Published: November 26, 2021
Rated: T
Writer: Daniel José Older
Artist: David Wachter
Colourist: Giada Marchisio
Letter: VC’s Joe Sabino
Cover Artist: David López
Book Design: Carlos Lao
The synopsis;
EMERICK AND SIAN FACE TOTAL AN-NIHIL-ATION!
• As dead ends and loose threads mount in Jedi Master Emerick Caphtor’s investigation, he’s called to Coruscant, where Chancellor Soh introduces him to his new partner: private eye Sian Holt.
• Together, they must go undercover to infiltrate one of the most crime-riddled and dangerous planets in the galaxy.
• Will Emerick’s duty to the Republic get in the way of Sian’s personal vendetta? Time’s running out to close this case…and what do the Nihil have to do with any of this?!
The review;
Dashing through a horde of dangerous looking criminals, Sian and Emerick have their weapons ready, and game faces on in López’s direct cover. He’s also done one of the variant covers this month, which is a similar sort of vibe, although far more abstract, with their mutual nemesis glaring out from the shadows. Finally, Hetrick’s variant shows off Emerick’s cool costume change and the geometric border focusses attention onto the characters.
The Nihil have a weapon that can kill a Jedi, yet nobody knows what it is, or how it works. Jedi investigator Emerick Caphtor was assigned to discover the truth, yet all he’s been hitting are dead ends. Meanwhile, private investigator Sian Holt lost her partner in a suspicious deal, and she was injured in the following shoot-out. These two supposedly separate cases are about to be brought together by Chancellor Lina Soh, but can Emerick and Sian learn to be a team?
In Trail of Shadows #1, Older was writing what felt like two completely separate storylines, with no apparent connection between them. Yet he masterfully, and seamlessly, combines the storylines in a single page. One of the best moments from this issue is actually seeing Lina Soh’s cameo, complete with cats, in a scene that feels very reminiscent of Attack of the Clones. Some things never change, and that includes messy intergalactic politics.
Of course, just because the Chancellor said Sian and Emerick have to work together doesn’t mean that they have to like it. One is a Jedi, the other a well-to-do private investigator, both with very different moral codes. The tension and distrust between them is palpable. It is a realistic start to any working relationship though – each is trying to figure out where they stand and how much they should disclose. It will be really interesting to see how Older will tackle this in upcoming issues and whether they’ll become an actual team.
Even with their differences, there’s already hints that the duo can work side-by-side, if somewhat grudgingly. As their investigation takes them to the backstreets of Vorzyd V, a crime scene is in need of some detective work. Sian and Emerick analyse everything in a moment (and put the local police force to shame), simultaneously coming to the same conclusions. Piecing together clues is a key moment for any whodunnit, and it’s a fantastic scene.
Perhaps even more amazing, though for much more humorous reasons, is when Sian asks the Jedi to don a disguise. She herself wears a slick blue coat and practical boots, quite similar to some of Padmé’s mission outfits. However, Emerick isn’t too impressed when Sian picks out a tight-fitting pair of pants and leather jacket to make him fit in better in the underworld. To be fair, he pulls it off, but Older is perhaps trying to show that Emerick is a more noble investigator, rigorous to the Jedi beliefs, so he doesn’t like hiding.
One person who is completely hiding though is the Nihil behind the attack on Vorzyd V. Their presence is undeniable but chasing them down proves difficult for both Sian and Emerick. Enter Cue, the Jedi’s trusty droid, to add a tracking beacon. What’s very telling about this part of the case though, is that Emerick only trusts Jedi Master Stellan Gios with the information. Which suggests that Older may be adding some double-crosses or turncoats into a future issue.
Trail of Shadows #2 is the perfect blend of slow discovery and fast-paced criminal-hunting action. Getting to see Sian and Emerick together is certainly interesting, and not like Jedi team-ups fans have seen before. With a Chadra-fan on the loose, possibly with the answers to the Nihil’s weapon, will the two be able to put personal vendettas aside to focus on the case?
Availability;
The High Republic: Trail of Shadows #2 is part of a 5 issue mini-series from Marvel Comics. It retails at $3.99 and it is available from all comic book stores and the Marvel App.
