Celebrating the 20th – yes, it’s been 20 years – since the arrival of Attack of the Clones, Star Wars Insider brings us Galactic Tales, a quartet of original stories printed in the pages of the official magazine that tells new tales focusing on Zam Wesell, General Grievous, Dexter Jettster and Mace Windu.
S.T. Bende’s tale finds shape-shifting bounty hunter Zam Wesell in a team-up with Jango Fett — before their partnership turned, let’s say, toxic. “This period is such an exciting time in the Star Wars galaxy — one where we can dive deep into character origins and explore new planets,” says Bende. “Some of my favorite Star Wars stories took place around the Clone Wars, so getting to write something new with Zam Wesell and Jango Fett was a huge thrill.”
Richard Dinnick chronicles General Grievous’ mission to retrieve a Jedi artifact, and the writer looks to paint a complete picture of the droid leader. “I always really loved the prequels, but General Grievous was a character we didn’t get to see much in the movies,” says Dinnick. “Then came the various Clone Wars TV shows and the comics, and those really helped flesh him out. It’s all those influences I hope I have captured in this short fiction.”
Dexter Jettster steps out from behind his diner’s counter in George Mann’s short story, as the four-armed Besalisk helps out a friend in peril. For Mann, it’s a chance to dive into a part of Star Wars he loves, and leave his mark. “I adore the prequel era, and the time around Attack of the Clones is so ripe for storytelling opportunities,” Mann says. “The Clone Wars really developed this period, offering a look at the Jedi Order that I could only have imagined as a little kid, obsessed with the original trilogy. There’s such a sense of fun, and scale, and deep history — the latter of which I’ve aimed to tap into with this story. The sense that everything we’re seeing in Attack of the Clones and the other stories of this era is built on a rich history that we’re only now beginning to mine more deeply in the stories of The High Republic.”
Finally, Rodney Barnes’ story sends Mace Windu and a squad of clone troopers on the trail of a deadly enemy. Telling a tale set during the prequel timeframe holds special meaning for the scribe. “It’s an honor to write a story set during the period of Attack of the Clones. This was the time I became a Star Wars fanatic!” he says. “Star Wars has always been the gold standard of science-fiction fantasy for me, and I suspect a few billion other folks, as well.”
Star Wars Insider #209 lands in the States on 15th March 2022.
- A Gentle Giant Ltd. release
- From the Disney+ series
- Stands approximately 6"
- New costume details
- High level of sculpting and paint application
