Published: April 12, 2023
Rating: T
Writer: Cavan Scott
Artist: David Messina
Colourist: Frank William
Letterer: VC’s Ariana Maher
Cover Artist: Rafael De Latorre & Marcelo Maiolo
The synopsis;
TERROR ON THE DUNES OF BLOOD!
• One Jedi lies dying in Jedha’s frozen desert, and another is missing. Can Vildar, Matty and Tey escape the siege of Enlightenment in time to save them both?
• And all the time, the Leveler waits in the shadows, desperate to feed.
• Plus, the identities of the mysterious raiders are revealed.
The reivew;
Standing bewitched under the thrall of the Leveller, Vildar Mac’s unseeing green gaze stares out from the eerie direct cover by de Latorre and Maiolo. It’s extremely haunting and only made creepier by the amorphous outline of the Leveller in the background. Meanwhile Suayan’s variant focusses on a much more triumphant Vildar accompanied by his fellow Force users, with the sunset colours perhaps hinting at the closing of an era on Jedha. Finally, it’s the Path of the Open hand that take centre stage on Sauvage’s gorgeous variant, which is the first time that Yana Ro has featured on a cover.
After begrudgingly being given sanctuary at the ramshackle tap-bar of Enlightenment, Jedi Vildar Mac and Padawan Matty Cathley are tending to the injured citizens of Jedha. As riots continue to spread across the city, and enforcer droids bombard the streets, it’s only a matter of time before the shields surrounding Enlightenment fail. However, as they take much needed shelter a distress call comes from the dunes across the city. Oliviah Zeveron has been gravely injured and another Jedi is in grave danger.
What happens when you must team up and play nice with your own worst enemy? That’s the question that Cavan Scott poses to Vildar as the Jedi Knight is forced to work alongside Tey Sirrek, all in the name of the greater good. A greater good Vildar must keep reminding himself of constantly in order not to slap the witty Sephi. Throughout this series the two have constantly butted heads on just about everything (not to mention Tey did briefly stop Vildar’s heart), so amidst all the chaos on Jedha their bantering is a welcome relief from the brewing darkness.
It is also the catalyst for trust. Tey is a renegade who left the Guardians of the Whills. He doesn’t do anything by the book anymore – and for good reason. Meanwhile Vildar is a Jedi Knight who believes in the will of the Force. With such differing personalities the two have found it difficult to find any common ground, but after being split up from Matty and the others, they must rely only on each other. This is a big step for these two characters, something Scott has been working towards for a while, and the pay-off is brilliant. Vildar trusts Tey with his own life, and that of Oliviah’s, really showing how far they have come.
While Tey and Vildar are playing nice, there’s still plenty of banter between them, which is practically their trademark at this point. Tey hides his nervousness and fear behind humour, which Vildar completely sees through, and in a strange way they complement each other. It’s a teamwork they need as at the sacred statue of the Final Protector the raiders have broken into the secret Jedi archives in hunt for the Rod of Daybreak.
Inside Tey and Vildar find the raiders are actually other members from the Path of the Open Hand, being led by the Herald. This ties The High Republic (2022) #8 perfectly into The Battle of Jedha and builds on the rifts formed in Path of Deceit. No longer are the Path quiet Force pilgrims. Now they are a threat to be reckoned with. And worst of all they have brought the Leveller with them. It’s this creature most of all that’s going to put Tey and Vildar’s tentative trust to the test because Scott has been hinting for a long while that Vildar’s past means he’s more susceptible to the Leveller’s affects. It’s going to be very interesting to see what this past will mean for Vildar’s future in the next issue.
The High Republic (2022) #8 is really upping the stakes for these characters now, especially as the Path are revealing themselves as an open threat to the Jedi. With only a sarcastic Sephi for back up, will Vildar be able to escape the clutches of the Leveller? What occurs next will be absolutely key for the events of Cataclysm and the beginnings for Path of Vengeance.
Availability;
Star Wars: The High Republic (2022) is an ongoing series published by Marvel Comics. This issue is available via The Marvel App, ComiXology and from all good comic book stores and retails at $3.99.
