– Spoiler Review –
Jedi Master Kelnacca might be a Wookiee of few growls, and in Cavan Scott and Marika Cresta’s The Acolyte: Kelnacca #1 he might not speak much either, but we do get a satisfying and emotional glimpse of what he was like as a Master.
I never expected The Acolyte: Kelnacca #1 would fix any of my issues with his time on the show, which was far too brief and left him with the least exploration of all its main Jedi characters, but I simply hoped this would at least give him more of his due. Writer Cavan Scott does exactly that, which isn’t too surprising given his track record with Master/Apprentice relationship stories (look no further than his first three The High Republic runs for Marvel), but what did surprise was how he managed it. Kelnacca isn’t the main character of the story and, much like his time on the show, very stoic and seemingly gruff, though it’s his actions which end up speaking so much louder than any words, which seems very fitting for the character. Joonas Suotamo, who picked up the mantle of playing Chewbacca before original actor Peter Mayhew passed and later took the role of Kelnacca, has a short interview with Kristin Baver included at the end of the issue, speaking about getting to use a lightsaber and how he views the difference between Chewie and Kelnacca. Suotamo’s overall comments about the Jedi Master echo throughout The Acolyte: Kelnacca #1, which made me appreciate how this issue portrays him and seems to bode well for the character’s upcoming presence in The High Republic: Fear of the Jedi, a comic set to start in February 2025, from Scott and Cresta, which stars the author’s usual suspects like Keeve Trennis, Sskeer, Tey Sirrek, and Lourna Dee and will lead into the finale of not only Phase III of The High Republic multi-media initiative, but of the entire initiative! It’s nice to know we’ll have a chance to see more of Kelnacca, giving the character a chance to shine like he could’ve in the show, especially since, in case you somehow missed the news, The Acolyte is currently not renewed for a second season (I’ll dive into that situation more in my “Here are a few other things” section since it’s overall irrelevant to my feelings on this comic issue, but real quick: buying this issue is important if you loved the show and support the fan renewal effort!).
Prior to the issue’s release, its announcement promised we’d learn about the Wookiee’s head tattoos, and since the show hadn’t quite released yet and he’d only featured briefly in most of the trailers/TV spots, this actually came as a surprise to most readers/viewers: he had head tattoos?! After how he was sidelined compared to his human or human-adjacent co-stars, as we get no time to really understand how his involvement with the events on Brendok in the show’s past affected him beyond some scribbled drawings and his seclusion, I was really looking forward for this issue to offer something about who he is. Focusing on the tattoos was the right choice, as the emotional story behind the generational tradition gives us a chance to learn more about Kelnacca than just presenting his more rigid and non-Chewie like ways would’ve done. It still felt like we could’ve had more about him, meaning this was a great start but certainly left myself, and I’m sure it will many readers, wanting more than just the history of his tattoos. If Scott can give Kelnacca such a treatment in a single issue, I can’t wait to see what he’ll do with him in the upcoming comic, as this issue helped validate my feelings there’s a lot more to explore with him than the show was willing.
I appreciated how fans of The Acolyte could easily read this issue without needing to know much about The High Republic publishing initiative’s story, even though it partly takes place during it, as there are hints and cameos hinting at what they’re missing, either in showing the fallen Starlight Beacon, Jedi Master Elzar Mann’s appearance, or a brief moment with the Nihil, the era’s baddies. Could it be enough for the show fans to consider looking into the era at large? Not in a bad way, but it likely won’t sway fans more than they already might’ve been after watching The Acolyte. For us voracious readers of the era, these are all great little call-outs which immediately help moor Kelnacca into where we’ve yet to see him, and it also comes with a reminder of what comes next, even if it seems so far away: peace. With the era’s story heating up towards its finale in June 2025, it was sort of surprising to see The Acolyte: Kelnacca #1 jump two years past the start of Phase III, seemingly a time when the conflict with the Nihil is finally at its end and the Order no longer so worried about the Nameless, while it’s “present” set part of the story looks to be even closer to the show timeline, both things we know are coming but felt strange yet promising for what’s to come in the era.
The art team features The High Republic – Phase III stalwarts Jim Campbell and Ariana Maher on colors and lettering, respectively, while the on-and-off again Marika Cresta provides the art (and will in the upcoming Fear of the Jedi comic). Cresta’s Kelnacca really captures how he seemed and acted prior to those fateful events on the show and I appreciate how it’s through the littlest of actions which speak so loudly of how he handles himself. There are panels of just his furry feet walking or one finger turning off a holo, so since when he’s not in a battle or helping others he’s very rigid, even these small gestures mean something about what he’s thinking, be it that his new apprentice, the young Yarzion Vell, must catch up rather than worry about pleasantries when the Wookiee first takes him on, or how, for now, Kelnacca must think on what he saw in Yarizon’s holo of his old Master so it’s time to shut it off and focus on other things until he makes up his mind. It showcases the patience he takes with decisions and actions, as he knows he can live long and is using it to his full advantage, and speaks to why he’d be so shattered over being used by the witches for a vicious attack (beyond the use of his claws). Cresta also employs a memorably emotionless face for most of Kelnacca’s time in the issue, even cutting a panel so we don’t see his eyes, only to highlight how calm and collected he is, but also how it gives those around him, even if they’ve known him long, concern due to an impatience to learn what’s really going on his mind. Campbell’s colors for the scene with the village on fire that Kelnacca and Yarizon are helping with could almost choke the reader, with lots of heavy, hot yellows and oranges and smokey blacks, really giving the impression to readers it’s a very dire situation and Kelnacca is right to be worried about his Padawan sticking around in the crumbling buildings, to the point it even makes one believe as Yarizon does, that Kelnacca disproves of his actions rescuing a family droid, when he’s anything but, knighting the young Jedi instead. The lighting around Yarizon and his Padawan Ordea, which starts off stark given his situation and how close to death he is, brightens as he gets to tell his story, and eventually when Kelnacca appears to see him pass into the Force, the room feels the brightest then. Given how little Kelnacca speaks and Cresta had to tell us what he was thinking/saying in his actions, it’s even more important for Maher’s work. When Kelnacca ignites his blade to knight Yarizon, the sound FX she employs is loud yet focused and it becomes even more narrow and focused when he uses it to sever Yarizon’s Padawan braid, his gentleness on display despite his species’ strength, seen a few times in the issue overall. This scene is important to the ending of the issue, as Maher returns with a similar, though larger, SFX for Kelnacca igniting his blade, this time off-panel, and now readers know this isn’t a threatening moment or anything, it’s the Wookiee Master basically talking to Ordea, don’t walk away from him, he’s ready to carry on her training, while I loved the SFX for Ordea’s lightsaber, as it’s more stable looking letters, as if she’s as sure of herself as she claims to Kelnacca she’s ready.
Here are a few other things:
- It’s almost cruel to keep seeing The Acolyte marketed on these covers, but I love the reminder of the show to fans, as hopefully, despite its surprise non-renewal for a season two, people keep checking it out. Make sure to sign the petition (it’s almost at 70k!) and get your letters in to push for the show’s renewal, as while there’s no guarantee this stuff will do anything to sway the corporate decision behind this move, it’s better than nothing. Show star Amandla Stenberg took to Instagram recently to finally talk about the situation, who is damn wiser than you could ever image as they break down the hate and their reaction to it all.
- What’s to come this month in The High Republic?! Also out on 9/4 like this issue were both The High Republic Adventures – Echoes of Fear #1 and The High Republic Adventures – Crash and Burn; on September 18 comes The High Republic Adventures #10 – Phase III; and George Mann’s Tears of the Nameless closes out the month on on 9/24. Check out the full release schedule here!
The Acolyte: Kelnacca #1 opens the door on wanting more for this character, in this era or another.
+ Upholding Kelnacca’s mystique while peeling back a layer
+ Cresta and team using body language to tell us a lot about the Jedi Master
– A little more about Kelnacca would’ve been nice
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Bluesky, Twitter @MynockManor, and Instagram @mynockmanor.