Star Wars: Age of Republic: Count Dooku
Count Dooku was one of the wisest and most revered Jedi in the galaxy.
But during his long years of service he became disgusted by the rampant corruption poisoning the Republic and disillusioned with the archaic and dogmatic views of the Jedi.
Finally, Dooku left the Order to follow a new path in the hope of saving the galaxy from itself.
The path of Darth Sidious and the hated enemies of the Jedi, the evil Sith…
Writer: Jody Houser
Penciller: Luke Ross
Inker: Luke Ross
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Colorist: Java Tartaglia
Cover artist: Paolo Rivera
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publication date: February 13, 2019
Pages: 25
UPC: 759606091935
One of the most attractive elements to the multi-faceted character of Count Dooku was the strength of his resolve. Dedicated to serving his master and shaping the fate of the galaxy, this fallen Jedi remembered well the lessons he was taught by Master Yoda, making himself a valuable resource to Darth Sidious. But was he a fallen Jedi? He was one of the Lost Twenty, leaving the Jedi Order by choice, choosing willingly to serve a new master and help forge a new galaxy, and this is the purposeful man we meet at the start of Star Wars: Age of Republic: Count Dooku as he travels down the Rimma Trade Route into the Outer Rim and the world of Sullust to meet with Kap Klyp, head of the Sorosuub Corporation.
It’s his past as a Jedi that catches up with him as he hopes to settle his dealings with Sorosuub quickly but is spotted by a Jedi Knight, Jak’zin. Dooku confers with his master and we learn that at this point in the chronology, somewhere between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, Palpatine has yet to fully gain the trust of the Jedi and as such doesn’t know their every move.
The presence of Jak’zin does more than merely raise suspicions, it also gives Dooku time to reflect. In a quiet moment, as the two walk and talk, Dooku wonders if remaining with the Jedi would have saved the life of Qui-Gon. His cover story to Jak’zin is that he has returned to Serenno to live the life he would have had if the life of a padawan hadn’t called him. His resolve to serve his master remains, but there’s a palpable tinge of regret as roads not taken occupy his thoughts.
His pensiveness doesn’t last long as he learns that Jak’zin is there to stop the very organisation Palpatine has sent Dooku to meet with, and the two are soon facing off with the Kaldana Syndicate. Of course, things end badly for Jak’zin and Dooku secures his ‘arrangement’ with the syndicate as Palpatine’s machinations continue to develop.
It’s a fascinating era of the saga to delve into. Young Anakin is finding his feet in the Jedi Order, while the council deal with the death of Qui-Gon and the return of the sith. All the while, Palpatine eases into his role as Supreme Chancellor while developing his darker plans. Dooku comes to the fore, the clone army is grown and all around the galaxy, seeds are sown that won’t blossom for many years. It’s the ultimate master plan, and thrilling to watch unveil.
Writer Jody Houser handles the character of Dooku well, evoking the voice of the late Sir Christopher Lee as Dooku inveigles his way into the confidences of Sorosuub and the young Jedi. The art from Luke Ross is solid, although his pencilling would be enhanced by a strong, confident inker. The design of the Jedi character is less than stellar – Jak’zin is a walking tiger in the same way that Jaxxon is a walking bunny rabbit – but this machiavellian tale shows the duplicity and complex nature of Dooku. He can empathise, he can understand, but ultimately it’s his belief in the plans of his master that gives him his conviction.
It also loses him his head, but that’s a tale for another day.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Houser, Jody (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 25 Pages - 02/13/2019 (Publication Date) - Marvel (Publisher)
