MTFBWY #1: Star Wars’ Best Line Ever, Imperial Handbook Reviewed

Hello and welcome to MTFBWY #1, the first in a brand-new weekly column here at Comicbook.com. For those in the know, the column’s title is short for May The Force Be With You, the credo issued in the Star Wars mythos, usually when someone is about to embark on a perilous journey.

And so, here we are, embarking on a new journey together. Each week, we’ll divide the column in two, with an interactive portion, followed by a feature, be it a review, an interview, a deep-dive on a particular character or part of the mythology; it will pretty much just be any in-depth look at something Star Wars that I can bring to you.

First, a bit about your host, Lucas Siegel. That’s the last time I’ll talk about myself in third person, I promise. You may recognize my name and byline from work at various websites and magazines, including a primary home for my writing for the last five years and change. I have over a decade of professional experience writing primarily about geek culture: comics, movies, TV, and video games, though I’ve also written on occasion about politics, music, and other various topics. I have a passionate love for Star Wars in its many forms, be it the films, the animated series, the comics, the novels, the games – and of course, the collectibles.

This week’s question and hashtag was #beststarwarsline. It’s a simple question: what do you think is the best line in all of Star Wars history? Of course, its simplicity also lends itself to a lot of interpretation. That’s the fun thing about opinions: everyone is allowed to have their own! Here then, are some highlights, including some folks from throughout the greater Star Wars universe. I reached out on twitter, both generally and to some specific writers and actors known for their work with the franchise. Feel free to play along in the comments section and on twitter, just include the #beststarwarsline hashtag!

Writer Sean McKeever, who has worked in comics and currently is a Senior Writer on the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic was the first to chime in, with an instant classic:

And others agreed. Ron Marz, who wrote the Darth Maul comic book mini-series, along with others, and Mark Waid, writer of the upcomingLeia series from Marvel Comics, voted for the same two-word line.

Some voice actors of Star Wars: The Clone Wars chimed in, including the voices of Obi-Wan Kenobi (and yes, James Arnold Taylor chose an Obi-Wan quote), Anakin Skywalker, and both Darth Maul and The Son.

Jason Aaron, writer of Marvel Comics’ newly-launched Star Wars comic, went slightly darker, with another short line with incredible weight.

StarWars.com writer Amy Ratcliffe and Star Wars voice actor & Rancho Obi-Wan publicist Consetta Parker offered up quotes I didn’t see repeated in my search:

And while prolific Star Wars novelist and comic book writer John Jackson Miller recognizes that “May the Force be With You” and “Do or do not, there is no try” are important, his favorite is a little more off beat.

Writer and Full of Sith podcast host Bryan Young piggybacked off JJM nicely.

Marvel Comics editor Jordan D. White, head of their Star Wars line, had a toss-up between two.

And Lucasfilm Animation publicist Tracy Cannobbio naturally chose a line from Clone Wars:

Finally, a few samples from friends and fans across Twitter and Facebook:

“Never tell me the odds” got several votes. “Please, don’t kill me! I’m too weak!” “So be it, Jedi.” “It’s a trap!” “Why, you slimy, double-crossing, no-good swindler.” And last but not least, from writer Dirk Manning, “BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BLOOOOOP.” — R2-D2

And my own? I have to stick to my first instinct, “No. There is another.” That line just opens up so much mythology and story possibility. Hearing it the first time, not knowing what was coming, it made the Star Wars world into a universe for me. Hearing it now, with the weight of that implication well-known, it doesn’t lose any of its effect.

Next week’s hashtag is #FaveStarWarsCharacter. I want to hear your favorites, and a line as to why – they can be from the films, they can be from comics, they can be canon or “Legends,” I don’t care where they’re from, just why they’re your favorite. Hit twitter with the hashtag and your explanation, and you could be included in next week’s column!

For part two of today’s column, I am taking a look at the Star Wars Imperial Handbook: A Commander’s Guide. This is the latest in a series of deluxe edition books published by becker&mayer! that includes a book, an artifact, and a case with sound and motion meant to mimic the epic vaults such important things are held in on screen. Daniel Wallace returns to write the latest book, with art and illustrations by Chris Trevas, Chris Reiff, Joe Corroney, John Van Fleet, Maciej Rebisz, Russell Walks, and Velvet Engine Studio.

When you press the two buttons on the sides of the Imperial emblem, the case slowly opens with lights and sound effects, revealing the book below. Unlike the Jedi Path and Book of Sith editions, the book itself isn’t moved at all in the opening process (the first raised up, the second emerged out from the Sith holocron), and you simply lift it out of the case. It’s the least elaborate case of this series of books, to be sure, but that also works for the sensibility of this particular book. It isn’t meant to be epic or hold the secrets of a 10,000 year old philosophy, instead it simply instructs Imperial Commanders on the ways of their military order.

Below the book sits the singular “artifact” included this time around, an Imperial Order of Glory medal. All three prior books in the series, the two aforementioned as well as the Bounty Hunter’s Code, included six artifacts or special features, varying from maps to collectibles like a synthetic lightsaber crystal, a padawan braid, or a bounty hunter dart. With only one prop in this offering, it comes up short compared to the others, especially since it bears the same $99.99 suggested retail price.

Daniel Wallace is adept at creating these in-universe compendiums now, and easily slips into the “Imperial voice,” one that offers the dry facts about the Imperial Navy, Army, and Doctrine with a little propaganda and grandstanding mixed in for good measure. There are also the notes added into the margins of the book that have become the signature of this series. This time around, there are notes from Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Wedge Antilles, Mon Mothma, Rebel General Carlist Rieekan, and an Imperial defector, Generel Crix Madine. The notes offer up Rebel Alliance insight into the book’s contents. The military leaders comment on how the knowledge can be applied to battle, Luke typically remarks on the historical or philosophical aspects, and Han mostly just offers snark. The notes help break up what can sometimes get monotonous: remember, this is meant as an in-universe military handbook, so it doesn’t (and arguably shouldn’t) hold much riveting prose.

The contents of the book hold incredible in-depth knowledge for superfans. If you’ve ever wanted to know exactly where the laser cannons are on an Interdictor, or how many people it takes to man a Super Star Destroyer (between 280,000 and 700,000, depending on the class!), you’ll find out here. With a huge international following in the charitable “501st” organization, the Stormtrooper section of the book is the most interesting of the bunch. The various armors and classes are explained in detail, along with recruitment and academy practices.

While there aren’t many pull-out artifacts this time around, much of the same material is embedded directly into the main text. There are exciting classic Soviet-era styled propaganda posters, excerpts from the Stormtrooper field manual, star sector maps, and the design schematics for a certain orbital space station. It’s still a disappointment for none of these to be removable or folded out, but at least the content exists, and didn’t just disappear entirely.

This is definitely the driest of the texts offered in this series so far, again naturally because of the content, but for big Star Wars fans, especially those with some leanings toward the Emperor’s point of view, the behind-the-scenes look at the massive military might of this world should interest them. Wallace’s mastery of the individual voices is still on display, even of the timeline (as in, when exactly did each person write their margin notes) gets slightly confusing at times. The sheer scope of the Empire as presented here does give some hint as to why we still see Stormtroopers and their ilk in the teaser for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. There aren’t too many more ways they can go with this style of book (one from the Rebel Alliance point-of-view would make sense), and if you’ve collected the others, the quality case and the writing inside makes this a worthy addition, despite the lacking extras.

With that, the first edition of MTFBWY concludes! Be sure to chime in on next week’s hashtag, #FaveStarWarsCharacter and tell me why you like your pick the most to possibly be included in next week’s column!

Lucas Siegel is a lifelong geek with a passionate love of Star Wars, Disney films and Parks, Havok, and Tim Drake Robin.