SWCV: Knight Errant Panel

Dark Horse Comics and Del Rey Give a Sneak Preview of the New Comics & Novel

Star Wars: Knight Errant is a new co-venture between Dark Horse Comics and Del Rey which will tell the story of a new Jedi, Kerra Holt, in a 5-issue limited series and novel. The story takes place during the Old Republic, specifically 1,000 years before the Battle of Yavin, and finds young Kerra on her first mission with a band of Jedi volunteers to deep in Sith territory.

John Jackson Miller (Knights of the Old Republic), who is writing both the Knight Errant comics and the novel, was joined by Dark Horse Comics editor Dave Marshall and Del Rey editor Shelly Shapiro at the Dark Horse Comics & Del Rey: Knight Errant panel on Saturday during Star Wars Celebration V to discuss the projects.

During this time of the Old Republic there a hordes of Sith on the loose and the Republic has been able to do little to stop them. Miller described that the Jedi have "reluctantly pulled back and to sort of defend which borders exist. Jedi Master Vannar Treece has been tasked to lead Jedi forces on raids against the Sith. Having just passed her Jedi trials, Kerra Holt joins Treece's forces and ready to fight.

"She is originally from this region of Sith space,' said Miller. "She wants to go back and fight for the people that she left behind. Her family is gone. We haven't said what happened to them, but we'll find out a little bit at a time."

Holt's first mission is Treece's initial raid and according to Miller, "things go horribly wrong and as a consequence of this first mission Kerra is left all by herself." The series will deal with what it means "to be a Jedi alone in region where there are no Jedi and have been none for a very long time."

Two Sith Lord brothers will be the main antagonists in Knight Errant: Lord Daiman and Lord Odion.

"Daiman believes that he created the universe," said Miller. "Daimon believes that he is the only person that exists. What we know as existence is just some sort of a test that he created for himself. He believes that he is the creator.

On the other hand, Miller characterizes Odion as believing "that he was born to destroy the universe. His way to glorify himself is to make sure nobody else exists."

It sounds like Kerra is going to have her hands full. Look for Star Wars: Knight Errant #1 (of 5) in comic book stores on October 13. The Star Wars: Knight Errant novel from Del Rey will be in stores on January 25, 2011.