Published: May 12, 2021
Writer: Cavan Scott
Artist: Ario Anindito
Inker: Mark Morales
Colourist: Annalisa Leoni
Letterer: VC’s Ariana Maher
Cover Artist: Phil Noto
The synopsis;
ATTACK OF THE HUTTS!
• The HIGH REPUBLIC JEDI clash with HUTT forces. GAMORREANS! NIKTO! BATTLE RANCORS!
• STARLIGHT BEACON over-run by a creeping alien horror! Can VERNESTRA RWOH and her Padawan IMRI CANTAROS find a way to save Starlight’s infected masses?
• Plus, KEEVE TRENNIS learns the terrible secret MASTER SSKEER has been carrying for so long. Can she ever trust him again?
The review;
For all the action in The High Republic #5, Noto’s direct cover is a very moving scene depicting Keeve holding up her former Master, a stricken look on her face. It’s certainly going to make fans want to pick up the comic to know more about the story inside and what leads to this moment. Meanwhile Mayhew’s variant is a rather rakish portrait of Jedi Master Stellan Gios, complete with fantastic hairdo, whilst Sliney focusses on the action of Keeve battling between the claws of a rampaging rancor.
While Jedi Master Sskeer struggles under the influence of the parasitic drengir, Keeve Trennis along with Avar Kriss try to negotiate with the Hutts in order to protect the agricultural planet Sedri Minor from the ruthless rule of the cartel. However, when the Dark Side interferes, chaos erupts, but will the Hutts flee or fight alongside the Jedi?
Scott starts this story in media res, plunging fans straight into the action, which isn’t surprising as Jedi negotiations always fail so beginning with those would have been pretty anticlimactic. Bringing the Hutts into the story is interesting, proving that the slimy space slugs have been conning the galaxy for hundreds of years. What’s also interesting is the use of the rancors. They’re under control of mercenaries and being ridden (on giant rancor saddles) which is something very similar to The Courtship of Princess Leia by Dave Wolverton, so Scott may have taken inspiration from this piece of Legends literature.
However, rancors, mercenaries and Hutts do make for an action-packed story. As Avar leads the other Jedi to protect the citizens of Sedri Minor, the twins, Ceret and Terec, show off amazing lightsaber teamwork, deftly bringing down a rancor. Avar herself has to take on the Hutt leader, who has some serious firepower hidden in her armour, but it’s Keeve who faces the biggest challenge of all.
In between the Hutt’s arriving, so the drengir also attack, and Keeve’s only solution to stopping them is through Sskeer who’s still infected by the parasitic plants. And how is she going to form this connection? Via mind probing. This empath Force ability is not new to the Star Wars canon, and Kylo Ren uses it plenty during the Sequel Trilogy. For fans ever wondering why people look in pain when Ren does it, The High Republic #5 gives more information about it. Mind probing can actually damage the mind, permanently, if the Force user is going too deep or trying to form too strong a connection. Yet Sskeer demands that Keeve do it to protect them. It’s a harrowing thing for young Keeve to do, yet she puts aside her personal feelings for the greater good, a true Jedi in the face of immense pressure.
With all the action in The High Republic #5 there is an epic array of battle scenes amazingly drawn by Anindito. There are some very creative angles through the claws and limbs of the rancors, whilst the pack of mercenaries all look straight out of the cantina. One of the funniest scenes that Anindito has drawn is the peacefully sleeping rancor, under the trance of the Force. For a beast that big to look so cute could only happen in a Star Wars comic! There’s also a shout out needed for Maher’s lettering and all the different roaring and crashing sounds the rancors are making, which adds to the authenticity of the drama unfolding.
After a whirlwind of action, The High Republic #5 ends on a very painful cliffhanger. Both literally and figuratively. With the Hutts distracted and the Jedi exhausted from battling hordes of vicious plants, neither side is winning the battle. But has Keeve truly saved them? Or has her last attempt to stop the drengir failed? Next issue will see the Force go up against botany, as Keeve prunes back the drengir!
Availability;
Star Wars (2020) is an ongoing series from Marvel Comics. It retails at $3.99 and is available via The Marvel App and from all good comic bookstores.
