On Coruscant, Darth Vader waits for his Master to reveal his vision for the Empire. But is there a plan beyond obtaining power? On New Plympto, Jedi Master Dass Jennir leads a Nosaurian army in a war they have already lost. Is this what it now means to be a Jedi? In the wake of the Clone Wars and the destruction of the Jedi Order, the dark times have begun. The future is grim, evil is on the rise, and all paths seem to lead nowhere...

The Path to Nowhere is the first volume in the new Star Wars: Dark Times collection of graphic novels and collects together issues #1-5 of the comic book series. Set roughly 20 years before Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope the main story sees Bomo Greenbark, a Nosaurian, having to split up from his wife and daughter as they try to avoid capitulating to the Empire. Bomo stays to fight off the legions of Clone Troopers that have invaded their world, while his family makes good their escape with a large group of evacuees who are also fleeing for their lives.

When Bomo and the Jedi Dass Jennir manage to accidentally survive the Empire's onslaught, they soon discover that they are the only two resistant fighters to remain alive. The rest of the tale sees Bomo intent on tracking down his family. Along the way they are befriended by several aliens, all of whom agree to help Bomo and Dass Jennir in their quest.

The backdrop to this tale sees Darth Vader doing the Emperor's bidding. However, the Emperor is not being entirely straight with Vader as he lays waste to any civilisation that gets in his way.

While the story is pretty impressive, with a nice twist to unsettle readers, it's Douglas Wheatley's art that is the real star of this collection. Each panel comes alive in a way rarely seen in Star Wars graphic novels of the past.

For Star Wars fans who may have been a little disillusioned with the new trilogy of movies, The Path to Nowhere will make you rediscover what it was about George Lucas's universe that you originally fell in love with. Dark Times is one series that all Star Wars fans should be collecting.

9

Darren Rea