THE HAND IS QUICKER
Review by Chad Clark


Mara Jade.  Mysterious.  Elegant.   Breathtaking.
...especially when she's got her hands around your neck!

Mara Jade: By the Emperor's Hand #1-3 (of a 6 issue miniseries) 
published by Dark Horse Comics 

 THE STORY 

Michael A. Stackpole and Timothy Zahn are exploring the background of the most exciting and popular character to emerge from the Star Wars novels: Mara Jade. Readers have been captivated by this strong and imposing female character since her first appearance in Zahn's "Heir to the Empire." Her beauty, demeanor and dark past make for an intriguing story here, and the time frame is sure to be a favorite with fans. The story starts where the short story from "Tales from Jabba's Palace" ended; Mara failed to kill Skywalker and has been left behind from the fateful trip to the Sarlacc. 

THE DARK SIDE... 

 Unfortunately, this is when the major plot of the six-issue series begins. Unfortunate because the plot is the weakest link in this otherwise terrific comic. The Emperor contacts Mara to give her new orders: assassinate a Jeodu named Dequc, who is reviving the Black Sun cartel as "Black Nebula." It seems the criminal cartel plot is replacing the "super-weapon" for most over-used plot device. How many times have we seen this or a variant of it before? Fortunately the sheer amount of talent associated with this book helps it rise above this and produce one of Dark Horse's best original series so far. 

Those creators overcome the weak plot by making each issue an interesting read unto itself. Issue One gives us some insight into Mara's past as well as her devotion to the Emperor. We see how she operates on assignments and just how deadly she can be in combat. The trip to find Dequc on Svivren brings Mara into conflict with Imperials and mercenaries alike and she expertly manipulates them both in order to gain her objective.  

Issue Two, though, is when things start coming apart for Mara. Thinking she completed her mission, she returns to Imperial Center to enjoy some rest and relaxation. This is one of the books more amusing parts as we find out that someone like Mara just isn't very good at relaxing. Instead she reviews her assassination of Dequc and realizes she had been fooled into killing an imposter. But then her whole world is destroyed as she senses the death of the Emperor, far away aboard the second Death Star, at the hands of Skywalker. The psychic backlash knocks her unconscious and makes her easy prey for Ysanne Isard. 

GETTING A HANDLE ON THINGS... 

 The series really hits it stride with Issue Three. Mara's intelligence and resourcefulness are her most valuable assets as she plans her escape from a detention cell deep on Coruscant. Isard is a major factor as the two of them fence with one another -- one attempting to escape, the other to stop her by any means. There are some great visual effects and terrific secondary characters in this issue. Carlos Ezquerra, the illustrator for this series, really showcases his talent for drawing diverse characters, complimenting the personalities created by Zahn and Stackpole. 

This halfway point for the series is the turning point in Mara Jade's life. Her old life is gone and she must find a way to move on. Her knowledge makes her too valuable to the Alliance and dangerous to the Imperials. Where does this leave her? As we all know, it leads her to the smuggler Talon Karrde. But before that she has to finish her last mission for the Emperor, her devotion to him won't let her leave that undone. And Timothy Zahn, Michael A. Stackpole and Carlos Ezquerra are sure to make it an interesting ride. 

(Chad Clark is an aspiring actor and fanatic devotee of Rogue Squadron. When he isn't practicing his heart-melting smile, he writes reviews of the comics he reads while basking in the California sunshine. His agent answers his fan mail at chad@echostation.com)

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