Published: March 15, 2023
Rating: Rated T
Writer: Jody Houser
Artist: Luke Ross
Colourist: Nolan Woodard
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Designer: Carlos Lao
Cover Artist: Phil Noto
The synopsis;
RISE OF THE DARK SIDE!
• There is a darkness rising among the latest Jedi initiates.
• Will Master Yoda and Master Dooku be able to recognize and stop the threat?
• Or will their young students be led astray by the dark side of the Force?
The review;
This seems to be the series that just keeps on giving. Last issue saw Jody Houser and Luke Ross take the reins for this series, catapulting it into an incredible direction with jaw dropping artwork and wonderfully scripted scenes. Throw in a younger Count Dooku along with the master we are all here to read about and you have a story that is both thrilling and intriguing. The story this issue could go anywhere and I’m very excited (if you can’t tell) to see where Houser will direct us to next.
We start this issue with a jump back in time, twelve years to be precise. On the surface it seems a quaint way to provide background information on one of the padawans, Gheyr, which I did like just on this premise. We see the Wookiee’s are battling on a planet with the Trandoshan’s on a planet called Alaris Prime. It’s never made as a big thing, most fans will know of the conflict that exists between these two species, but Houser makes sure there’s a gentle reminder for us. I like that it cements the anger that is held between the two. We then see that the Wookiee’s are not monsters, that they have found a baby Trandoshan with force skills. Even with their enemy, an enemy who eat their own young, the Wookiee’s are still able to show compassion. Again, on the surface, this is some great backstory on Gheyr and on the two different species. Yet, the further you read on in this issue, this whole ‘background’ scene is completely fundamental to the issues addressed in this issue.
The focus on this issue is Krrsish, who has been having force visions of Gheyr. Having had the first part of the comic, it’s very obvious how un-Wookiee like Krrish is, even before you factor in that he is a Jedi. Houser has given us this comparison so we can see that Wookiee’s, by nature, are a compassionate people, even with their enemy. Krrsish – on the other hand – is quite harsh with Gheyr after his force vision. Houser then shows us a different comparison, that Gheyr is the compassionate one, even though this is at opposites with her species. She just wants to be friends with Krrish and shows so much compassion for him. It’s as if both should belong to their opposing species. It’s this constant comparison that Houser makes, that shows just how out of sorts Krrish is and how much the force can guide species.
Thankfully, Yoda is on hand to talk to Krrish. For me, as a teacher myself, this was the part of the comic I loved most: seeing Yoda teach. he spots what Krrish is doing and speaks to him. We all sometimes needed to be snapped out of our behaviour and Yoda shows a very positive approach to dealing with the negative behaviour. This is what makes Krrish think about his behaviour. But like most children, when he doesn’t get the answers he wants, when he’s not prepared to listen to the wisest of all the Jedi, he seeks advice elsewhere. Yoda is very good at trying to guide and I love how Houser explains this. He is not there to give answers but to share knowledge so that ultimately, his students can pick the correct course of actions themselves. Dooku, who Krrish seeks out, provides more concrete guidance and of a type that the Wookiee wants to hear. But without all the information himself, is Dooku overconfident to think he can give Krrish such advice? It shows the two different styles and also explains how Dooku went down such a dark route after this. With how the issue ends, we’re left with the question that has Dooku just created a self-fulfilling prophecy for the padawans. Houser is trying to create a mirror image of what will happen to Dooku. His actions to join the Sith and create the Separatists, did this not also became a self-fulfilling prophecy that would ultimately doom the Jedi?
As I’ve said, seeing Yoda teach was wonderful. Houser has the voice within her writing of this character just right. Frank Oz can be heard in every sentence. As well as his teaching, we also see the Jedi master himself taking a break, reflecting on how important it is to leave Coruscant, connect to the force and listen. It’s advice that really harkens back to the first arc by Cavan Scott, where the Jedi can’t fathom leaving Coruscant for too long. Furthermore, when the Jedi really leave Coruscant on mass, for the Clone Wars, there’s so much death and suffering that they can’t listen. It’s a small moment but with very powerful implications.
Finally, the artwork. I could have started with this as Luke Ross just hits this out of the park again. Everything this issue looks fantastic, from the planet Alaris Prime to inside the temple itself. There is a movie quality that just swallows the reader up and is a joy to read. Two parts really just made my eyes open wider than they were. The duel between the padawans, you could ‘see’ the movement of their blades as they’re moving from one stance to the other. Incredible to read! Yet Ross then tops himself with the full-page panel of the Jedi training. Such mundane things that Ross really brings alive and in such splendid fashion.
I suppose I was expecting more action. I suppose I was expecting more Dooku. But what we got was so much better. Seeing how the Jedi live their daily lives, how the masters deal with issues that arise and seeing how Yoda teaches everyday padawans. The depth of this issue, the connections back to the flashback, the rivalling teaching styles, everything fits so well together to create an enjoyable and thought-provoking issue. Ross just adds to this with his construction of each page, making this such an enjoyable issue, enjoyable story, and enjoyable series to read.
Availability;
Yoda is a 10-part mini series published by Marvel comics. This issue retails at $3.99 and is available via the Marvel App, ComiXology and all good comic book stores.
