The new Star Wars: Age of Republic comic books promised to add new stories starring the movie characters fans thought they knew, and have more than delivered - adding a new, one of a kind Jedi Knight to canon.
As if that wasn't an exciting enough addition for the devoted fans of Star Wars mythology, the new Jedi is added as part of Star Wars: Age of Republic - Count Dooku. The Sith Lord played by actor Christopher Lee may not get the same name recognition as Darth Maul or Darth Vader, but fans of the character's expanded role in The Clone Wars will be more than pleased. Because it's Count Dooku's issue that adds the newly created Jedi Knight to the larger story. And it's also Count Dooku who makes sure that the Jedi never lived to put the Sith's grand plans in jeopardy...
- This Page: Meet The New Jedi Knight, Jak'zin
- Next Page: Jak'zin's Fate is Part of Dooku's Story
Meet Jak'zin, The Newest Jedi
Previous stories in the Star Wars: Age of Republic series have highlighted entertaining or heroic missions and moments, like that time Jar Jar Binks wielded a lightsaber in combat, and made sure a Rebel hero could survive to see the Rebellion. But this issue puts Count Dooku front and center, in the thick of his plotting with Darth Sidious. As the dutiful servant to his Sith Master, Count Dooku travels to the planet Sullust to forge a trade alliance on behalf of the Separatists. A mission that takes an unexpected turn when a Togorian Jedi Knight named Jak'zin turns up on the distant world at the same time--and recognizes 'Master Dooku' immediately. For a normal traitorous enemy to the Republic... that might be a problem.
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Count Dooku is no ordinary operator, however, and Age of Republic - Count Dooku takes the chance to remind every Star Wars fan of the fact. Instead of showing his surprise, Dooku welcomes Jak'zin's questions regarding his time in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. In those days, Jak'zin was only a youngling, and Count--no, Master Dooku was still a member of the Jedi Order. And as if determined to prove to the reader that Dooku truly was Darth Sidious' greatest apprentice, he flexes his cunning by inviting the Jedi Jak'zin to his dinner table. Because gaining the young Jedi's trust is the first step.
Dooku Teams Up With The Jedi Knight
It speaks to Dooku's powers of deception and strength of character that even as Jak'zin recalls his memory of Qui-Gon Jinn (Dooku's apprentice before leaving the Jedi Order) and is persuaded into revealing his mission on Sullust, it's hard to tell if Dooku has decided what to do with this Jedi intrusion. But after forming their rapport, Count Dooku requests to accompany Jak'zin on his mission. Having let one honest, devoted young Jedi fall in battle when he could have prevented it, Dooku can't allow himself to not offer aid. And as Jak'zin leaps across rooftops and sneak into a criminal organization's stronghold, Dooku shows he hasn't lost a step with age.
So as Dooku once again ignites lightsabers alongside a Jedi Knight, readers are given a glimpse of the Jedi Master he once was. The bad news? The organized crime ring that Jak'zin has been sent to investigate... is the same one Count Dooku is on Sullust to recruit. Bad news for Jak'zin.
Page 2 of 2: The Fate of Jedi Knight Jak'zin [SPOILERS]
The Final Fate of Jak'zin The Jedi
For the record, Count Dooku does take steps to keep Jak'zin alive as they work their way into the criminals' warehouse, only to discover that the gangsters are trafficking in weapons (presumably the very products that Dooku is their to acquire for his and his master's galaxy-wide stoking of Separatist sentiment). And as the pair find themselves surrounded, Dooku sees an opportunity to accomplish two tasks at once. Revealing his lightsaber and going back-to-back with Jak'zin, the duo deflect a storm of laser bolts back towards their attackers, laying waste to them while demonstrating just how outclassed these back-world thugs really are.
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Once the skirmish is over and Count Dooku is left victorious alongside Jak'zin, the Jedi Knight makes the crucial mistake of focusing on the surprise lightsaber. Since the laser swords are the mark of a Jedi or a Sith, Jak'zin doesn't need much to put the pieces together: Dooku is no longer a Jedi, and his lightsaber is awfully... red. And just as quickly as the cat-like Jedi Knight had begun to knead a comfy spot in our Star Wars hearts, his opposition to Dooku earns him a blast through the back.
Fans may see this new, previously unknown chapter as perfectly in character with Count Dooku as presented in the films, but it's always nice to see him get a bit more of the spotlight. Similarly, Dooku's skills as a Jedi-killer are established in the Star Wars prequel story, as the operative responsible for killing Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas (a kill that was finally shown in Clone Wars). Yet seeing how he would deal with, and ultimately kill a Jedi Knight who happened upon his scheming grants even greater insight into the man he is--and the villain he is not.
After all, he's not the kind of Sith who would take pleasure, or a sense of vengeance out of slaying a Jedi. Which is one thing that makes him stand apart from Darth Maul, Darth Sidious, Darth Vader, and just about every other Sith Lord we can think of.
Count Dooku, Veteran Jedi-Killer
In the end, it's most apparent that Dooku is a man who will not be stopped, not even by a Jedi Knight (who can't even make him break a sweat when practically stumbling onto his entire treasonous scheme). This story also doubles down on just how difficult it is to get a true sense of Count Dooku a.k.a. Darth Tyranus. Was he truly using the Sith as a means to an end? When he requested Obi-Wan Kenobi's aid in bringing down the Sith in Attack of The Clones, was he being genuine then? Is his remorse for his former apprentice Qui-Gon Jinn legitimate--especially now that we know Qui-Gon probably would've sided with Anakin?
Hopefully, this is just the first of many more glimpses into Count Dooku's Star Wars story, told from a perspective other than the Jedi who opposed him.
Star Wars: Age of Republic - Count Dooku is available now at your local comic book shop, and for digital download from Marvel Comics.