History ComicBook / KnightsOfTheOldRepublic

The ''Knights of the Old Republic'' comic stars Padawan Zayne Carrick -- a notorious screw-up who the Jedi Council wrote off as only having a "marginal connection to the force." Nonetheless, he joined a group of four other Padawans being trained by a group of five Masters on Taris. When the day of the Knighting ceremony comes, Zayne -- already late and doubting he'll be knighted -- decides to stop on the way so he can finally capture his [[SitComArchnemesis criminal rival]], the Snivvian {{conman}} Marn "Gryph" Hierogryph.

However, when he finally arrives, he is greeted by a ghastly sight - his fellow students slain by the Masters, who quickly turn their sabers on him. He escapes, barely, with Gryph's help, only to find that the Masters have framed the duo for the murders, claiming that Zayne has become a Sith. Hoping to escape the planet and find evidence to clear their names, Zayne and Gryph join forces with a {{craz|y homeless people}}ed but [[GeniusDitz brilliant]] [[ServantRace Arkanian Off-Shoot]] named Camper and his [[BodyguardBabes beautiful bodyguard]] Jarael, travelling across the galaxy to unravel the mystery behind the Padawan massacre.

However, when he finally arrives, he is greeted by a ghastly sight - his fellow students slain by the Masters, who quickly turn their sabers on him. He escapes -- barely -- with the help of Gryph, only to find that the Masters have framed the duo for the murders, claiming that Zayne has become a Sith. Hoping to escape the planet and find evidence to clear their names, Zayne and Gryph join forces with a {{craz|y homeless people}}ed but [[GeniusDitz brilliant]] [[ServantRace Arkanian Off-Shoot]] named Camper and his [[BodyguardBabes beautiful bodyguard]] Jarael, travelling across the galaxy to unravel the mystery behind the Padawan massacre.

However, when he finally arrives, he is greeted by a ghastly sight - his fellow students slain by the Masters, who quickly turn their sabers on him. He escapes -- barely -- with the help of Gryph, only to find that the Masters have framed the duo for the murders, claiming that Zayne has become a Sith. Hoping to escape the planet and find evidence to clear their names, Zayne and Gryph join forces with a {{craz|y homeless people}}ed but [[GeniusDitz brilliant]] [[ServantRace Arkanian Off-Shoot]] named Camper and his [[BodyguardBabe beautiful bodyguard]] Jarael, travelling across the galaxy to unravel the mystery behind the Padawan massacre.

However, when he finally arrives, he is greeted by a ghastly sight - his fellow students slain by the Masters, who quickly turn their sabers on him. He escapes -- barely -- with the help of Gryph, only to find that the Masters have framed the duo for the murders, claiming that Zayne has become a Sith. Hoping to escape the planet and find evidence to clear his name, Zayne and Gryph join forces with a {{craz|y homeless people}}ed but [[GeniusDitz brilliant]] [[ServantRace Arkanian Off-Shoot]] named Camper and his beautiful bodyguard, Jarael, blasting off to unravel the mystery behind the Padawan massacre.

The ''Knights of the Old Republic'' comic stars failed Padawan Zayne Carrick who is falsely accused of murdering his fellow Jedi students due to the efforts of his masters. Joining with Snivvian conman Marn "Gryph" Hierogryph and the beautiful Arkanian off-shoot Jarael, Zayne attempts to clear his name and unravel the truth of his friends' death.

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* BrainsEvilBrawnGood: Inverted. Xamar explicitly states that Zayne never wins by brute force, but by misdirection. Many of his opponents, such as Lucien Draay and especially Feln are far more physically imposing.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: After escaping the Jedi Covenant on Taris, Zayne sends a message to his former masters:
-->'''Zayne: '''One day, one of you is going to confess and clear my name. And to make sure I'm going to hunt down each and every one of you. '''The one that confesses, lives.'''
** During the final battle with the Jedi Covenant[[spoiler: Gryph reveals that the message was ''his'' idea to scare away pursuit and buy time for he and Zayne to clear their names. Zayne is far too much of a NiceGuy and pacifist to send death threats.]]
-->[[spoiler: '''Gryph:''' Anybody who really knew Zayne would ''never'' have bought that. If you did after all those years- I guess you never really knew him at all.]]

* ArtifactTitle: Technically, none of the protagonists are titular Jedi Knights. The title was inherited from the ''[[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic video game]]'', which in turn got it from earlier ''Tales of the Jedi'' comics.

* BaitAndSwitch: See {{Jossed}} below. [[spoiler:The writers seem to have ''intentionally'' made readers think that characters were really characters from ''KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' (the games) and subverted a fictional case of YoungFutureFamousPeople. Krynda Draay sounds like Kreia, has precognitive/clairvoyant powers, and is half-Miraluka like Kreia is implied to be in KOTOR II; Haazen looks like Darth Sion; Lucien Draay is even offered the title of Darth Sion, fits the definition of a "scion," and was originally named "Lusion"; and Zayne just seems important enough to be someone big later on like Nihilus, which would also be an ironic contrast to his personality. None of these people ended up having any direct consequence to the plot of the games. Alek does end up starting down the road to becoming Darth Malak though.]]

** One of the subplots is Malak's StartOfDarkness. His rough treatment of Rohlan, whom he believes to be Demagol, makes the Mandalorian exclaim: "That's the way you like it, Jedi -- don't you? So save your Republic -- but who'll save the Republic from you?" Saving the Republic from Malak is your mission in [[KnightsOfTheOldRepublic the eponymous game]].

* IronicEcho: After saving Zayne from the covenant at the end of the first arc, Jarael says she can't let Zayne go around thinking sacrificing himself for her is sensible behavior. Chantique says the exact same thing to Jarael, about the exact same subject, during they're fight to try and convince her that Zayne no longer cares about her.

** [[spoiler: Demagol get's one two, learning that his life's work was a failure and that the force talent he thought he instilled in his students was just his latent powers all along. Except for his daughter, who has actual talent, but who he sold into slavery, thinking she was a failure. Then he ends up dying by the very blade he'd stolen to give to Jarael.]]

* SleazyPolitician: Subverted by Taris Senator Goravvus, who got his seat by buying out politicians for corporations in return for them supporting his bid for office, but then once in office started to care more for the people than the payouts. He even threatens to go public with the bribes if they pull their support from Taris. [[Spoiler: They try to have him killed to keep him quiet.]]

** Del Moomo actually fills this role once when his stupidity and singlemindedness distract Raana and Shel long enough for Gryph to disarm the latter, saving Zayne's life in the process Shel also unintentionally derails Jervo's plan with her first attempt to kill Zayne.

* HarsherInHindsight: Carth's line about hoping someone would do the same for his family after revealing he'd called in storm warnings to Serroco on the off chance Zayne was telling the truth about the planet going to be bombed? A lot more bittersweet if you've played the video game and know [[spoiler: his wife dies when the Sith bombard Telos.]]

* {{Jossed}}: Theories that have been Jossed by the creator and Lucasfilm include Lucien Draay is Darth Sion and/or Darth Nihilus, Zayne Carrick is the Jedi Exile, and Krynda Draay is Kreia. [[spoiler:Lucien Draay rejecting becoming Darth Sion is actually a plot point.]]

* WordOfGod: John Jackson Miller's blog contains a lot of explanations that confirm or have {{Jossed}} fan speculation.

* ActionGirl: Jarael.
** Well, [[FauxActionGirl some of the time]].
* AffablyEvil: Arkoh Adasca is extremely charming and polite while telling Jarael how her race is an abomination and while trying to sell dangerous superweapons to the Republic and the Mandalorians.

* BrotherSisterIncest: Not quite right because NotBloodSiblings but Lucien Draay and Q'Anilia seem to be lovers by the fact they share the same room with one bed. Also, they hold each other a great deal in times of duress.
** Arkoh Adasca also confirms it by mentioning that Lucien used to always show up at parties with Q'Anilia as his date.

* {{Cosplay}}: Jarael enjoys dressing up as a Jedi Knight, a Sith Lord, and other disguises. It's more for fun than anything really relevant. That and a chance for the artist to show her in a variety of cute outfits.

* FauxActionGirl: Shel is the worst assassin you could possibly pick. Ever.

* KnightTemplar: The Jedi Covenant in a nutshell.
** And the Jedi Crusaders aka Revanchists.

* NiceGuy: Zayne Carrick is almost unique amongst Star Wars EU protagonists in that he's just a swell person. Oddly, this makes him very popular in a genre dominated by DarkerAndEdgier protagonists.
** It also pays in dividends. Zayne is able to make friends out of pretty much everyone whose not a complete asshole by simply being a pretty swell, upstanding guy. And almost everyone he helps ends up returning the favor. Even Cassus Fett. [[spoiler:Even Lucien Draay]]

* ShadowArchetype: [[spoiler:Haazen and Zayne Carrick]]

* SpannerInTheWorks: Zayne Carrick utterly unravels the Jedi Covenant, Adasca, and Mandalore's plans for the galaxy. It seems to be his role within the Star Wars universe.

* VillainousBreakdown: Haazen and Arkoh Adasca both experience these as their evil plans collapse around their ears. They both die within minutes

** Also subverted with [[spoiler:Lucien Dray]], for whom Hazen had even picked out a Sith-apprentice name. Made all the more surprising because [[spoiler:Dray's]] actions up to that point had clearly been leading him down the path of the dark side- and even worse, the name Hazen picked, [[spoiler: Darth Sion]], was already known to be that of a future Sith Lord whose mutilated physical appearance ''could'' have been a match for [[spoiler:Dray]]. The role was prepared for him. He just [[CrowningMomentofAwesome refused to play the part]].

** Subverted even more with [[spoiler:Lucien Dray]], for whom Hazen had even picked out a Sith-apprentice name. Made all the more surprising because [[spoiler:Dray's]] actions up to that point had clearly been leading him down the path of the dark side- and even worse, the name Hazen picked, [[spoiler: Darth Sion]], was already known to be that of a future Sith Lord whose mutilated physical appearance ''could'' have been a match for [[spoiler:Dray]]. The role was prepared for him. He just [[CrowningMomentofAwesome refused to play the part]].

* FandomNod: Lots to the KOTOR games and the Tales of the Jedi comics.
** Special mention goes to the editor's/author's notes at the end of issue 48, where Miller details the whole [[spoiler: Rholan/Demagol]] fan discussions, and giving a nod to TV Tropes itself for its role on the topic.

* ForTheEvulz: One might argue that [[spoiler:Haazen is ONLY destroying the Jedi Knighthood and taking over the Republic to further spit on Barrison's grave.]]

* SpannerInTheWorks: Zayne Carrick utterly unravels the Jedi Covenant, Adasca, and arguably Mandalore's plans for the galaxy. It seems to be his role within the Star Wars universe.

* TheAce: Carth Onasi

** Del Moomo actually fills this role once when his stupidity and singlemindedness distract Raana and Shel long enough for Gryph to disarm the later, saving Zayne's life in the process Shel also unintentionally derails Jervo's plan with her first attempt to kill Zayne.

* WhamLine: By Elbee of all people! [[spoiler:''"That was not the Mandalorian that broke my hand."'']]

* {{Badass}}: Subverted BIG TIME with Zayne Carrick. It's been close to forty issues and Zayne Carrick has actually [[spoiler: NOT KILLED A SINGLE PERSON despite immense justification.]]
** How the hell this is a subversion? In his situation, such approach actually demands much greater badassery.
** Actually, in a later issue Zayne had to kill a Cammasi named Snout in self defense. He doesn't take it very well.
** Played completely and utterly straight with Cassus Fett: whenever he shows up (he's normally only present through fearful/awed mentions of his name), it's to make an amazingly badass statement or speech.

* WarriorPoet: Rohlan the Questioner.

* WindsOfDestinyChange: [[spoiler:Zayne's "learning disability" with the Force turns out to be the ability to have probibility swing his way.]]

* WhiteHairedPrettyGirl: Jarael. And Chantique

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* BornLucky: Zayne's apparent [[BlessedWithSuck disability with learning the Force]] actually [[WindsOfDestinyChange swings the odds in his favor.]] [[FridgeBrilliance That's probably why he survived the killing of the Jedi Padawans in the beginning of the series,]] setting the whole series in motion.
-->'''Zanye:''' My master says that my existence is proof that the Force has a sense of humor!
** He would be closer to someone who always breaks even. Yes, he has INSANELY good luck at times. And, at other times, he has very bad luck. He just tends to get lucky at the right times (implying he is controlling it to some degree).

** Mandalore!

* TheEmpire: The Mandalorians.
** The Mandalorians are only becoming TheEmpire. They were previously TheHorde. The fact they're becoming one is actually something that at least one Mandalorian objects to.

* KarmaHoudini: At least one of Zayne Carrick's villains gets away scott-free. [[spoiler:Lucien Draay]]
** Hey, he's blind after the whole thing, that's not exactly scott-free.

** Assuming they're mutually exclusive.

** What's "odd" about that, considering the position of the original movies on the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism? If anything, the persistent attempts of EU authors to make ''StarWars'' universe DarkerAndEdgier (even the original KnightsOfTheOldRepublic games slipped into it in the sequel), which seem to alienate alot of fans are odd.

* ProphecyTwist: Zayne Carrick's prophecy. [[spoiler:Is in fact totally made up to just screw with the minds of the Jedi Covenant]].
** It was also to buy Zayne time.

** As well as any Mandalorian that makes an apperance, natch.
*** Except Demagol.
* {{Seers}}

** After [[spoiler:saving Zayne from the Jedi Covenant in the introductory story-arc]], Jarael seems incapable of defeating anything other than {{Mooks}}, and has to be rescued by the main characters from the Mandalorians, Lord Adasca, a rogue assassin droid ... To be fair, it has been made abundantly clear that only the most powerful Jedis or Sith can have a chance alone against a small group of Mandalorians - Jarael got ambushed by a whole ''platoon'' of them.
** In Shel's case, it's not easy to kill someone even if you are a trained soldier, and she's just a civilian who has no choice but to fight. Plus, it helped that Zayne massively deconstructed her motivation for wanting to kill him by a.) forcing her to face that she really had no clue as to why she thought he was guilty, and b.) showing genuine grief over her brother's death, which is not exactly the kind of things darksiders do.