Star Wars: Legacy, Volume 3: Claws of the Dragon

Star Wars: Legacy #3

by John Ostrander

One hundred years after the events in Return of the Jedi, Luke's descendant Cade Skywalker is captured by the Sith, Emperor Darth Krayt unveils his true identity, and a secret chapter in the life of Obi-Wan Kenobi is revealed. When Cade attempts to rescue the Jedi he turned over to the Sith during his days as a bounty hunter, the last Skywalker soon finds himself in the clutches of Darth Krayt. There, Cade must confront his past and decide once and for all: will he remain the Emperor's prisoner or become his thrall? Learn whether the Skywalker line lives up to the triumph of Luke or returns to the tragedy of Anakin!

• Collects Star Wars: Legacy #14-#19.

• This is the future of Star Wars and it's exclusive to Dark Horse!

• This series is a continuation of the stories that began with the original trilogy.

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

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

John Ostrander is an American writer of comic books. He is best known for his work on Suicide Squad, Grimjack and Star Wars: Legacy, series he helped create.

Originally an actor in a Chicago theatre company, Ostrander moved into writing comics in 1983. His first published works were stories about the character "Sargon, Mistress of War", who appeared the First Comics series Warp!, based on a series of plays by that same Chicago theatre company. He is co-creator of the character Grimjack with Timothy Truman, who originally appeared in a back up story in the First Comics title, Starslayer, before going on to appear in his own book, again published by First Comics in the mid 1980s. First Comics ceased publication in 1991, by which time Ostrander was already doing work for other comics companies (his first scripts for DC Comics were published in 1986).

Prior to his career in comic books, Ostrander studied theology with the intent of becoming a Catholic priest, but now describes himself as an agnostic. His in-depth explorations of morality were later used in his work writing The Spectre, a DC Comics series about the manifestation of the wrath of God. His focus on the character's human aspect, a dead police detective from the 1930s named Jim Corrigan, and his exploration of moral and theological themes brought new life to a character often thought of as impossible to write. He has also worked on Firestorm, Justice League, Martian Manhunter, Manhunter, Suicide Squad, and Wasteland for DC.

Reviews

[Terence · Rating 4 out of 5]

During a meditation session Luke Skywalker came to Cade Skywalker and told him he's responsible for the Jedi he turned in for the bounty. Cade decides to try to save the Jedi and gets himself captured. Darth Krayt starts to train Cade for his own purposes.

Claws of the Dragon was really good. I thoroughly enjoy most things Jedi and Sith related and this volume was full to the brim. Darth Krayt reveals a lot to Cade in order to turn him. The Sign training was also quite enjoyable.

I surprisingly remember most of what happened even though I read it almost 10 years ago in a bookstore. I look forward to getting to some new stuff I haven't read before, but I'm not sure when I'll get there.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story, but seriously was about to throw the book across the room because of the ridiculousness of the female characters' outfits. Cade's mom is a bounty hunter assassin spy lady who does amazing tricks wearing a corset with size DD breasts??? Darth Talon fights lightsaber battles in a metal tube top and matching loin cloth? And Mark says I have to forgive Deliah Blue because Zeltrons are just that sexy naturally. At least she only operates heavy machinery in her bikini.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Scott Rhee · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Dark Horse series Legacy, volume 3, “Claws of the Dragon”: we are introduced to Skull Squadron, a group of bad-ass tie-fighter pilots out to get Cade Skywalker; Cade, guilt-ridden, breaks into the Sith temple on Coruscant to rescue the Jedi that he helped get captured and then gets captured himself; Obi Wan Kenobi shows up in a flashback scene; Cade’s mom arrives to help rescue her son.

This series, despite being old canon, is pretty great. The writing by John Ostrander and Jan Duursema is top-notch, and the artwork by Duursema is excellent.

My only complaint (and I’m not gonna lie: it ain’t much of a complaint) with the artwork is that not a single female character in this series has less than a 40 double-D bra size, nor are any of them dressed to leave the house. I guess some comic book artists are just obsessed with big boobs. Shameful, really...

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of a feeling of obligation for a Jedi Knight he turned in to protect his own connection to the Force, Cade Skywalker makes his way back to Coruscant, the current seat of the Sith Empire's government, to free the Bothan Jedi. He sneaks his way into the new Sith Temple, which was built on top of the former Jedi Temple before locating the Bothan, only to fall into the hands of Darth Krayt and his Sith minions.

Fortunately for Cade, he is not completely on his own. His former smuggling partners Jariah Syn and Deliah Blue have rushed in to come to the rescue. Unfortunately, their luck proves to be just as good as Cade's, and Darth Krayt decides to use them to get Cade to cooperate. The Sith emperor infects them with Vong biotechnology not unlike the one he is infected with in the hopes that Cade will use the Force to save them, providing evidence of his skill and bringing him closer to the Dark Side. After some debate, Cade does in fact save his friends after Krayt promises to free them. In trade, Cade promises to train with the Sith.

While Cade is spending weeks training at the Sith Temple, his friends are not sitting idly by. They end up connecting with other smugglers and a federal agent with a personal interest in Cade to work on a rescue mission. The question is what will they find when they get to the Temple to enact the rescue. Will Cade want to return with them or stay with his new Sith brethren?

As all of this is going on, the Grand Moffs of the Empire are trying to figure out where they went wrong with the Sith. They had brought the Sith into the war against the Galactic Alliance to strengthen their side only to find the Force-connected Sith taking over. They are starting to question the ties and discuss what they might be able to do as a result. This is particularly true of Chief of Intelligence Nyna Calixte. She had played a crucial role in building the alliance with the Sith with the hopes of promoting her lover and fellow Moff (Morlish Veed) into the leadership of the Empire. As with everyone connected to Intell, she has secrets from the past that seem to be playing even more into events than anyone realizes.

This volume read very quickly. It easily fit the plot pattern of the original Star Wars movies, filled with action and adventure. It really plays up the idea of a legacy for the various characters and what that means for them, a theme that seems to be threading through the whole series to date. Sometimes a legacy is just as much a bane as it is a boon.

[Octavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pedazo de tomo. El mejor de los tres de calle.

[Cale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volume Three rectifies the issues with Volume two by narrowing its focus to Cade Skywalker, although his former companions Syn and Blue also have some prominence. Cade's attempt to rescue the Jedi bounty he turned over in Volume one leads him to direct interaction with the Sith and Darth Krayt. This book highlights one of the biggest problems with Star Wars Expanded Universe: It's incestuousness. Krayt is revealed as a character that has history going back to the Clone Wars, and almost feels like a Forrest Gump thing, with him showing up several times across galactic events. Why does every character have to be tied to the main plot so much? Why can't someone new actually be new?
Other than that, though, this book is pretty strong, with Cade's interactions with the Sith interesting, and Syn & Blue's side story equally interesting. Aside from a fairly big lapse in intelligence by Nyna, the imperial politics and machinations are pretty interesting too. The climax is impressive; it feels like it could have come straight out of the movies (and several of the story beats do), and it sets the next volume up with some strong momentum.

[kim | novelhaus · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fine, a good story. Outfits for the ladies are quite ridiculous though. But what was I expecting really.

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a really big dramatic turning point for the series and I'm not sure it was ready for it. Cade gets his big "Join the Dark Side or Die" Death Star Throne Room scene, but also an arc that mirrors Jacen's from Traitor. It kinda works but I'm just not sold on any of Cade's friendships yet and his personal issues are kinda boring. Hett's arc also mimics Jacen's (ultimately more so, in how it ends up). I feel like this got short shrift, though; it's played as expositing backstory and revealing big secrets. For all Legacy's pretensions at grimdarkness, it seems a missed opportunity to make Hett more of a protagonist here. I'm also still bored with the Moff Calixte subplot, and I'm starting to doubt how much is left here after the edge of the grimdark stuff has dulled into run of the mill teen angst. Also, I'm just not sure about the makeup on that Hutt.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the volume I liked the most (so far). Despite lacking some of the brilliant chapters of the previous one, the work is more consistent, the art is once again pretty likeable, and the story moves to new grounds that grow more and more interesting. Backstory of Darth Krayt was certainly cool, and the role some characters are starting to have is very engaging. The narrative was unpredictable enough to feel fresh (in spite of dealing with pretty much the same tropes SW always comes back to), and we got to see Obi Wan. What else can you ask for?

Well, maybe for the writers/artists to be a little less sexist when it comes to defining and dressing female characters, but we all know that's asking for something impossible.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

STAR WARS: LEGACY Volume 3: CLAWS OF THE DRAGON

Issue 14
“Skywalker is coming.”

Issue 15 – In the Temple of the Sith
“Look at me Skywalker. Do you know who I am?”

Issue 16
“Do not lecture me, Obi-Wan. We were both generals in the Clone Wars.”

Issue 17
“I do wish it. Teach me the ways of the Sith .. Master.” – Cade Skywalker

Issue 18
“Art embodies the thought and philosophy of a civilisation. Gives it form.”

Issue 19
“And, Syn … don’t forget the BOOM.”
Awesome twist in the narrative at the end of the issue.
..

[Omni Theus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than Most of the Modern Retreading
OVERALL RATING: 3.75 stars
Art: 4.5 stars
Prose: 3.5 stars
Plot: 3.75 stars
Pacing: 4 stars
Character Development: 4 stars
World Building: 3 stars
I was never a huge fan of the Vong invasion and other Legends mythos but it takes a dump all over the Sequel junk Disney gave us. This story was not too bad at all.

[Marta Duda-Gryc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huh. This was actually good! I loved visual choices the artists made, the story is rather good, the banter is nice, the characters are interesting - all of them. Never would I have thought... And I should have, since it's John Ostrander's oeuvre.

[Koen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daarn this just keeps getting better and better!!
Will Cade join the darkside like others of his ancestors did?? Well, I know :)
Go read it and be amazed!!

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read

Please note that this comic series is now part of Legends, and is no longer canon within the Star Wars expanded universe.

Hoo! That was good!! I live for boom.

[Andrew Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series really picked up here.

[Kathrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a huge fan of the Cade Skywalker Line because I feel constantly like I am missing a story line or something.

[jose_566 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the dynamic between Cade and Darth Talón. The story keeps moving forward and I like it a lot.

[Books_gang_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zatím nejlepší díl... Ultra mě bavil Cade, design některých postav a ta zábava co z toho všeho je.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Star Wars series takes place nearly half a century after the original trilogy. The Sith once again rule the galaxy, Jedis are scattered and a rough alliance is trying to fight back against tyranny. Among the heroes is Luke Skywalker's grandson, Cade, a former Jedi in training who was raised as a bounty hunter after being lost in space during the big battle that effectively wiped out his people.

The first two volumes found Cade coming back to his legacy (what a title, huh?), and this one sees further progression in his story. It begins with him breaking into the Sith headquarters to save a Jedi he betrayed, but the set-up is a trap, with the Sith leader, Darth Krayt (they all have ridiculous names) hoping to turn Cade to the Dark Side and use his powers to heal him from an alien parasite that threatens to kill him.

The storyline is pretty familiar. On one side, Darth Krayt fleshes out his backstory and tries to convince Cade that the bad guys' side is where the action is. On the other, a group of shady mercenaries works together to rescue Cade, led by his mom, a former Imperial assassin. (It wouldn't be a Star Wars story if everyone wasn't related to everyone else.) For his own part, Cade tries to pretend he's crossed over to the Dark Side, although the bad guys aren't so dumb as to overlook that it's just an act.

Overall, the volume is pretty satisfying. I enjoyed the cast: everyone seems smart enough to anticipate the obvious trap and try to move one step past it. The escapethat ends the volume feels a little too easy, though, even with powerful insiders looking to clear Cade.

I did find myself confused, as usual, as to what is moral for a Jedi in battle. For a group that spends a lot of time slicing people with laser swords, they can have some pretty conditional qualms about violence. Is it ok for Cade to kill the evil murderers who've imprisoned him as long as he's not angry about it? Who knows?

But Ostrander is a pro with the plotting and characterization, and I think Star Wars fans will have fun following this story. I look forward to seeing what happens next.

[Zachary Hatton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really cool stuff happens in this volume and I'll relay why it was rather good comparatively. Finally! While Cade is still not defined we get a sense of who he truly is as a character, I won't spoil it for you but let's just say that the writer did splendidly on characterization, which is always a must for me in good fiction. It was an excellent story on multiple layers such as being empathetic with the characters, suspense, and overall being rather interesting. Here are some notes I made while reading:
*SPOILERS*
*An "attractive" Hutt? Never thought I'd see the day.
*Even though I'm not a hardcore SW fan versed in what the alien phrases being said mean, the fact that they are being said bring to life the SW universe. You don't see that in a lot of Star Wars media when it would seem in a galaxy with thousands of languages some alien phrases would be part of the everyday talk.
*I don't get the force at times. If a Sith can take out Cade by force strange, then why don't they do it all the time?
*Does there really have to be a "Thrawn incarnate" character on the Imperial ruling council?
*The Legacy series is called the Legacy series for a reason, for there are so many ties to characters of the pre-legacy era.
*In the SW universe I guess people are used guns being pointed at them, for no one flips a switch whenever it happens.
*Cade defeated Darth Talon while trying to rescue Hosk but now that Cade's her apprentice she's suddenly superior?
*Once again the classic Sith going "Everything is going according to plan..." (even though said Sith never intended for any of what happened to happen)
*So often Jedi or other "important" characters die meaningless, arbitrary, pointless and altogether forgetable deaths. Not this time.
*Awkward perspective. Cade's right forearm is jutting out from his neck.

This was a very enjoyable volume in the legacy series. It wasn't amazing but kept me intrigued enough to keep reading until the very end. It's a solid FOUR stars for me.

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ostrander wins again. These collections are beginning to follow a narrative pattern, and not necessarily a bad one. In a way, it's not unlike the structure of TV shows like Lost, although with far less character development and gripping narrative. The story as a whole begins in media res, and more and more of the origins of the current conditions are revealed through flashbacks centered upon the experiences of the individual players involved. Volume three begins with Cade captured by the SIth as they try to bend this powerful Skywalker to their cause for political as well as personal reasons. The High Lord of these new Sith, Darth Krayt has a condition that is slowly consuming him. This volume gives us background on that condition and where the heck and army of Sith under such a powerful lord came from in the first place. Krayt's background is kind of a rehash. I have to say, the whole "But wait! There was another Jedi that survived the purge!" gimmick is getting a little old. You kind of take the seriousness of a Jedi genocide away when it seems like these long-lived Jedi are able to pop out of the woodwork every few years and say, "I survived and went into hiding too - Yoda and Obi-wan weren't the only ones!" That complaint aside, what this volume does well is tie the events of the EU together and place this arc firmly within the timeline. For those that are big fans of the EU you'll get all the references from the Vong to Caedus and it is very rewarding. Also, I like Krayt. A Jedi from the Sand People? Great idea!

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a Star Wars fan from way back and this comic continues the magic as Cade Skywalker, the future grandson of Luke Skywalker, struggles to find his place in the universe. He doesn't want anyone dying for him and he especially doesn't want to belong to any order of any kind. He has made it clear that he defines his own destiny.

For the last couple of volumes Cade has been using his skills as a bounty hunter. He continually shows he is a good soul deep down, but still struggles to find his way and in so doing he makes some mistakes along the path.

Volume three of this story so far is the best. It is the apex of the plot so far. Cade faces the dark side like never before when he comes face to face with Darth Krayt. The sith, especially Darth Krayt, need to use Cade (and his healing power) to their own end.

There is some good action in this volume as well as a nicely woven, cohesive storyline. Cade even meets up with someone of his own blood...

I enjoyed the surprises and story. The sith seem to be tring to pick up the pieces after the fall of Palpatine and Vader. I liked the art, but it was not five star worthy in my opinion. Some panels the expressions didn't match the message. Either way I think the book is a worthy buy if you like Star Wars and the way Dark Horse has been continuing the storyline. Cheers.

[Jaimie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally we're back to the main action of the story after all the backstory and political intrigues of the previous volume! Cade Skywalker is captured by Darth Krayt with the intention of turning him to the Dark Side, but Krayt's reasoning is a little more interesting than that of his Sith predecessors. Unlike Sidious and Palpatine, Krayt's motives are driven by his selfish concern with self-preservation - specifically in getting Cade to use his unique healing powers to purge the coral seeds that have infected his body. Krayt may be working as an agent of the Dark Side in the current story, but his backstory (which is extensively explored in this volume) gives him a role as more of an anti-hero. I quite like how his evolution into a Sith Lord isn't painted simply as "he went bad because of greed/anger/etc," but more as a survival mechanism in reaction to the catastrophic galactic events of the Clone War and his capture and torture by the Yuuzhan Vong. Krayt's past is played alongside the current events of Cade's imprisonment by the Sith, providing us with further potential comparison between two characters who don't easily fit into the neat boxes of Light and Dark sides of the Force. Cade is more successful in evading turning to the Dark Side, but he is such a conflicted character that the authors have made it clear that his story won't be wrapped up so easily.

[Jaime K · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art is great, and transitions between scenes well. Some of my favorite are with Krayt’s past, and the darkness within him being artistically portayed.

Some of the Sith are losing faith in Krayt due to his obsession with Cade, and Cade's power. Wyyrlok happens to be most vocal about it.
It's a great setup to the inevitable rocking of the Sith hierarchy.

We learn how A'Sharad Hett survived over the years, especially after his last meeting with Obi-Wan. How he became Krayt....how he was Vongformed...how he prevented others from realizing his existence. It’s a lot of retconning BUT it ties back to the NJO so. Very. Well.

We also learn more about Nyna, including with Gunner Yage and her father, Moff Yage.
The end with her always takes me by surprise, because I forget the intricacies of everything during my rereads.

There are a lot of intricate webs that are woven among the Imperials.

Cade says to R2 "grow some ball bearings." It's jarring to read in a Star Wars book, but it's perfect for Cade, as well as the overall direction of the "Legacy" comics.
His powers are stronger than even he realized, thrusting him further down a darker path. He's more dangerous than Anakin, in some ways.

[Samantha Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What we pretend to be we often become." Legacy: Volume 3 takes Cade Skywalker's journey and makes all of his battles personal. Darth Krayt's backstory is fully fleshed out and interwoven with the history of the Star Wars universe in a way that feels creative, plausible, easily accessible and, most importantly, organic. The story of Cade and friends is well-thought out and the epic battle on Coruscant at the end is well-earned by the furthering of the story and characters, making it feel like Star Wars.
"I knew the Old Republic--how it devoured itself from within. It corrupted even those that served it in the name of good. How weak they became, how vulnerable." Meanwhile the political landscape is connected to Cade's story through the introduction of a new bounty hunter and more intriguing character motivations are revealed in a style that any fans of Game of Thrones or Rome should enjoy.

[Malcolm Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cade is certainly one of the more interesting Star Wars characters in that he's a blend of the light and dark side and resolutely refuses to embrace either. He's his own side and screw everyone else. This gives him an element of predictable unpredictability where you know he's not going to do the expected thing, but can't necessarily guess what he is going to do.
This volume also gives the back story to Darth Krayt following his surprise reveal at the end of the previous volume. I remember the first time I read this series being blown away by that revelation and really enjoyed learning how they came to be where they are now.
Morrigon Corde is also back in a big way with a couple of interesting revelations of her own, one that's shared with the other characters and one that's revealed to the reader. Big stuff.
There's quite a lot going on in this book and it does get a little convoluted but I loved every second of it. Great artwork too.

[Jeff Lanter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume of Legacy reminded me a lot of Return of the Jedi with Luke in the grasp of Palpatine and Vader. Thankfully, Cade is completely different character and so this volume doesn't feel like a rehash in any way, shape, or form. One of the things I admire the most about this series is how there are so many plotlines going on at once and how they connect and reconnect with each other in each trade. That is a very Star Wars thing to do and really fits in with the spirit of the original trilogy. Finding out who Darth Krayt actually is was awesome and so was that character's interaction with Obi-Wan on Tatooine sometime after the fall of the Republic. These are the kind of ideas you want to see in the expanded Star Wars Universe. Best of all, the art in this series is really great. It is beautiful throughout each issue and fits the tone of the book perfectly.

[Yves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cade Skywalker veut se racheter et tente de libérer un Jedi qu'il a vendu aux Sith. Malheureusement pour lui, sa présence était attendue par Darth Krayth et ses acolytes. Le Sith veut le convertir au Côté Obscur. Il lui révèle sa véritable identité et son cheminement vers les Sith. Pendant ce temps-là, les amis de Cade et sa mère mettent sur pied un plan pour le libérer.

Cette BD est à couper le souffle. Il y a beaucoup d'actions et de rebondissement. J'ai bien aimé connaître le passé du Sith Darth Krayth. Pour ce qui est de la fin, c'est du bonbon. Il y a un gros punch à un pas manquer.

Claws of the Dragon vise donc en plein dans le mille et rehausse la série qui était déjà très bonne.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh noes! Cade becomes a Sith! Or at least that's what the cover would have you believe, depicting him all dressed in black and wielding a red lightsaber. Since the last book ended with Cade heading into the Sith temple, you pretty much know he's going to get captured, and that Darth Krayt is going to try to turn him. What's less predictable, thankfully, is how the whole ordeal is going to turn out. The author does a good job preserving the suspense, even if some of the back-and-forth dialogue between Cade and Krayt is fairly trite. You also get a lot of Krayt's backstory; again at times a bit ridiculous but necessary I suppose. Overall a strong continuation of the series.