Aurra Sing is the main focus of the final chapter in the "Outlander: The Exile of Sharad Hett" and most of Star Wars #12 is told from her point of view. Aurra Sing is attacked by a party of Tusken Raiders after dispatching the Tusken last issue. She observes the arrival of Gardulla the Hutt's army and reveals that Gardulla wants to supplant Jabba the Hutt as Nal Hutta's ruler on Tatooine. A fierce battle occurs between Gardulla's army and the Tusken Raiders and Aurra is able to snipe and kill the Bantha ridden by A'Sharad Hett and Ki-Adi-Mundi. Ki-Adi-Mundi sense the attack was not from the army. Meanwhile with the Jedi's help, the tide of the battle turns against Gardulla's men and she orders a retreat to Mos Espa.
Sharad Hett is able to board Gardulla's skiff speeder, but before he can kill Gardulla, Jabba arrives with his own army.
Aurra Sing betrayed Gardulla and had contacted Jabba. She is able to snipe Sharad Hett who falls off the skiff wounded. She brandishes her lightsaber and approaches Sharad to kill him. A battle ensues and Aurra sinks her lightsaber into Hett's torso. Ki-Adi-Mundi and A'Sharad arrive and, before Aurra delivers the killing blow to Sharad, A'Sharad stops her. Apprehensive of facing two Jedi simultaneously, Aurra retreats into the desert. The tide of the battle has turned against the Tusken Raiders and most of them are killed. As Ki-Adi-Mundi and A'Sharad tend to the dying Sharad, Sharad asks his son A'Sharad what he will do now that their Tusken clan is defeated. A'Sharad announces he will go with Ki-Adi-Mundi and join the Jedi. Sharad's parting words are: "I didn't know my own parents, A'Sharad. But I am honored to have known my son. I'll leave now. May the Force be with you both."
Ki-Adi-Mundi is the arguably the main character of this title (at least at this point) and Aurra Sing's appearances in early chapters set an expectation that they will meet and duel. Unfortunately, nowhere in the issue does Aurra and Ki-Adi-Mundi engage in combat. The only payoff for all the anticipation is the Ken Kelly cover showing Aurra Sing attacking Ki-Adi-Mundi while the desert burns around them.
Star Wars #12b - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (November 1999) newsstand
A companion to Star Wars: The Bounty Hunters - Aurra Sing Dynamic Forces gold foil exclusive, Star Wars #12 being an Aurra Sing focused issue also receives the gold foil treatment.
Star Wars #12c - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (November 1999) Dynamic Forces gold foil exclusive
The six-part story in Star Wars #7 - 12 is extremely enjoyable and the artwork both on the inside and adorning the covers is fantastic. I found these issues much more engaging than Star Wars #1 - 6. With these issues, Aurra Sing has proven to be a fierce and unpredictable villain for the Jedi and I like that the roster of Jedi continues to expand beyond those seen in the movies.
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