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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 741.5973
EAN num: 9781593077099
ISBN number: 1593077092
Label: Dark Horse
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 144
Printing Date: January 24, 2007
Publishing house: Dark Horse
Age index: Young Adult
Sale Popularity Level: 154114
Studio: Dark Horse
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Fresh from the killing fields of Jabiim, where the Empire has virtually wiped out the populace of that world, Imperial Lieutenant Janek Sunber is sent to the quiet prison base on Kalist VI. But, unbeknownst to the Empire, the Rebels have designs on Kalist Base both for its desirable fuel supplies and for the presence of a very important prisoner - one of their own who has already attracted the interest of Darth Vader. Sunber doesn't know it, but he's on a collision course with an old friend who is with the Rebels, and he finds himself wondering which of them is on the wrong side of the war.
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Rated by buyers 
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The seventh graphic novel collection of the Star Wars Empire comic series contains issues 35-40 and is titled The Wrong Side of the War. Like the sixth volume, this book starts off with a standalone issue. It tells the tale of Vader and a leading officer practicing a little deception on their own crew to root out a Rebel dissident within their ranks. Vader has the upper hand throughout and the ending has quite a wicked little twist. It's well-drawn and quite entertaining for such a short story.
The rest of the book focuses on one multi-issue arc. Conflicted Imperial officer Janek Sunbar is back and as confused as ever. He wants to honorably serve the Empire and have a fulfilling military career, but he is finding it harder and harder to turn a blind eye to the Empire's flaws. I thoroughly enjoyed Sunbar's earlier exploits trying to rally his troops against an invading force of Amamin on Maridun (the Amanaman design from Return of the Jedi is one of my very favorites in the saga, so I was predisposed to like that story anyway). The Wrong Side of the War adds a new twist to Sunbar's character, making him all the more interesting and tying him in with the more familiar movie characters.
The Rebels are sending a strike team to Kalist VI to infiltrate the Imperial facility and rescue Jorin Sol, who was captured in the prior arc set on Jabiim. As a side benefit, they also plan on stealing significant quantities of fuel from the Imps. The team, which includes Luke and R2-D2 along with an array of less familiar faces, is experiencing a smooth mission until the discovery of a large number of slaves complicates their planning. Ethically the Rebels can't leave the slaves behind, so their plans have a rapid adjustment and we sail into a terrifically exciting climax.
The additions to Sunbar's character are the most interesting part of this book. He is starting to see what he has refused to acknowledge for so long: the Empire he strives to serve is corrupt and unworthy of his devotion. Stories such as his add depth to the often faceless Imperial minions and present a more realistic view of what serving under Palpatine's tyrannical reign might really be like.
The Wrong Side of the War concludes the Empire series. However, a new series, Rebellion, has started up, and the very first volume of that features Sunbar on the cover. It seems the story of Jorin Sol has more to come as well. This set of issues was a great read and I look forward to seeing where we go from here.
Rated by buyers 
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Dark Horse Comics had two long-running series in the 00's featuring stories set in different eras of the Star Wars universe, Republic and its poor sister Empire. Republic featured a fairly consistent cast of writer/artists, in particular the John Ostrander and Jan Duursema team, producers of a long-running series-within-a-series built around Jedi Quinlan Vos and Aayla Secura. These stories were being published while Lucas was still making his films, lending the Republic series an exciting immediacy that was simply unmatchable by Empire, where stories based on the Original Trilogy and featuring Luke, Leia and Han were going over fairly well-trodden ground.
Which is why "The Wrong Side of the War," a 5-part story ending Empire's four-year run, came as such a surprise.
Starring Lt. Janek Sunber, the Imperial Forest Gump, the story is from the same creative team that produced the only other Sunber story, "To the Last Man" (Star Wars: Empire, Vol. 3), a trite tale laden with facile bromides about duty, honor, and sacrifice. "The Wrong Side of the War" starts out in much the same fashion, with about half of the very first chapter being ponderous exposition, but quickly improves and before you know you're attention is engaged with clever plot twists and real character development.
Having had another taste of action at the Second Battle of Jabiim (recently concluded in Star Wars: Empire Volume 6), Sunber has been assigned to the energy production facility of Kalist IV, a quiet spot on the edge of the galaxy where the Lieutenant expects he can at least for a time get away from fighting and killing. But when he discovers the facility is operated with slave labor and that the officers are helping themselves to female slaves for after-hours entertainment, Sunber's cheery optimism and faith in the Empire is sorely tested.
Unbeknownst to the Imperials, a squad of rebels has infiltrated the facility to liberate energy reserves, a clandestine operation that threatens to become something more after the rebels themselves discover the slave labor force. Complicating matters is the rebel squad leader's secret mission to free from Kalist IV a prisoner in possession of sensitive Alliance data.
Along for the ride in Imperial disguise is Luke Skywalker, who's cover is about to be blown by an old friend from Tatooine, a childhood chum living the dream Luke once had of serving the Empire. The revelation of this friend's identity is a surprising twist, but it's not the only one scripter Hartley has up his sleeve. The fate of the political prisoner is another, with a turn that helps set up a story arc to play out in Rebellion, a new series from Dark Horse picking up where Empire ends.
But it's not just the surprise twists that make "The Wrong Side of the War" such a great story. It's also because of something quite unusual in genre fiction, the writer and editors letting the characters free to change and develop as human beings. Sunber was an annoying twit in "To the Last Man," but here we see him begin to wrestle with doubt, to question the Empire's propaganda and his will to serve. It's a development that has repercussions outside this story, allowing the reader to contextualize his behavior in "To the Last Man" and make that story just a little more palatable. And perhaps for readers who discover Sunber later in his career, a look back at "To the Last Man" will be something of a surprise. That is, if Hartley and Dark Horse allow Sunber to continue to develop.
The Italian art team of Davide Fabbri and Christian Dalla Vecchia (whose previous Star Wars credits include Jedi Council and The Star Hyperspace War) are joined by colorist Neziti Domenico to produce another fine volume of work. Their clean lines, simple but effective composition and understated colour palette compliment the story, making this one chapter in Empire's run that every reader of the EU should enjoy.
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