Did you read the comic "Emissaries to Malastare"? If so, what do you think of it?
I'm asking because it was one of the first stories that features Depa Billaba in a major role.
Yes I did. I wasn't a big fan of the early Dark Horse prequel comics. I liked them better when they changed the name to Star Wars Republic.
Depa Billaba is if you can tell is my favorite Jedi Master so I didn't like that they had her turn to the dark side. I liked her appearance in the Kanan comic much more.
I think my favorite thing about the Star Wars fandom is that there are subsections within subsections in it.
Oh, you like the clone wars but not necessarily the jedi bits? Boy, do we have a subsection for you.
Wait a minute- you ONLY want the jedi bits? Take a look at this fiiiiiine subsection over here.
Fictional politics really get you going? Lemme introduce you to another subsection.
You wanna revel in the romance of it all? BOOM! Subsection!
So you’re more of a reader, huh? ANOTHER SUBSECTION CRASHES THROUGH THE WALL!
I just think it’s so unique and so fun that you will meet so many different Star Wars fans who aren’t necessarily within your subsection(s), but you share a love for the same umbrella of media! I haven’t ever seen a similar fandom in all my years of fandom-ing. It truly is SO special.
"We walk into the light, acknowledge the dark, and find balance in ourselves, because the Force is strong." [Star Wars: The High Republic 2024, #8]
Anyway, I'm starting a collection to show that this is also what the prequels Jedi and the High Republic Jedi taught and practiced. That the dark side was in all of them, that it was a lifelong struggle to overcome it within themselves, and find balance in the light within themselves.
And, of course, The Clone Wars episode "The Gathering" is structured around the central test of sending the younglings to Ilum to get their first kyber crystal--which involves them having to face fears that are unique to them. That's the whole point, to overcome the dark side that's inside all of them, to free themselves of that prison.
This is reflected in every Jedi's path--from the Jedi younglings of the prequels to Ezra in the Jedi Temple on Lothal to Luke in the dark side cave on Dagobah to Rey in the dark side cave on Ahch-To--that to move forward on their path, they must confront the darkness within themselves, the Jedi knew this and built their culture around it, their Temples around it, and never forgot it.
No one was beyond it, not even Master Yoda, no matter how much they all admired and respected him, even they knew that Yoda was not beyond the reach of the dark side.
It was not a one-time thing. It was not a faucet they could turn off. It was a lifelong struggle to overcome it. It was the destiny of a Jedi to confront this fear within themselves.
To acknowledge the dark and walk into the light to find balance.
Thinking about how, at the end of the day, at the fatal moment, the sunset of the Republic, it wasn’t Yoda, or Obi-Wan, or even the Chosen One himself standing in the way of Palpatine. It was Mace Windu.
Mace Windu, the inventor of Vaapad and Master of Form VII, the Jedi's strongest duelist, the only person to ever defeat Palpatine in combat. Mace Windu, Master of the Jedi Council and the youngest Master ever appointed to it, the revered leader of the Order. Mace Windu, who forgave even those who tried to kill him, who risked his life over and over again for his troops, who, after 3 years of desperate war, tried to negotiate with battle droids. Mace Windu, who knew the clones were created by the Sith and chose to trust them, who saw every Shatterpoint in the Republic, and loved it still, and fought for it until his last breath, until he was betrayed by Anakin, who he believed in and trusted despite everything.
Mace Windu, High General and hero of the Republic, the embodiment of the Light, the last and greatest champion of the Order, the best Jedi to ever live.
Eleventh Fleet AU - Thrawn, Eli Vanto and Karyn Faro's timeline concept arts set.
Suddenly I wanted to make a selection of art and see the progress - I really enjoyed drawing the timelines for the characters.
I'm especially pleased with how they turned out ////v////