Double Blind (republic issue 54)
The payoff to Quin's shady activities under his Korto Vos alias. This is a bridge story, moving things between Quin's early Clone Wars appearances and Jedi: Count Dooku (see below!), but it doesn't scrimp on being interesting in itself: we get an issue full of jaw-droppers, including a brilliant misdirection twist at the end. Jan Duursema's art has somehow hit another level, and John Ostrander is at the top of the game.
Jedi: Aayla Secura
To wit: midway through his phenomenal Clone Wars run, Ostrander decides to wrap up Tim Truman's early work on Republic. We last saw Aurra Sing, the Dark Woman (and Tim Truman) back in "The Hunt for Aurra Sing"; I'd assumed they'd all been sent to Mandyville but no, we get a hugely satisfying conclusion which also manages to progress what Ostrander is doing with Quin, Aayla and Tholme. The bit where Tholme asks "What's up with this whole Dark Woman thing?" is a hoot.
Jedi: Count Dooku
Makes a nominal attempt to justify the title Jedi: Dooku, but this should really be Jedi: Quinlan Vos. But that's a quibble; I've read this countless times and each time Quin's choices feel both agonizingly in the balance and inevitable. There's little more to say here other than this is truly a creative team firing on all cylinders; sit back and enjoy. Dooku's inner circle is straight from the Ostrander / Duursema rogues gallery hall of fame; file with Kh'aris Fenn and Shogar Tok.
Striking from the Shadows (republic issue 63)
Great cover that manages not to be a rug pull, and a plot that isn't afraid to follow through on nastier moments. Subverts the end of Jedi: Dooku and leaves us guessing where Quin's loyalties - up in the air in this one - will land. It's fun seeing Dooku's inner circle vying for primacy, with their stock constantly going up and down.
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