Who is Grievous?

[Mercule]

Okay, my fan-fu is really weak. I have to say that I've not been following much of the prequel story, other than just seeing the movies themselves.

Anyway, I'm now seeing this character of General Grievous. Apparently, he's some sort of alien (Omix-patra according to one site) who has traded in most of his body for "upgrades". I'm not able to find out any more than that, and doubt we'll get much backstory in the film. Does anyone know more?

Specifically, I'm curious about what Grievous looked like naturally -- what sort of alien is he? Also, did he do the "upgrades" voluntarily or were the war-wounds or something else? Dunno if the info even exists, but thought someone 'round these parts might know.

 

[Viking Bastard]

I think he was injured beyond natural repair, so he was restructured as a head
in a cyborg body, presumably by the same ones that did Vader's armour.

He is featured heavily in the Clone Wars cartoons.

 

[fett527]

I know as much as I want to know at this point. Which is he leads the Droid army and looks really cool!

 

[Berandor]

All I can tell you is that it's not John Rhys-Davies:

http://www.n-chicken.net/tomfoolery/JRD.shtml

 

[Desdichado]

I think he was injured beyond natural repair, so he was restructured as a head
in a cyborg body, presumably by the same ones that did Vader's armour.

Right; I think he works well as a kind of prototype of Darth Vader in some ways.

He is featured heavily in the Clone Wars cartoons.

I presume you mean the third season (is that running now?) since he only made a brief cameo at the very end of the 2nd season, which I certainly wouldn't consider "featuring heavily."

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Grievous was from a very warlike Reptillian species. Count Dooku and San Hill(stretched looking guy in charge of the Banking Guild) recruited him to lead the droid army, and he served them for a short time before they had a little...'fun'.

He was involved in an 'accidental' shuttle crash in which his body was completely destroyed. He was kept alive enough and San Hill had the droid body built for him. Of course, they also did a little number with his brain to make him more loyal, though Grievous doesn't actually know that. His organs are actually still intact within the droid body, but he's a completely different monster.

Dooku trained him in lightsaber technique, and because of his droid body, he has the reflexes and speed surpassing most Jedi.

Pretty much all of this information came out of the Labyrinth of Evil novel, which ends just as Revenge of the Sith will pick up. Surprisingly good book.

Joshua: The third season of the Clone Wars starts on the 22nd Hunting Grievous is apparently the soul focus of the third season.

EDIT:

http://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?...xe General Grievous (Secret Lightsaber Attack)

Thought it was worth throwing in that image of the Grievous Deluxe figure to show one reason why he's such a combat monster...

 

[DarkSoldier]

My Star Wars GM has the idea that Grievous is actually a cyborged Darth Maul.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

My Star Wars GM has the idea that Grievous is actually a cyborged Darth Maul.

It was a rumor going around for a while, actually...but I believe it was Rick McCallum who shot that one down in a chat a while back.

Of course, Grievous' backstory is spelled out in Labyrinth of Evil, so its not really a question anymore.

...and his eyes are definitely reptilian...