– Spoiler Review –
After a delightful and intense side story where characters Qort and Farzala took center stage, The High Republic Adventures #8 brings the entire Padawan family together again, adding new friends and new conflicts, as the series goes back to its beginning conflict to forge ahead.
Reunions vary on the crowd coming together or the reasons for doing so, though thankfully it’s nothing but hugs and happiness as the Starlight Padawans reunite! Lula Talisola, Zeen Mrala, and their new friend Ram Jomaram return from their fight against the Nihil and Drengir on Valo during the fateful attack of the Republic Fair (as seen in writer Daniel José Older’s Race to Crashpoint Tower) while Farzala and Qort and their new friend Ishnar return from Nal Hutta and their fight against the Drengir and keeping the Hutt/Jedi alliance alive, the first time they’ve all seen each other in quite some time. There’s introductions to be had, in the case of Ram and Ishnar, and hugs all around, and they fall back into familiarity with one another like no time has passed, much like a summer away from friends and a return to school with them afterwards, if the summer was full of gruesome Drengir and loss and the school was the shining beacon at the edge of the galaxy full of space wizards, of course. I loved seeing these moments, teasing Lula about her ability to make tea or hugging one another as they are just that damn happy to see one another again, alive through the dangers they’ve faced, sharing these open faced emotions, as it’s something we’ve never seen with the Jedi of the prequel era, though it’s not like they’ve focused much on a group of padawans outside of The Clone Wars’ Youngling Arc. The issue is told from Zeen’s point-of-view though, her though bubbles filling in the narration, and it grounds all the revelry and joy in the larger conflict still raging in the era with the Nihil, as she feels the unfinished business with Krix Kamerat, her old childhood friend now with the Nihil, weighing on her. Zeen’s quest to get her friend back was told in the epic 5-part opening arc for THRA, though Older ensures even new readers, where this issue is an excellent jumping-on point by the way, won’t feel left out as Zeen’s narration fills us in on what has transpired while there several scenes with the older Krix that fill in what he’s been up to since the end of the opening arc. I’m glad to see the story return to its past as it pushes the era forwards, especially as all these friends unite, it only seems right to see Zeen and Krix against one another again. She seems ready for the experience, whatever it may bring, claiming she knows what to do when the time comes, though what she believes she must do remains a bit of a mystery and I’m eager to see what she’s learned from her time with the Padawans and how she brings that into their next confrontation.
On the flip side, Krix doesn’t seem ready for a confrontation with Zeen at all, his anger for her ‘betrayal’ bubbling to the surface time and time again, consuming him much as the Jedi preach anger can. He seems eager to keep his distance if he does have to face her, either requesting access to the power of what Marchion Ro uncovered and unleashed after Valo so it can be sent out to hurt the Jedi or flying in for the opening attack against settlements and outposts in his stormship before the proper Nihil forces come and face those who remain, only highlighting the lack of conviction for his belief he still needs to hate her for what she supposedly did to him. Marchion commands Krix to prove himself worthy of coming along his next phase of the destruction of the Republic and its allies, especially after a failed mission which happened in the interim (more on that in a moment), so Krix heads to Takodana to strike against the Jedi Temple there, as he’s heard it’s guarded by a single, older Jedi. Anger leads to pain for Krix and his crew, as this lone Jedi turns out to be a fierce Kyuzo warrior who sweeps the sky of them with just her lightsabers, and while Krix gets away, he vows to return to truly prove himself and defeat the Jedi there. The mission we don’t see with Krix is on Vrant Tarnum, where Krix and Ro journeyed into some ruins for ancient artifact but also where Yoda was shot down over with Krix’s ex-Elder Tromak. Judging by the dialogue between Krix and some of his fellow storms, the botched mission was against one single Jedi, which I’m assuming was Yoda, so I am VERY curious to see what happened there considering it’s clear Yoda still isn’t back from his forced vacation; could this be in an upcoming book/story?
Whether Krix or Zeen truly wants it or not, these two ex-friends are on a collision course: Buckets of Blood and Master Kantam Sy, Lula’s Master, reveal to the growing Padawan group they’ve been tasked with tracking down Krix Kamerat’s Nihil group and they begin with heading to Takodana, where he was lost spotted when Sav Magalán fought them off. And Krix, stinging from another loss at the hands of another Jedi, who took his friend from him and represents the reason she left him, vows to return and raze Takodana to the ground. How will things go down this time, was Krix’s attempt to hide his lingering feelings about Zeen enough of a hint he might come back from this path or will he only double down? Either way, I’m really eager to see what happens and more of Sav Magalán, whose impressive antics live up to Older’s hype for her already.
Joining the series as artist for the first time is Toni Bruno and what a memorable entrance it is! There’s something about his style that clearly makes the hugs between the padawans so dang adorable, from their big grins and smiles or the way the characters seem to drape their arms around one another instead of clenching, it makes me wish I was getting all these hugs as well! While not as detailed as Harvey Tolibao, he more than makes up for it with clear, vibrant emotions and stylish action sequences, like Zeen’s concern and later resolve while talking about Krix or the supportive faces of Lula and Farzala as she speaks her mind. And when Sav goes off on the Krix’s stormships, hoping from each one in the air like she ‘s taking a stroll, her stiff, almost peaceful movements show how effortless this is for her and come at a sharp and telling contrast to her quiet caf making when we first meet her. Toni’s also responsible for giving us updated looks for a few of the characters, like Zeen sporting the new look as seen in Race to Crashpoint Tower‘s art by Petur Antonsson while Krix has a whole new look, with a single swoop of hair hanging down and the rest slicked back, adorned in an outfit matching Marchion Ro’s to some extent, to show much influence the man has had on the young boy; it’s my favorite upgrade because it conveys how much more of a Nihil he is than when we first met him, but the blond, noticeable hair that can hang over like bangs like he had over a year before reveals the kid still inside. Rebecca Nalty’s colors mesh well with the more cartoonish look of Bruno’s style, brightening up many scenes, but going dark when necessary like whenever there’s a panel set within the Nihil’s strongholds. The colors offer a serene feeling to the bird’s eye view of the beautiful lake on Takodana, Maz’s castle off in the distance, as well as the sun peaking through mountains further away, the stormships dark blights to the rather chill atmosphere of the planet. Jake M. Wood’s lettering once again remains muted but useful in the action scene, from the sputtering engines to Sav’s decisive slices, while he makes sure the dialogue is easy to follow, even when 6 or more characters are speaking at the same time, something which doesn’t always work out as well with other comics I’ve read.
Here are a few other things:
- Torban Buck and Sy offer themselves up to any questions the Padawans might have, which includes Yoda’s whereabouts, hence why I said earlier he’s clearly not back yet, but they also inquire about the fate of Loden Greatstorm. The Rising Storm contains the heartbreaking demise of Loden, as he dissolves into dust, and they confirm that’s what happened to the Jedi Master, but also mention they have the Order’s best investigator on it, a sneaky reference to Older’s upcoming comic miniseries Trail of Shadows for Marvel, which stars Emerick Caphtor and Sian Holt as they investigate the death of Loden.
- Maz Kanata also gets mentioned a few times this issue, be it or in the Galactic Data File, but it’s not the first time she’s been mentioned in this era: Out of the Shadows sees a character from its novel headed Maz’s way and I’ll be curious to see if we’ll see them and Maz or just Maz for now in the upcoming Takodana set issues of this series.
- The Nihil base Krix operates out of is near/on Dol’har Hyde, first introduced in an issue of Doctor Aphra (Vol. 2), where the planet seems to have swallowed up a large battle there; maybe we’ll see the Jedi track down Krix to the base and watch the battle in this series or the upcoming Phase 1 Wave III titles?!
- September still has The High Republic era goodies to come! Next week brings readers The Edge of Balance manga volume 1 by Justina Ireland and Shima Shinya on Sept. 7, while Scott’s The High Republic Adventures – The Monster on Temple Peak #2 drops the 8!
- Also out today was the start to the newest storyline of The High Republic comic at Marvel, which sees some Jedi joining the….Nihil?!
The High Republic Adventures #8 is wonderful return to the series’ roots as it begins its latest adventure, while it introduces us to an exciting new character and a familiar location from the films!
+ Zeen’s clarity/Krix’s lack
+ You get a hug, and you get a hug…and YOU GET A HUG!
+ New artist delivers a memorable opening issue
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.
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