Republic #71 Dreadnaughts of Rendili Part 3 (of 3) Story: John Ostrander Art: Jan Duursema Inking: Dan Parsons Coloring: Brad Anderson Lettering: Michael David Thomas Cover: Jan Duursema, Brad Anderson Released: 12/08/2004 Reviewed by: JF Boivin (04/17/2005) SUMMARY: After disabling the Dreadnaught fleet at Rendili and regaining command of it, the Jedi return to Coruscant with Quinlan Vos. He is judged by the council and pardonned. Meanwhile, Asajj Ventress and Tol Skorr are rescued by General Grievous, but Ventress decides to go after Quinlan and Obi-Wan. But the first target she meets is Anakin Skywalker. After a fierce fight, Anakin has Ventress at his mercy, and surprises her by his choice to not be afraid to give in to his anger.

[final cover] [preview cover]

THE STORY

Although the sequence where last issue left off is very awkward, right in the middle of Anakin shooting on a Dreadnaught, this is not going to be apparent in the collected edition. In this issue it starts off with anakin doing a "trench run" similar to Luke's in A New Hope. Once again, Anakin wins the day and proves himself in the eyes of the Jedi. But later on, he also reveals his Dark Side. In a sequence veru reminescent of Anakin's last fight with Ventress in the Clone Wars cartoon, here again he decides to let her fall to her apparent death in a fit of anger. She should have learned the first time.

Although the fight itself is cool, I felt like I've seen this before. I don't see the need to retread the same ground. Her apparent death is also the set-up for the series Obsession, whose first issue came out two weeks prior. During the fight, Anakin gets his famous facial scar that he sports in Revenge of the Sith.

Meanwhile, Quinlan is facing the Council and has to answer for his actions. Although he did comit a few horrible acts, Ostrander makes it believable in the way Quinlan presents the facts. So it comes as no surprise when the Council decide to take him back, although they still don't trust him. What is a surprise is the very last panel where Quinlan reveals that there might be a good reason not to trust him.

The Council sequence and the Anakin Ventress fight sequence are intercut together, and Ostrander excels at that. There is a very convenient but not gratuitous appearance by Grievous, and one by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine who once again congratulates Anakin and says he will always be his friend.

THE ART

Like I mentioned before, the Anakin/Ventress fight is greatly executed, against a background of a Coruscant dusk. This also shows on the cover. If you're not familiar with Duursema's art by this point, you haven't been following the series.

CONCLUSIONS

A great conclusion to a good three-parter, with lots of action and intrigue.

Rating: 7.5 / 10 Recommended