Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi: Force War, a five-part comic book miniseries, represents the third story arc within the broader Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi narrative. This comic series was brought to life by Dark Horse Comics, featuring the writing talents of the established team, John Ostrander and Jan Duursema. Taking place one year after the events of the preceding arc, namely The Prisoner of Bogan, Force War centers around the invasion of the Tython system by the Infinite Empire of the Rakata species. The miniseries begins with the Rakata having already seized control of half the Tython system. The Je'daii are shown utilizing Forcesabers—dark side weapons originating from the Rakata—to mount a defense of their home. Predor Skal'nas of the Empire is driven by a desire to conquer Tython and uncover the Infinity Gate, which legend says was constructed there by the Kwa species, with the aim of using it to secure greater power for himself.
A year following the Infinite Empire's invasion of the Tython system, the Rakata have devastated Fury Station and taken Obri and Mawr captive. Despite being repelled at Tython itself, the Infinite Empire succeeded in capturing Ska Gora and establishing their primary command center, known as Rakatan Base Prime, there. In response, the Je'daii have unified with the Settled Worlds to collectively defend their star system, with Master Rajivari appointed as the General leading the combined forces. Thanks to the assistance of Xesh, the Je'daii have managed to construct Forcesabers. Although using these weapons requires them to compromise their commitment to the Balance, the Forcesabers have proven essential for their survival. Daegen Lok is also brought back from Bogan to serve as a general for the Je'daii.
Sub-Predor Ceh'let initiates an assault on the planet Shikaakwa, deploying her Flesh Raider soldiers with the objective of breaching Ryo Fortress through the surrounding swamp terrain. However, the Je'daii, having anticipated the attack, set up an ambush. Xesh swiftly eliminates numerous Flesh Raiders, and when another Force Hound confronts him, Shae Koda intervenes to rescue him. Subsequently, Xesh and Daegen Lok are forced to evade the overwhelming firepower of Rakatan Annihilators, prompting Lok to order Hawk Ryo's fighter squadrons to execute an airstrike against the Annihilators, despite the proximity of himself and Xesh to the targets. Rajivari then directs the main body of his forces to engage the enemy. As the Je'daii gain the upper hand, Ceh'let is authorized to withdraw her troops back to Ska Gora. In the ensuing battle, the Je'daii leave no enemy survivors, and Sek'nos Rath expresses his disgust at Lok's victory speech and the Order's willingness to abandon the Balance. Back on Ska Gora, Ceh'let openly questions Skal'nas's leadership in front of the other commanders. Skal'nas then reveals to Ceh'let, in private, his true objective: to secure the Infinity Gate located on Tython, before executing her.
Xesh experiences a dream revisiting his past as a Force Hound. Shae Koda awakens him, and he confides in her his anxieties about potentially being re-subjugated by the Rakata. Shae reveals her feelings for him, and Xesh disavows the name given to him by his Rakatan masters, declaring his true name to be Tau. Shae and Tau share a kiss. The following day, Xesh proposes a strategy to end the Rakatan invasion by assassinating their leader, Skal'nas. To locate him, Xesh taps into his former Force Hound abilities, succumbing to the darkness in the process. He informs the Je'daii that Skal'nas's base is situated on Ska Gora. Trill, who has been monitoring the Je'daii, communicates with Skal'nas, informing him of the Je'daii's plan. Skal'nas instructs Trill not to interfere and to allow the Je'daii to proceed with their attack.
The Je'daii launch an attack on Ska Gora, but back on Tython, Tasha Ryo has a vision and realizes that the Je'daii are walking into a trap. Lok also realizes that it is a trap, and tells Rath to take command. Rajivari contacts the strike team and tells them to pull out, but it is too late. Koda attacks a Force Hound with lightning, and Quan-Jang saves her life by pushing the Hound off of its mount. Koda snaps at Quan-Jang, who warns her not to lose the Balance. Xesh finds Trill, but still does not remember her. She cajoles him to take her with him. They go to the Rakatan base, where they find that the Rakatan have imprisoned the surviving Je'daii, including Rath, in glass tubes. Trill shocks Xesh with lightning, stunning him.
Shae Koda and Quan-Jang continue to fight Rakatan forces. Koda tells Quan-Jang that Rath and Lok have gone missing, and that she fears for Xesh. Skal'nas restores Xesh's memory using a Rakatan device. Xesh remembers how he first found Tython for Skal'nas, who decided to send Xesh as his spy among the Je'daii. He remembers how he sabotaged Tul'kar's ship the Devourer on Skal'nas's orders, then killed Tul'kar himself. Xesh initially refuses to return to slavery, but soon returns to his role as a Force Hound. Xesh tells Skal'nas about the Je'daii seers and about Lok's vision. Skal'nas interrogates Lok, and confirms that there is an Infinity Gate in the Chasm on Tython. The Je'daii seers predict that the Rakatan will attack Tython again, this time with Xesh leading them. Skal'nas uses Xesh's connection to Tasha Ryo to blind the seers. Rajivari tells the strike force on Ska Gora that Xesh has betrayed them, and orders them to retreat. Shae Koda denies that Xesh could betray them. Sek'nos Rath and Daegen Lok both swear to kill Xesh.
The Je'daii fall back to Tython. Shae Koda and Quan-Jang discuss whether she can kill Xesh if necessary. Tasha Ryo retrieves the Holocron of A'nang, and says that she and Ters Sendon will meditate on it for guidance. Skal'nas begins the Second battle of Tython by first destroying a strike force hidden on Tython's moon Ashla. Rori Fenn and Hawk Ryo fight against the Rakata in their fighters. Skal'nas orders Trill to lead his army while Xesh remains at his side. She is angered by this, and swears she will kill Xesh. Skal'nas tries to get Daegen Lok to tell him how he entered the Chasm, but Lok reveals nothing. The Je'daii fight Trill's forces, but Koda senses Xesh and goes to confront him. Skal'nas lands at the Chasm with Xesh and Lok. He reveals that the Infinity Gate at the bottom of the Chasm is not an ordinary gate, but a Prime Gate, which needs no other gate to function. Skal'nas and Xesh descend into the Chasm.
Sek'nos Rath frees himself from his confinement and kills the Rakatan guards around him. He frees the Rakatan slaves and leads them against their former masters. Tasha Ryo and Ters Sendon activate A'nang's Holocron. A'nang says that now that the Rakata have arrived, it is time for Tython to awaken. Flesh Raiders attack Lok, who is chained up next to the Chasm. He frees himself and attacks the Raiders. Sek'nos Rath arrives and saves him from a Flesh Raider. They both say that they want to kill Xesh, and agree that whoever kills the most Raiders gets the first strike. Shae Koda also arrives. Lok reveals that the way to enter the Chasm safely is to focus on the sigil on the Tho Yor. Koda and Lok descend into the Chasm.
Skal'nas and Xesh reach the Prime Gate. Quan-Jang finds Rath, who tells him that Koda and Xesh entered the Chasm. As they descend, Lok urges Koda to give into her anger. Trill finds Rath, and they fight. Rath abandons the Balance and gives in to the dark side despite Quan-Jang's warnings. He kills Trill. Koda and Lok reach the Prime Gate. Lok fights Skal'nas while Koda fights Xesh. Xesh says that their relationship was all a lie and he was a willing spy for Skal'nas. Koda refuses to believe it and urges him to throw off Skal'nas's control once again. Lok tries to use his mind twist ability on Skal'nas, but is overwhelmed by the darkness in Skal'nas's mind. Skal'nas stabs him, and urges Xesh to finish off Koda. Skal'nas activates the Prime Gate and declares himself ruler of the galaxy. Tasha brings A'nang's Holocron to the lowest level of Anil Kesh. A'nang tells her that she needs to reawaken the Tho Yor, but it will cost her mortal body. Tasha bids farewell to Ters Sendon.
Koda urges Xesh one last time to return to the Je'daii. Skal'nas attacks her with lightning, and tells Xesh that love is a lie. Xesh attacks Skal'nas. Tasha steps into the beam of light in Anil Kesh, awakening the Tho Yor, which attack the Rakatan ships. Skal'nas and Xesh duel, but the Tho Yor fire a beam which destroys the Prime Gate. Xesh kills Skal'nas, and declares that he truly is Tau. Koda tells Tau that Lok is alive. They narrowly escape the Chasm as it explodes. The Rakata turn on each other and flee the Tython system.
After the battle, Daegen Lok tells the masters that he and his followers will continue using the Forcesabers, despite how they skew the Balance, since there are still dangers such as Flesh Raiders who escaped into the wilderness. The Masters warn that he could be sent back to Bogan, but he replies that he will never go back there. Shae Koda and Tau explore Tython together and kiss. They walk off together into the Silent Desert.
The announcement of Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi: Force War was initially made by Dark Horse Comics during Wondercon 2013 on April 1. At this event, it was revealed that the upcoming arc of Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi would be entitled "Force Wars." Subsequently, with the release of Dawn of the Jedi: The Prisoner of Bogan 5 on May 22, the title of the next arc was officially confirmed as "Force War." The first issue of the arc, Dawn of the Jedi: Force War 1, was initially previewed on August 14, 2013, through Dark Horse's November solicitations, with subsequent issues announced monthly thereafter. The creative duo of John Ostrander and Jan Duursema were responsible for crafting the narrative of Force War, with Ostrander penning the scripts and Duursema providing the pencil illustrations for the five-issue miniseries. David Michael Beck created the cover art for all five issues, while Dan Parsons and Wes Dzioba handled the inking and coloring duties, respectively. Michael Heisler served as the letterer for the series, and Randy Stradley acted as the editor.
The Flesh Raiders featured in Force War 1 are a species that first appeared in the video game Star Wars: The Old Republic. This comic marked the species' initial depiction in Star Wars media outside of the game's broader narrative. Force War 1 provides a backstory for the Flesh Raiders, identifying them as mutated, lower-caste Rakata, and establishes a basis for their presence on Tython in The Old Republic, set twenty-four millennia later. This issue also presents the first depiction of a female Rakata, Ceh'let, introducing the characteristic of hair, which is unique to female Rakata compared to their male counterparts. Furthermore, Force War 1 portrays Rajivari, a character originally introduced in The Old Republic, as the commanding general of the Je'daii and the Settled Worlds, building on his established role as a Je'daii leader within the game's lore.
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Dark Horse Comics Solicitations for November, 2013 (backup link)
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Exclusive Star Wars Comics Preview: December Titles and February Graphic Novels on StarWars.com (backup link)
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