Published: April 7, 2021
Writer: Daniel Jose Older
Artist: Harvey Tolibao
Colours: Rebecca Nalty
Letterer: Jake M. Wood
Cover Artist: Harvey Tolibao
The synopsis;
In the glory days of the Republic, the Jedi stand as guardians of galactic peace—until a powerful new adversary called the Nihil arrives. Zeen accompanies the Jedi to the Starlight Beacon, a glowing symbol of the Jedi and Republic. where she learns what it means to be a Padawan. Meanwhile, Krix and the Nihil fight their way through a Republic blockade to safety, and Krix begins to wonder who this strange man who helped him really is.
The review;
Only two issues in and I have been waiting (impatiently) for issue three to drop. This series has already done so much in such a short amount of time. Like many of IDW Adventure’s these comics are a story of two halves. Where they differ is that these two stories are intertwined and tell one overall narrative. Last week saw Yoda’s grand entrance and all the main characters heading off planet to destinations that, if you are keeping up with the other publications for The High Republic series, are well known. It is this that has me so excited, so let’s see what Older and Tolibao have in store for us this month…
This issue quickly settles into the two characters that I assume we will be following from here on in: Krix and Zeen. As in issue one, Older shows direct comparisons between the two, to how their lives have become so radically different in such a short space of time. It is a very visually clear lesson for any young readers, that one simple change can send you down a different path and before you know it, you don’t know how you ended up where you were. It also harkens back to Yoda’s words in The Empire Strikes Back, ‘Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominant your destiny.’ Older really builds this idea up over the course of the issue that once you’ve made the decision, for good or bad, it is very difficult to not get swallowed up by it. Zeen is surrounded by light and goodness, which keeps on nurturing her, as opposed to Krix who goes from one bad situation to another. These paths are continually compared to one another both through the writing and the stunning visuals from Tolibao.
From issue one, I’ve said that Tolibao has an eye for detail and this issue is no different. There are a lot of things going on in every panel, that grab your attention and lead you to entering the world that seems to be in each and everyone. But in this issue, it really is the composition of the pages that is stunning. Tolibao has really taken care to make sure these pages have an impact on the reader, not only in terms of the story, to show us the direct comparisons between the two main characters but also by the simple awe when you open to a page. There is a grandness to these pages that you can’t seem to escape. Tolibao really shows we are away from the planet now and are out into the wider galaxy.
Out of the two main characters, it’s Krix we really learn more about. He has chosen a situation that is leading him down a very dark path and all he can do is blame Zeen for it. At the beginning of the issue, Older really makes you feel a lot of sympathy for this character, who is at the command of the Nihil’s every whim. It brings out the worst in him, so much so that by the end of the issue that you see this character somewhat differently. I can imagine Older is going to make our opinion of this character switch several times over before he’s done with him.
Older directly compares Krix with Zeen. Unlike Krix, she is with the Jedi, a caring, nurturing group who are the complete opposite to the Nihil. It brings out the best of her and, for her, it feels like she is home, rather than in a strange place. What I find most interesting about Zeen is how the Jedi behave. Older doesn’t shy away from addressing the elephant (or should that be ortolan?) in the room, Zeen being trained. Older makes it clear that this is not an option because of her age, that she is too old to begin the training. This fits with what we know from The Phantom Menace that at too old an age, they won’t be trained. The Jedi are very strict at this time at following the rules they have in place. When we take The High Republic era as a whole, it’s hard to argue why they shouldn’t be like that: the Jedi are at the height of their power, they are extending their reach to further than ever before and they are doing a lot of good in the galaxy. This is not the Jedi we see in the prequels; these are the Jedi who are doing so much good, who are respected by everyone. Their powers seem to know no bounds. So why is this rule so important? It raises a couple of questions. The first is, If the Jedi follow the rule, what will become of Zeen moving forward in this series? And the other, whatever does happen to Zeen, does this influence Yoda in Episode One? For if they stick by the rule rigidly, is that why Yoda eventually lets Anakin be trained, because he knew that Zeen should have been trained and he’s trying to not make the same mistake again? Or, if they do train Zeen and it goes wrong, is that why he is so against Anakin being trained in the first place? This one rule opens the door to a lot of questions that may have a surprising impact on how we, as fans, view The Phantom Menace and Yoda’s motivations. It is these questions, theses changes in perception that I absolutely love in stories and Older seems to have a good one to work with.
On mentioning the Jedi, Older uses Yoda as the playful character we all know him to be, using the wise old Jedi master to bring humour to some otherwise serious conversations. For those who are reading other parts of the series, there are also appearances from other Jedi, such as Master Kriss. The datafile this week is also about the different levels of training for the Jedi. On the surface this might seem disappointing to some fans who know the films well, as there isn’t any new information here, however, the incredible artwork of Tolbias more than makes up for not seeing any other new information.
Not wanting to give too much plot away, I very much enjoy how Older is able to use the comparison of the two characters to show how betrayal can be perceived. Much like the phrase, ‘one man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter,’ Older delves into what betrayal means to different people. Is betrayal breaking someone’s trust, or is it trying to save someone from themselves? Does the immediate break in trust justify the long-term positive effects? These are questions that require a lot of pondering and Older is no stranger to leaving questions for his readers to think on. For me, it shows why this series is so wonderful. Although a series that one could argue is more aimed at a younger audience, Older doesn’t dumb things down. There is a level that can be enjoyed by the younger padawans, but there is such depth here that it is appealing to readers of any age, with questions that just beggar discussion.
This series has fast become one of my favourite series at the moment. Every week I never know what to expect and the limitless options that this time period in a galaxy far, far away offer have not been squandered by Older. He shows how a Star Wars story should be written, aim it for the kids but encompass everyone. There is something here for everyone, whether you want a lighter read, or a deeper story. With artwork that requires equal amounts of study, this series just keeps getting better and better. Now, to wait for a very long month till issue four…
Availability;
Star Wars The High Republic Adventures is an ongoing series available from IDW Publishing. This issue is available from all good comic bookstores in the USA and from Forbidden Planet in the UK. This issue retails at $3.99.
