Comic Review: The High Republic (Phase III) #9

Standing back-to-back with their lightsabers crossed, Keeve Trennis and Sskeer are reunited in Noto’s stunning direct cover. It’s so great to see these Jedi together again, with the abstract shapes of the background putting all the focus onto the characters. There are no variant covers for this issue, so let’s get straight into this review!

Having broken into Baron Boolan’s secret base in the Occlusion Zone in order to save the young girl that Sskeer has been protecting, the team are pitted against the Children of the Storm. As Lourna Dee races the girl to safety, Keeve and Sskeer face off against Boolan’s minions. But time is running short because of the explosive devices Lourna set, and something strange is happening with Sskeer.

Every page of The High Republic (Phase III) #9 is action. There’s no downtime in this story as the characters are racing to save the Yacombe girl and get off the station before it explodes. Everyone has a part to play, and it is interesting how Scott splits up the team. When characters split up in a film, especially a horror movie, it’s never a good sign. It’s also putting Keeve’s newfound leadership skills to the test yet again as she tries to wrangle everyone into doing a job in order to try and save them all.

Keeve raced on board Boolan’s station in the last issue in order to help, bravely facing her fears of the Nameless. Now that’s she in the heat of the action she’s trying to take control of the situation. But everything is chaos. And she’s not leading a team of Jedi anymore – Lourna, Tey, and Sskeer don’t have to necessarily listen to her. It’s clearly frustrating Keeve and it’s leading to too many cooks in the kitchen. Everyone’s wanting to do their own thing! 

As the team try to escape Shingcu Station before Lourna’s explosives are activated, it’s a race against the clock. Yet the tension doesn’t quite deliver. There’s a lot going on but none of the twists are that shocking. This issue feels like a connecting issue, carrying on perfectly from The High Republic (Phase III) #8 but needing the context of the next issue to really make sense. While there are quite a few threads left loose, it’s certainly not the biggest cliffhanger of the series so far.

What’s meant to be the most shocking twist is Terec’s death, but after the events of Phase I, in which the twins apparently were petrified by the Nameless, it doesn’t really have that much of an impact. It could also be that the twins haven’t played as central a role in this storyline. There are so many great characters in the Phase III comics that it’s not leaving much room for the side characters to really have their standout moments.

However, Lourna Dee is an absolute standout. Considering she’s done a lot of villainous misdeeds and caused so much harm in the name of the Nihil, she’s really growing in this story. Lourna’s been presented with yet another chance at redemption and this time she seems inclined to take it. Now that’s no longer under Marchion’s influence and mostly free of the Nihil, Lourna is forging a better path. Her devotion to keeping the little Yacombe girl safe is so heartwarming. Whether Lourna can stay on this good path will be interesting to see. 

Sskeer’s choices are also quite different to the character we know from Phase I. His time in madness and isolation has definitely changed him, which is evident in this issue. Even though he’s been reunited with Keeve, their relationship is not the same, so when Sskeer makes the choice to go with Boolan, the younger Jedi assumes her former Master is truly beyond saving. But it’s revealed that Sskeer is carrying a tracker – so they can hunt Boolan down through hyperspace. Keeve wouldn’t have doubted Sskeer before, but Scott is suggesting that her trust in him has clearly been shaken.

Braga’s artwork is fantastic throughout The High Republic (Phase III) #9, delivering so much detail to the action sequences. The movement and emotion in every panel is breathtaking, with the attention to detail on the characters hands being especially good. Yet possibly the best moment is with a character who doesn’t technically have hands at all! Orbalin comforts the Yacombe girl, giving her the most adorable gelatinous hug.

With Sskeer in the clutches of Baron Boolan, there’s no telling how long the Trandoshan will be able to keep up the ruse. Plus, Boolan’s experimenting could easily go too far. As Keeve and her team track Sskeer down, will they be able to capture the Baron once and for all? Plus, what has happened to Lourna Dee – is she safe, is she alright? There’s a lot of questions waiting to be answered next month’s issue!