When you hear the words “cyborg” and “warrior”, you often think of General Grievous. But did you know he’s part of an alien species known as the Kaleesh? Star Wars is great at introducing its audience to the weird and wonderful aspects of the medium, and when the multiple-limb felon came on the scene in 2003’s Clone Wars micro-series, fans wanted more.
The Kaleesh have red skin, long nostrils, yellow-slitted eyes, bendback legs and tusks and hail from Kalee. They were tribal-like and would create masks from animal bones. While they don’t do technology well, the Kaleesh are proud warriors.
The most famous member of the Kaleesh species is Qymaen jai Sheelal, better known as General Grievous. He became a cyborg after choosing to become so and having his alterations over time. Due to the alterations, his battle reflexes increased to the point that he could defeat countless Jedi masters who were masters at their lightsaber forms. He even sacrificed nerve endings.
Dooku and San Hill, one of his Separatist lackeys, devised a plan to kill Grievous and sabotaged his shuttle, almost resulting in the cyborg’s death. However, his original body was largely destroyed.
The CIS then offers Grievous life-saving surgery and claims the attack on his ship was the work of a Jedi. This led to the cyborg’s immense hatred of the Jedi to the point that he would take the lightsabers of those he killed in combat as trophies.
Killing Jedi was a game to Grievous, triggering his desire to see the galaxy free of Jedi. While this did end up happening, it happened after his death at the hand of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
