Rating: 
Summary: You can see it in your mind's eye!
Review: Darkhorse did a most excellent job on this graphic novel. It is practically a story board for the film- you can SEE it in your mind's eye. As for the story itself, I think it is the best since the original Episode 4. There are so many subplots and plot twists that it is impossible to be bored- combined with the what should be a barrage of special effects and exotic sets, it should be overwhelming.
It isn't all special effects, though. There are some powerful dramatic scenes here. I can see where some of them (like the last stand of the Jedi) may go down in cinematic history. There is also IDEALISM here. It is like George Lucas is winning back the soul of his creation after certain politicians and arms merchants coopted the Star Wars name for their own agenda....
Rating:
Summary: Just like the movie....and more!
Review: I just saw the movie and have to admit that I read this graphic novel before. After seeing the movie I had to read it again and I absolutely love it. Not just because it's Star Wars. Which is a very good reason :) But because it's drawn beautifully and the dialogues are pretty much the same as in the movie itself. So you get to relive the whole thing over again. Also I feel that the way that scenes and events are drawn represent the scale and importance of these same scenes in the movie. To sum it up .... a must have for Star Wars fans and everybody who loved the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Get the money to buy this book
Review: I loved this book, but it skipped a few parts from the movie. The book is worth it whether or not you saw the movie. The drawings are really artistic. The lightsaber duels seem especially realistic. The words are easy to read and understand.
Rating: 
Summary: Clones Comic Clones Movie...almost
Review: I realize that comic adapters have a lot of handicaps when doing comic books based on a movie that is not quite finished yet. And of course, the artists and writers do their best to catch the spirit, if not the letter, of a movie. This is hard to accomplish, yet Henry Gilroy and his crew manage to catch Episode II's spirit very well, if imperfectly. I subtracted one star for minor gripes here and there.....but otherwise, worth having in one's Star Wars library.
Rating:
Summary: Superior to the Novelization of Episode One
Review: I received the novelizations of Episode One and Two as gifts. I read Episode One, and was a little disappointed with the story telling and art. I was expecting more of the same for Episode Two, but was pleasantly surprised.First off, the story telling is vastly superior. The action flows much more smoothly from panel to panel and makes much more sense. In addition, they have included written narrative in some panels to tell the reader where the action is taking place, or describe transitions that might not make sense otherwise. The lack of a good narrative really hurt the novelization of Episode One. Second, the art is vastly superior to that in the novelization of Episode One. The climatic Jedi battle in the arena looks fantastic with large, nearly page consuming pictures in some cases. The action scenes look much better with more dynamic poses from the characters. Not to mention, the artists for Episode Two seem to do a better job at drawing facial expressions. I'm guessing the novel was drawn before the final version of the film was complete. There are some minor scenes omitted (such as some events that occurred during the last third of the movie), and some action sequences that come off differently (a key light sabre duel comes to mind). However, the spirit of the film is still in the graphic novel. Personally, I prefer R. A. Salvatore's novelization to the Graphic novel, but I tend to read more novels than comic books. I'd recommend this as a visual reference and supplement to the novelization or to any Star Wars fan or collector.
Rating:
Summary: Superior to the Novelization of Episode One
Review: I received the novelizations of Episode One and Two as gifts. I read Episode One, and was a little disappointed with the story telling and art. I was expecting more of the same for Episode Two, but was pleasantly surprised. First off, the story telling is vastly superior. The action flows much more smoothly from panel to panel and makes much more sense. In addition, they have included written narrative in some panels to tell the reader where the action is taking place, or describe transitions that might not make sense otherwise. The lack of a good narrative really hurt the novelization of Episode One. Second, the art is vastly superior to that in the novelization of Episode One. The climatic Jedi battle in the arena looks fantastic with large, nearly page consuming pictures in some cases. The action scenes look much better with more dynamic poses from the characters. Not to mention, the artists for Episode Two seem to do a better job at drawing facial expressions. I'm guessing the novel was drawn before the final version of the film was complete. There are some minor scenes omitted (such as some events that occurred during the last third of the movie), and some action sequences that come off differently (a key light sabre duel comes to mind). However, the spirit of the film is still in the graphic novel. Personally, I prefer R. A. Salvatore's novelization to the Graphic novel, but I tend to read more novels than comic books. I'd recommend this as a visual reference and supplement to the novelization or to any Star Wars fan or collector.
Rating:
Summary: Beyond The Menace
Review: If anyone was worried about the Star Wars franchise, relax. Because if this graphic novel translates well into film (or digital videotape as the case is with this installment) than we are in for something more intense than the previous four films have been.
This graphic novel outlines the story quite well and tells us nicely how the Republic makes its subtle change from a democracy to a dictatorship. Obi-Wan Kenobi continues his training of Anakin Skywalker and unwittingly walks into galactic civil war as the mechanisations of the Sith engulf the galaxy.
To say more would be telling. But I will say the art in this graphic novel is very well done. The ships, the characters, the aliens, and especially Jango Fett are rendered very well. My only complaint is that I remember the "Empire Strikes Back" version done by Marvel Comics, and I miss that style. But...I guess I'm getting old.
Nonetheless, this is a worthy catch, even if it lacks the old comic book feel that I remember when I was seven years old.
Rating:
Summary: As storm clouds gather..
Review: Since I had purchased the graphic novel of THE PHANTOM MENACE, a few weeks prior to the release of the film, I figured, I would do the same with Episode II. Here are some general facts about the story and then I will talk about the specifics of the book itself. I will not spoil any major plot points in this review. THE STORY: Based on the events as depicted in the book, the second prequel, appears to have much more of what fans have come to expect, from the saga than the last film did. The film's story apears to have much more action in it, then Menace did. Taking place 10 years later, the republic is being torn apart, and is faced with the threat of all out war. Obi-Wan continues to train Anakin in the ways of the force. The film addresses questions about the sith that were raised last time. It would seem that George Lucas has a better film this time around. I am only basing this opinion on what is in the book. I am hoping that film is as good, if not better than this book But as is the case with most graphic novels that are based on films, the story has been edited to fit the format. Adapter Henry Gilroy (who also adapted Menace) has done a better job here. Not only is he deft at capturing what is spoken, but he is good at laying out the effects/battle scenes with just the right amount of narrative, so that you can follow the action, without being too wordy. An easy and very ejoyable read... THE ART: Illustrated by Jan Duursema, the artwork is much improved over the work of Rodolfo Damaggio (who did the artwork on Menace). The drawings of the characters is slighty more photo-realistic this time around. Subtle use of darker tones and colors (matching the look of the film) help the "scenes" to almost leap off the page. Based on the preview footage that I have seen, every character, place, and action is drawn accurately. The layout of the book is a nice mix of standard, or boardered panels, and panels that "bleed" out onto the side of a page, or have no boarders at all. There are even a few panels that I would love to have blown up and framed in order to hang up on the wall. A near perfect graphic novel adaptation with solid writing and great art. I only hope the film turns out to be as good. Recommended now for anyone who likes graphic novels and for those folks that want to know the film's plot before seeing the movie. Buy it later, if you wish to see the film first, either way, you can't lose
Rating:
Summary: Similar to the movie, maybe too much
Review: This comic book nowadays called graphic novels, is quite similar to the movie, maybe too much. While it leaves out key spoiler scenes it does recreate the feel and sequences of the movie quite well. The dialogs are of course adapted to the medium and the drawings are quite simple and straightforward, yet beautiful. One of the flaws of this graphic novel is that it does not add much to the plot or the pciture itself, while it could have been used to tell the unseen part of the movie, it just recreates it the most faithfully and accurately possible. I think it's more a souvenir or collectible than a real comic book. Worth getting if you collect SW stuff.
Rating:
Summary: Excellently produced Star Wars comic
Review: This comic is one of the best examples of the kind of work Darkhorse is now doing. I think that Jan Duursema is the A team penciler - artist they have. I like the fact that Jan draws in a near photo graphic way. It is very annoying to be reading a comic and you know what the characters look like, but you can't recognize them because of some creative license the artist took. I starting buying star wars comics because I could sit and read them with my small children. With one exception, star wars comics are always family friendly books. The artwork reinforcing the visual part of the story and I add creative license to help them enjoy the story. For that purpose, this comic works beautifully.
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