– Spoiler Review –
Starting a series of original graphic novels by Dark Horse, which was originally announced back in October 2023, George Mann’s Hyperspace Stories: Qui- Gon might arrive later than expected, but its overarching message, intriguing story, and time with the eponymous character let it shine.
Watching Hyperspace Stories: Qui-Gon’s frequent delays was becoming a running joke online (even if one was still excited for the release), but the average reader likely won’t have this context when checking out the new original graphic novel. For readers who have the delayed context, Qui-Gon might not quite live up to expectations, but its generational story, which allows us to see certain characters in little explored timeframes, and central mystery, which ties heavily into the graphic novel’s important message, should be more than enough for all fans, especially those who weren’t aware of the delays. The art, being fine overall, is where fans with or without the context will have their mileage vary, as some of the mystery and uniqueness of the Brotherhood of the Ninth Door is robbed when a scratchy shadow effect to denote their abilities is used for different characters throughout, though the team’s strengths really seemed to lie in the creatures our heroes encounter. Qui-Gon leaves me intrigued enough for what the other writers and artists have in store for the rest of the upcoming graphic novels in this line, which will focus on characters like Rey, Mace Windu, General Grievous, and more, though no release dates for any remaining ones leaves me curious when or if we’ll see them. I think the graphic novel is a fun format and can tell a more in-depth story and if the rest of this line can be much the same, I wouldn’t be opposed to more of these over on-goings in the future, as it gives the creatives involved more room to breathe rather than a single issue.
George Mann’s visitation of Qui-Gon in different periods of this life, all around the same mystery involving the Brotherhood of the Ninth Door, was my favorite aspect of the GN. Qui-Gon Jinn’s one of those characters which has fascinated me over the years, as everything new we learn about him never quite answers the mysteries around him but does add to the mythos of the character. In the case of this GN, seeing him as a Padawan himself and in his wandering Jedi Knight years, followed by early mastering of Obi-Wan Kenobi, helps show how much he grew as a Jedi, a person, in a way most of his recent appearances haven’t had the time or place to fully explore. Spending more time with him, watching him be inquisitive and unsure and then later being at peace with the unknown and more patient than ever was a neat progression that left me eager for more of the character. What surprised me the most in the past was how instrumental Dooku was to Qui-Gon’s eventual mindset because what we see of Dooku not only builds off of the excellent Dooku: Jedi Lost, but shows him in a rare moment where he seems fully devoted to the idea of the Jedi and the overall mysteries of the Force. It’s a stark contrast to where he’ll be by the time of the prequel trilogy and rounding out Dooku’s character also aids in making him a more interesting character as well. Their interactions are my favorite of the GN, as while some classic Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon always goes down well (look no further than last year’s The Living Force for some excellent chemistry), Obi-Wan’s the audience surrogate here to the point it’s grating, as he needs overt explanations for the story’s ending, explanations which read a smidge heavy-handed. Overall, as a character study of Qui-Gon Jinn itself, Mann’s work is one of the better ones, especially for how it helps us see someone like Dooku in a new light too, and like I said earlier, leaves me eager to see Mann or anyone show us more of Qui-Gon’s unknown years.
The Brotherhood of the Ninth Door has had some interesting potential since their introduction in the High Republic era, first in Mann’s “Tales of Enlightenment” for Star Wars Insider and more prominently in his audio drama The Battle of Jedha, where they helped incite tensions to begin the infamous battle, but it always feels like we’re just scratching the surface. Qui-Gon is a wash for learning more, as while the showcase of their unique abilities and a historical artifact which drives much of the story doesn’t feel concrete, the surviving practitioner Qui-Gon Jinn deals with at different times of his life brings more nuance to the cult. As I said earlier, the art doesn’t make the supposed deceptive abilities look very deceptive if the art reuses it even when the Brotherhood aren’t involved, and while the historical artifact is a MacGuffin, its inclusion and mention of the cult’s founder feels like this story wanted to give us more details and then decided to pull back at the last minute. The nuance the remaining Brotherhood member brings to the cult is the more important aspect of the story anyways, both because his connection to the cult and how others perceive him and his actions because of it are central to the main message and also how it better represents what the cult stood for besides a few bad jogan fruits back in the High Republic era. Like with Jinn, the graphic novel makes you interested in seeing more of the cult in the future, but I just wish it had a little more to offer here.
Regarding the art, it’s put together by the team of Andrea Mutti on pencils, Gigi Baldassini inking, colors by Vladimir Popov, and lettering from the usual duo of Comicraft’s Tyler Smith & Jimmy Betancourt. I really enjoyed Mutti and Baldassini’s work, with a different colorists, in Hyperspace Stories #7, so I was surprised how this wasn’t quite on the same level, but it goes to show how much every member of the art team can affect how it looks. The largely human cast looks too similar at times, as Dooku looks like Qui-Gon with his beard and young Qui-Gon looks like young Obi-Wan, and while this might thematically link them more than they already are, it’s more of a distraction, but most non-humans are much more distinct. In Dooku and Qui-Gon’s encounter with the Brotherhood member in the Temple they find, he takes on a shadowy look to obscure himself and stay hidden, something he seems to transfer to the Guardian of the Whills Elena that accompanies the pair into the Temple when he bumps into her, with us seeing his real form for only a moment as flees up some stairs. Only a panel later, Elena and Qui-Gon are two shadowy, scratchy shapes, only distinct by the colors Popov uses, and if the visual tell is the scratchy look, why is it being used for them now? It’s a confusion decision and robs the specialness of the Brotherhood’s deceptive abilities. Each Temple/tomb and even creature lair Qui-Gon visits throughout the years is at least very interesting to look at, from the creepy skulls the creatures on Cerosha seemingly have added to the Temple there to the big, expansive spaces and murals on the walls of the more pristine ones, there’s a sense of history and wonder to be found in these images. The slovar, a bear/wolf-like species with a spider-like amount of eyes and little T-Rex arms, are frightening to behold, and while the Oclatar look very similar to a Rathtar (which is maybe the point?), they are the stuff of nightmares and easily makes the big empty ship Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon find themselves on not feel large enough to get away from the creatures.
George Mann’s Hyperspace Stories: Qui-Gon shows off the promise of a graphic novel line and leaves one hoping for more from various aspects of its story.
+ Qui-Gon Jinn throughout the years
+ Time with other characters and expanding the Brotherhood…
– …though it’s scratching the surface/Obi-Wan’s surrogacy woes
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him and the website on Bluesky.
DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this comic 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.