Star Wars Adventures: The Clone Wars: Battle Tales #3 by Michael Moreci

 "Star Wars Adventures: The Clone Wars: Battle Tales #3" written by Michael Moreci, illustrated by Derek Charm and Luis Antonio Delgado (framing story) and Valentina Pinto (story within a story)

Another wonderful story!!! I LOVE these story-within-a-story comics so much! It allows for all sorts of different tales to be told during all points within the timeline. So freaking good. The parable for this one was, "A good soldier fights for himself; a great soldier fights for others." which very much played out in the internal story as Waxer and Boil tell the tale of Krystar where they rescued imprisoned brothers from a corrupt regent. The clones involved would NOT let their brothers' capture slip by them and did everything in their power to rescue them. Definitely heartwarming and definitely action-packed, all rolled into one super fun package!

We start off with the framing story on Hisseen, with Cody and a crew of clones attacking the battle droids surrounding the prisoners with electric charges...and the more brutal ripping off of heads... Waxer and Boil then begin reminiscing about a similar situation back in the day...

Obi-Wan is considering what to do about the supposedly Republic-loyal planet Krystar (home to a population of Ovissians a.k.a. Boolio's species!!!). It's rumored that the local regent at the Krystar palace, Queb, is holding clones as prisoners in a secret compound, but there's no proof and Obi-Wan doesn't want to fly in guns blazing only to be wrong when it's an ally in question (see the crazy spooky palace and Queb below). Vishar Koss, a long time friend of Padme's, who just so happens to be a Krystar representative, has provided the intel to the Naboo senator...and Padme being Padme, well, she has her own brand of negotiation that will certainly come in handy! "I can get us to the surface under the guise of a diplomatic aid mission."--Man does Leia take after her Mama!!! *heart* This diplomatic aid mission turns out to revolve around Krystar's agricultural problems, and as we find out, Krystar is a "mud pit"...thus the problems. As Boil says once the clones start secretly making their way to the supposed location of the compound, "This place is about as pleasant as a Nexu on a bad day." 

Well, the clones find the prisoners of war and as luck would have it, Padme finds out where the clones have been disappearing to as well--Trandoshans!!! They're being shipped out to Wasskah for sport hunting. *tear* Padme barely escapes Queb's and the Trandoshan broker's clutches, leading to Obi-Wan quipping, "Another boring day in Galactic diplomacy, I see." I love his humor so much!

The imprisoned clones are willing to go out fighting, even without arms, and they all team up to protect their family (see the imprisoned clones below). I love how the clones embody the concept of brothers and kinship and how the parable at the beginning of this issue is so true so much of the time--most of the clones are in fact, "great soldiers." ...but then there's issue #4 which brings some of this into question...

Trivia: Krystar has a specific habitable zone. This is where the palace is located.

Back to the framing story, well, let's just say the battle droids are still coming and the clones aren't in the clear yet! 

As for the artwork, holy heck it's freaking gorgeous!!! The colors are phenomenal and the illustrations themselves are just so much fun to experience. This art team is through the roof good!

Be on the lookout for my review of #4 coming soon--it was another crazy enjoyable yet, this time, super deep story. Tons of issues to unravel and dissect. Looking forward to doing so!!