Published: March 2, 2022
Rating: T
Writer: Charles Soule
Penciler: Guillermo Sanna
Colourist: Jim Campbell
Letterer: VC’s Ariana Maher
Cover Artist: Ryan Brown
The synopsis;
ACT TWO: MARCHION
The Wreckage. The Hunt. The Storm. In which the Eye of the Nihil exults after a job well done. In which Marchion Ro reveals the source of the Jedi’s greatest fear. In which the future of the Nihil is revealed.
The review;
Slouching casually upon his throne, showing off his biceps, Marchion Ro oozes barely restrained power in Brown’s direct cover. The composition is so strong, especially with the perspective effect of the chain leading to an unseen prisoner. Noto’s variant is more cavalier, as the Eye of the Nihil poses into the wind, his hair flying back dramatically, and blaster drawn. Suyan’s variant follows a similar vibe and has so many details, from the veins stretching across Marchion’s strong hand, to the fluffy texture of his fur cape.
Who is Marchion Ro? That was the question which Soule presented to fans in Eye of the Storm #1, delving into the brutal past of the Nihil’s enigmatic leader. Fans learned that his species, the Evereni, came from a storm world where trust was a luxury and betrayal an everyday occurrence. Marchion was shaped by brutality and learned to take what he wanted by any means possible. Now, the question is why? Why does Marchion Ro wish to see the fall of the Jedi and The High Republic? Writing an origin story in only two issues is a challenge, yet Soule has set the scene, and now uncovers some of the motives behind the mask of the Eye, intertwining it with the struggles of the High Republic as the galaxy reels from destruction.
Marchion Ro is poised to take over the Outer Rim and claim it in the name of the Nihil. As the galaxy mourns the destruction of Starlight Beacon, the Republic defence forces are scrambling to protect its citizens. Chancellor Lina Soh authorises that Marchion Ro must be found using any means necessary, as she finally sees that the true leader of the Nihil has played them all. Yet the Eye is not concerned, and from his vantage in the Gaze Electric he reveals one final master plan to bring the galaxy under his control…
If the previous issued played out like a Shakespearean tragedy, then Eye of the Storm #2 is like an opera. Everything is bleak and the galaxy has been plunged into a time of mourning, yet there is a terrible sense of trepidation. With the hopeful message of Starlight Beacon snuffed out, the citizens of the Outer Rim are afraid. Nothing stands in the way of the Nihil now, and they can claim the territory as their own. Marchion has led them to victory, even if his motives remain clouded.
Soule writes Marchion poised on a knife-edge, sometimes tilting to reveal parts of the villain’s past, yet always maintaining a sense of mystery. It’s what makes his character so compelling because his motives remain unknown, and he can’t be predicted. Whether this is because Marchion himself lacks self-awareness, or the reader is deliberately kept in the dark, it works either way. Eye of the Storm #2 almost suggests that Marchion doesn’t have a better reason for doing what he does beyond that he can.
All the while Sanna’s artwork just adds to the heartbreak. A weariness hangs over the Republic characters, which is drawn into every line of Lina Soh. The argument in her office between her administrators is filled with tension and frustration, all so perfectly articulated by Sanna. The panels of Marchion are by far the most compelling though, as he flips from being a cruelly handsome leader, to a warrior that can whip his Nihil troops into a frenzy. His final appearance can be described as nothing short of a smouldering smirk. While this may be his story though, in the final page of the comic fans get a true glimpse of the Nameless creature that plagues the Jedi, making Eye of the Storm #2 a story not to be missed.
Eye of the Storm #2 is the endgame for this duology and the first phase of the High Republic. In a poetic way, it started with Soule and culminates with this incredible comic. However, fans won’t be seeing Marchion Ro again for a while, as Phase II is going even further into the past of the High Republic, long before Ro was even born. This two-part series has given fans a tantalising insight into the antagonist who is plaguing the Jedi of The High Republic. Soule, Sanna, Campbell, VC’s Ariana Maher, Brown and everyone else who has worked so hard to bring these two comics together really deserve the credit for unlocking some of Marchion Ro’s complicated history.
Availability;
The High Republic: Eye of the Storm #2 was published March 2, 2022 by Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $3.99 and is available via The Marvel App and from all good comic book stores.
