This Wednesday saw the debut of the latest series in what seems to be an ever expanding universe of Star Wars comics from Dark Horse. It’s safe to say we both love Star Wars and comic books, but as is the case with a lot of licensed properties, neither of us have actually ever read a Star Wars comic book before. Dawn of the Jedi #0 serves as a primer to a new series beginning February 15th. As you’ll see this particular issue might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it gives a glimpse of an intriguing new series.

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Recently Dark Horse Comics provided MLD with digital copies of many of their upcoming comics. I don’t read many Dark Horse books on a monthly basis, so this offered the perfect opportunity to sample a few series and find out what they’re all about. It’s also always interesting picking up single issues of titles that you’re unfamiliar with in this era of writing for trades, especially when it isn’t the debut issue. Every single issue might be someone’s first, so can these books stand on their own? Having said that, I’ve done no research on these books beyond reading them, so I’ll be coming into most of them as a completely new reader. Spoilers will follow.

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Today sees the release of Dark Horse Comics’ Orchid written by Tom Morello, guitarist of Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave/The Nightwatchman. We received an advance copy of the book from Dark Horse, but copies on the shelves will include access to Nightwatchman music to accompany the book. The writer of the book being best known for his guitar work should have been a warning that trouble was on the horizon, but he’s always come across as a very intelligent guy so I held out hope for this series when I heard about it. Unfortunately, the writing turns out to have a very amateur feel to it.

Spoilers for Orchid #1 will follow.

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 If ever there was a movie that was basically review proof, it’s Conan The Barbarian. The title spells out the concept very clearly. Either it appeals to you or it does not. And if it does, then I promise you that Marcus Nispel’s Conan film pulls no punches and delivers some hardcore barbarian action complete with countless beheadings and (as they’re credited on IMDB) plenty of “topless wenches.”

The film’s opening moments are slightly awkward as we experience a series of prologues including a voice over that introduces us to some of the sinister history of Hyboria, followed by Conan’s birth in the midst of battle, and finally his emergence as a warrior as a young teen and the murder of his father. From that moment forward, the film places a laser tight focus on the adult Conan, played by Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones), and his quest for revenge against his father’s killer.

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