Star Wars: Jedi Knights #10 - Marvel Comics

STAR WARS: JEDI KNIGHTS No. 10, February 2026

Supposedly revealing “the great mystery of the fan-favourite series… at last” Marc Guggenheim’s debatably overly simplistic narrative for Issue Ten of “Star Wars: Jedi Knights” probably left its readers with far more questions than actual answers. Indeed, the rather bizarre twenty-page-plot appears to unconvincingly blame the anger-fuelled advice of Count Dooku for all of Qui-Gon Jinn’s problems on Sinsara without ever really demonstrating just why the Jedi were subsequently banned from visiting the planet ever again.

True, the legendary Jedi Master definitely causes the Order to leave a dark stain upon the world’s surface when the future Sith Lord cuts down a good dozen or so of the criminally-inclined Behru during a past adventure. But to be fair to the small army of lawbreakers were about to kill both the “political idealist” and his young Padawan if he didn’t defend himself; “Step away and stand down. Or I will not be responsible for the consequences.”

Furthermore, the much-hyped “Saga of Corlis Rath” ends with Jinn simply talking his foe down and then letting the deadly assassin leave despite having cold-bloodedly murdered Master Fondar Etzis. As Obi-Wan Kenobi points out himself this show of clemency arguably makes little real sense, no matter how guilty Qui-Gon is supposedly feeling for his old Master’s mass slaughter, and leaves the crime of killing a wholly innocent Jedi Knight – as well an attack upon Mace Windu and Aayla Secura, go disconcertingly unpunished.

Lastly, many a bibliophile will probably be scratching their heads as to exactly what a young Jinn did wrong in the first place to cause Dooku to have to step in to save him. Apparently the Padawan was allowed to fight his seemingly unarmed opponent in the past with his light-sabre. Yet wasn’t permitted to knock his foe off of their feet using “Jedi witchcraft!” Just why this rule was put in place is never explained, nor why the Count of House Serenno is responsible for his inexperienced protégé utilising such a ploy during the fight.!?!

Disappointingly, even Madibek Musabekov’s pencils are a little questionable at times for this book, courtesy of some dubious flashback sequences which never really make it clear just how Qui-Gon is temporarily disarmed during his dual, or why the then Padawan’s subsequent sabre-strike causes such outrage – particularly when it clearly doesn’t kill Rath, just momentarily incapacitates him.

The regular cover art of "STAR WARS: JEDI KNIGHTS" #10 by Madibek Musabekov & Jesus Aburtov

Star Wars: Jedi Knights #9 - Marvel Comics

STAR WARS: JEDI KNIGHTS No. 9, January 2026

Whilst the character of Qui-Gon Jinn has arguably always been depicted as something of a head-strong, “maverick Jedi Master”. It is probably to fair to say he has never been shown to be downright rude, especially to those around him. Yet that’s precisely the sort of disagreeable attitude Count Dooku’s former protégé appears to suffer with in Marc Guggenheim’s script for Issue Nine of “Star Wars: Jedi Knights”. Indeed, considering that the basic premise of this comic’s plot is presumably to illustrate the marked difference between the “well-respected member of the Jedi Order” and his eventual Sith-corrupted master, the “Force-sensitive human male” appears at times to be just as rude and arrogant.

By far the best example of this hubris comes when Ginn decides to pay the Jedi Archives a visit on Coruscant and encounters the Chief Librarian Jocasta Nu. During this meeting Qui-Gon not only quickly dismisses the possibility that the learned bookworm can assist him with his research into “whether it’s possible for someone to alter their appearance.” But then condescendingly rejects the elderly woman’s belief that his assassin was a Sinsaran when the killer was; “But this man looks nothing like that species.”

Furthermore, many readers may well be scratching their heads as to what a young Ginn was supposed to do next during a lengthy flashback sequence to his days of being a Padawan, when the incredibly aggressive and hostile leader of the Behru attacks him after he’s tried to “negotiate a mutually beneficial cessation of hostilities.” It seems pretty clear that his would-be killers don’t appreciate anything except brute force. However, the supposedly older and far wiser Qui-Gon admonishes the Count of House Serenno for advising him back in the past to subsequently fight the murderous criminals once the Jedi’s good intentions had failed.

Equally as unsettling as the American author’s penmanship for this twenty-page-periodical is debatably many of Madibek Musabekov’s design choices – the first of which has to be the disconcerting pencils showing Ginn waking up from a hospital bed, as opposed to the artist possibly considering having the Jedi Knight be treated for his near fatal injuries inside a Bacta tank.? In addition, some bibliophiles may well feel that the illustrator’s handling of a young(ish) Dooku and Qui-Gon look little like their usually recognisable selves, with Obi-Wan Kenobi’s future master appearing far closer to that of Luke Skywalker than anyone else.

The regular cover art of "STAR WARS: JEDI KNIGHTS" #9 by Madibek Musabekov & Jesus Aburtov

Star Wars: Jedi Knights #5 - Marvel Comics

STAR WARS: JEDI KNIGHTS No. 5, September 2025

Permeated with a persistent aura of untrustworthiness and treachery, Marc Guggenheim’s narrative for Issue Five of “Star Wars: Jedi Knights” arguably provides a rather intriguing insight into Count Dooku’s exploits before the Force Sensitive fully fell to the dark side of the Force. In fact, it seems clear that the future Darth Tyranus is already willing to cold-bloodedly kill his opponents “years before the Battle of Naboo”, and is already cultivating the wariness of Jedi Council Members such as Yaddle with his evident inclination to give in to his fury; “If that were so, you wouldn’t strike someone down in anger.”

Furthermore, the American author is very good at making his readers doubt as to whether the Count of House Serenno would actually have survived his encounter with Lonkus’ Wookie raiding party if he’d been alone, and question that his capture was just a ruse so the former Jedi Master could be taken to meet his attackers' leader face-to-face so as to kill them all. Certainly, Yaddle seems to doubt the man would have succeeded without her and Seera Longa’s help. But considering how easily Dooku appears to escape the criminals’ clutches, even when he’s chained-up, his predicament begs some tantalising ‘what if’ questions.

Likewise this twenty-page-periodical gives its audience an early look at Viceroy Nute Gunray’s descent into darkness, and the beginning of his relationship with Sheev Palpatine. Though not mentioned by name it’s clear that the Trade Federation representative is already up to his neck in dishonest dealings for the Galactic Senator, and now needs Darth Sidious to dispatch Dooku to “safeguard” the Neimoidian’s property from the supposedly legitimate Gillanter corporation as a favour. This plot-thread genuinely helps sell just how patiently planned the future Emperor’s plans are, and shows just how much his hand was guiding Gunray’s actions even before the illegal blockade of Naboo.

Perhaps therefore this comic’s one minor quibble lies with Madibek Musabekov’s design choice for one of the Wookie crooks who debatably is so thin and short-furred that it looks more like a red version of Dr. Seuss’ Grinch than a killer from the planet Kashyyyk. Other than this rather curious faux pas the illustrator’s pencilling is spot on – especially when it comes to selling the anger in Dooku and the Count’s sinister future predication as to the Jedi Council’s fate.

The regular cover art of "STAR WARS: JEDI KNIGHTS" #5 by Rahzzah

Star Wars: Age Of Republic - Count Dooku #1 - Marvel Comics

STAR WARS: AGE OF REPUBLIC - COUNT DOOKU No. 1, April 2019

“The seventh one-shot in the canon comic book anthology series Star Wars: Age of Republic”, this twenty-page periodical’s storyline probably didn’t win over many new fans to George Lucas’ prequel universe with its sedentary pacing and politically-charged plot focusing upon Count Dooku simply “laying the groundwork for his Sith-Master” on the planet Sallust. Indeed, the former Jedi doesn’t even ignite his lightsaber in anger until this publication’s very end, when the disillusioned nobleman is forced to fight alongside Jak’zin against “the very [criminal] group my master asked me to seek out.”

Admittedly, this demonstration of Jedi swordplay undoubtedly provides “the Cost” with some much-needed action, and invariably reassured its audience that Yoda’s one-time Padawan was just as adept with the close-combat weapon as actor Christopher Lee’s portrayal demonstrated in the 2002 silver screen motion picture “Attack Of The Clones”. But such pulse-pounding panels are debatably disconcertingly few for a comic based upon one of the franchise’s most memorable antagonists, even if much of the suave, silver-haired villain’s menace comes from his stealthy manipulation of matters behind-the-scenes; “Gain his trust. Discover what his mission on Sallust is. And ensure that he doesn’t learn about the alliances you are there to build.”

Just as disappointing is this book’s missed opportunity to provide Darth Tyranus with some much-needed background as to just why Dooku left the order and “fell to the dark side of the Force”, or depict an intriguing insight into his days as a “respected Jedi Master” training Qui-Gon Jinn. Instead, all Jody Houser’s lack-lustre narrative delivers is a tantalising glimpse of the Count’s “duelling demonstrations with Master Yoda” at the Jedi Temple, and a ton of dialogue-driven debate involving the uninteresting Representative Kap Klyp, as well as the Sith’s successfully stealthy attempt to solicit the reason behind a Jedi Knight’s presence on the “obsidian world of lava streams and turquoise lakes.”

Mercifully, despite this comic’s less than scintillating first half it does contain the excellent artwork of Luke Ross, whose sketches of the tiger-headed Jaz’zin and titular character are a real treat to the eyes. In fact, such is the São Paulo-born illustrator’s ability to capture the likeness of Christopher Lee that it is arguably easy to belive that any perusing bibliophile reading this magazine quickly started to imagine the late English actor performing the penciller’s storyboards.

The regular cover art of "STAR WARS: AGE OF REPUBLIC - COUNT DOOKU" No. 1 by Paolo Rivera