Reviews// Star Wars: The Force Unleased in Comics

Since LucasArts' Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is making a bit of a multi-media splash, SPOnG thought we'd get the skinny on the graphic novel, written by Haden Blackman and drawn by Brian Ching, Bong Dazo, and Wayne Nichols, that's come out alongside the game.

Before you go any further, consider this your Spoiler Warning.


Usually, Star Wars comics feature characters you’ve never heard of, characters that have been invented specifically for that comic so as not to contradict the movies. But people who read them yearn to read the further adventures of Luke, Leia and Han, not a forgotten tale about a guy that Yoda went to school with.

The new Star Wars graphic novel, Force Unleashed, pitches its tent in both camps. There are enough familiar faces to hook readers in (Bail Organa looks so much like Jimmy Smitts I started to miss NYPD Blue, again) and there’s the odd recognisable droid, the Death Star and a cameo from the Emperor, but the most notable, well-known character is Lord Vader.

In fact the whole story revolves around Vader’s secret apprentice, a previously unknown Jedi who, as the story develops, seems to have strong ties to previously existing characters and films.

Darth Vader is plotting to overthrow the Emperor (or is he? Cue mysterious music...) and is training the apprentice so he can help. The apprentice, Galen Marek, is sent on numerous missions, missions that feel, perhaps unsurprisingly, a little bit like levels of a computer game. Each mission reveals more information to Marek leading him to perhaps reassess his allegiance to the dark side.

The most exciting thing - Uncle George Lucas has said it’s ‘real’. It fit’s between the third and forth movies and ‘really’ happened. It’s Star Wars 3.5.

Force Unleashed has been available for a couple of weeks now. It’s selling really well and fan reaction is extremely positive, leading to the New Hope that this will inspire a new range of Star Wars graphic novels featuring characters from the movies.

Jared Myland has worked in comics retail for over a decade. He currently owns and manages OK Comics in Leeds and has a LEGO Millenium Falcon under the glass top of his coffee table. Here are a few words on the book from him.

Check out SPOnG's review of the game here.