Star Wars: Republic #52
March 2003
"The New Face of War" part 2, 22ppg, $2.99

Script: Haden Blackman
Penciler: Tomás Giorello
Inker: Curtis Arnold
Colorist: Joe Wayne
Letterer: Digital Chameleon
Cover Artist: Brian Ching
Cover Artist: Batt
Book Design: Dave Nestelle
Assistant Editor: Jeremy Barlow
Editor: Randy Stradley
Publisher: Mike Richardson

CHARACTER
Featured
Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi

Supporting
spice miner, Alpha (designated A-17), Zule Xiss

Villain
Asajj Ventress, Durge

CREATURE
falumpaset (dead)

DROID
super battle droid

LOCATION
Ohma-D'un

ORGANIZATION
spice miners

SPECIES
Gungan (dead and as zombies)

VEHICLE
Republic attack gunship

COMMENTS
According to the inside cover, the events in this issue takes place 10 weeks after the Battle of Geonosis.
SYNOPSIS
On the Naboo moon of Ohma-D'un, Anakin Skywalker and the ARC trooper, Alpha, are battling super battle droids to rescue spice miners imprisoned by the Confederacy. Anakin utilizes his force talents to turn battle droids upon each other. They free the spice miners, who inform them that Confederacy is ready to attack Naboo with ships loaded with a chemical weapon, and that the Jedi and trooper should hurry over the ridge if they are to stop them in time.

Elsewhere, Obi-Wan Kenobi, suffering the effects of the poison gas, is dueling with Asajj Ventress. Feeling she is taking to much time, the bounty hunter Durge lands and is about to shoot Obi-Wan in the head. From behind Durge, Zule charges him with her lightsaber and severs his spine. He only wings Kenobi in the shoulder.

Durge tackles Zule and is about to skewer her eye with his glove spike, when she grabs his pistols and blasts both his shoulders. She vows revenge for the death of her master. Asajj sends Durge away saying she'll take care of the Jedi herself. Her answer: animate dead gungans to attack the heroes.

Anakin asks the ARC trooper if he has a name. He tells the Jedi that he is only designated A-17, so Anakin decides to name him Alpha which doesn't bother the clone. As long as Anakin watches his back he's happy.

Meanwhile Obi-Wan and Zule battle the zombified gungans in order to get to Asajj, but keep being distracted by her trickery.

Anakin and Alpha discover the spice miners vehicles being refueled for the assault on Naboo. Evading the super battle droids, Alpha makes his way to the fueling station and blows it up ending the Confederacy's plan. Durge lands and wrestles with Alpha, stating if he can't get Jango, he'll settle for his spawn. Anakin shocks Durge with his own elctro-bolo, forcing him to retreat.

Obi-Wan, weakening from the chemical damage to his body, continues his battle with Ventress. Zule steps in, but is disarmed, literally, by Asajj before being forced into retreat herself by the arrival of Anakin and Alpha.

Alpha helps Kenobi and Zule back onto the ship before the gas kills them. When Anakin asks what will happen to Zule, Kenobi tells him she will join the other padawans who have lost their masters. Anakin wishes to go to Naboo to tell the Queen that everything is okay. Obi-Wan disagrees and turns them on a heading to Coruscant, to warn the Jedi about this new face of war.


Related Issues
Republic #51


Trade Paperbacks and Alternate Covers
Star Wars Omnibus: Clone Wars – The Republic Goes to War #1 Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Clone Wars Trade Paperback #1 Clone Wars Trade Paperback #2

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