So before reading this I had a bit of an apprehensive attitude about this series. It looked kind of like it would be the cliche story of "primitives vs. people with technology" that we've seen a million times and I'm sick of. This is not, however, anything like that.

First thing I took from this issue is that its all about the setup. Issue #0 helped because you know a lot about who these people are and what their functions are now so this is all story. The characters are introduced, the Infinite Empire established, and a lot of their lifestyles are set up. I especially love the look of Xesh, the Force Hound. The idea that planets of Force sensitive peoples can be hunted down through the dark side and exploited is interesting to me, and Xesh didn't even leave his armor in this issue (it looks worlds of awesome actually). No good characters were introduced, but instead we get a look at villains. We see two Rakata who will be prominent, and their respective Force Hounds. We also get to see their versions of lightsabers.

The other huge thing is the sacking of Tattoine, which occurs in this issue. We come in at the end where leaders are being enslaved. The planet, however, is in its phase before it was desert. The twin suns heat a jungle world instead of a full dead world of desert. It also appears that this will be a part of the story as the people fight back against the empire.

Something that was mentioned in other material is the Rakatan empire attempting to take Korriban from the Sith and King Adas driving them back at the cost of his life. I really hope this is included in the series.

Admittedly, it was a slow beginning, because the first half or so was dedicated to filling in the back story, and if you've read issue #0 then you won't learn much new - and I found the transition from 36,000 BBY (ish) to 25,000 BBY (ish) to be slightly jarring, but not all that big a problem.

However, it did give me a chance to check out the art and, like I said above, I was very pleased with it. The second half itself was quite illuminating. I liked that the Rakata are still a powerful space faring force so close to the beginning of the start of the Republic. Somehow I'd always put their demise some thousands of years before that. Okay, so there's not a great deal of story, but what there was has got me pretty excited about the following issues.

The Rakatan Infinite Empire has always been a time period I wanted to see. An entire race of dark side Force users who aren't the stereotypical Sith? Sign me up! But in all seriousness The art is gorgeous, and so far I actually think the look and style are more impressive than in Legacy. The Legacy comics were all about bright colors of the underground world. This seems to be the Imperial Rakatans and their streamlined invasion processes vs the primitive worlds of the Jedi and I love it. Xesh is one of the most impressive looking villains in awhile, though I feel this will be his redemption story. The Rakatans themselves look great.

I agree, though I wonder what sort of a redemption it'll be. Not a redemption in the style of Anakin Skywalker, but maybe along the lines of an awakening to the ways of ... of what? I can't say what I was going to say - an awakening to the light side of the Force, because the Je'Daii condemn those who wander into the light, as much as they do into the dark. An awakening into the more peaceful, balanced life, and thus forsakes his Rakatan masters. Maybe like Starkiller?

I just looked up dates on the Rakatan Infinite Empire. Their Empire collapses in 25,200 BBY, so my musing earlier was unfounded.

The Force Wars of Tython are an established event already though, and its the fight between those who believe in balance and those who believe that the dark is the way to go. Out of it come the Jedi, but Tython is nearly destroyed. I think this will be the culmination of the series, and the Rakata are wiped out by a virus that destroys only them so I think that'll be part of the dark Jed'aii plan to fight back.

It'd be cool to see that, but doesn't this take place some 600 years before the Rakata are wiped out? The Force War would be very nice to see, but I'm not sure that event is connected to the Rakatan demise. I think they were poisoned by their slaves.

Your idea also lends itself to the possibility that it's Xesh who starts this rift.

I think the story takes place before the collapse of the Infinite Empire, but given the way that Star Wars works its not unlikely that several characters could live to see it, and I think Xesh will release the virus now that I think of it.

I was surprised that they unmasked Xesh so quickly