Jedi: Mace Windu

Jedi: Mace Windu is the first issue in the Star Wars: Jedi one-shots series of comics, written by John Ostrander and illustrated by Jan Duursema, released in February 2003 by Dark Horse Comics. It was compiled in the trade paperback The Defense of Kamino as Schism.

Publisher's summary

As the Jedi's top general in the galaxy-wide Clone Wars, Mace Windu must oversee battles on many fronts. But the struggle that concerns him most is that within the Jedi Order itself. With the outbreak of hostilities, many Jedi are unwilling to commit themselves to the war—either because of their ambivalence toward the Republic, or because they have actively joined the Separatists! On a quest to reunite the divided ranks of the Jedi, Mace Windu is forced to confront the same Jedi sword-master whom he had tutored in the legendary lightsaber regimen known as Vaapad!

Plot summary

On the planet Lianna, a gathering of Jedi are mourning the loss of a fellow Jedi Master, who sacrificed himself in battle. After the service, Mace Windu is informed by Quinlan Vos that an increasing group of Jedi have become disillusioned with the order, refusing to serve as generals in the Clone Wars. The group is united by Sora Bulq, one of Mace’s closest allies who helped train with him as he was developing the Vapaad form. Mace is disappointed with the news and vows to negotiate with some of the dissidents, who have agreed to a meeting on the moon Ruul.

Yoda and Tholme discuss the implications of a potential Jedi schism as Mace duels with Quinlan, who wants to test his skills against the great Jedi. Mace discovers that Quinlan has been training in Vapaad, which he warns against due to its aggressive and uncontrollable nature. Quinlan reveals that Sora taught him the form, but he had no idea of its origin. After the duel, Tholme leaves with Quinlan for a mission, while Mace tells Yoda that he finds it difficult to believe Sora would resort to such actions. He hopes the meeting will sway his friend and the others.

Elsewhere, Count Dooku learns of the dissidents and orders his Dark Acolyte Asajj Ventress to intercept the meeting, feeding her the lie that Mace wishes to confuse and if necessary kill the dissidents. Asajj believes Mace to be responsible for abandoning her master Ky Narec, which has led her to wish death upon him.

Two days later on Ruul, Mace meets with Sora in the Bulq estate and questions his friend's intentions. Sora is unsure whether the Republic is worth dying for, and he hopes the meeting will change his mind. The meeting begins, which includes K’Kruhk, Sian Jeisel, Sora's Padawan Mira, and Rhad Tarn, who all believe that the Separatists have valid and just complaints. Mira wishes to negotiate with them to let diplomacy resume, while Rhad wishes to fight on their side instead. He believes the Republic to be immoral and corrupt, with the Jedi becoming tainted by their control.

Still unsure, Sora adjourns the meeting until the morning, urging everyone to meditate on their thoughts. He leaves with Mace, while the remaining dissidents question Mace’s intentions, unsure whether he can be trusted. In a nearby building, Mace parts with Sora, who is then attacked by Asajj as he walks outside. The other Jedi sense his disturbance and join him in battle against the Dark Acolyte. Despite being outnumbered, Asajj holds off the Jedi with ease, killing Mira during the battle.

Asajj tells Mace that he must be pleased before fleeing the scene, which leads the dissidents to question whether the two are working together. Mace gives chase, with Rhad following in an attempt to prove their allegiance. Mace loses track of her but finds her ship, leading him to ponder to himself, while Rhad is attacked by the Dark Acolyte as she urges him to give in to the Dark Side.

Meanwhile, in a nearby crypt, Sora mourns the loss of Mira as he places her body on a coffin. Mace enters and reveals that he knows it is Sora who is working with Asajj. The Dark Acolyte’s ship would not have been able to land without Sora knowing. Mace is disappointed in the man he once considered a brother and ignites his lightsaber, lamenting his friend’s fall to the dark side. Sora reveals that he was approached by Dooku after the Battle of Geonosis, where he was swayed to the dark side with promises of making a change in the Republic. He wanted to create a schism in the Jedi Order, bringing more and more Jedi to the dark side and remaking the galaxy with a new order.

With their bond now broken, Mace and Sora duel, using their lightsabers and the force to hurl rocks. Mace regrets training Sora in Vapaad, and after an arduous duel, he senses that the other Jedi are in grave danger. With more pressing matters at hand, Mace uses the force to bring several rocks down on Sora, before leaving the crypt to help the others. At the same time, K’Kruhk and Sian reach Rhad, begging him not to listen to Asajj, but he gives in to the dark side and attacks them. After some fighting, Rhad is impaled through the chest by Sian, while K’Kruhk battles Asajj, who defeats both him and Sian with ease. Before they can be killed, Mace arrives and saves them, proving himself as a worthy challenge against the powerful Dark Acolyte, who wants him dead more than anyone, but he doesn’t know why. Cornered at the edge of a cliff, Asajj jumps into the chasm below, where she lands on a droid and escapes into the night sky. The remaining Jedi fend off some attacking droids as they flee to a nearby ship, while Sora watches them take off, vowing that he and Mace shall continue their battle another day.

Inside the ship, Mace advises K’Kruhk and Sian to warn the other dissenters of Sora’s intentions. K’Kruhk agrees that Sora is evil and vows to return to the Jedi Temple, while Sian maintains her objections against the Republic and its corruption, but decides against siding with the Separatists. Mace says that the Jedi will honor her ultimate choice, as they believe that open hearts and minds will help prevent a schism in the order. He concludes by saying that the Jedi are united as one in the force.

Media

Cover gallery

Collected in

• Star Wars: Clone Wars Volume 1: The Defense of Kamino
• Star Wars Omnibus: Clone Wars Volume 1: The Republic Goes to War
• Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Clone Wars Vol. 1

Appearances

Sources

• Clone Wars Comics Begin This Week on StarWars.com (original site is defunct)

Notes and references

Star Wars: Jedi
Mace Windu Shaak Ti Aayla Secura Count Dooku Yoda Barriss Offee (canceled)
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