Bachs is back! Penciller Ramon F. Bachs and inker Raul Fernandez, who last drew in the Star Wars universe for the ongoing Star Wars title (issues #23-26), get the chance to strut their stuff again on a Darko Macan script with Chris Blythe coloring. And those last two make a huge difference on the final product. For those of you, like me, who weren't too impressed with Bachs and Fernandez on the "Infinity's End" storyline -- you won't believe your eyes!

First off Darko Macan is a terrific writer. He made his American debut on Grendel Tales with the late Edvin Biukovic and the two made a huge splash. Star Wars and comic fans love the work they did on "The Phantom Affair" storyline from the X-wing Rogue Squadron series. Darko also wrote the Chewbacca mini-series. But here he gets to do something a little different. A Star Wars tale set the Classic Trilogy, before even Episode I. And it's great. We get some things we haven't seen recently in Star Wars comics: interesting characters, new creatures, and most importantly, a storyline with momentum. It takes place 3000 years after the Tales of the Jedi comics but still 1000 years before A New Hope. The Jedi are more like Knights of the Round Table, often dirty and grimy and still able to express their emotions. The Sith are legion but beginning to turn on one another. Darko seems to be setting up the battle that will destroy the Sith and begin the thousand-year reign of the Old Republic guarded by the Jedi Knights. Of course with a title like "Jedi Vs. Sith" you expect some battle scenes, and Darko doesn't disappoint. The Sith are vicious, slicing through men, women and children, although the brutality is kept just off panel. The story moves along at a quick pace, never wasting words or filling up pages with unnecessary art for art's sake. Which is what you want. In film an editor can cut scenes already filmed. In comics you have to catch them in the script before they make it to the artist.

And what great art! Bachs and Fernandez have a really nice complimentary style. Bachs doesn't spend a lot of time on backgrounds, but he isn't filling them up with speed lines or leaving them completely empty. His strength is in the characters. Everyone looks completely different and unique, whether it's the wide variety of hairstyles he employs or even in the way their clothes hang on their bodies. You never forget who is who, or where they came from. Junk scavengers have bulky, ragged, dirty clothes. Fisherman's family have nicer, plain-clothes appropriate for lots of time outdoors. The knights have dented armor with colorful cloaks and battle-hardened faces. The Sith are in black wearing much more insidious clothing with straps and hoods and sigils tattooed on their bodies. A lot of thought went into the visualization for the variety of characters. And Fernandez does what an inker should do ... the outlines are traced and the shadows darkened. He uses nice thick lines on the edges and a lighter touch for the details. It looks great. But the best part is in the faces. You know what emotions are expressed on their faces without ever having to read the dialogue. And that's just good art.

Now I was one of the people who didn't care much for Bachs and Fernandez last time, so what made the biggest difference this time? Sure, Darko's script kept them in check, but it is what Chris Blythe's colors do that Dave McCaig failed at so miserably last time. McCaig made everything seem so flat and bland in the "Infinity's End" storyline. Here, you can't get over how alive everything is. Battlegrounds steam and smoke, and you can almost smell the carnage. The blue-green waters of Somov Rit look so refreshing you want to dive in and go for a swim. The skies over Ruusan are beautiful and clear and make you want to go flying with the "Bouncers." Every single page is beautiful. Colors are muted at night. Light shines through water. It's all very impressive.

And that's why I have to recommend this series to everyone. I'm no fan of the Jedi Knights, even less so since Episode I. But this is a good story. The Jedi are trying to wipe the Sith out. The Sith are not going down quietly, and both sides need help. The main characters are three children with Force-powers brought in by a scout for the Jedi Knights. The kids aren't annoying; all three are as different as night and day, and you wonder if all three will even become Jedi -- one or two might be better suited for the dark side. But I don't want to presume anything or guess what might happen. I trust the story to surprise me, because Dark Horse has gathered together a great creative team. Took 'em long enough. [g]

Discuss this review on the Echo Station message boards.

Go on to my reviews of parts 3-4 and parts 5-6.

Order Star Wars comics now from Things From Another World, the only official online Dark Horse comic distributor.

(Chad Clark is an avid fan of both comics and Star Wars. He's currently trying to live through a deadly case of boredom running rampant through the state of North Carolina. Help him survive by emailing him something interesting and well written at chad@echostation.com.)