Star Wars: Jedi Knights #4 - Marvel Comics

STAR WARS: JEDI KNIGHTS No. 4, August 2025

Whilst Marc Guggenheim’s storyline for Issue Four of “Star Wars: Jedi Knights” undeniably contains a couple of somewhat exciting spacecraft-packed pursuits, it is highly unlikely that many of its readers will agree with the astonishing claim by “Marvel Worldwide” that the twenty-page-periodical depicts “the galactic chase to end all chases!” Indeed, the vast majority of this comic appears to instead simply focus on its significantly-sized cast just talking with one another, and tracking Phaedra down to Nar Shaddaa, rather than actually hot-footing it after the Quaraxian female criminal who has rather stupidly “stolen thousands of credits from Jabba The Hutt”.

Furthermore, considering that this book is supposed to be about the exploits of Jedi Knights, the so-called central protagonists play something of a minor role in the publication’s plot, with Qui-Gon Jinn and Shaak Ti arguably only being used as a decoy for the thief to fake her own death. This secondary role may well prove a bit disappointing for those bibliophiles expecting to learn more about the Jedi Order during the Republic, especially when the American screenwriter appears to try to play the pair as patsies at the tale's very end; “But if you’re in need of someone to kill you don’t rely on two Jedi Knights.”

Ultimately, the New York City-born writer also seemingly undermines just why “the entire galaxy is after” Phaedra by simply having her use her loot as proof of collateral for a big bet on the Malastare races. Taking such a dangerous risk for a far from certain wager may well strike some within the comic’s audience as being less than convincing behaviour for the notorious pilferer, as well as a much less interesting sub-plot than the yarn’s opening gambit of “a Senator [who] was fronting for Jabba” - an intriguing aspect of political corruption and villainy already penetrating the Galactic Republic's Senate which this comic disappointingly doesn’t follow up upon.

Quite possibly this book’s most appealing aspect therefore lies in the layouts of Madibek Musabekov, whose artwork brings all the different alien races to vibrant life. Of particular note is the way the artist manages to show how impressive the two Jedi Knights are when they finally reveal themselves to the likes of Aurra Sing, Zam Wesell and Bane Malar, as well as how he imbues the various spacecraft with a genuine sense of speed as they’re zooming over the sky of the Smuggler’s Moon.

The regular cover art of "STAR WARS: JEDI KNIGHTS" #4 by Rahzzah