Star Wars: A Long Time Ago Volume 6: Wookie World [Paperback]

With Jo Duffy firmly at the helm as writer, the Marvel Star Wars series really hit its stride with these issues. Duffy has an instinctive feel for the Star Wars Universe and especially for its characters whom she handles with expert grace. She also adds a touch of genuine humor, an element present in the films, but oftentimes lacking in Star Wars fiction. Unlike criticisms of The Phantom Menace, however, the humor never collides with the dramatic tension, and in this the author excels, producing some of the more somber and dark tales of the series. In these issues, moreover, there is an onslaught of movement, both the fast action-paced variety and the more internal dramatic ones.

With the dissipation of the Empire, an alien force moves in (precursors to the later Yuuzahn Vong) that is both ruthless and terrifying. The Nagai are the proud and sometimes vicious warriors of a system that itself has suffered the ill-effects of centuries-long war. Drawn in malevolent form by the likes of experts Tom Palmer (one of my all-time favorite SW artists) and then newcomer Cynthia Martin (who's style predates the US invasion of Japanese art), the Nagai are never one-dimensional villains, and along with fan-favorite, Lumiya (a former Rebel plant trained in the Dark Side by Vader himself), dominate these pages with a presence that perfectly fills in the gap left by the Empire.

Also featured here is Randy Stradley's first contribution (issue 86: Last Gift of Alderaan) which is a prequel to his later Crimson Empire series for Dark Horse. This is a moving tale that never fails to elicit resonance. Issue 89 (I'll See You in the Throne Room) by Ann Nocenti is likewise a haunting and evokative tale of betrayal, greed and madness that provides a forgleam of Luke's eventual descent to the Dark Side six years later in Dark Empire. Some times the Bad Guys win... Also, here is the first entry by everyone's favorite Star Wars artist, Jan Duursema in a story called "The Dream", a fantastic conclusion to The Apprentice (in Annual 3) which demonstrates the sad consequences of the abuse of power, and in which we are given a glimpse of the second Dark Lord of the Sith to follow in the wake of Vader's demise (the first being Lumiya) as well as a surprising and touching appearance by Yoda! Great stuff here! The above is just a sampling of the many incredible stories you'll find. There's also a fantastic Lando tale (with his famous and hysterical "Drebble" disguise!), Ewoks at war, Hoojibs, Han, Leia, Chewie on his homeworld of Kashyyyk and much, much more!

Dark Horse has again done a magnificent job reprinting these long out-of-print and hard-to-find issues, and they've never looked and felt so good! No true fan of Star Wars should be without this book and it's accompanying volumes on their shelf. A masterpiece of writing, art and packaging!