This week’s theme: comic references to the classic Star Wars video games, Knights of the Old Republic I and II!

While KotOR is part of the Legends/EU, it is still referenced in the current canon (especially in Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath books and -- apparently by accident -- certain Force abilities in The Last Jedi).

My favorite example of a KotOR reference in recent comics is ML-08, or “Mel.” Mel is a clumsy, mischievous maintenance droid who looks exactly like T3-M4, a charming utility droid who joins your party in both KotOR games. Mel’s owner is Jaxxon, a character who is also a reference to an old canon, the original Marvel comics. His droid outshines him with his adorable and hopeless antics, which keep the indomitable spirit of T3 alive all the way into the era of the original trilogy. There are even hints to his old age, which is quite funny since the KotORs are set 4000 years in the past! Perhaps some part of T3 was recycled into Mel, even after all this time?

You can find Mel in both “Star Wars Adventures Annuals” from 2018 and 2019.