooted in the Star Wars galaxy we know while simultaneously feeling refreshingly different. The medieval aesthetic and tone give the story room to explore the Force and the Jedi-Sith conflict in ways that feel both epic and intimate.
A pleasant surprise and highly recommended for fans looking for something that expands the boundaries of what a Star Wars story can be, this is simply a lot of fun from start to finish.
I read this alongside the final portion of Darth Bane: Path of Destruction, which proved to be a fascinating experience. Both works chronicle the same events but from notably different perspectives. Darko Macan builds on previously established lore (primarily from the Dark Forces series) and leans heavily into the fantastical elements of the Star Wars universe, which works beautifully.
The characters—most of them original to this work—are genuinely compelling, with great dialogue that brings them to life. Despite some slightly over-the-top elements, the story is remarkably well put-together, balancing epic scope with engaging character moments that keep you invested throughout.
Ramón F. Bachs' visual style is absolutely stunning. Though the art might initially strike some as too kid-friendly, the sheer brutality of certain sequences quickly dispels that notion. The violence here is unflinching, often shocking, and serves the story's weight—this is the climactic battle that shapes the Force users power dynamics for a millennium.
What impressed me most is how the comic achieves a delicate balance: it feels firmly rooted in the Star Wars galaxy we know while simultaneously feeling refreshingly different. The medieval aesthetic and tone give the story room to explore the Force and the Jedi-Sith conflict in ways that feel both epic and intimate.
A pleasant surprise and highly recommended for fans looking for something that expands the boundaries of what a Star Wars story can be, this is simply a lot of fun from start to finish.
February 9, 2021
In war, choose your side carefully.
Between the Jedi and the Sith, the boundary is well defined. For the Jedi, there is the Army of Light. For the Sith, there is the Brotherhood of Darkness.
In the battlefield, the lines blur.
The hero of the series, a boy named Tomcat, is dazzled by the epics and songs of the Jedi and wants more than anything to fight at their side. He dreams of vanquishing the Sith.
Then he finds that some Jedi are proud and vainglorious, some who fight on the side of the Sith are helpless puppets who are riled up to fight for a glorious cause... Just like Tomcat.
Tomcat is idealistic and conceited. He claims he fights for justice, but all he really recognizes is strength and renown. He makes victims of the Jedi, victims of the Sith, victims of his kin, and finally he becomes a victim himself.
The artist’s illustration of the Jedi and the Sith has them wear the armor of medieval crusaders. The carry crude clubs, axes, and bows and arrows as well as lightsabers. The troops of one Jedi character, Valenthyne Farfalla, have stepped out of Greek myth: Satyrs, Centaurs, and Gryphons. They are a menagerie of non-human creatures who nonetheless have the same human lusts for combat and glory.
Among the Sith there is the usual backstabbing and callousness toward their followers. Prominent among them is Lord Kaan and Darth Bane. Kaan tries to keep the egos of his fellow Dark Lords in check and not allow them to stray from their cause against the Jedi. Bane is cunning and has a messianic vision for the rebirth of the Sith... by separating the wheat from the chaff with his ingenious “Rule of Two.”
Zeal draws blood and innocence is lost in this comic series. I strongly recommend reading the Darth Bane Trilogy: Path of Destruction, Rule of Two, and Dynasty of Evil, which expertly continues where Jedi vs. Sith ends.
Between the Jedi and the Sith, the boundary is well defined. For the Jedi, there is the Army of Light. For the Sith, there is the Brotherhood of Darkness.
In the battlefield, the lines blur.
The hero of the series, a boy named Tomcat, is dazzled by the epics and songs of the Jedi and wants more than anything to fight at their side. He dreams of vanquishing the Sith.
Then he finds that some Jedi are proud and vainglorious, some who fight on the side of the Sith are helpless puppets who are riled up to fight for a glorious cause... Just like Tomcat.
Tomcat is idealistic and conceited. He claims he fights for justice, but all he really recognizes is strength and renown. He makes victims of the Jedi, victims of the Sith, victims of his kin, and finally he becomes a victim himself.
The artist’s illustration of the Jedi and the Sith has them wear the armor of medieval crusaders. The carry crude clubs, axes, and bows and arrows as well as lightsabers. The troops of one Jedi character, Valenthyne Farfalla, have stepped out of Greek myth: Satyrs, Centaurs, and Gryphons. They are a menagerie of non-human creatures who nonetheless have the same human lusts for combat and glory.
Among the Sith there is the usual backstabbing and callousness toward their followers. Prominent among them is Lord Kaan and Darth Bane. Kaan tries to keep the egos of his fellow Dark Lords in check and not allow them to stray from their cause against the Jedi. Bane is cunning and has a messianic vision for the rebirth of the Sith... by separating the wheat from the chaff with his ingenious “Rule of Two.”
Zeal draws blood and innocence is lost in this comic series. I strongly recommend reading the Darth Bane Trilogy: Path of Destruction, Rule of Two, and Dynasty of Evil, which expertly continues where Jedi vs. Sith ends.
December 5, 2018
I will be forever grateful to Dark Horse for keeping Star Wars alive during those Dark Times before the prequels reignited (or destroyed, depending on your view) the franchise. I've got to say, though, some of the stuff was just off-the-wall, and that's the case here in Jedi vs Sith. It imagines the start of Sith rule, two there will be, a master and apprentice. The art is fine, but the story, well, it includes mythological creatures flying on a giant 15th-century boat complete with sails, warriors who fly on spacecraft into battle and then use knives or hammers to fight, as well as a force bomb. Oh boy. Thank goodness all of it was more or less retconned in future Dark Horse publications.
May 26, 2019
As someone who refuses to spend the very little novel-reading time that I have on Star Wars tie-in books, I was never going to read the Darth Bane trilogy that people seem to like, and that I know is very important lore-wise. But an abridged comic version? Sure, I have time for that. And it's quite good. The sword & sorcery aesthetic is VERY weird for Star Wars, but I think it works for the "legendary" sense of history they're going for. Darth Bane's rise is believable enough, and I especially liked the development of his apprentice. I don't know how this compares to the books, but I imagine it's a decent enough substitute.
June 23, 2023
sobre la historia - 3.5 ☆
supongo que es bastsnte simple, es corta, asi que no terminas encariñandote con casi ningún personaje. hay una sola muerte que me dolió hasta cierto punto y el final... abierto, lo cual no suele gustarme, pero siento que es lo que debía pasar.
sobre el arte - 3 ☆
no es la gran cosa... la paleta de colores, más que nada en los dos primeros volumenes es hermosa, pero no es nada del otro mundo. de todos modos es muy lindo de leer, y el contraste que tienen los sith con los jedi lo hace mucho más fácil de leer
supongo que es bastsnte simple, es corta, asi que no terminas encariñandote con casi ningún personaje. hay una sola muerte que me dolió hasta cierto punto y el final... abierto, lo cual no suele gustarme, pero siento que es lo que debía pasar.
sobre el arte - 3 ☆
no es la gran cosa... la paleta de colores, más que nada en los dos primeros volumenes es hermosa, pero no es nada del otro mundo. de todos modos es muy lindo de leer, y el contraste que tienen los sith con los jedi lo hace mucho más fácil de leer
February 19, 2023
I vaguely recall reading this a long time ago... back then it was considered a key piece of Legends canon. It isn't worthy of its prior status. Cartoonish in both art style and storyline, it impressed me when I was a younger, but now I see that it's somewhat nonsensical and there is no solid connection to the galaxy at large. It just seems strange that all this action would be limited to one world. But I still enjoyed this TPB, flaws and all. Perhaps nostalgia is to blame!
May 16, 2017
Set in the Old Republic, the story follows 3 children who are recruited to fight the war on the jedi side. Darth Bane is the bad guy, and this runs concurrently with some of the books in his trilogy. I didn't really like some of the children, so wasn't invested in them. The art style is cutesy which does work with the story about the children. An interesting aside in the main story. A good read.
January 27, 2018
Having read this just after reading the first Darth Bane novel, I definitely see the influence but felt that the comic was missing a lot of exposition. The focus on the kids is quite irritating, as the Sith Lords have a much more interesting story.
June 29, 2023
A great retelling of the novel, however it lost a star purely because Githany, who is a powerful Sith fighting in an epic battle between the light and dark side, is wearing a thong 😑 who thought this was a good idea? 🤦🏻♀️
May 14, 2017
Meh
It just lacked a lot of the things that happened in the original Novel trilogy, Darth bane. Otherwise it was nice to see the characters I grew to love on comic pages
It just lacked a lot of the things that happened in the original Novel trilogy, Darth bane. Otherwise it was nice to see the characters I grew to love on comic pages
February 7, 2018
Too short.
The comic was great and went along smoothly with the novel. It ends with Bane walking away with Zennah after the thought bomb.
The comic was great and went along smoothly with the novel. It ends with Bane walking away with Zennah after the thought bomb.
July 6, 2018
Wish there was more.
May 13, 2019
Decent story. Atrocious artwork.
December 13, 2021
A cool take on young boys in a Jedi Sith war.
October 1, 2022
Good illustrations. A short simple version of the story in the Bane books.
December 5, 2022
Interesting Legends story featuring Darth Bane and the origin story of his young apprentice.
May 10, 2025
8/10
fabułka 7/10
postacie 8/10
klimat 3/10
artstyle 10/10
fabułka 7/10
postacie 8/10
klimat 3/10
artstyle 10/10
May 9, 2023
What do I say other than this is one of the best Star Wars stories that I’ve ever read? Brilliant plot and incredible art. 3 siblings thrown into the Ruusan conflict and a shit ton of sith lords? Sign me up. Better than DBT, I love the children’s perspective, but Bane’s a badass underdog too. They tell different stories and honestly JvS is just on another level. Love love love it!
March 24, 2013
After finishing the Darth Bane trilogy I was suprised to find out that one of my favourit Sith characters was granted a comic.
The comic focuses on the last part of Darth Bane Path of Destruction, which is mostly battle driven but takes also the time to introduce charakters and giving them a charakter and personality. and also add new elements and origins rather then just to retell the book.
However, if you haven't read the book you will most likely don't unterstand the whole situation or some of the scenes with Bane, as they lack background story or any explanation at all. So I can't recommend this book to everyone but more to fans of said book.
Anther point is the artwork. It looks good and has some very good moments, like the grand battle sequences or the design of some of the aircrafts. But it also is very colourful and the faces look very unrealstic - more like charicatures.
I belive a more "mature" look would have suited the dark story better but it "gets the job done".
Overall I enjoyed the book and think it supports the character and his story very well, although the comic cuts most of his origin in focusing on the three children on the cover and their adventures.
In short, for fans of Bane and/or the Sith recommended, otherwise it will most likely confuse more than it entertains.
The comic focuses on the last part of Darth Bane Path of Destruction, which is mostly battle driven but takes also the time to introduce charakters and giving them a charakter and personality. and also add new elements and origins rather then just to retell the book.
However, if you haven't read the book you will most likely don't unterstand the whole situation or some of the scenes with Bane, as they lack background story or any explanation at all. So I can't recommend this book to everyone but more to fans of said book.
Anther point is the artwork. It looks good and has some very good moments, like the grand battle sequences or the design of some of the aircrafts. But it also is very colourful and the faces look very unrealstic - more like charicatures.
I belive a more "mature" look would have suited the dark story better but it "gets the job done".
Overall I enjoyed the book and think it supports the character and his story very well, although the comic cuts most of his origin in focusing on the three children on the cover and their adventures.
In short, for fans of Bane and/or the Sith recommended, otherwise it will most likely confuse more than it entertains.
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