Star Wars Tales #21 Released
(source: Dark Horse Comics, 10-20-04)

It's finally here, folks. After getting the ball rolling in March and finally being able to announce it here on Fanworks, with two exclusive Fanworks preview images and two official Dark Horse website previews out for all to see, the day has finally come; Star Wars Tales #21 was released today across the country (and in various other countries, to be more precise).

Tales #21 marks a new direction for the series. It began under former Star Wars editor Peet Janes, then later transferred to Dave Land, whose tenure ended with Tales #20 (which at one time was thought to be the last issue of the series). Now, Tales has been relaunched with substantial format changes under Associate Editor Jeremy Barlow. Among the changes are: a new logo; thematic art covers spanning each year; a new page of era descriptions; a new table of contents page (with timeline notations for each individual story); a new letters page; a lower number of longer stories per issue (three stories in each); and the beginning of a series of multi-part, serialized stories (including this year's 4-part Nomad and the multi-part, but non-sequential, walking the Path That's Given).

Among the new talent pulled in to help relaunch Tales was Star Wars Fanworks founder Nathan P. Butler (ChronoRadio, Second Strike, Noting Changes, et al), who signed on for a 14-page New Jedi Order era story featuring Jedi Knight video game series heroes Kyle Katarn and Jan ors. It is the first comic book appearance for Kyle and Jan, along with the first appearance of unveiled Yuuzhan Vong in action (Chewbacca had an image that wasn't action, while Nom Anor in Crimson Empire II was hiding his identity). This marks Butler's first licensed Star Wars writing, and his fourth mention of any kind in a Star Wars publication (the others being the latest Insider, The New Essential Guide to Characters, and Will Brooker's unauthorized study Using the Force).

Fans of the Kyle story (Equals and Opposites) should check back here at Fanworks on Nov. 1 for ChronoRadio: Special Edition II: The Making of a Tale, an hour-long look into the making of the story. Fans should also check here Nov. 1 for the start of a short trivia contest, wherein the winner(s) will receive a copy of Tales #21 signed (and personalized) by Butler.

Our thanks to those who supported Nathan in this endeavor. Now, go get that comic!

If you wish to get the issue signed: send your copy of the comic, plus $4.50 to cover USPS Priority Mail flat rate envelope return shipping with Delivery Confirmation, to:

Nathan P. Butler
513 Meadow Glen Pkwy
Fairburn, GA 30213