#kotor ref

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This week’s theme: references to the classic video games, KotOR I and II!

Happy Clone Wars Friday!

This story takes place in the aftermath the Clone Wars, and follows a particularly single-minded clone named Hock. To be honest, I prefer Dark Horse’s harsher, more psychological version of the clones to the preprogrammed softies of the cartoons (though Umbara and Fives’ arc are some of the best episodes!).

This pirate trash includes two Selkaths, a species designed for KotOR I and featured on its box art. Unlike these lawbreakers, the Selkaths of KotOR are law-abiding to a fault, which results in the ethical drama of the Sunry murder trial on their homeplanet Manaan. This side-quest is one of the best in the game, and one of the most interesting examples of a moral dilemma in any video game.

“Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows,” Issue 2. Dark Horse. January 15, 2014. Writer: Tim Siedell. Penciller: Gabriel Guzman. Letterer: Michael Heisler. Colorist: Michael Atiyeh.

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This week’s theme: references to the classic video games, KotOR I and II!

I can’t fathom the purpose of most of these KotOR references, but I’m almost certain that this one, at least, was completely unintentional. Captain Shan, the holographic imperial shown here almost entirely obscured by a textbox, has the same last name as KotOR I Jedi prodigy Bastila Shan.

There are actually multiple characters with the last name Shan in “Legends” -- many of them descendants from Bastila herself -- but this milquetoast, moneygrubbing failure is the only remaining canonical Shan. Do your great-great-great-great grandmother proud, buster.

“Lando,” issue 2. Marvel. August 12, 2015. Writer: Charles Soule. Penciller: Alex Maleev. Letterer: Joe Caramagna. Colorist: Paul Mounts.

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This week’s theme: references to the classic video games, KotOR I and II!

Inexplicably, this Clone Wars-era bounty hunter named Stroth looks EXACTLY like Old Republic-era Jedi Master Zez-Kai Ell from KotOR II, sans an arm. Zez-Kai is one of the kinder and more socially-conscious Masters; he is certainly the most plagued with guilt and most critical of the Jedi Order. Stroth has little in common with his time-crossed twin’s personality, but he also -- as you can see -- has good reason to criticize the Jedi.

“Republic 65: Show of Force, Part 1.” Dark Horse. June 2, 2004. Writer: John Ostrander. Penciller: Jan Duursema. Inker: Dan Parsons. Letterer: Michael David Thomas. Colorist: Brad Anderson.

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This week’s theme: comic references to the classic Star Wars video games, Knights of the Old Republic I and II!

While KotOR is part of the Legends/EU, it is still referenced in the current canon (especially in Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath books and -- apparently by accident -- certain Force abilities in The Last Jedi).

My favorite example of a KotOR reference in recent comics is ML-08, or “Mel.” Mel is a clumsy, mischievous maintenance droid who looks exactly like T3-M4, a charming utility droid who joins your party in both KotOR games. Mel’s owner is Jaxxon, a character who is also a reference to an old canon, the original Marvel comics. His droid outshines him with his adorable and hopeless antics, which keep the indomitable spirit of T3 alive all the way into the era of the original trilogy. There are even hints to his old age, which is quite funny since the KotORs are set 4000 years in the past! Perhaps some part of T3 was recycled into Mel, even after all this time?

You can find Mel in both “Star Wars Adventures Annuals” from 2018 and 2019.

“Star Wars Annual 2018: The Lost Eggs of Livorno.” Marvel. April 18, 2018. Writer: Cavan Scott. Artist: Mauricet. Colorist: Chris Fenoglio. Letterer: Tom B. Long.