On "Legacy" And Other Comics
Aug. 31st, 2009 07:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lazypadawanEven though I've given up on post-ROTJ era novels, I still read all of the comics. "Dark Times," which focuses on a fugitive Jedi and features an occasional Darth Vader drive-by, is really a good (and somewhat dark) series. The comics based on CW are fun reading for all ages and the most recent Star Wars Adventures booklet has a terrific Han/Leia story. Even the new "Invasion," based on the New Jedi Order series of books, is very good so far, two or three issues into it. However, reading it made me depressed all over again on how the books fumbled with Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin Solo ;).
Which gets me to "Legacy." When this series debuted three years ago, it was a hit with fans right out of the gate. It stars a tribe of neo-Sith, an Emperor desperate to get his throne back, and the lead hero, a drug-addled former Jedi who makes a living as a bounty hunter, who just happens to be the last living descendent of Luke Skywalker. Well, not exactly. We discover he has a living uncle whose main Force talent appears to be ingesting pizza and beer. Heh heh. And I suspect a character introduced early on may be a descendant of Jaina and Jag Fel.
On the one hand, the writing and art have remained consistently high-quality ever since the series first started. On the other hand, Cade Skywalker is still the same self-absorbed douchebag he was since Issue #1. It's like the "Mary Poppins" parody episode of The Simpsons where they proudly sing at the end about how they never learn a thing. He's been set up as the last best hope of the galaxy but just when you think he's about to turn his life around, he goes back for the death sticks or otherwise acts like a douchebag all over again. He never learns a damn thing and there were times I wondered if they were just keeping him that way on purpose to please antihero-worshipping fanboys. I've also had discussions with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
darth_pipes about the series' lack of a heroic character, someone Cade could aspire to be. The movies had such characters all over the place: Princess Leia, Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Padmé Amidala, etc.. This series doesn't really have anyone like that besides some bit player Jedi who show up on occasion and some spectral visits from Grandpa Luke. Otherwise, Cade's friends are underworld types, his mother is a shady and somewhat promiscuous spy who practically abandoned him, his former girlfriend dies, his half-sister is an agent or something, and his uncle practically disowns him. Someone else in the world apparently agrees with us, because Dark Horse ran a letter from a fan saying as much an issue or two back.
In the issue that came out last week, Luke shows up for another post-mortem chat, again warning Cade that he is headed for the Dark Side. Whether or not Cade finally listens decides whether or not "Legacy" evolves or continues to spin its wheels.
Which gets me to "Legacy." When this series debuted three years ago, it was a hit with fans right out of the gate. It stars a tribe of neo-Sith, an Emperor desperate to get his throne back, and the lead hero, a drug-addled former Jedi who makes a living as a bounty hunter, who just happens to be the last living descendent of Luke Skywalker. Well, not exactly. We discover he has a living uncle whose main Force talent appears to be ingesting pizza and beer. Heh heh. And I suspect a character introduced early on may be a descendant of Jaina and Jag Fel.
On the one hand, the writing and art have remained consistently high-quality ever since the series first started. On the other hand, Cade Skywalker is still the same self-absorbed douchebag he was since Issue #1. It's like the "Mary Poppins" parody episode of The Simpsons where they proudly sing at the end about how they never learn a thing. He's been set up as the last best hope of the galaxy but just when you think he's about to turn his life around, he goes back for the death sticks or otherwise acts like a douchebag all over again. He never learns a damn thing and there were times I wondered if they were just keeping him that way on purpose to please antihero-worshipping fanboys. I've also had discussions with
darth_pipes about the series' lack of a heroic character, someone Cade could aspire to be. The movies had such characters all over the place: Princess Leia, Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Padmé Amidala, etc.. This series doesn't really have anyone like that besides some bit player Jedi who show up on occasion and some spectral visits from Grandpa Luke. Otherwise, Cade's friends are underworld types, his mother is a shady and somewhat promiscuous spy who practically abandoned him, his former girlfriend dies, his half-sister is an agent or something, and his uncle practically disowns him. Someone else in the world apparently agrees with us, because Dark Horse ran a letter from a fan saying as much an issue or two back. In the issue that came out last week, Luke shows up for another post-mortem chat, again warning Cade that he is headed for the Dark Side. Whether or not Cade finally listens decides whether or not "Legacy" evolves or continues to spin its wheels.
