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Star Wars: Republic #9
Star Wars: Honor and Duty
Watch the fall of the Republic through the eyes of Sagoro Autem-Senate Guard, mercenary, prisoner, Clone Wars hero, and Imperial target-in a story that spans from before the Clone Wars to the first mission of Darth Vader!
Young Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker-his even younger Padawan-protect a senator from assassination attempts. Joining the Jedi in their mission is Autem, loyal Senate Guard. Yet, as Obi-Wan and Anakin fend off a league of master assassins, Autem discovers a link between the killers that will change his own life forever-a secret he will not be able to face until the Clone Wars have come and gone, and he finds himself on the run from the new Emperor's enforcer, Darth Vader!
• Collecting issues 46-48 and 78 of Star Wars Republic.
• This story reveals the ending to a story Star Wars fans have been waiting for years to resolve!
Young Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker-his even younger Padawan-protect a senator from assassination attempts. Joining the Jedi in their mission is Autem, loyal Senate Guard. Yet, as Obi-Wan and Anakin fend off a league of master assassins, Autem discovers a link between the killers that will change his own life forever-a secret he will not be able to face until the Clone Wars have come and gone, and he finds himself on the run from the new Emperor's enforcer, Darth Vader!
• Collecting issues 46-48 and 78 of Star Wars Republic.
• This story reveals the ending to a story Star Wars fans have been waiting for years to resolve!
96 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2006
4 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
John Ostrander
2,087 books170 followersJohn 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 11, 2024
Set in 23BBY
Note:This collects issues 46-48 and 78 of Star Wars Republic but I read and reviewed here just #46-48 because I'm reading everything chronologically and #78 takes place into the distant future, granted with some connection, but in the future nonetheless.
An okay story paired with mediocre artwork. While the plot revolves around Anakin and Obi-Wan safeguarding senators or someone high profile from potential harm, the narrative falls into the repetitive trope of protecting high-ranking politicians. This familiarity raises questions about the overall value compared to previously explored themes in novels, short stories, films, and other comics.
The execution of the storyline further falters as the predictability becomes evident, particularly when introducing a "bad apple" character. The lack of surprise in the plot diminishes the overall impact of the narrative. Anakin's awkward facial expressions and the occasional resemblance to a fake store mannequin adds more negativity to the comic's visual shortcomings, occasionally making you cringe.
"Run. As far as you can. That's the only gift I can give you."
Despite these drawbacks, the comic has its moments, especially in the interactions between our well-known characters. The dialogues and exchanges provide some enjoyable elements, but they aren't sufficient to elevate the overall narrative from its mediocre status. In the end it was an okay experience, but the predictability and lack of innovation prevent it from reaching its full potential.
"Ride the stars and be free."
Note:This collects issues 46-48 and 78 of Star Wars Republic but I read and reviewed here just #46-48 because I'm reading everything chronologically and #78 takes place into the distant future, granted with some connection, but in the future nonetheless.
An okay story paired with mediocre artwork. While the plot revolves around Anakin and Obi-Wan safeguarding senators or someone high profile from potential harm, the narrative falls into the repetitive trope of protecting high-ranking politicians. This familiarity raises questions about the overall value compared to previously explored themes in novels, short stories, films, and other comics.
The execution of the storyline further falters as the predictability becomes evident, particularly when introducing a "bad apple" character. The lack of surprise in the plot diminishes the overall impact of the narrative. Anakin's awkward facial expressions and the occasional resemblance to a fake store mannequin adds more negativity to the comic's visual shortcomings, occasionally making you cringe.
"Run. As far as you can. That's the only gift I can give you."
Despite these drawbacks, the comic has its moments, especially in the interactions between our well-known characters. The dialogues and exchanges provide some enjoyable elements, but they aren't sufficient to elevate the overall narrative from its mediocre status. In the end it was an okay experience, but the predictability and lack of innovation prevent it from reaching its full potential.
"Ride the stars and be free."
March 14, 2016
John Ostrander is a great comic writer. In Honor and Duty he keeps up with his quality story telling. Honor and Duty is actually 2 stories- the first is Honor and Duty and the second is Loyalties. Both are told from the stand point of Saguro Autem, A Sentaorial Guard who witnesses first-hand the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire. In the first story, approximately 3 years before the events of Revenge of the Sith, Autem and his partner are tasked with solving the killing of a Senator. In the investigation he is assisted by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywaylker. The story is far more about Autem himself though. He is a fanatically devoted Guardsman who idealizes the work he does as a Senatorial Guard. Over the course of the story it ends up costing him his family and in the end, when he discovers the corruption underlying the Senate it costs him his job. The second story Loyalties takes place three weeks after the events of ROTS and now Autem is a Captain in the Imperial Navy. The Republic has fallen and the Empire is taking full control. He has a chance to meet with Emperor Palpatine and Lord Vader during a "motivational" speech to the former-Republic Navy now-Imperial Navy Captains. It is a short story showing the purge of all "disloyal" Imperial Captains of whom Seguro is earmarked as one. The story shows the death of any remaining loyalty to the system he served. If that was a deliberately vague review-of course..if you want to know what happened read the comic.
Both stories are well told and show the changes that occur to loyal Republic officers as the Empire comes to power. It is an interesting twist to see the events not through the eyes of Jedi or Sith but through an ordinary Officer. The art in the first story is just ok, but improves significantly in the second one. I enjoyed this tale and if you are a Star Wars fan, I think you will too.
Both stories are well told and show the changes that occur to loyal Republic officers as the Empire comes to power. It is an interesting twist to see the events not through the eyes of Jedi or Sith but through an ordinary Officer. The art in the first story is just ok, but improves significantly in the second one. I enjoyed this tale and if you are a Star Wars fan, I think you will too.
August 6, 2021
I can always trust John Ostrander to deliver a good story, which he does here. Plus, it's always nice to see Obi-Wan :)
March 18, 2024
The 1st 3 issues have by far the worst art I've ever seen. By the 4th, it had improved but I don't know by what means. Maybe they had a new artist. Iconic characters were completely unrecognizable.
The plot had a common theme for this era of Star Wars, regarding corruption of government, assassination. At least it was delivered to the reader through a vessel we haven't interacted with much. The Senate Guard, who are not Force sensitive.
There's a contradiction here with other bodies of work within the E.U. A large number of now "Imperial" officers see Darth Vader for the 1st time here. In the book Dark Lord: Rise Of Darth Vader, he is broadcasted on the holonet news to the galaxy. Maybe they didn't see it even though the footage reached as far out as the Outer Rim Territories.
The plot had a common theme for this era of Star Wars, regarding corruption of government, assassination. At least it was delivered to the reader through a vessel we haven't interacted with much. The Senate Guard, who are not Force sensitive.
There's a contradiction here with other bodies of work within the E.U. A large number of now "Imperial" officers see Darth Vader for the 1st time here. In the book Dark Lord: Rise Of Darth Vader, he is broadcasted on the holonet news to the galaxy. Maybe they didn't see it even though the footage reached as far out as the Outer Rim Territories.
February 11, 2013
My biggest thought here is "Why can't Americans spell honour properly?" It ruins the entire text for me, so I'm gonna have to go with 3 stars. Also, the story was kinda one-note and dull (Assassination attempt on a blah blah..) and the art blew. Another stop-gap story in a series that probably should have known better than to stall and fill time so much.
September 25, 2017
As much as I like reading about the Jedi, it was very refreshing to have the focus of someone else for a change. In this case, one of the blue senate guards, named Sagoro Autem. Here we learn about his work-life, his family life and his disdain for the Jedi. I also appreciated seeing the underground sport of Pit Racing first seen in the beginning of Greg Bear's Rogue Planet that saw a young padawan Anakin Skywalker face off against a blood carver.
As with many 'cop' stories, the family did have the usual tropes of neglected wife and out of control children with nothing we haven't seen many times before. The mystery of the whodunnit was revealed pretty early on leaving the reader to simply watch the guard discover the truth for himself.
The artwork was perfectly serviceable. The likenesses weren't all that close, but was at least consistent and I could still tell who was who.
This volume concludes with a follow-up story, Loyalties, that follows Sagoro as an officer in the newly formed Empire. As the next round of purges takes place, he finds himself on the run from Darth Vader. This was a fairly standard hunted story with a twist that was pretty obvious. Nevertheless, it was a fitting conclusion to Sagoro's story. The artwork is noticeably different here, less cartoony than the main story and did the story justice.
As with many 'cop' stories, the family did have the usual tropes of neglected wife and out of control children with nothing we haven't seen many times before. The mystery of the whodunnit was revealed pretty early on leaving the reader to simply watch the guard discover the truth for himself.
The artwork was perfectly serviceable. The likenesses weren't all that close, but was at least consistent and I could still tell who was who.
This volume concludes with a follow-up story, Loyalties, that follows Sagoro as an officer in the newly formed Empire. As the next round of purges takes place, he finds himself on the run from Darth Vader. This was a fairly standard hunted story with a twist that was pretty obvious. Nevertheless, it was a fitting conclusion to Sagoro's story. The artwork is noticeably different here, less cartoony than the main story and did the story justice.
August 23, 2017
This series has a lot of new characters and they're fairly effectively introduced, but the overall plot is a bit blah. As always, it would have been nice to see just a little bit more of the politics here-you get the impression that the failure of this vote resulted in the war pretty proximally but that conclusion could be more salient? I guess that's a tough line to walk because you want it to feel mysterious. The trash hopping is a nice new high-risk sport, but the Senate Guards are kind of a snoozer for me. This is another one of those "hey you saw this in the movie but here it is again if you want more" deals: Anakin and Obi-wan have to defend a Senator from political assassination before a big vote, there's speeder chases with mysterious assassins, etc. This time it feels way too close to be satisfying, there isn't enough novelty to be fun.
December 29, 2023
This book consists of two stories, the eponymous Honor and Duty taking up the most of it. In an odd (probably marketing-related) choice, the cover of the book features Darth Vader, who only appears in the second story and is hardly prominent enough to deserve such a placement, though Anakin Skywalker is still around in the main body of Honor and Duty. Set before the Clone Wars, this story revolves around an important vote in the senate (ah, more prequel era politics! Riveting, isn’t it?) and the assassinations of senators whose votes are expected to go the wrong way. One of them is killed right off the bat to get the ball rolling, after which his murder is being investigated by the Senate Guard, the person leading said investigation is guardsman Sagoro Autem, the protagonist of this book. To protect Simon Greyshade, the replacement of the dead senator, two Jedi are brought in: Obi-wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. We follow the efforts of both as they try to get to the bottom of the assassination plot.
Some spoilers to follow.
Sagoro Autem has a complicated and difficult family situation. His marriage seems happy enough, but his children are causing him trouble and his brother is a criminal who betrayed the Senate Guard. His children are caught at an illegal sporting even, pit diving (something imperial agent Jahan Cross apparently practiced himself! the pieces are all coming together, somehow…), leading to resentment and a subplot about one his son’s friends getting arrested. Meanwhile this brother, Venco, turns up to announce he’s dying. Attempts at reconciliation are rejected however, as Sagoro Autem is a hard-ass as both father and brother, apparently.
Of course, since the story only has three issues in which to be told, none of the characters may be wasted. Venco Autem is the assassin after Greyshade, obviously. This is no secret or mystery. He manipulates his nephew into helping him with the attempt, making him an accomplice, which eventually leads to the whole family falling apart and really, Sagoro has no one but himself to blame for alienating them all.
The two brothers on opposite sides reminds me a little of Ostrander’s absolutely amazing DC western The Kents, but with only three issues to tell the story, there’s hardly room to explore the family tension. In the pages of The Kents, one brother consistently made all the wrong decisions in life, but here both have gone down paths they should’ve avoided. The irony here is that the villain is once again completely correct: the Republic is corrupt, the Republic is an unwieldy behemoth, slowly dying. Venco is speaking the truth when mocking Simon Greyshade:
“This maggot sold himself to me and then tried to resell himself to a higher bidder! And they’re all like that in this chamber! And that’s what you would die to protect?! That’s what you will kill your own brother to defend?”
Sagoro speaks nobly of defending not the people running the Republic but the ideals it stands for, yet only a few pages later his tune has changed:
“The Republic’s not worth it. Maybe it never was.”
Maybe it was, a long, long time ago. But in your lifetime, Autem? No. He takes the fall for his son and allows himself to be arrested.
The second story, Loyalties, is set after the Clone Wars, following the same Sagoro Autem, now an officer in the newly formed Empire, standing in a crowd of people who have the dubious honour of being among the first to meet Darth Vader. As his introduction, Lord Vader kills Jace Dallin, one of the storytellers from a previous book (The Stark Hyperspace War, recognizable by the scar he received there), establishing the long tradition of Imperial officers being executed on the spot. Poor guy, the man was a war hero in several wars and died simply for talking out of turn to the wrong man.
Loyalties is only a single issue long and pretty inconsequential. Moreover, I can’t figure out why Darth Vader personally pursued Autem, his importance or the reason he was on the Imperial purge list is never explained. The Emperor even reprimands Vader for making him more important than he is, so maybe Vader was just being overzealous? Another point of contention: Vader can tell if people are lying to him, right? Then why does he not call out “Evan Hessler” for his lie when questioned on why he wears a mask? The issue was probably a bit of a rushed job. Looking at the artwork for both it and the previous one, that seems to hold true. After getting spoiled by so many of Ostrander’s Star Wars books being drawn by Jan Duursema, this rougher work seems jarring. in Honor and Duty there’s even a panel where a person has their eyes open, but the eyes have been filled in with the same colour as her skin. They can’t all be winners, I guess.
Some spoilers to follow.
Sagoro Autem has a complicated and difficult family situation. His marriage seems happy enough, but his children are causing him trouble and his brother is a criminal who betrayed the Senate Guard. His children are caught at an illegal sporting even, pit diving (something imperial agent Jahan Cross apparently practiced himself! the pieces are all coming together, somehow…), leading to resentment and a subplot about one his son’s friends getting arrested. Meanwhile this brother, Venco, turns up to announce he’s dying. Attempts at reconciliation are rejected however, as Sagoro Autem is a hard-ass as both father and brother, apparently.
Of course, since the story only has three issues in which to be told, none of the characters may be wasted. Venco Autem is the assassin after Greyshade, obviously. This is no secret or mystery. He manipulates his nephew into helping him with the attempt, making him an accomplice, which eventually leads to the whole family falling apart and really, Sagoro has no one but himself to blame for alienating them all.
The two brothers on opposite sides reminds me a little of Ostrander’s absolutely amazing DC western The Kents, but with only three issues to tell the story, there’s hardly room to explore the family tension. In the pages of The Kents, one brother consistently made all the wrong decisions in life, but here both have gone down paths they should’ve avoided. The irony here is that the villain is once again completely correct: the Republic is corrupt, the Republic is an unwieldy behemoth, slowly dying. Venco is speaking the truth when mocking Simon Greyshade:
“This maggot sold himself to me and then tried to resell himself to a higher bidder! And they’re all like that in this chamber! And that’s what you would die to protect?! That’s what you will kill your own brother to defend?”
Sagoro speaks nobly of defending not the people running the Republic but the ideals it stands for, yet only a few pages later his tune has changed:
“The Republic’s not worth it. Maybe it never was.”
Maybe it was, a long, long time ago. But in your lifetime, Autem? No. He takes the fall for his son and allows himself to be arrested.
The second story, Loyalties, is set after the Clone Wars, following the same Sagoro Autem, now an officer in the newly formed Empire, standing in a crowd of people who have the dubious honour of being among the first to meet Darth Vader. As his introduction, Lord Vader kills Jace Dallin, one of the storytellers from a previous book (The Stark Hyperspace War, recognizable by the scar he received there), establishing the long tradition of Imperial officers being executed on the spot. Poor guy, the man was a war hero in several wars and died simply for talking out of turn to the wrong man.
Loyalties is only a single issue long and pretty inconsequential. Moreover, I can’t figure out why Darth Vader personally pursued Autem, his importance or the reason he was on the Imperial purge list is never explained. The Emperor even reprimands Vader for making him more important than he is, so maybe Vader was just being overzealous? Another point of contention: Vader can tell if people are lying to him, right? Then why does he not call out “Evan Hessler” for his lie when questioned on why he wears a mask? The issue was probably a bit of a rushed job. Looking at the artwork for both it and the previous one, that seems to hold true. After getting spoiled by so many of Ostrander’s Star Wars books being drawn by Jan Duursema, this rougher work seems jarring. in Honor and Duty there’s even a panel where a person has their eyes open, but the eyes have been filled in with the same colour as her skin. They can’t all be winners, I guess.
March 4, 2023
Star Wars: Honor and Duty collects issues 46-48 (Honor and Duty) and 78 (Loyalties), which take place in 23 BBY and 19 BBY, both prior to and three weeks after Revenge of the Sith. The art in the first series is just okay, at some points it’s detailed and at others people are less defined. The art of the second series is much improved and is nice to look at.
In this story, it was really interesting to see the work of the Senate guards, who are usually in the background. Though the story does go from a murder mystery plot which is investigated by several guards, to focusing on just one man, Sagoro Autem, who is intensely loyal to the Guards.
Issue 78’s beginning was the best part of the collection. It shows Palpatine and Vader gathering the newly minted Imperial Navy captains. Vader is suitably brutal and you really get to see how Palpatine is working to eradicate any good will towards the Jedi that is still left after their deaths.
But this jump forward of four years leaves many questions in regards to Autem. It briefly states what he did between story arcs, but I’m not sure how he managed to do all that including participating in the Clone Wars. I wish there had been a bit more there, and after looking up the character I see he is in issues 74, 76, and 77, so perhaps what I needed was in there.
Overall though, it’s a good little arc that continues being able to see the world outside the Jedi and more with the Republic itself. In fact, events in this lead to the first worlds leaving the Republic, where they’ll be ripe for joining Dooku and the Separatists. I would recommend this story. Now onto Episode II and the Clone Wars!!
In this story, it was really interesting to see the work of the Senate guards, who are usually in the background. Though the story does go from a murder mystery plot which is investigated by several guards, to focusing on just one man, Sagoro Autem, who is intensely loyal to the Guards.
Issue 78’s beginning was the best part of the collection. It shows Palpatine and Vader gathering the newly minted Imperial Navy captains. Vader is suitably brutal and you really get to see how Palpatine is working to eradicate any good will towards the Jedi that is still left after their deaths.
But this jump forward of four years leaves many questions in regards to Autem. It briefly states what he did between story arcs, but I’m not sure how he managed to do all that including participating in the Clone Wars. I wish there had been a bit more there, and after looking up the character I see he is in issues 74, 76, and 77, so perhaps what I needed was in there.
Overall though, it’s a good little arc that continues being able to see the world outside the Jedi and more with the Republic itself. In fact, events in this lead to the first worlds leaving the Republic, where they’ll be ripe for joining Dooku and the Separatists. I would recommend this story. Now onto Episode II and the Clone Wars!!
September 3, 2022
Two years before 'Attack of the Clones', Senate Guard Sagoro Autem undertakes an investigation on Coruscant which will lead him to cross paths with Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, whilst simultaneously tearing his family apart from within.
Then, shortly after the Clone Wars have ended, Sagoro finds himself a target of the new Galactic Empire and has to try to rebuild some of the bridges he burned years before.
The first two thirds of this book have the feel of a police procedural, whilst the final third is very much the story of a fugitive on the run. Whilst an interesting change of pace from the Jedi and Clone Wars stories that this book fall amongst, it's a significantly less-satisfying premise for a Star Wars story.
I did enjoy the central themes of Sagoro being torn between his duty to the Republic/Empire and doing the right thing for the people he cares about, but that wasn't enough to stop this from being a pretty mediocre filler-episode style story.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
Then, shortly after the Clone Wars have ended, Sagoro finds himself a target of the new Galactic Empire and has to try to rebuild some of the bridges he burned years before.
The first two thirds of this book have the feel of a police procedural, whilst the final third is very much the story of a fugitive on the run. Whilst an interesting change of pace from the Jedi and Clone Wars stories that this book fall amongst, it's a significantly less-satisfying premise for a Star Wars story.
I did enjoy the central themes of Sagoro being torn between his duty to the Republic/Empire and doing the right thing for the people he cares about, but that wasn't enough to stop this from being a pretty mediocre filler-episode style story.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
August 4, 2024
While I won’t say this is stellar, it is still very solid. This is what that Crossbones mini, whatever it was called, in the Menace Revealed omni was trying to do. It’s telling a story that has (almost) nothing to do with our usual cast of heroes. Anakin and Obi-Wan are here, but they’re treated how the background Jedi are always treated. If for some unholy reason you handed this book to someone who knew nothing of Star Wars, they wouldn’t suspect how important those two Jedi characters would go on to be, I don’t think. So for that type of a tale, I liked this quite a bit. But for Star Wars, I found it a bit lacking. There’s nothing wrong with the story, some of the art is super great (though some other moments are kind of funny-bad), and the senate guard characters feel developed and interesting, except I just can’t get hooked on the adventure. I don’t know if some of it is too similar to Episode II, and I’m contrasting, or if maybe it’s just the mood I was in, but I never could really get invested here.
January 30, 2024
I'm torn about the rating. It's not a 3, but also not a 4. The biggest issue I have is that both the artist and colorist change from the first part (Honor & Duty) and the second (Loyalties) in such a drastic way that it's a shock to see.
Honor & Duty: 8 years after TPM/3 before ROTS, a senator is killed and his cousin takes his place. Senate guards try to find the assassin while Obi-Wan and Anakin are tasked with watching over the cousin. The one guard, Autem, has a rebellious son and dangerous brother.
It is frustrating that the cousin won't say who is likely behind his own assassination attempts, even though I understand.
Some of the technology between Venco and one of his assassins is unique only to this comic AFAIK and it's distrating.
Loyalties: 2 weeks after ROTS, Vader wants Autem for some reason (dead or alive) and the former guard needs to avoid bounty hunters.
Honor & Duty: 8 years after TPM/3 before ROTS, a senator is killed and his cousin takes his place. Senate guards try to find the assassin while Obi-Wan and Anakin are tasked with watching over the cousin. The one guard, Autem, has a rebellious son and dangerous brother.
It is frustrating that the cousin won't say who is likely behind his own assassination attempts, even though I understand.
Some of the technology between Venco and one of his assassins is unique only to this comic AFAIK and it's distrating.
Loyalties: 2 weeks after ROTS, Vader wants Autem for some reason (dead or alive) and the former guard needs to avoid bounty hunters.
January 3, 2021
This had three issues at the start of when the "Star Wars" title became "Star Wars Republic," then a tour that issue that followed up with charafters from this story arc five years later. Probably best they lumped them together since the last issue is 30 issues later - might have forgotten who these guys were by now.
The art in the 3-issue story arc was pretty atrocious, but the epilogue issue art was lovely.
The art in the 3-issue story arc was pretty atrocious, but the epilogue issue art was lovely.
June 13, 2023
Characters need to be likeable or at least interesting. Neither of these crucial elements was present in this TPB. I wasn't that keen on the plot either - or the rushed, too-convenient ending that capped things off.
April 10, 2024
Honestly, a fairly boring story. The artwork was terrible as well.
May 21, 2024
good. i liked the plot. the p1 clone annoyed me tho.
August 31, 2017
This one's a little more interesting. It's a murder mystery set sometime between Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, with an assassinated senator and some shady political dealings going on. Very noir detective, complete with being torn between family and country, and with losing one's wife and children to boot. Well, that's the first half. The second half takes the main character, Senate Guard Saguro Autem, and forces him to choose between his loyalty and his life.
First of all, it's a neat look at Coruscant the city, one we don't much get in the series. It's also a neat look at the way the Senate functioned-- or didn't-- before its fall and the rise of the Empire. Almost makes you sympathize with Palps. That said, I didn't like the main character at all and I wasn't much invested in the plot. It's a good story, but I feel like the characters could've been more sympathetic.
First of all, it's a neat look at Coruscant the city, one we don't much get in the series. It's also a neat look at the way the Senate functioned-- or didn't-- before its fall and the rise of the Empire. Almost makes you sympathize with Palps. That said, I didn't like the main character at all and I wasn't much invested in the plot. It's a good story, but I feel like the characters could've been more sympathetic.
April 11, 2023
Honor and Duty collects Star Wars: Republic issues 46-48 and 78. It tells the story of a Senate Guard who gets caught up in assassinations and dirty deals in the senate a couple years before Attack of the Clones, and then becomes a target for Vader right after Revenge of the Sith. It's a decent story that deals with the ideas of honor and duty and that relates to family. It's a decent political story with middling artwork.
July 30, 2015
Set in the days preceding Geonosis, Honor and Duty is a both a political whodunit and a human drama, the story of the disintegration of the government mirrored in the unraveling of one family sworn to protect the Republic. Sagoro Autem is a 4th generation Senate Guard, the men with blue capes and helmets you may have noticed in the background in the prequel films. While investigating the murder of a Senator killed just prior to a vote on legislation that could cause several worlds to leave the Republic, Sogoro discovers some painful truths about his family and the system to which he has pledged his life.
It's a story told in every civil war, the story of a family set against itself, two brothers divided by competing loyalties and brought into direct conflict by the implacable forces of war. Fortunately, John Ostrander is on hand to tell the tale. He is without question the most talented writer to work long-term on any Star Wars comic, and this particular volume shows why. He does as good a job as possible with the politics in a series in which not many authors get into the details about exactly what kinds of corruption cause so many to believe the only recourse is secession. Where Ostrander excels is in building his characters, creating people the reader cares about. The final scene of the initial 3-part story ends with the shedding of a tear, and while I wasn't in need of a tissue when I closed the book, there was the making in my throat of a tiny lump.
The fourth and last installment of the story takes place several years later (2 weeks after the events in EP III) when Sagoro Autem now an Imperial Captian for Imperial Navy, now at the service of of the Newly appointed Emperor Palpatine and the Dark Lord Vader following events Whereas the previous story arc was about things falling apart, this one is about paying old debts and putting things back together.
You don't need to have read all of Dark Horse's Star Wars series to enjoy this book, (although you might be interested to know Autem makes appearances in Clone Wars Volumes 2 and 8). Honor and Duty stands well on its own and is perhaps unique in the Star Wars Extended Universe in presenting a story about an average citizen of Coruscant, rather than smugglers, bounty hunters, clones, or super-powered Jedi and Sith.
Overall, this is a fine example of Dark Horse's Star Wars publishing, a awesome addition to the EU, and one that I would certainly recommend.
It's a story told in every civil war, the story of a family set against itself, two brothers divided by competing loyalties and brought into direct conflict by the implacable forces of war. Fortunately, John Ostrander is on hand to tell the tale. He is without question the most talented writer to work long-term on any Star Wars comic, and this particular volume shows why. He does as good a job as possible with the politics in a series in which not many authors get into the details about exactly what kinds of corruption cause so many to believe the only recourse is secession. Where Ostrander excels is in building his characters, creating people the reader cares about. The final scene of the initial 3-part story ends with the shedding of a tear, and while I wasn't in need of a tissue when I closed the book, there was the making in my throat of a tiny lump.
The fourth and last installment of the story takes place several years later (2 weeks after the events in EP III) when Sagoro Autem now an Imperial Captian for Imperial Navy, now at the service of of the Newly appointed Emperor Palpatine and the Dark Lord Vader following events Whereas the previous story arc was about things falling apart, this one is about paying old debts and putting things back together.
You don't need to have read all of Dark Horse's Star Wars series to enjoy this book, (although you might be interested to know Autem makes appearances in Clone Wars Volumes 2 and 8). Honor and Duty stands well on its own and is perhaps unique in the Star Wars Extended Universe in presenting a story about an average citizen of Coruscant, rather than smugglers, bounty hunters, clones, or super-powered Jedi and Sith.
Overall, this is a fine example of Dark Horse's Star Wars publishing, a awesome addition to the EU, and one that I would certainly recommend.
July 28, 2018
Star Wars Legends Project #167
Background: Honor and Duty was published in May of 2006. It consists of 4 issues from the Republic run of comics (#46-48, published October 2002-January 2003, and #78, published October 2005). All four issues were written by John Ostrander, with the first three drawn by C.P. Smith and the fourth drawn by Luke Ross. Ostrander has written several dozen issues of Star Wars comics across various series, but this is the only Star Wars Legends work by the other two artists (Ross has done several issues of new continuity work for Marvel).
The first three issues of Honor and Duty take place a year or so before the Battle of Geonosis (23 years before the Battle of Yavin) and are the last issues of Republic that take place before the Clone Wars. The fourth issue takes much later, approximately two weeks after Order 66 (19 years before the Battle of Yavin).
Summary: Sagoro Autem is a third-generation Senate Guard who serves the Republic with unswerving loyalty, but the swirl of corruption that surrounds the politics of his day is about to drag him into a morass that will test an even greater loyalty: Family.
Review: I feel like there's not a lot I can say about this story without giving too much away, because it's relatively short for everything that happens in it. It didn't do much for me overall because I didn't feel very invested in the characters (or feel a whole lot of sympathy for them), and ultimately the story will stand or fall on that basis. That said, Ostrander is a very good writer (as I've often noted before), and it's definitely a solid arc. I liked the reference to illegal garbage pit racing on Coruscant from Rogue Planet, and I liked the idea of following how the events surrounding Palpatine's rise to power might affect some of the Republic's more ordinary citizens. If that sounds appealing, check this out. It just wasn't my thing.
B-
Background: Honor and Duty was published in May of 2006. It consists of 4 issues from the Republic run of comics (#46-48, published October 2002-January 2003, and #78, published October 2005). All four issues were written by John Ostrander, with the first three drawn by C.P. Smith and the fourth drawn by Luke Ross. Ostrander has written several dozen issues of Star Wars comics across various series, but this is the only Star Wars Legends work by the other two artists (Ross has done several issues of new continuity work for Marvel).
The first three issues of Honor and Duty take place a year or so before the Battle of Geonosis (23 years before the Battle of Yavin) and are the last issues of Republic that take place before the Clone Wars. The fourth issue takes much later, approximately two weeks after Order 66 (19 years before the Battle of Yavin).
Summary: Sagoro Autem is a third-generation Senate Guard who serves the Republic with unswerving loyalty, but the swirl of corruption that surrounds the politics of his day is about to drag him into a morass that will test an even greater loyalty: Family.
Review: I feel like there's not a lot I can say about this story without giving too much away, because it's relatively short for everything that happens in it. It didn't do much for me overall because I didn't feel very invested in the characters (or feel a whole lot of sympathy for them), and ultimately the story will stand or fall on that basis. That said, Ostrander is a very good writer (as I've often noted before), and it's definitely a solid arc. I liked the reference to illegal garbage pit racing on Coruscant from Rogue Planet, and I liked the idea of following how the events surrounding Palpatine's rise to power might affect some of the Republic's more ordinary citizens. If that sounds appealing, check this out. It just wasn't my thing.
B-
August 14, 2012
Cette dernière bande dessinée de la série Republic porte sur le garde sénatorial Sagoro Autem. L'histoire se passe 8 ans après la bataille de Naboo et juste un peu avant la Guerre des Clones. Un sénateur est assassiné et les gardes du Sénat doivent collaborer avec les Jedi Kenobi et Skywalker pour retrouver le meurtrier. La collaboration ne sera pas aisée à cause de frictions entre Skywalker et Autem.
La seconde partie se passe deux semaines après la Guerre des Clones. Autem est maintenant un officier impérial. Vader garde encore une rancune contre lui et décide de l'inclure dans une purge des officiers.
Cette BD est plutôt ordinaire. j'ai bien aimé la seconde partie mais la première ressemblait un peu trop à l'histoire de l'épisode 2. Cette BD met fin à la série Republic pour laisser place la série Clone Wars.
Ce que je peux dire pour résumer rapidement la série Republic c'est que c'est une série moyenne et que les meilleures histoires sont celles avec Quinlan Vos.
La seconde partie se passe deux semaines après la Guerre des Clones. Autem est maintenant un officier impérial. Vader garde encore une rancune contre lui et décide de l'inclure dans une purge des officiers.
Cette BD est plutôt ordinaire. j'ai bien aimé la seconde partie mais la première ressemblait un peu trop à l'histoire de l'épisode 2. Cette BD met fin à la série Republic pour laisser place la série Clone Wars.
Ce que je peux dire pour résumer rapidement la série Republic c'est que c'est une série moyenne et que les meilleures histoires sont celles avec Quinlan Vos.
December 30, 2014
This story of a Senate Guard who gets thrust into bigger events than he knows is interesting; it's a police procedural (with some Jedi thrown in), but it also focuses on questions of honor and duty - are the guards honor bound to serve a corrupt institution? Are the assassins working for the destabilization actually doing the right thing? How much should family matter? The answers it gives are sometimes surprising. In between all that, though, is a fairly action-oriented story, including a couple scenes with Anakin and Obi-Wan, though they aren't the focus. There's also an epilogue story that takes the characters in a new direction that may be even more surprising. All in all, it's a fairly strong story, especially considering the main characters are only in this one volume.
August 7, 2013
The first of the two stories was interesting, but the second was predictable, rushed, and just poorly written in my opinion.
On top of that, there were several spelling/typographical errors that weren't caught by the editors - something that is quite annoying to me.
On top of that, there were several spelling/typographical errors that weren't caught by the editors - something that is quite annoying to me.
December 15, 2015
Stars wars books are good. They are amazing. That star wars book I like it better then the other one. This book was so fun to read. I liked it because it was a comic book. Also because it is a Star Wars book!
August 5, 2009
A good read for Star Wars folks - collects a three-issue story arc, plus a one-shot featuring the s from Star Wars: Republic comics
October 13, 2012
Pretty boring story with bad art. The number of copyediting errors didn't help.
May 21, 2014
Like the story fine but the story why he could be consider Clone War hero would of been fun.
January 25, 2015
Explores the decline of the Republic and rise of the Empire from the perspective of an average soldier. Interesting stuff.
August 6, 2017
Meh. It was missing everything that makes Star Wars interesting. And included just enough of what made the prequels preachy and annoying.
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