This edition of Star Wars Tales: A Jedi's Weapon, is Dark Horse's entry in May 4's Free Comic Book Day. ["May the Fourth be with you." - Toryn] DC Comics broke new ground with the Batman 10 cent Adventure, so various companies followed it up with this glorious, and hopefully annual, day. If you were unable to get a copy I'm certain there are plenty left over. Go sweet-talk your local comic book vendor. If that does not work for you Echo Station regulars, you may be able to sweet-talk me for one.

Any of you clicking here to see me trash yet another Star Wars comic, I'm sorry, you'll have to wait a couple months. Maybe because it's free, maybe because it's too short to angry up the blood, or maybe I'm just giddy because I saw Spider-Man and Episode II tickets are already on sale in my area, but for whatever reason, I kind of liked this book. I also really appreciate getting a free comic book after shelling out so much money for Dark Horse garbage over the last eight years.

The planet Kashir is nearly ready to join the Republic, but for some reason, they want to meet with some Jedi. Obi-Wan and Anakin are sent. Anakin is told to, "be mindful." The Jedi  take care that their encounter with the Kashirim is done according to custom.

The four lovely brides of King Sha-Mar are perfect for all those testosterone driven adolescents out there, at whom the comic is aimed. Anakin's reactions to them are equally appropriate. Even Jedi training is no match for a teenager's raging hormones.

Master and padawan are enlisted to help guard the king's wives. As the two Jedi talk, Anakin learns from Obi-Wan that the Kashirim are judged by their ability to steal. Anakin now regrets his lack of mindfulness as he discovers his lightsaber is missing. The young apprentice chooses to keep this fact from his master. From the comics and books I've read so far, this appears to be a common theme between the two.

Anakin "goes to use the refresher" and begins his search for his missing weapon. There is a great moment when Anakin uses the Force to distract a couple of guards a la Obi-Wan on the Death Star.

As Anakin confronts the thief of his weapon, we learn that despite great temptation, Anakin can still remain a virtuous young man. Anakin learns that the king's wife no longer has his weapon, as it has been stolen from her. Anakin returns to Obi-Wan and admits his lapse of mindfulness only to find his lightsaber safe in his master's possession.

Obi-Wan's silence on the matter was a test to determine the extent of Anakin's trust. The story ends on a light-hearted note as Anakin decides to come clean about the rest of his little adventure.

Overall, I thought that this was a fun, amusing tale. Well worth the cover price.

• The layout. Simple, easy to follow classic comic book style. Perfect for younger or new readers of comic books.
• No ads.
• Anakin's cover pose is very elegant.
• Dark Horse got some talent for a seemingly insignificant story. Jimmy Palmiotti's inks fit very well with this kind of story.
• It's Free!

• No hype for Free Comic Book Day. I can't help but think how many potential fans or new readers will miss out because DC, Marvel and Dark Horse failed to promote what should have been one of the most anticipated days in comic book history. With comics depicting characters from two summer blockbusters (Spider-Man and Star Wars) and a popular animated series (Justice League), these could have introduced thousands of new readers to comics. The major companies really blew a great opportunity.

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Order Star Wars comics now from Things From Another World, the only official online Dark Horse comic distributor.

(Nekhrun deserves free comics.)