Star Wars: Yoda

Star Wars: Canon Miniseries

by Cavan Scott, Jody Houser, Marc Guggenheim

A new series focusing on Master Yoda, and his many trials and tribulations from his long life with the Jedi Order

To some, he was a legend. To others, he was a teacher. Now Yoda is all but forgotten, living in exile and haunted by the past. As a strangely familiar voice echoes through the swamps of Dagobah, Yoda must revisit the many lessons he has given over the years — from the days of the High Republic to the chaos of the Clone Wars! First, a desperate cry for help reaches the Jedi Council on Coruscant. How far will Yoda go to protect a community from attack? And who will come to his aid when disaster strikes? Plus, years before the Clone Wars, he asks an old friend to come teach the next generation of Jedi — Master Dooku! But with dark visions haunting one of his students, Yoda will need all the help he can get…

COLLECTING: Star Wars: Yoda (2022) 1-10

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

232 pages, Paperback

First published December 19, 2023

About the author

is a freelance comic writer and author. He is best known for his work on a variety of spin-offs from both Doctor Who and Star Wars, as well as comics and novels for Vikings, Pacific Rim, Sherlock Holmes, and Penguins of Madagascar.

Cavan Scott, along with Justina Ireland, Claudia Gray, Daniel Jose Older, and Charles Soule are crafting a new era in the Star Wars publishing world called Star Wars: The High Republic. Cavan's contribution to the era is a comic book series released through Marvel Comics titled Star Wars: The High Republic.

Reviews

[Subham]

I loved this book so much omg! It's probably like one of the best books I have read this year and it's a self contained book but really makes you love Yoda.

The first arc takes place during the time of high republic and involves Yoda going to this planet Turrak and he meets this guy Bree and he helps him to fight against the enemy group Crulkon and we see how Yoda left and years later when he returns what happens with these two people/races and I love how they reconciled this a big learning.

Then the next story is during the time Dooku was a Jedi and we see both of them working together to help these new children training to be Jedi. Two such students are Krrsish (wookie) and Gheyr (Trandoshian) and we see the rivalry between their species again and how it happen and how the wookie gives into his dark side and is mistrustful of the Trandoshian even though she did nothing and a lesson about giving into the dark side and a lesson for Today about how he can't control things sometimes and also hints at who Dooku is along and his plans and all such. I really loved this story!

And then the final one was a team up with Anakin vs General Grievous and stopping droid factories and it was an okayish stories and there are fun moments between them and I really liked that!

And we get to finally see the person Yoda is talking to in Dagobah and it was a predictable twist and I really loved it.

This book is one of those that really makes you love the character and shows the long life that he has lived and experienced he has had and offers learning too.. like patience and forgiveness and it's amazingly taught over here!

[Jim C]

This is a collection of ten issues that explore different times of his life. He is a wizened old Jedi master in seclusion and we receive various flashbacks of experiences of his life with other well known characters.

Please take this review with a grain of salt as this collection had two aspects working against it for me to really enjoy it. The first one is I am not the biggest fan of short stories in a comic run. I want a long arc as I feel short stories in this format provide little sustenance. Secondly, and the one that many will disagree with me on, is that I am not the biggest fan of Yoda. For me to give this three stars surprises me as I read this more because I was curious what they would do with the main character. As for the actual stories I didn't think there was anything special. I did enjoy him interacting with other established characters. For the most part the artwork was really good except the artist for whatever reason had trouble drawing Anakin. What sold me on this collection was the last issue. Simply put it was amazing. To dive into how Yoda feels about everything that has happened to him in his life and to tie it into the original trilogy was a welcome surprise.

This actually exceeded my expectations. I believe most fans will end up enjoying this more than me and that can be attributed to my feelings of the main character. I don't hate him. I just think he is a little over used. That being said the last issue was a joy to read and actually convinced me to like him a little more than I did before I started reading this collection. This issue alone was worth the price of admission.

[Robert]

A pretty solid Yoda-centric anthology across the Star Wars ages (though if you were hoping to see sexy young Yoda you are bound for disappointment as, from the High Republic era onward anyway, it seems he's always been a frumpy little Senior Galactic Citizen).

[Chad]

Everyone seemed to like this more than I did. It's three different flashback stories for Yoda from the Clone Wars era. They are kind of nothing stories. It just seems like the middling stuff Marvel releases these days that's instantly forgettable. The art in the last 4 issues is suspect as well.

[Khurram]

A great book. It shows Yoda as not only a great (Grand) Jedi master but the great teacher he also is. However, like all teachers, some of the hardest lessons yo learn are the lessons we must learn ourselves.

The book is ten issues/chapters. Three chapters to each past mission, with a story in the present time linking them all together. It's especially great to see Anakin and Yoda together. The final story is if the teacher can still be a learner?

This book has a bit of everything, not just teachings, but it is great to see Yoda in lightsaber action. Links to other Star Wars Tales of Jedi and Sith series. All in all, it's an awesome book that gets Yoda spot on. The book finishes with a varient cover gallery that has both thumbnail and full page varient covers.

[Matthew Ward]

Really solid anthology series. There wasn’t an issue that I didn’t enjoy!

[ShamNoop]

Issues #1-3 - 4/5
Issues #4-6 - 4/5
Issues #7-9 - 2/5
Issue #10 - 5/5

[Cale]

With him being one of the few characters to have a presence in the High Republic as well as the Republic Era and Classic Trilogy Era, Yoda makes an obvious choice for a short series that is able to bridge those time periods. Unfortunately, it doesn't really do much with that ability - there was almost nothing about the High Republic storyline that actually situated it in that era, which felt like a missed opportunity. The look and feel was very similar to the Republic era storyline, which distinguished itself more by the characters it used than any other aspect of the era.
That being said, the stories themselves are fine. Nothing jumped out at me as a key piece of Yoda's life, and the book has basically faded completely from memory in the weeks since I read it. So yeah, inoffensive, but not memorable.

[Roman Zarichnyi]

Є персонажі, яких культура давно перетворила на набір упізнаваних поз: зелений меч, слова навспак, трохи загадкової мудрості й обов’язкове «Роби або не роби». Тому до цьогр коміксу підходив з обережністю. Адже переживав чи не стане це просто ще одним посереднім додатком для полиці фаната. Але вже після перших сторінок стає зрозуміло: ні, тут є спроба поговорити з легендою не як із іконою, а як із дуже старим, дуже втомленим учителем, який пам’ятає занадто багато.

Особливо цікаво, що це перший комікс зі світу «Зоряних воєн» у читацькому досвіді. І в цьому є окрема насолода. Не треба знати кожну дрібницю канону, щоб відчути ритм цієї історії. Вона достатньо самостійна, але водночас щедро підморгує тим, хто впізнає Енакіна та інших.

Комікс складається з кількох історій-спогадів, обрамлених вигнанням Йоди на Даґобі. Найсильніше працюють перші дві великі лінії. Початкова, з планетою Туррак, на перший погляд виглядає як класична притча про ворогуючі народи, але саме в простоті й ховається її сила. Йода прибуває як рятівник, однак історія швидко зсуває акцент із героїчного втручання на наслідки, відповідальність і те, що мир неможливо нав’язати навіть наймудрішим світловим мечем у галактиці. Перемога в бою не завжди означає перемогу над страхом.

Друга історія, з Дуку та юними падаванами, ще цікавіша психологічно. Тут Йода постає не всемогутнім майстром, а наставником, який мусить визнати межі власного впливу. Конфлікт між учнями, недовіра, спадкова ворожнеча, темний бік як спокуса образи. Дуку в цій частині виявився найцікавішим: ще не втрачений, але вже з тим холодком у погляді, після якого хочеться нервово перегорнути сторінку.

Третя арка з Енакіном, Ґрівусом і фабрикою мегадроїдів помітно прямолінійніша. Вона більше схожа на енергійний епізод «Війни клонів»: багато руху, сутичок, пригодницького драйву, але менше спокою. Та й тут є своя приємність — зіткнення Йоди й Енакіна працює як контраст двох темпераментів. Терпіння проти імпульсу, мудрість проти потреби негайно щось підірвати. Ну, інколи галактика справді наче сама просить, щоб у ній щось підірвали.

Візуально збірка нерівна, але переважно переконлива. Ніко Леон дає живий, яскравий старт із виразним відчуттям чогось цікавого. Люк Росс працює стриманіше, доросліше, з чіткими обличчями й гарною драматичною паузою. Алессандро Міраколо додає більше динаміки, що пасує екшену, хоча інколи поступається деталізацією. Ібраім Робрсон у фіналі добре ловить тривожну, майже моторошну атмосферу Даґоби, де минуле вже не спогад, а привид, що дихає в потилицю.

«Зоряні війни. Йода» не намагається зламати уявлення про героя. Навпаки, комікс обережно повертає йому людяність — наскільки це слово пасує маленькому зеленому майстру. Це комікс про мудрість, яка народжується не з безпомилковості, а з пам’яті про власні помилки. Позитивний, захопливий, місцями простий і, на мій погляд, хороший старт для тих, хто хоче зайти у комікси «Зоряних воєн» без страху потонути в каноні.

[Emily]

look at Yoda's backpack

[Jordan Anderson]

Yoda isn’t perfect, but it is surprisingly good…

…made even more so by the fact that this is a Disney owned Star Wars comic from the tail end of 2023. And even more shocking that 1/3 of the better issues in this collection are penned by Jody Hauser, who I find to be the worst of the cabal of Marvel Star Wars authors.

In all seriousness though, Yoda is quite possibly the best Star Wars comic in at least the last few years. Combining 3 storylines from Yoda’s life by 3 separate authors who actually get their subject material (again, shockingly Hauser for once) Yoda is an example that when you focus on actual story, and not trying to retcon things, or cram SJW BS down readers’ throats, you can have a decent and enjoyable comic series.

Scott’s intro story was so-so however Hauser’s post high-republic storyline with Dooku, Guggenheim’s Clone Wars section, and then to conclusion by Scott, all work almost seamlessly together and tell a multi year arc of Yoda’s life. Not only does this make some of the EU stuff canon again (Bant and Yaddle? Say what?), but all the stories do a fantastic job of making the titular character far less infallible as we see some of his mistakes and the ever present hubris of the Jedi. Furthermore, all the authors succeeded in giving some much needed levity to Yoda, as readers get to see him crack jokes, be sarcastic, and have major attitude when Obi-wan’s force ghost shows up to pester him.

To be perfectly honest, I almost didn’t read this collection, but damn, I’m glad I did. I can’t believe that I ended up enjoying this as much as I did and that Marvel/Disney/Star Wars is still occasionally capable of producing great content.

[Rakib Khan]

I was a bit sceptical about picking up this one. Yoda is a huge brand name for the Star Wars franchise, anything with his name usually results in quick and sure sells, so I thought there might not be any worthwhile substance in this. Despite my reservations, I decided to finally check this out based on the reviews on the internet and also as part of timeline wise read-through.

There are a total of three stories here featuring different time periods throughout the long lifespan of Yoda's life, all culminating in a brilliantly executed last issue. The first story occurs on a previously unknown planet inhabited by two new species, who are at odds with each other and the author slowly explores the reality of the situation.

The second one seemed the weakest to me despite having one of my favorite characters, Dooku. The exploration of the enmity between Trandoshan's and Wookiee's and the unreliability and maddening effect of prophesies was the main focus.

The third story occurs during the time of another of my favorite time periods 'The Clone Wars' and also featured maybe my favorite Star Wars villains General Grievous, so obviously I enjoyed it.

The art was quite gorgeous throughout, with detailed backgrounds and appropriate facial reconstructions and expressions. The action sequences were also done quite competently.

Overall score - 4.5 out of 5 stars. And I do hope other adventures from Yoda's lifespan will be explored in this format, as there is vast scope for experimentation.

For more reviews and stuff check out my blog -
http://ihate00critics.blogspot.com/

[Tyler Jenkins]

A book where we can see Yoda learn his greatest lesson of all time is an absolute win in my book. I really enjoyed this series. It’s strange that they decided to publish all 10 issues in one collection instead of two like normal. Regardless, this was a lot of fun, spanning Yoda’s incredibly long life we see the impact he’s had on the Galaxy at large through the teachings he’s spread to everyone that he encounters. The final issue has a lot of surprising faces appear to help this lesson come across and I think it’s a great way to bring everything to a close.

[Craig]

Not bad. A grieving, uncertain Yoda lives in exile, blaming himself for the fall of the Jedi after he failed to see who Palpatine really was and to stop him. Then a voice from an earlier time reaches out and Yoda remembers a number of earlier events, all of which give him the strength to step up once more and become Luke Skywalker's teacher. Nice collection from a variety of writers and artists who do the Jedi master right.

[Steven De Clerck]

To some, he was a legend. To others, he was a teacher. Now Yoda is all but forgotten, living in exile and haunted by the past. As a strangely familiar voice echoes through the swamps of Dagobah, Yoda must revisit the many lessons he has given over the years — from the days of the High Republic to the chaos of the Clone Wars! First, a desperate cry for help reaches the Jedi Council on Coruscant. How far will Yoda go to protect a community from attack? And who will come to his aid when disaster strikes? Plus, years before the Clone Wars, he asks an old friend to come teach the next generation of Jedi — Master Dooku! But with dark visions haunting one of his students, Yoda will need all the help he can get…

[Jane]

This was great. Seeing Yoda reflect on his life and role within the Jedi order was a much needed element to the overall story. It was clear he took personal responsibility for the rise of the dark side, but seeing the darkness of his depression lift was a meaningful shift.

Taking responsibility of our own faults is incredibly important but what is more important is knowing when our responsibility ends and the free will and choices of others begins.

[Ian]

3 ABY.
Living in exile on Dagobah, Yoda is visited by the spirit of his old friend Obi-Wan Kenobi who attempts to convince him to train young Luke Skywalker. Yoda is then forced to reflect on lessons of the past, during the High Republic, his time as a peer of Master Dooku and the conflict of the Clone Wars before he can decide his own path.

I liked the idea that Yoda too has become disillusioned and is riddled with self-doubt after the fall of the Jedi Order and that it is Obi-Wan, who has gone through the same healing process (see the Obi-Wan Kenobi TV series - which I loved and am not sure why some people don't, even if it suffer from padding in places), who reminds the former Grand Master of his own teachings.

It's fair to say, however, that this leans more into being an anthology than as a single narrative, with the events just before 'The Empire Strikes Back' being mostly a framing device. So what we really get here are three self-contained adventures for Yoda set across his timeline.
In the High Republic Era story I enjoyed seeing that Yoda, despite being Grand Master of the Order, is something of a law unto himself and wanders off on an extended sabbatical to the exasperation of other members of the Jedi High Council.
For me, however, the most engaging of the three stories was the one set in the decades before Episode I, where we get to see a bit more of Dooku as a Jedi Master, as well as how his philosophy and Yoda's have already begun to diverge.
Finally, the Clone Wars tale was fairly standard fare for that era but it was nice to seeing the pairing of Yoda and Anakin, something that hasn't happened too often but creates a very interesting dynamic.

Overall this is a solid and enjoyable exploration of who Yoda is as a Jedi and stands as a nice bit of background to the events of ESB.

* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *

[Adam Fisher]

The longest Star Wars GN I think I have ever read, but also one of the best. Anything about Yoda is always welcome to a true SW fan like me.
Highlights (4 stories)
1) A conflict between the Scalvi and the Crulkon on a backworld planet has the Jedi Council summoned for assistance. Yoda chooses to go and stays with them for years, teaching a generation how to defend themselves. One of the Scalvi, Bree, learns a lesson from the old Jedi that ultimately creates peace between the two races.
2) Yoda invites Dooku to help teach Younglings. During such time, a Wookie Youngling and a Trandoshan Youngling, who have a predator-prey relationship in their normal society, are breaking their friendship because the Wookie is having Visions. Dooku's advice is bad and subversive. Yoda is able to fix the situation, but the Trandoshan leaves the Order so that the Wookie can develop as a Jedi fully.
3) Yoda teams up with Anakin (after he totally schools Grievous in lightsaber combat) to infiltrate a Separatist factory building a new project of a Megadroid, which a huge "kaiju-sized" bot, which they are able to defeat with ingenuity.
4) Old Yoda on Dagobah finally relents to speaking with Obi-Wan's spirit, who leads him to experience "The Cave". We see Yoda being assaulted by all the stories we read earlier in the Volume. He is able to make peace with himself and get ready to train Luke.

Such a great Volume! Really love hearing more about Yoda.
Strong recommend.

[Shaun Stanley]

4.5 rounded down to 4 stars.

Star Wars: Yoda collects issues 1-10 of the Marvel Comics series written by Cavan Scott, Jody Houser, and Marc Guggenheim with art by Nico Leon, Luke Ross, Alessandro Miracolo, and Ibraim Roberson.

Having shut himself off from the galaxy, Yoda remains in exile on the planet Dagobah when he starts receiving messages from a familiar voice. Haunted by his past, Yoda relives a series of events he sees as his failures and triumphs.

I was not expecting much from this as the Star Wars comics I have read lately have all felt pretty average. This was really great. It contains three 3-arc issues and a final issue to conclude the overall story. It’s weaved amazingly well, connecting High Republic, Galactic Republic, and Clone Wars era to a pivotal point in the original series. The different creative teams did a really awesome job of making a very cohesive story.

If you are a Star Wars fan but haven’t read many of the recent comics, I highly recommend putting this title on your list to read!

[Logan]

8/10:
These ten issues absolutely rocked! Some awesome stories focusing on Yoda throughout various eras (The High Republic, pre-Clone Wars, and during the Clone Wars) as he reminisced on his teachings during his exile on Dagobah prior to the arrival of young Luke Skywalker following the Battle of Hoth.

I love that we see Yoda enter the cave on Dagobah and face his failures: Count Dooku, Keeve Trennis, Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon Jinn, Bail Organa, Mace Windu, and more. Thanks to the push from Obi-Wan Kenobi (as a Force Ghost), Yoda was reminded of his own teachings and how he should follow them too; “The greatest teacher, failure is.”

I loved this interaction we saw, showing the typical banter of both Yoda and Anakin:

“Proceed with caution.” - Yoda
“I don’t ‘proceed’ any other way.” - Anakin Skywalker
“That has not been my experience.” - Yoda

[Dakota Morgan]

A surprisingly enjoyable Yoda anthology that manages to both explore the origins of the Jedi master's teachings and provide several entertaining adventures. I especially appreciated the frequent quietness of scenes - there's little of the clamor and bang that accompany most of the other Star Wars comic series. Maybe the 10-issue length allowed for a more languid pace that definitely suits Yoda's calm demeanor.

The appeal of Yoda does diminish somewhat as we near the end and it's all revealed to be a dream in the Force tree on Dagobah (or something like that). I'm not sure the "full circle" reveal was necessary. The art is superb throughout, though, so even duller sections are lovely to look at.

[Nate Hipple]

Marvel’s Star Wars stuff has been a bit hit or miss for me, possibly because I only seem to check out the miniseries and not the bigger books. I really enjoyed this one, though. It’s got a similar anthology style to the Obi Wan series, but the stories are so much stronger and the art more consistent.

[Robert]

A nice set of short arcs, aside from a very unusual dark turn in the final issue.

[Owen Townend]

Yoda the protagonist works rather well.

Star Wars: Yoda puts the wise old Jedi master on a journey from subtle teacher to hopeless idealist to seasoned soldier to remorseful loser. Scott, Houser and the rest of the creative team neatly establish a character arc for a character usually found offering advice or intervening as a last resort.

It was interesting to see Yoda teach an alien civilisation to defend itself in the first storyline but more so to then see him reflect on his relationships with Count Dooku and Anakin Skywalker. The action sequences were engaging but I found myself most satisfied by his surprising craftiness and dry sense of humour.

All told this comic collection is a love letter to the little green man who has taught every Jedi you know. I certainly came away feeling a greater emotional understanding of one of Star Wars' most enduring enigmas. The art was great too, especially the final change of pace provided by the detailed texture of Ibraim Roberson's style.

I recommend Star Wars: Yoda to anyone who wants to see a true master vulnerable and personable.

[Bernardo Martinho]

An excellent comic series that serves as a reflection on who Master Yoda is throughout the different eras of Star Wars history, exploring what makes him so special and iconic.

[Richelle Delgado]

I love Yoda!

[Sean]

I have really enjoyed Marvel's Star Wars books but this cookie cutter look at Yoda was not that good. It skewed younger at times, then gets dark, has some odd character choices, and just seemed like lame fan service. Almost like Marvel felt they had to tell a Yoda tale but didn't necessarily have one in mind. There were multiple writers who told a somewhat connected story involving Yoda's past and how he got to a certain point readers will remember. Fine idea, poor execution. I did like the art in most every chapter. Overall, a disappointment unless you need Yoda in your life.

[Kurt Lorenz]

1-3, Light and Life, ☆☆☆
4-6, Students of the Force, ☆☆☆
7-9, Size Matters Not, ☆☆☆☆
10, The Cave, ☆☆☆☆☆

[Ahdom]

This was a great comic with some excellent art panels. I loved the way the stories were weaved into a central narrative. This is one of the best Yoda canon volumes out there!

[Jason]

4.25
Surprisingly good. The Yoda-Anakin team up worked well. A fun team, actually. And they way they then wrapped it up by rolling into the OT as well as prior issues of this run was kinda brilliant.