Comic Review: The High Republic (Phase III) #8

Standing with his arms outstretched, as if preaching to the Children of the Force, the direct cover features a chilling composition that perfectly captures the creepy vibes of Baron Boolan. Shackled Nameless stare sightlessly off the page, as if this cover wasn’t unnerving enough. Yet the variants are far more cheerful. For Pride month there’s a fantastic couple’s portrait of Cair San Tekka with his husband, Xylan Graf, both of whom look very dashing in their respective suits. Meanwhile Sprouse’s anniversary variant focuses on the triumphant moment when R2-D2 fixes the hyperdrive in The Phantom Menace, allowing the Naboo starfighter to escape the Trade Federation blockade.

Sskeer has been protecting a young Yacombe girl for months while trapped within the Nihil Occlusion Zone. But now she’s been abducted by one of the Children of the Storm and is danger from the malicious experiments conducted by Baron Boolan. Thankfully Lourna Dee planted a tracker on the child and the Jedi have been following her trail, determined to rescue the young girl. With the Nameless patrolling the halls of Boolan’s fortress, it’s up to Lourna, Sskeer, and Tey Sirrek to try and work together…

Now that the team have a purpose, they are working together way better than the tensions in The High Republic (Phase III) #7. Scott shows how Keeve naturally falls into the role of leader, even after her moments of uncertainty in the previous issue. With the Yacombe girl in danger, it helps everyone to cool down and approach a shared goal with clearer heads. The Jedi, rogues, misfits, and castaways, united by a common purpose. But with such a mishmash team, there’s bound to be a few wildcards. And can Keeve account for them all? 

Seeing Tey interact with Sskeer is the partnership I didn’t know we needed. While the Sephi is usually sarcasm and a whole bunch of wit, he’s a lot calmer around Sskeer. And he helps to calm the Trandoshan too. While searching Baron Boolan’s base there’s actually a moment between the two that seems very Hulk inspired. The way Tey recites the Balm of the Luminous feels reminiscent of ‘The sun’s going down’ and it helps to ground Sskeer within the present moment without losing the fragile grip on his rage.

With the trio trying to work together, chaos was naturally going to ensue. And it had to be Lourna. After discovering some of the Baron’s previous experiments, stealth goes out the window when Lourna realises one of the mutated Nameless is still alive. Her shock is brilliantly drawn by Towe, with her lekku straight up in surprise. But it alerts the Baron’s assassins to their presence, throwing Keeve’s mission into turmoil. It’s almost strange seeing Keeve having to be the responsible adult…in a team of adults.

She’s determined to help Sskeer rescue his young charge but can’t be on the base due to the presence of the Nameless. Sskeer has only a tentative connection left to the Force, while Tey is only slightly sensitive, so neither are affected. Meanwhile Lourna couldn’t care less about the Nameless. Yet standing back isn’t Keeve’s style and Scott shows how difficult it is for her to stay behind. She grows more and more frustrated with the lack of control she has via comms and doesn’t want anyone taking risks without her there to help.

Tey, Lourna, and Sskeer are comedy gold in The High Republic (Phase III) #8. Tey’s dramatically narrating the horrors surrounding them, Sskeer is rolling his eyes at Tey’s ridiculous comments, and Lourna is kind of doing her own thing. She only starts to enjoy the mission once the fighting begins, which is very in character for the Twi’lek. Their shenanigans are fantastically drawn by Towe. There are so many details in every panel, from the experiments in tanks to the dramatic duels with the Children of the Force. Each comic page has so much energy, really helping to drive the fast pace of this story.

Yet all this chaos ironically starts to grate on Keeve. She’s come a long way from the Padawan who was always changing plans. Keeve has become a true leader and while she’s losing faith in the Council, she’s the epitome of a Jedi. Even with the threat of the Nameless, after hearing the team is in trouble, she makes the decision to enter Boolan’s base. Keeve has seen exactly what these creatures can do, and the scars they leave, but she is willing to stand up to them once again.

What she finds is Lourna Dee once again comforting the Yacombe girl. There’s a beautiful moment between the two of them where the Twi’lek is holding her so protectively, reflecting perhaps how Lourna sees herself in this lost little girl. And Scott delivers a pretty big cliffhanger! The whole base is rigged to explode – courtesy of Lourna. Will everyone make it out in time? What about Sskeer and Tey, who are still battling Boolan’s minions? Next issue will certainly be an explosive escape!