The Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic comics series found former Padawan Zayne Carrick getting by with a little help from his friends, as the song says. With the Knights of the Old Republic—War arc—just concluding with #5, out this week—our goal was to throw Zayne out onto the battlefield, alone. And there, we asked another question: Can a pacifist not just survive in war—but shape war, altering the conduct of the combatants?
As War describes, it’s a daunting task. Zayne actually tries to improve the behavior of forces on both sides of the battle: not just the Republic forces he’s serving with, but also the armor-wearing Mandalorians. On the Republic side, Zayne struggles to convince a skeptical commander who hates him that his way is best. And while the more brutal Mandalorian habits are tougher to change, Zayne comes to recognize that they, too, have their own curious code of honor.
But while no one being can change war for the better, Zayne continues to excel at what he’s best at: improving the lives of the individuals he meets. Because, after having served with the Jedi, the Republic, and the Mandalorians, Zayne knows that being in the service of life does require choosing sides: but that side is life. It’s a good lesson for any aspiring Jedi—or whatever it is that Zayne calls himself!
June sees the first issue of Star Wars: Knight Errant—Escape, which takes place in a Sith-ridden realm where the rules of war don’t exist, and where Kerra Holt, Zayne’s opposite in the pacifism department, faces her most dire challenge yet. And then August brings us all Sith all the time with Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith—Spiral. It’s going to be a hot summer for Star Wars!
by John Jackson Miller