Star Wars #20 Twilight Part 2 (of 4) Scripting: John Ostrander Pencilling: Jan Duursema Inking: Rick Magyar Coloring: Dave McCaig Lettering: Steve Dutro Cover: Jan Duursema, Dan Jackson Released: 07/26/2000 Reviewed by: JF Boivin (12/06/2009) SUMMARY: With the help of Devaronian gambler Vilmarh Grahrk, Jedi Quinlan Vos is on a quest to recover his lost memory and find his lost Padawan Aayla Secura. One clue leads them to Bib Fortuna on Nar Shaddaa, but when Jabba's majordomo summons reinforcements the unlikely pair have to escape the planet aboard Vilmarh's ship Inferno. Another clue leads them to Vos' home planet of Kiffu and a meeting with his great aunt Sheyf Tinte, commander of the Kiffex Guardians. Vos refuses her offer to join the Guardians, but she does offer more clues that Vos was inverstigating a dug named glitteryll on the planet Ryloth, Aayla's homeworld. Meanwhile aboard Inferno, Vilmarh Grahrk is made aware by his cousin Holmar that there is a large bounty on Vos' head and he just might be interested in collecting.

[final cover] [preview cover]

THE STORY

After using again his gift of psychometry on his and Aayla's lightsabers, Quinlan finds out more clues about events before he lost his memory. He gets images of his Padawan, whose last name is Secura, being trapped in a cave possibly on Ryloth, of another Twi'lek named Bib Fortuna, of Ayla being shot in the back, and of Sheyf Tinte of Kiffu. He now also remembers that he is a Jedi but does not remember exactly what a Jedi is trained to do aside from his natural instincts taking over in moments of danger. Quinlan manages to convince his new companion Vilmarh "Villie" Grahrk to take him to see Bib Fortuna. It just so happens that Jabba the Hutt's majordomo is on Nar Shaddaa on personal "business" and they manage to find him and interrogate him about Quinlan's situation. When Quinlan asks about glitteryl, Bib only reveals that he is only a facilitator and someone high up on Coruscant is behind this. Then Bib summons help in the form of a bunch of bodyguards and battle droids, and escapes during the confusion.

When they see that they are overwhelmed (by none other than a droideka), the two escape to Villie's starship the Inferno which is co-piloted by a hard-wired NT-600 Astronavigation and General Assistance Droid. Typical for Villie, his ship is no longer under his possesion at the moment, since the Devaronian lost it to a Quarren named Gorzima in the gamble on Quinlan's life that happened last issue. But they manage to convince Gorzima to back away his armed guards and release the authorization codes back to Villie since the Devaronian is now vying to win his latest gamble on Quinlan's survival (and thus, buy back the ship in advance). Of course, leaving the planet is also not easy as another confrontation occurs when more mercenaries with an on-going bet on Quinlan's death attack in their individual starfighters. But once the Inferno passes the breakaway point, they loose and Villie wins (and has to give his winnings to Gorzima).

To get more clues about their next destination, Quinlan has NT analyze his species and they find out he is a Kiffar from Kiffu, with a higher-than-usual psychometric ability. His clan commands the Guardians, a group of local peacekeepers currently led by Quinlan's great aunty Sheyf Tinte. The scene then cuts to Quinlan meeting with her and after she makes offers for him to take his rightful place among the ranks of the Guardians, Quinlan refuses saying that he is on a mission for the Jedi even though he doesn't know what it is yet. He offers that he learnes about glitteryl, and Tinte says that it's a drug that possibly combines glitterstin from Kessel with ryll from Ryloth. Quinlan's last known whereabouts were on Ryloth, so she suggests that he go there to find clues about his Padawan.

Villia is waiting in his ship when he receives a holo from his cousin Holmar Grahrk who informs him that a large bounty has been placed on Quinlan's head by an unknown party. Grahrk then says that he is always interested in making money.

Ostrander created a really good character in Vilmarh Grahrk. The Devaronian is always switching his loyalties, since he is led by money. He loves to gamble, sometimes with his own life. So it's hard to imagine he could pair up with a Jedi but so far the relationship has been beneficial for both. What I don't like in this issue is that the two can't seem to get a break! After escaping from a group of hunters last issue, they are again attacked in Bib Fortuna's sanctum, then when they try to board Villie's ship, then when they try to leave the planet... Also, the whole sequence with Fortuna is pretty useless. Why didn't Quinlan follow his own readings that he got from his psychometry and go to Ryloth directly? Or even go meet Sheyf Tinte on Kiffu? There was no need to have the computer analyze his species to find out where he is from, other than to have a very detailed and cool description of the planet and its people. The fact that Bib is on Nar Shaddaa at this moment seems to be a stretch, given that Quinlan's vision seems to suggest that he saw the Twi'lek on Ryloth attacking Aayla. But there is still much info to be revealed before the end of the story arc, so maybe all this will make more sense over the next couple of issues.

THE ART

As usual, Duursema's artwork is simply amazing. This time we get to see a bit of spaceship action, including the very cool design of the Inferno, and they are just as detailed as the scenes with characters. The technology and aliens and backgrounds are equally well-handled and make this issue a delight to read.

CONCLUSIONS

Quinlan visits his homeplanet, and his next destination is Ryloth where he can find more clues about his own identity.

Rating: 7 / 10