[

BOOK
Star Wars
The Comics Companion

Author: Ryder Windham and Daniel Wallace
Titan Books
RRP £18.99
ISBN 1 84576 108 1
Available 24 February 2006


Comics and the
Star Wars universe have shared a bond since the premiere of A New Hope in 1977, reflecting and expanding on the stories and adventures of the heroes and villains that have captured the imaginations of generations. Now, for the first time, there is a companion that guides fans through the massive story line from the very beginning...

Star Wars: The Comics Companion takes the reader inside the evolution of the massive tapestry that has stretched across six films and hundreds of comics. It's all here: The rise and fall of the Sith, the collapse of the Old Republic, Anakin Skywalker's heroic beginnings and tragic descent into villainy as Darth Vader, and the years following his redemption at the hands of his son Luke. One question though: What's the point?

To be brutally honest this is one of those collections that the Internet has made redundant. There's nothing here that you can't find on any of the thousands of fan based, or official, websites. In fact, head over to Dark Horse's official website and they give you a run down of the order of all the comics in chronological order for free. Or, if you want to see the covers of all releases you can find them here.

While this book gives a running story of the Star Wars universe as it has appeared in the official comic book releases, how many fans are really going to want to own such a guide? It's a little like having a Sherlock Holmes book that lists all of his stories in chronological order with a brief synopsis of all the major points that happen in each book. Who is really going to care about that? Only the most anal of anoraky fanboys.

It's not even laid out particularly well either and the whole thing smells like the sort of project you'd imagine a few Star Wars geeks would conjuror up to amuse themselves.

In summing up, this book shouldn't even exist. It's sad, anal and overpriced. Nice cover though.

Nick Smithson

Buy this item online
We compare prices online so you get the cheapest deal! Click on the logo of the desired store below to purchase this item.


£12.53 (Amazon.co.uk)
   
£14.99 (Countrybookshop.co.uk)
   
£14.79 (Thehut.com)

All prices correct at time of going to press.