– Spoiler Review –
The first single-player only video game of the new canon arrives in November, Jedi: Fallen Order, but players eager to learn more about it can start immersing themselves with the prequel comic miniseries Jedi: Fallen Order – Dark Temple!
Dark Temple #1 doesn’t focus on the early days of the game’s protagonist, Cal Kestis, but rather the woman who will train him in the game, Cere Junda, and her days as a Padawan in the Jedi Order pre-Order 66. Taking this approach for a prequel offers opportunities for many questions and adds mystery to the game, both of which Dark Temple#1 provides plentifully. Before we dive into Cere’s past, the issue opens up in a post-Order 66/pre-Fallen Order framing story, where the Second Sister Inquisitor arrives on Ontotho to investigate the presence of a potential Jedi. The Second Sister is the game’s primary antagonist, was first revealed in Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith, will be on store shelves as a toy with the Triple Force Friday release next month, and may or may not be Barriss Offee, who turned towards the ends of the Clone Wars, as seen in the animated show. The framing story ends with her confronting someone with a blue lightsaber and then flashbacks to Cere’s younger days. Who is the owner of the blue lightsaber? In the flashbacks, Cere carries a green lightsaber, but we haven’t seen her master’s saber color, Eno Cordova, so maybe it’s him, or her carrying his saber after whatever happens to them on Ontotho in the past. I’ve had a theory Cordova will be a bad guy from the moment Dark Temple #1 cover artist Marco Checchetto confirmed he drew Cordova to resemble actor Tony Amendola because he was in the game, as all the mo-cap actors for Fallen Order have had their faces translated into the game, but since his involvement hasn’t been announced yet, what part will he play in the game? Captured by the Second Sister, tortured to give information on Cere’s whereabouts? Maybe a flashback or holo-recording? Or is Cere the one with his saber in the start and we find out she’s helping the Inquisitors and using Cal to get something they want? Only time will tell but I’m curious how much we’ll learn through the comic and what will remain for the game, as issue #4 (of 5) for the comic comes out the week the game releases, so if they planned this all out, issue #4 could reveal something about the game’s story or the game will get to reveal any big twist or surprise and then issue #5, out in December, will show how it happened…or nothing of this sort will happen. We’ll just have to wait and see, but if this issue already has me full of questions, then it’s off to a great start.
Speaking of that, how about we get back to the events of this issue and away from more theorizing about the game, hey? In the flashbacks, it starts with Cere and Eno dealing with a dispute between Trandoshans and Dupei monks, and this is where we see how each operates. Cere is a masterful fighter, but she relies heavily on her instincts and is impatient, which ends up with her caught up in a fight with the Trandoshans, while Cordova is patient and curious, talking to the monks on their own, eventually getting them to fess up to being responsible for the crime…though it’s after Cere acts rashly. Their differing styles of approach problems is the cause of some humor, as Cordova seems resigned there’s not much he can do about it, though he’ll try as he can, making Cere and Eno’s master and apprentice relationship similar to Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s to some extent; think Attack of the Clones and Obi-Wan saying, “I hate it when he does that.” But where Obi-Wan is a strict adherent to Jedi doctrine, Eno seems more like Qui-Gon, where he’s studied older aspects of the Order’s history and doesn’t mind speaking these insights to the council, like Cere acting on instinct isn’t as frowned upon in the Jedi past, though he’s far less rogue than Qui-Gon and adheres to the Order’s wishes more often, while he has an interest in ancient cultures/artifacts. Their relationship looks to be a source of fun, and maybe a little conflict, in the issues ahead, while seeing if Cere can get the training she needs ahead of Order 66 or she’s still a little rash by the time she promises to train Cal Kestis during the game, which could provide problems of its own.
Beyond the unique, engaging dynamic of the two leads and the mystery-laden framing story, the drama on Ontotho certainly has enough mystery around it to keep me excited for the rest of the series, regardless if there’d been a video game for this to tie into or not. When a temple is unearthed on a newly minted Republic world, a Republic presence is requested by the government, and while it seems harmless at first, upon arrival Cordova and Cere learn the temple resides in the only part of the planet where its people didn’t agree to join the Republic, and while the company studying the temple claims they’ve been invited to talk about exploring the site’s mysteries, their convoy being attacked says otherwise. Cere finds a body and mysterious voices in the woods where they are attacked, only for a nearby explosion to knock them out and the disembodied voices (for now) claiming Cere is different than the others. What about her has these Fylari attempting to take her in? What’s in the temple they are trying to preserve or protect? And what’s the real story about the Fylari and the rest of Ontotho? It obvious both sides have their story to tell, but whose will turn out to be correct? Matthew Rosenberg’s (Star Wars Original Marvel Years #108) writing has brought some distinct characters and lots of intriguing mystery I’m excited to uncover, and if he make the reveals and intrigue last, we’re in for a treat for the rest of the miniseries.
On art we get blessed by Paolo Villanelli, with Arif Prianto on colors, a team which never disappoints. I particularly enjoyed the foggy, glittery aspect to Ontotho, as the planet’s gas freezes, despite it not being cold there, so it always is snowing a pinkish-red, but be careful, it’s poisonous in large doses! The shadows cast an ominous feel to both the opening arrival of the Second Sister, to helping readers feel the unease the two Jedi experience being overwhelmed by the forests’ seeming abundance of the Force. I also like the visceral feel of combat, but I appreciated the effect showing how Cere is a graceful fighter compared to her reptilian attackers. In what I believe is a first, Joe Sabino is letterer here, a name I’ve not seen yet, so welcome to the fold!
Here are a few other things:
- The game is out November 15, only a few days after Disney+ and The Mandalorian premiere. I doubt there’ll be any crossover there, but I do feel like the game will be overshadowed a bit by the first live-action TV show.
- Cere Junda is the comics first black character to lead a series! Doctor Aphra is the first POC/original character, but still cool Cere, who were just meeting now, gets such an honor.
Jedi: Fallen Order – Dark Temple #1 makes a strong case for its existence regardless of it tying into a video game or not, with plenty of intrigue within to make me want to come back for more. I shall watch this series with great interest and hope it can keep its promises.
+ The dynamic of Cere Junda and Eno Cordova
+ Framing story mystery
+ Ontotho’s potential depth
+ Art showing Cere’s agility over Trandoshan brutality
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
JEDI: FALLEN ORDER – DARK TEMPLE REVIEWS
#2 | #3 | #4 | #5