Discussion The Old EU: How I Miss You

[Darth Halitus]

I grew up in the interim period between The Original / Classic Trilogy and The Prequels. During this period, we fans had The Expanded Universe to keep us content till George Lucas finally decided to green light the Prequels. In the period I remember enjoying being Dash Rendar in Shadows of the Empire N64 Game, playing as the much more down to earth and reluctant Jedi named Kyle Katarn in the Jedi Knight games, and of course the Emperor's Hand herself, Mara Jade Skywalker, who is one of my all time favorite Star Wars characters, in fact, I remember when the SW Insider issue arrived with the model who did the live action images so that Mara could be in Decipher Star Wars Trading Cards, I had her Rare Card from the Enhanced Deck that I coveted, and I loved playing as her in The Masters of Kesi fighter game on PlayStation. For full disclosure I just got a mint condition set of all of Mara Jade's Emperor's Hand Comics by Dark Horse as my late Xmas present..

I call this the Old Expanded Universe to distinguish it from Expanded Universe of Revan, Malak, Darth Malgus, Cade Skywalker, The One Sith, and a lot of Prequels tie in stuff. While I love those too, I kind of wanted to reminisce with anyone who remembers that Intertrilogy period, between OT and PT, when we had to fill our time with books, comics, toys, and video games to get our Galaxy Far fix. I marvel at how now we get major Star Wars content every year now, with shows, and the upcoming movies, in a way I miss having to wait five to ten years for a new trilogy, it made the anticipation fever pitch, and made everything feel grander; though do not get me wrong, I love the constant Disney era Star Wars content.

So who was your favorite Old EU character or characters, story lines / arches, additions to the lore that Disney has even included in some of newer content like Force Heal and Malestrome?

 

[Onrai]

Mara Jade. Luke deserved a moment of happiness, and she was well executed both as an Emperor's Hand and a Jedi. I also thought Jacen was a more complex "Solo kid turned to the Dark Side" than Ben ended up being in nu-canon.

 

[Darth Halitus]

Mara Jade. Luke deserved a moment of happiness, and she was well executed both as an Emperor's Hand and a Jedi. I also thought Jacen was a more complex "Solo kid turned to the Dark Side" than Ben ended up being in nu-canon.

Definitely agree about Mara, she was great in her transition from Emperor's Hand to Jedi Master. I mean she is one that deserves The Youngling Slayer.. I mean Anakin's Legacy Saber.

I agree Jacen becoming a Dark Lord to prevent a greater evil from rising was such a great way to showcase a fall. I mean it kinda fits Anakin, how he did it for love of his wife, Jacen did it for love of his family.

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

K'Kruhk.

That is all.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Man, this is like asking to pick a favorite child but Mara Jade. I loved her arc and interactions with Luke.

If you're interested in the EU, I came across this upcoming documentary yesterday. An entire seven part series on the NJO with author interviews.

 

[Darth Halitus]

Man, this is like asking to pick a favorite child but Mara Jade. I loved her arc and interactions with Luke.

If you're interested in the EU, I came across this upcoming documentary yesterday. An entire seven part series on the NJO with author interviews.

Oh I would love to watch that! I am feeling very nostalgic for the EU.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

I am feeling very nostalgic for the EU.

Same. I think those of us who are a certain age can remember when Star Wars was only being kept alive through the books, comics, and video games to a lesser extent. There was nothing like waiting for the next book to drop or scouring the latest issue of Star Wars Insider for short stories or news on upcoming "events." I absolutely loved the time period and despite being some crazy stories, I think things were overall handled well. As well as one can coordinate a mass of media and a ton of authors each with their own agenda.

For those who weren't around, Mark Hamill was drug out for this commercial for Vector Prime for the start of the NJO series.



My goal in 2025 is to do another readthrough. I haven't in about five years so I'd like to see if my perspective has changed any on some of the plotlines.

 

[Darth Halitus]

So well said, "Star Wars was only being kept alive through the books, comics, and video games to a lesser extent." That truly was how it felt, and I loved how zany some of stories were, and the risks they took then. A lot of stuff has felt rather safe since The Prequel Era, like its being groomed and kept in a lane, but back then.. oh boy it was a wild ride of really fun stuff.

I remember how The Old Essential Guide to Characters (Black and White) helped me discover some characters, and start checking out the comics and books there were in.

 

[Jonyna Si]

I sit in a weird position when it comes to the EU.

I didn't grow up with it. I didn't know Star wars had novels until a couple of years ago. As many have heard me say in factions discords, my experience with Star Wars, up until about two years ago, was limited to:

The movies (1-7, never saw 8 or 9)
Rogue One
The OG Battlefront Games
The Force Unleashed Games
That one Podracing game for the N64
The Gendy Clone Wars Micro Series

When I 'got into' Star Wars, it was through a tabletop game that I jumped into building a character that was intentionally ignorant of the wider galaxy because I was as well.

So I've always been resistant to jump headfirst into the EU, and indulge in the pre-disney stuff, because of how dense a lot of it is. And I know me, I'll want to hyperfixate and read every fucking comic and book until I've ran out of material.

But, from what I have seen of the EU, a lot of it is a mixed bag, but I appreciate what it did.

Someday I'll jump down the rabbit hole, but until then, hope you guys enjoy talking about it.

 

[Darth Halitus]

I sit in a weird position when it comes to the EU.

I didn't grow up with it. I didn't know Star wars had novels until a couple of years ago. As many have heard me say in factions discords, my experience with Star Wars, up until about two years ago, was limited to:

The movies (1-7, never saw 8 or 9)
Rogue One
The OG Battlefront Games
The Force Unleashed Games
That one Podracing game for the N64
The Gendy Clone Wars Micro Series

When I 'got into' Star Wars, it was through a tabletop game that I jumped into building a character that was intentionally ignorant of the wider galaxy because I was as well.

So I've always been resistant to jump headfirst into the EU, and indulge in the pre-disney stuff, because of how dense a lot of it is. And I know me, I'll want to hyperfixate and read every fucking comic and book until I've ran out of material.

But, from what I have seen of the EU, a lot of it is a mixed bag, but I appreciate what it did.

Someday I'll jump down the rabbit hole, but until then, hope you guys enjoy talking about it.

At least read Heir to the Empire, or The Mara Jade Emperor's Hand Comics (they are on Kindle in many editions to read), I just got my physical set of em.. and I am giddy, got the last set on Amazon in mint condition, and plan to keep em for posterity, because it feels like they are trying to scrub my girl from existence sometimes..

It can be very dense, a series I can recommend and I am not big into reading a lot of books is Fate of the Jedi books, which has Abeloth, Luke with his Son Ben, and The Lost Tribe of the Sith; Book Two Allies is sooo good.. Jedi and Sith working together is so comical.

There is good stuff, you just gotta pick a spot, camp out there, find something that grooves, rather than feel like you gotta take on a dense amount of the Expanded Universe.

 

[Rik Perris]

Firstly, it's Marka Ragnos, not Marko

As for my favourite? Like, I know Wedge Antilles exists in Canon, but it's his EU self that I'm fond of and his long history in that. When I was younger, it was definitely Corran Horn.

 

[Darth Halitus]

Firstly, it's Marka Ragnos, not Marko

As for my favourite? Like, I know Wedge Antilles exists in Canon, but it's his EU self that I'm fond of and his long history in that. When I was younger, it was definitely Corran Horn.

I have blasphemed his unholy name! Help me! His ghost is coming forth to possess me instead of Tavion!

Oh the Wedge and Rogue Squadron stuff was really good.

 

[Rik Perris]

Oh the Wedge and Rogue Squadron stuff was really good.

Yeah, I love that stuff so much - I have all the X-Wing novels in paperback, in fact - and it very much inspired my first pilot character (Kelly J. Perris) in roleplay, 20 years ago, and I'm still writing his descendants, today. Rik is one of his grandsons.

 

[Darth Halitus]

Yeah, I love that stuff so much - I have all the X-Wing novels in paperback, in fact - and it very much inspired my first pilot character (Kelly J. Perris) in roleplay, 20 years ago, and I'm still writing his descendants, today. Rik is one of his grandsons.

That is such a legacy! Congrats! I love hearing how EU has inspired people.

 

[John Locke]

It's close between Mara and Wedge, but I think I have to go for Wedge Antilles.

 

[Junko Ike]

Ulic, Kun, Nomi, Mara, Bastila, Revan, Talon, Jaina and Jacen.. so many greats and they had so many good authors expand on it from Moore and Gaimen to Zahn and Salvatore. There are so many more not being mentioned because it would just read like a list more then praise.

 

[Darth Halitus]

Ulic, Kun, Nomi, Mara, Bastila, Revan, Talon, Jaina and Jacen.. so many greats and they had so many good authors expand on it from Moore and Gaimen to Zahn and Salvatore. There are so many more not being mentioned because it would just read like a list more then praise.

Ulic Qel Droma is my second fav after Mara, his Redemption Arch is sooo good. I love him training Vima Sunrider on Rhen Var.

 

[Caelan Valoren]

Corran Horn for me. My first foray was the X-Wing series.

 

[WelshPsych]

I always found the Old Republic and earlier era EU exploration much more interesting that the stuff post Episode 6.

Give me Darth Revan, Mandalorian Wars, the Great Hyperspace War, Naga Sadow, Exar Kun, even the SWTOR stuff.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Mara.
I like Kyle and Dash and Corran. Their stories could still “sort of” exist. But Mara doesn’t seem like she’s got a place in the NuCanon.

I like her