Tales of the Jedi 1: Ulic Qel-Droma and the Beast Wars of Onderon, Part 1 represents the inaugural issue within the Tales of the Jedi comic book saga. Dark Horse Comics released it in October of 1993. A sneak peek of the initial dozen pages, rendered in black and white, appeared in Dark Horse Insider, Volume 2, spanning issues 15 through 20, with each issue showcasing a 2-page segment from March to August in 1993.
On the frigid world of Arkania, Ulic-Qel Droma, a Jedi apprentice wearing a blindfold, engages in combat with a Combat-trainer while being observed by his Jedi Master Arca Jeth, his brother and fellow apprentice Cay, and Tott Doneeta. Ulic successfully employs the Force to sever the droid's right arm. Following Cay's repair of the droid's arm, Master Arca and his apprentices gather for a meal.
Master Arca Jeth recounts the history of the planet Onderon to his apprentices Ulic, Cay, and Tott Doneeta. In the distant past, the atmospheres of Onderon and its moon Dxun briefly merged, enabling the winged Drexl beasts of Dxun to migrate to Onderon, where they terrorized the human Onderonian population. Subsequently, as the grand city of Iziz was constructed, criminals were banished to the wilderness, where they eventually mastered the art of taming the Drexl beasts, employing them to launch attacks against Iziz.
Master Arca reveals that he has been designated as the Jedi guardian of the Onderon system, dispatching Ulic, Cay, and Tott to Iziz to resolve the 300-year-old conflict known as the Beast Wars. The trio of young apprentices journey to Iziz aboard the Nebulon Ranger. After evading Beast Riders, the Jedi successfully land at the Royal Citadel.
Upon their arrival, they are greeted by Novar, the Onderonian Minister of State. Tott, a Twi'lek, faces temporary detention due to the Royal Citadel's restrictions on aliens. However, Queen Amanoa intervenes, granting the three visitors an audience. Following the Jedi's declaration of their mission, Amanoa asserts that her city is under siege by the Beast Riders.
Shortly thereafter, a group of Beast Riders storms into Queen Amanoa's throne room. The Jedi valiantly defend against the Beast Riders, but they are unable to prevent the abduction of Queen Amanoa's daughter, Princess Galia. Amanoa tasks the Jedi with venturing into the wildlands to rescue her. Guided by the impetuous and self-assured Ulic, the three Jedi pursue the trail of the Nebulon Ranger, but their ship is downed by a seeker-torpedoes fired by one of the Beast Riders.