Published: December 15, 2021
Cover Artist: Stefano Simeone
Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer
Editor: Heather Antos
Set For Life
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Sam Beck
Letterer: Johanna Nattalie
No Stone Unturned
Writer: Claudia Gray
Artist: Jason Loo
Colours: Megan Huang
Letterer: Neil Uyetake
First Mission
Writer: Justina Ireland
Artist: Yael Nathan
Letterer: Neil Uyetake
Crash and the Crew Do What They Do
Writer: Daniel Jose Older
Artist: Jesse Lonergan
Letterer: Jake M. Woof
The Haul
Writer: Cavan Scott
Artist: Stefano Simeone
Letterer: Nathan Widdick
The synopsis;
Join all five High Republic authors, together in one book for the FIRST TIME EVER, as they each explore different corners of the galaxy during the height of the Galactic Republic. From daring Jedi, to the always adventurous Geode, and nefarious Nihil, The High Republic Adventures Annual has it all!
The review;
This year there is one series that has stood out more than any other for me, Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures. This series has delved deeper than any other comic into what really makes Star Wars, Star Wars. With some truly exceptional moments littered throughout the series, I was eager to see what Older would do for an annual, except it’s not just annual, it’s not just Charles Soule joining him…OR Cavan Scott… OR Claudia Gray… OR Justina Ireland…it’s all of them, the entire crew that has bought to us the incredible series of The High Republic. To say shocked would be an understatement. To have all five of these outstanding authors, together, writing for the same annual is, well, to repeat myself, exceptional. It feels like a true Christmas treat to have all of them together and I can’t wait to see what each one will bring to the issue. Will the stories be short? Yes. Will we be wanting more? Undoubtably. Will we think this is the best annual to ever grace our vision? Let’s find out.
It only seems right that the annual kicks off with Charles Soule, who began this entire era at the start of this year with Light of the Jedi. He is joined by artist Sam Beck, marking Beck’s first time into the Star Wars universe, for the tale Set for Life. We return to the planet Elphrona before, well, before everything! We get to see Indeera, Ember, Loden and Bell all together, doing what they do. For me, it’s the relationship between Ember and Bell that really shows through, and I love the illustrations from Beck that illustrate this so beautifully. There are lots of nods here back to Light of the Jedi, from the planet itself, to the characters, to Bell’s inability to be able to control his falling with the force. It is like a treasure trove that, if you have kept up with all the different publications, will reward you justly. The artwork works extremely well, particularly considering just how much text is in each panel!
Even though this is a very short tale, even by Adventures standards, there is an important message to be found here. We get to see Loden being the great master he is and the relationship he is building with Bell. Although Bell thinks he must help his master, it is ultimately his master who needs to teach Bell. It is obvious that Loden is strong with the force from the way he connects with the cave and tunnel, almost as if the whole thing is sentient. Yet it is the lesson of doing what is right because it is right that is most crucial. There will be times when you are swayed against doing the right thing, where your morales will be tested but you must always stay true to yourself. With everything that has happened so far in The High Republic, at everything that has been teased to us that is coming, this seems like a crucial lesson for Bell. It also is very relevant to today, not being influenced by other’s and other’s actions that might lead you to do something that you know deep down is wrong. An important lesson for any young padawans out there.
No Stone Unturned is Claudia Gray’s contribution to the annual and she is joined by Jason Loo, who most recently illustrated the variant cover for The High Republic Adventures 11. Like Soule, Gray comes back to her characters from Into the Dark, with Affie, Leox and everyone’s favourite, Geode. This is an extremely short tale and yet Gray knows how to use the space to its optimum. The star of the show is Geode, as it always will be. Even in a few short pages, the humour surrounding this character is excellent and even though the characters are dealing with a deadly situation, Geode is always able to make it lighthearted. Gray is able to delve into the character of Leox more and we see that for all his laid-back attitude, he has a world (or galaxy) knowledge that allows him to understand what the younger Affie can’t. The message from Leox and the moral of the story is that violence isn’t always the way, that there are other solutions. I love the echo of Obi-Wan with this from A New Hope, providing that Star Wars feel through it. Loo’s artwork is raw and rough, a style that really suit the characters as well as the story. I’m sure it’s not easy to illustrate Geode, particularly with the range of emotions that the character has, yet somehow Loo is able to almost show Geode pushing his chest out a little at the end with pride.
We then move onto Justina Ireland’s First Mission, illustrated by Yael Nathan. Here we have the first meeting between Vernestra Rwah and Stellan Gios, which I have to say, I gave a little “whoop!” when I was reading. Part of me was surprised that Ireland would have such an important meeting condensed into this short space, but she is able to include a lot of information. Firstly, we get to see why Rwah can become a knight so quickly. Only just meeting her master, she has the knowledge and skill that sometimes exceeds that of two, far more experienced masters. She isn’t afraid to speak up when she does know something, nor to take a risk or two. However, for me the shining light in this tale is Gios. While he seems bogged down in the current storylines in The High Republic with politics and being a member of the Jedi council, here Ireland really homes in on why he is a unique master. Gios is very open and unlike some teachers, he continues to learn from his padawan and isn’t afraid to be taught new things. Just because he is older and more experienced, doesn’t mean he won’t listen to the words of those less experienced than himself. He sees everything as an opportunity to become better.
As well as a very well written story, the artwork by Nathan really stuck me. There are some amazing panels, the close up of Gios with his lightsaber springs to mind. Yet it is the backdrops of the story that really shone through. The vastness of the first panel, to then the feel of the Hynstian Temple. Nathan really creates a wonderful atmosphere, no matter what she is illustrating. When the story moves to the palace, the detail of the vast array of alien species makes you pause just to try and see what types of aliens there are, from Hutt’s to twills to two creatures that suspiciously look like Yoda’s species.
The penultimate story is from the grand master of the The High Republic Adventures series himself, Daniel Jose Older, with illustrations by Jesse Lonergan. Unlike the other authors, who have looked back on The High Republic, Older is firmly looking forward to what is coming next in this series. Finding ourselves on Corellia, if you have been following the series, you will know that the last issue hinted at more to come on this planet. We see the return of Nihil characters Respriler and Sabata, who we know are plotting against Krix. In this way, this does feel like a prelude to issue twelve of the series and I like that Older uses the annual to feed us some more little bits of information that I’m sure will make sense when the next issues of the series are read. Although these are some deep points for regular readers, Older also makes sure to add humour to keep everything reasonably lighthearted. The characters of Crash and Ten-Kayt are excellent, particularly with Crash deciding to narrate her own life in the third person. Yet it is the droid (isn’t it always) that keeps returning with great one liners. I really hope Older isn’t done with this character yet! Lonergan really brings the gritty atmosphere to the streets of Corellia. The wide shot of the crowd around Lina Soh surrounded by the panels of the various teams checking in looked incredible.
Last, but by no means least, is The Haul by Cavan Scott. It seems fitting that Scott should be the final writer, for although this is Older’s series, the start of Star Wars Adventures began with Scott several years ago. And let’s be honest, as fans it keeps us on edge thinking that Scott might pull a Rising Storm on us again and wouldn’t that make for a very merry Christmas (I hope you can read the sarcasm between the lines!). He is joined by Stefano Simeone who has several Star Wars illustration credits to his name. This is the only one of the stories to follow the story from the point of view of the Nihil yet the first thing you’ll notice isn’t this but the gorgeous artwork. Simeone has done an incredible job of illustrating the story. The characters, the background, even the weapons all are brought together effortlessly to create artwork that is breathtaking. The Nihil have never looked so good!
Like the other tales, this story is over far too soon. It follows Storm Slombo and an encounter with Lourna Dee. It is very clear that this is a character that you don’t want to mess with (if you’ve kept up with the series you will already be aware of that!) yet Slombo is very clear that he isn’t going to take the hint. Scott shows just how much infighting happens in the Nihil, that they are a threat to the galaxy but their difficulties in working together could quickly become their undoing. Dee can be sensible and not let pride get in her way, when she needs to do, she’ll cut her losses and not think anything else of it. We are also treated to another character, who is defending against the Nihil. I won’t give their name away for those who are yet to read the issue, but suffice to say when they question Slombo’s competence, it was a very humorous moment!
The High Republic Adventures series has gone from strength to strength, a series that keeps getting better and better. But more than that The High Republic series, encompassing all the different publications released this year, has felt like a breath of fresh air to the Star Wars universe. It has reinvigorated the franchise, creating the fun and excitement that were the cornerstones to the original films decades ago. The planning, the care and yes, the love of this franchise from the five creators has shone continually through as the year has progressed. Soule, Gray, Ireland, Older and Scott have never waned in the quality of the content they have written for this era, and there has been a lot of it. This annual feels far more than just a one off special for the Adventures series; it feels like a celebration of all the handwork these writers have put it so far. This issue fills in gaps from other storylines, it revisits beloved characters and it both looks back at what has been and what is still to come. This is an annual like no other, composed of the best writers that this galaxy has to offer. They have achieved something none before have and I know I can’t say enough for their contributions this year. It’s the perfect way to end the year and celebrate all that has been accomplished. I say that, knowing full well the authors are probably smirking to themselves thinking, celebrate while you can. I don’t think I’m ready for next year!
Availability;
Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Annual 2021 is a one-shot issue published by IDW Publishing. This issue retails at $7.99 and is available from all good comic bookstores in the USA and from Forbidden Planet in the UK.
