Comic Review: The High Republic (Phase III) #6

Standing ready to fight amongst billowing flames, an old favourite returns to grace Noto’s direct cover for The High Republic (Phase III) #6. Tey Sirrek is back! He looks absolutely brilliant, and Noto has definitely done Tey’s big ears justice. Meanwhile Vernestra Rwoh is showing off her lightsaber whip in Camuncoli’s beautiful Master & Apprentice variant, which features a rare glimpse of Stellan Gios alongside his Padawan. Finally, López’s variant has Keeve Trennis in what feels like a gorgeous candid moment as she stalks through a set of ruins.

While Keeve Trennis has reunited with her former Master, Sskeer, the fight isn’t over yet. One of the Nihil is still running free, though her Nameless pet is now defeated. Ceret and Terek have been saved by an unlikely ally – an old Sephi wielding a Dark Side artefact. He claims to have known Jedi in the past and is willing to help the group get off the planet.

Cavan Scott loves to play the long game. Every High Republic series so far has had a finale that ties together so many threads, but this issue ties together two separate Phases in such an unexpected way. Tey Sirrek is back. His hair is shorter, he’s now got a beard, but his ears are definitely just as long. The aged Sephi has been hunting down Force users changed by the Nihil and he’s offering to help Keeve and her group of AWOL Jedi. Although Tey isn’t a powerful Force user himself, he’s managed to learn how to control a rather familiar artefact.

And then we get a pretty incredible flashback to events that occurred just after Phase II. It’s been a year since the Path of the Open Hand attacked Jedha and there’s still trouble in the city. Tey’s now on the Council but he still feels like an outsider compared to the other members. He’s got a tarnished past and his life as a crook doesn’t go unmentioned. Tey is desperate to prove that he’s useful – that he can be a reliable Council member. And he hopes that Jedi Vildar Mac will agree.

So, when Vildar doesn’t support Tey wanting to be part of a Council mission, it naturally leaves the Sephi disappointed. Tey and Vildar have had a close friendship since the Jedi came to investigate the Path on Jedha, so to have his friend doubt his abilities comes as a blow. And it leaves Tey falling into bad habits. Once a thief, always a thief.

But Tey’s thieving is for what the Sephi thinks is a good cause. Most of the Convocation of the Force members have strong powers or abilities that let them serve the people. Tey only has his wits and knowledge of what the streets are like. It helps to explain why he feels the need to reach for more power. To help the people of Jedha, the citizens he lived and struggled among, Tey wants to be able to wield something as well.

There are echoes of Anakin’s power struggles in Tey’s story in The High Republic (Phase III) #6. Anakin also wanted more power to protect the people he loved. It was a selfish desire born out of a selfness need to help. What’s different here is that Tey isn’t drawn to the Dark Side as strongly and he has a support network that he can talk to. That support being Vildar Mac. All The High Republic fans on social media who were team #Viltey, your shipping has come true! Vildar and Tey are a couple.

Before Tey can go too far by wielding the dark powers of the Hand of Siberus, Vildar steps in to talk the Sephi down. He unequivocally believes that Tey can find balance. Whether that’s as a Council member or when wielding a potentially dangerous artefact. It’s one of the most beautiful, heartfelt scenes Scott has written in The High Republic and it delivers an absolute gut punch through Towe & Braga’s artwork. It’s a beautifully soft lit scene, with warm colours, and absolutely nothing to distract from the emotions between Tey and Vildar.

There’s a gorgeous balance to the artwork between the different Phases, with the flashback having a lot more brighter colours, while the main timeline is dark and foreboding. It’s a great visual representation of the threat of the Nihil and how the Golden Age of the Republic is coming to an end. If you’re a Viltey fan then the kiss scene is probably going to be your favourite panel, though the moments between Keeve and Sskeer are also very emotional.

Scott masterfully combines elements from Phase II into this storyline and it results in a comic that is an absolute emotional rollercoaster. The High Republic (Phase III) #6 is probably the best issue so far, yet we’re only halfway through this series! What is Baron Boolan up to? Next issue will reveal the Minister of Advancement’s deadly designs!