Saturday, December 30, 2017

Retro Dark Horse

Star Wars: Zam Wesell (12 Days of Bounty Hunter Covers)

Zam Wesell is a bounty hunter introduced in Attack of the Clones.  She is hired by Jango Fett to assassinate Senator Padme Amidala, but when her last attempt fails, she is pursued and captured by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker on Coruscant.  As the two Jedi interrogate her, she is shot and killed by Fett.  During the pursuit, it was revealed that Wesell was a changeling, able to impersonate other humanoids.

Dark Horse published two one-shot comics in 2002 prior to the release of Attack of the Clones; Star Wars: Jango Fett and Star Wars: Zam Wesell.  Wesell's first comic book appearance is in the Jango Fett one-shot and the tale continues in the Zam Wesell one-shot.  The story starts with the Jedi Council discussing General Ashaar Khorda and a weapon he has obtained.  General Khorda led a coup on the planet Annoo which the Republic stopped and now Khorda has decided to fight what he feels is a corrupt and oppressive Republic.  The council believes one of three planets will be attacked by Khorda and they want a council member overseeing each planet's safety.  Master Yarael Poof volunteers to be responsible for Coruscant.  Zam Wesell pays a visit to Jango Fett on Kamino and shows him a hologram of the idol he retrieved from the planet Seylott.  (This story is told in the Jango Fett one-shot.)  Wesell explains the artifact is a weapon capable of destroying an entire planet and asks Fett to help her stop Khorda from using it on Coruscant.  At first, Fett is reluctant, but Wesell convinces him to help by making Fett think about his son Boba.  Back on Coruscant, Khorda has gathered his associates to carry out his plan and Master Poof is in the underworld of Coruscant looking for Khorda.  Fett and Wesell are also in the underworld looking for Khorda.  Master Poof, Fett, and Wesell appear as Khorda and his followers about to detonate the idol and a firefight ensues.  Master Poof is able to grab the artifact with the Force, but is stabbed by Khorda.  As the idol is about to fall into a chasm, Wesell shape-shifts her arm and grabs it.  She hands the idol to Master Poof who stops the artifact from detonating by using the Force to bind the energy, but dies in the process.  Fett and Wesell return the idol to Seylott and travel to Kamino where they depart.  The final pages show the Jedi Council around Master Poof's funeral pyre giving a eulogy about his sacrifice.  Some of Khorda's men have blaster wounds and the Jedi know some other hero besides Master Poof assisted with saving the planet.

Star Wars: Zam Wesell b - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (March 2002)
The cover for the Zam Wesell one-shot is a publicity photo of Wesell in the human disguise she uses in Attack of the Clones.  In the background is a picture of Coruscant from the movie.

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