Clone Wars Adventures Volume 3 Cover: The Fillbach Brothers, Dan Jackson Editor: Jeremy Barlow Released: 03/02/2005 Reviewed by: JF Boivin (03/05/2005) SUMMARY: Here we are three weeks before the second season of the Clone Wars cartoon, and less than two months before the movie, and this book will certainly help to fill the gap. This volume contains four stories: one about villains, one about clones, one about Yoda and one about Plo Koon.

[final cover] [preview cover]

"Rogues Gallery"
Story: Haden Blackman
Art: The Fillbach Brothers
Coloring: Sigmund Torre
Lettering: Michael David Thomas

SUMMARY
Commander Asajj Ventress and Durge team up to fight a new enemy, who ends up being their superior in skill and in rank.

THE STORY
It had to happen! Asajj and Durge meet General Grievous. And what a battle it is! Not only is it their first meeting, this was all a test by Count Dooku to determine if Grievous would be qualified enough to lead the droid army. So it means that during his appearances in the last episode of the cartoon's first season, and in last issue's "Hide in Plain Sight" he wasn't officially the leader of the droid army (since this story takes place "six months after the Battle of Geonosis"). Nice change to see the villains as the stars for once.

THE ART
The battle between the three major villains is very energetic, and the way the artists depict the motions, sometimes over several panels, make it look like we're watching a complete new episode of the cartoon series. I like the specimens in the museum, such as a rancor skeleton, a wall of alien skulls, and a worrt in a tube.

"The Package"
Story: Ryan Kaufman
Art: The Fillbach Brothers
Coloring: Pamela Rambo
Lettering: Michael David Thomas

SUMMARY
After a package intended for Grand Chancellor Palpatine falls into the hands of Trandoshans, they intend to sell it to the Separatists. It's up to a squad of clone commandos to go to Ord Mantell to prevent the transaction and get the package at all costs.

THE STORY
After two panels of set-up, it's all clone trooper action. This story is in the tradition of the first episodes of the cartoon, which are fan-favorites. The clones wear different armor, more like the one worn by commandos in the new game Republic Commando. It's a very enjoyable, very tragic tale of soldiers giving their lives to carry on orders.

THE ART
I thought this story was a little violent for a comic based on a cartoon. I mean, you wouldn't see people getting shot in the head, blown up or stabbed in a Powerpuff Girls comic. There is no blood or gore, but still. In any case, the new trooper armor is interesting to see in cartoon-style, perhaps previewing the upcoming season of the TV series. But I didn't really like the Trandoshans. They look more like generic reptilian aliens and are not really recognizable.

"A Stranger in Town"
Story: The Fillbach Brothers
Art: The Fillbach Brothers
Coloring: Sno Cone Studios
Lettering: Michael David Thomas

SUMMARY
A planet under Separatist opression gets unexpected help when a diminutive stranger comes to town with a mysterious box.

THE STORY
The Fillbach brothers do not write a lot of dialogue in their stories. Neither the planet, the aliens nor the characters are even named. But the brothers' style is so visual you hardly need dialogue. This story mixes the styles of western and anime movies. Yoda certainly kicks butt, and who says lightsabers are better than blasters when you have a giant blaster cannon?

THE ART
The story is told more by the visuals. And they certainly deliver. Size is kind of a theme in this story, with a tiny Jedi master carrying a huge cannon in a box. Striking contrasts in some panels.

"One Battle"
Story: Tim Mucci
Art: The Fillbach Brothers
Coloring: Sigmund Torre
Lettering: Michael David Thomas

SUMMARY
A squad of clone troopers under siege by a droid army get reinforcements in an unexpected way.

THE STORY
I don't really get the point of this story. It's short and straightforward, but why doesn't Plo Koon speak Basic? And what is the whole point of his last remark? It feels more like a filler story to make up the page count.

THE ART
Once again, the Fillbachs prove they are the best for this task, and that they can carry a whole volume by themselves. They create the perfect mix of cartoon style action and characters.

CONCLUSIONS

Read this one, if not only to help you wait for the movie, but also to enjoy fun stories.

Rating: 7.5 / 10 Recommended