The Clone Wars might have ended this May, in a truly spectacular way, but plenty of fans will and are just interacting with the content for the first time. With the anthology The Clone Wars – Stories of Light and Dark, fans new and old gain a new perspective on some of the show’s most popular and memorable episodes, alongside some great new art in the style of the show. For first timers, or younger audiences not yet ready for watching the show, Stories of Light and Dark is an excellent way to familiarize them with the series, while longtime fans will enjoy the new way to experience the show.
One of my favorite aspects to Stories of Light and Dark stems from its basic premise, the different point of views retelling certain episodes. In every story, minus one, the POVs were excellent expansions on familiar episodes, providing new insights or deeper meaning to events for the characters featured. In Padmé’s tale, we get to see her internalized struggle with loving the idea of the Republic and knowing its failures while striving to still make change; for Asajj Ventress, we get the more in-depth look at her coming to terms with her new life, after being spurned by Count Dooku, and forging a new one, while honoring her family and sisters; with Cad Bane, we get a fun spin on an Obi-Wan focused tale; and Maul’s searing hatred and determination comes to life in ways only prose could cover that even the episodes couldn’t touch. As a fan of TCW, and easily remembering each episode(s) these stories cover, the new perspective adds extra layers to old favorites, providing new context for characters’ actions and words, adding something special to any re-watching. For fans who haven’t gotten into TCW yet, or for those younger fans who might not yet grasp some of the show’s lessons, Stories is the perfect introduction and explainer to some of its bigger concepts. There’s a great mix of characters and a few surprising perspectives, while the breadth of storylines also matches the show’s penchant for different tones and genres. I also really appreciated how the overall episode picks told a somewhat cohesive story between themselves of the war and for some characters.
Before I dive into each story, I definitely need to focus on the great, TCW-styled art from Ksenia Zelentsova, who fans might know better by her social media handle lorna_ka. I’ve been a big fan of her work since Star Wars Rebels first released, as many of her fan-art pieces tugged at the heartstrings, and she’s continued to impress ever since. Getting the chance to design official work for Stories, from the back/front cover to character pieces before each new tale, is well-deserved and long overdue for her. I really enjoyed how she’s able to both retain much of what makes her work so special and eye-popping and still match the specific art style of TCW. It was an excellent choice to involve Zelentsova and it adds plenty to the overall package. Find more of her work at her site!
Now I’m going to dive into each tale!
Sharing the Same Face – Written by Jason Fry
(Based on S1 Ep. 1 “Ambush”)
It’s only fitting the first of the Stories is TCW’s first episode, as it sets the stage of the war, the Jedi’s place in the conflict and concerns with it, while introducing the individuality of the clones that defines the show. Jason Fry’s handling of Yoda is basically pitch-perfect, capturing his aloofness and deep connection to the Force, especially when he dives into how Yoda takes his time to sense life on each new planet he visits. One of the best scenes of the episode, which was a great indicator of how the show would treat the clones for the rest of its run, is when Yoda sits down the clones in the cave, preparing for the coming battle, and letting us see it through Yoda’s eyes is like the final ingredient in a favorite recipe; it brings it all together. In fact, Fry adds even more to it by including some ruminations from Yoda about retaining the clones’ individualities will ensure the Jedi don’t lose themselves to the war. This tale really is just full of great moments, mind you!
It also ends with Yoda having an intriguing vision of the future, which you’ll need to read!
Dooku Captured and The Gungan General – Written by Lou Anders
(Based of S1 Ep11/12 “Dooku Captured” and “The Gungan General”)
In my Count Dooku character concierge article, I put the few episodes this tale adapts onto my list of important ones to watch about the Count, and I’m delighted these are the ones picked for his tale! Much of the fun and humor of Dooku tied to Obi-Wan and Anakin, forced to assist their escape from Hondo Ohnaka so he can as well, carries over, while Anders’ ability to seep Dooku’s disdain for the Jedi, his situation, and being accosted by pirates so thoroughly in every moment is what really makes this tale shine. Dooku is recording a message for his Master, Darth Sidious, and this aspect recalls his penchant for recording holo-messages as seen in Dooku: Jedi Lost. I particularly enjoyed his thoughts on Anakin’s training, Rael Averross (primarily in Master & Apprentice), a mention or two of Qui-Gon, though noticing Anakin’s darker tendencies and wondering how to use them were of the most interest.
Hostage Crisis – Written by Preeti Chhibber
(Based on S1 Ep. 22 “Hostage Crisis”)
Chhibber chooses to show us Anakin’s love for Padmé through his own POV in “Hostage Crisis,” providing a unique and eye-opening way to frame Skywalker’s feelings. It both holds hints of his later obsessiveness seen in TCW’s sixth season and how he rationalizes his deep feelings for her while being a Jedi. One of his final thoughts regarding Padmé, as she holds his lightsaber, is my favorite of the story, as it only highlights how unfortunate it was the Jedi weren’t allowed to nurture his feelings for her/he had to hide them. Also, I feel like this only worked so well since it was written by a woman, which hasn’t been often for Anakin.
Pursuit of Peace – Written by Anne Ursu
(Based on S3 Ep. 11 “Heroes on Both Sides”)
The Padmé renaissance of late, from two YA novels and featured in a comic issue, is only a small portion of all the love and focus she should be receiving, and “Pursuit of Peace” makes it clear how much more can be done with her character. Exploring the corruption of the Republic, which at times felt like it mirrors our current political climate, we see how Padmé both understands the roadblocks and near futility of the fight but soldiers on anyways because she has so much hope and is willing to work in the grey areas to find a better solution. There’s a rousing speech in the end from Padmé that hits home more now thanks to her internalizations about working within the Senate’s corrupt ways and is among my favorite moments in the book.
The Shadow of Umbara – Written by Yoon Ha Lee
(Based on S4 Ep. 7/8/9/10 “Darkness on Umbara,” “The General,” “Plan of Dissent,” and “Carnage of Krell”)
The Umbara arc in season 4 is among my top arcs in the entire show, for how it tests clones like Rex, Fives, and Jesse, those who we had become fan favorites at that point, in new and unexpected ways. Unfortunately, I felt like “The Shadow of Umbara” fell a bit flat, as Rex’s POV is too limited, barely expanding on what is said or done, making this more of a straight retelling instead. If ever one of these Stories would’ve benefited episodes more with expanded thoughts from its main character, this was it and Rex doesn’t quite get that treatment. It’s still an overall good story, since it’s the same as the episodes’, but it doesn’t take advantage of the new medium.
Bane’s Story – Written by Tom Angleberger
(Based off of S4 Ep. 15/16/17/18 “Deception,” “Friends and Enemies,” “The Box,” and “Crisis on Naboo”)
Regardless of your feelings on Cad Bane, a character I’ve enjoyed for the most part due to his design (those jet boots!), pivoting to his POV in Stories, especially after such well-known and established characters, results in what I felt was one of the top Stories. With “Bane’s Story,” Bane is our narrator, recounting the episodes of Undercover Obi-Wan to fellow prisoners, young Boba Fett and Bossk, and his POV makes it feel like both a true gunslinger western and 50’s gangster flick, which fit exceptionally well for the arc and is the distillation of Bane himself. In fact, it was such a refreshing way to explore the story, with some custom Bane flourishes, that made me like the character even more and could have the potential to change your mind on him too. Made me wish more Stories were from less familiar characters’ POV.
The Lost Nightsister – Written by Zoraida Córdova
(Based on S4 Ep. 20 “Bounty”)
Asajj Ventress has such a compelling story throughout the show and Córdova’s dive into one of the best episodes for her only makes the episode better. The internal struggle strengthens Ventress’ arc in “Bounty,” shedding her Sith past and forging a destiny of her own, as we get deep into how the loss of her Nightsister family impacted her, the Sith teachings and rejection affected her, and how her inner strength is what helps her rise above it all. It’s honestly one of the best Ventress episodes in the show and this tale therefore is one the best prose Ventress appearances to date as well. Definitely a highlight of the collection.
Dark Vengeance – Written by Rebecca Roanhorse
(Based on S4 Ep. 21/22 “Brothers” and “Revenge”)
I could take a whole Maul book written by Roanhorse, as she deliciously captures Sam Witwer’s energy in his performance of the character that “Dark Vengeance” might as well been narrated by Witwer in my head (see below, but it is!*); some of the previous Maul-centric books, and comics, have contained far too much animalistic Maul and sounded too one-note. Instead, Roanhorse allows us to see the birth of the calculating, resourceful Maul and it only adds to his iconic return in the show, especially with the way he frames his choices and strategies to the unnamed child he’s telling his story to (which is meant to be us, I imagine); the rationalization for his sacrifice of innocents in a village to draw out Obi-Wan, as a way not to freak out a child listening (and therefore a younger kid reading), is a devilishly fantastic bit of writing. I particularly enjoyed the new part at the end, about waiting.
Almost a Jedi – Written by Sarah Beth Durst
(Based on S5 Ep. 9 “A Necessary Bond”)
As much as I enjoyed Bane’s POV earlier, the surprise of this story focusing on Katooni’s POV from the Youngling’s Arc, getting to see how both her and Ahsoka grow as Jedi, makes “Almost a Jedi” my favorite tale within this collection! Glimpsing Ahsoka from Katooni’s POV does a couple of wonderful things: it offers fans a window into seeing Ahsoka for the first time and/or how young girls and boys perceive her, a unique luxury on both accounts since she’s now such a vital and recognizable character in the fandom; and it highlights Ahsoka’s growth and selflessness, as having these scenes from her POV instead would’ve likely resulted in her saying she’s simply doing what must be done, but Katooni frames it as heroic as it deserves. For Katooni, watching her understand how to trust in herself, and the Force, was a fun little journey that adds even more to her role in the Youngling’s Arc, while it should be an excellent message for younger readers. If they ever do a second volume of this, I hope more of the stories take the unexpected POV to teach both about familiar characters and lesser focused ones.
Kenobi’s Shadow – Written by Greg van Eekhout
(Based on S5 Ep. 16 “Lawless”)
Obi-Wan’s stanch support of the Jedi Code, despite his near flirtation with leaving early in his career, has always been a great thing to push and pull him against during this timeframe and “Lawless” is one of those episodes that test him unlike anything before. “Kenobi’s Shadow” takes it and adds some rather touching, important scenes, while the quality and depth of the introspection rivals Obi-Wan’s meditations in Legends novel Kenobi. There’s some original scenes, like the opening one between him and Anakin, that really opens a rare window into Obi-Wan’s hidden struggle with his emotions and highlights how great of a teacher he could’ve been for Anakin if all his apprentices’ vices weren’t against the Code. There’s extra emotional resonance with the death of Satine, as while the animation certainly conveyed Obi-Wan’s struggle not to give into the dark side, to strike down Maul, but a prose version allows for even more nuance. I also enjoyed the connective tissue of this story and “Dark Vengeance,” carrying over the show’s serialized storytelling to the book.
Bug – Written by E. Anne Convery
(Based on S4 Ep. 19 “Massacre”)
*Awaiting review once book is released* Having picked up my copy, I’ve gotten a chance to enjoy “Bug” and by enjoy, I mean thoroughly love! I’m always going to give a little edge to original stories in a sea of adaptations, but this one deserves it for far more than being original. How it reframes General Grievous’ assault on the Nightsisters, through Falta’s story and Bug’s POV of said story, brings it to a more kid-friendly level while also adding more emotional stakes to the event. Bug’s story herself is nothing to flinch at, as her situation in life is not great, by any means, and how she figures out her next steps, with a little help from Falta, offer readers of any age some courage to be themselves and get out of toxic situations. And how “Bug” ends offers some potential I hope to see continued, especially by E. Anne Convery, in the future!
Here are a few other things:
- In early July, each author revealed their story and discussed their process in writing them. Definitely worth checking out!
- *Announced a few weeks before release, the audiobook version of this book includes a good chunk of TCW’s original voice cast returning! Matt Lanter will read Anakin’s tale, “Hostage Crisis,” Nika Futterman as Asajj Ventress for “The Lost Nightsister,” or Sam Witwer ready to send chills up your spine as Maul for “Dark Vengeance,” which you can get a preview of here! Fans might just have to get both, so they have the artwork and the return of the cast!
- Other The Clone Wars content this year includes: Of course the grand finale to the show, its final season, which was worth the wait and hype; and IDW’s miniseries, The Clone Wars – Battle Tales, an all-ages fun blast that feels like the earlier seasons.
The Clone Wars – Stories of Light and Dark is a unique and fantastic way to experience the show, whether you’ve seen the entire series (multiple times) or are a young reader curious about it (and everyone in-between).
+ Specific POVs offer new insight to familiar (or new) characters/episodes
+ Surprise and original POVs shine brightest
+ Art from Ksenia Zelentsova really rounds out the experience
– Small falter on one tale
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.
DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher at no charge in order to provide an early review. However, this did not affect the overall review content. All opinions are my own.
THE CLONE WARS REVIEWS
Season Seven: Ep. 1 “The Bad Batch” | Ep. 2 “A Distant Echo” | Ep. 3 “On the Wings of Keeradaks” | Ep. 4 “Unfinished Business” | Ep. 5 “Gone With a Trace” | Ep. 6 “Deal No Deal” | Ep. 7 “Dangerous Debt” | Ep. 8 “Together Again” | Ep. 9 “Old Friends Not Forgotten” | Ep. 10 “The Phantom Apprentice” | Ep. 11 “Shattered” | Ep. 12 “Victory and Death
Legacy Impressions: Crystal Crisis | The Bad Batch
Dark Disciple (Novel)