Even if you hate Jar-Jar Binks with a passion, you'll still feel a chill when you see the slaughter of an entire Gungan settlement in the opening pages of Victories & Sacrifices. Tomas Giorello, who is not my favorite artist in the series, really outdoes himself in this single, two-page spread.

But this, the second volume of the Clone Wars series, has far much more to offer. Focusing primarily on Obi-Wan Kenobi for a change, the book includes significant appearances by new villains Durge and Asajj Ventress. Even better, it sets Kenobi on a mission with four legendary Jedi, all of whom you know will die going into the story -- but the path they take is a solid bit of writing by Haden Blackman that will keep you turning pages to the bitter end. Artist Brian Ching makes it all come alive.

The final chapter, by writer John Ostrander and artist Jan Duursema, is another Shaak Ti adventure that feels for the most part like filler material. Still, it features a pretty interesting and inarguably devoted clone trooper who adds layers to the tale.

Victories & Sacrifices is far better than The Defense of Kamino, which preceded it. But, given that the upcoming collection, Last Stand on Jabiim, is better still, I can say the Clone Wars series is certainly headed in the right direction.