– Spoiler Review –
A familiar face from the Phase II past must prove himself to the heroes of the Phase III present, resulting in a long-awaited revelation for fans in an excellent The High Republic #6 – Phase III!
While fans of The High Republic – Phase II, especially those of the character himself, are happy to have Tey Sirrek back in their lives, our heroes of The High Republic – Phase III aren’t as enthusiastic since they don’t know him and, well, he is using an ancient dark side artifact, even if it was to save them. Terec and Ceret’s situation, their broken connection and the frustrations that come from it, even as they bonded enough last issue to overcome the effects of the Child of the Storm stalking them, aren’t the best people to deal with Tey initially, while I imagine Keeve Trennis could’ve made the meeting go a little smoother. Either way, Tey must explain himself to make the peace, which means fans of the character and the Phase II run from writer Cavan Scott, as well as Path of Vengeance, get a flashback like we all only dreamt about. Tey’s story takes us back to Jedha and their Convocation of the Force, which he gained a seat on thanks to Jedi Master Vildar Mac, a year or so after the events they went through during the Battle of Jedha. Tey’s spot on the council came as part of a larger journey for the two, as Tey’s first meeting resulted in Vildar’s death…or at least so we thought. By the end of the comic, the two had grown together, propping up the good inside and helping one another, resulting in some flirtatious vibes and a nice big hug at the end. Path of Vengeance picked up those threads, doubling down on the married couple banter, but leaving fans without any official confirmation of any burgeoning relationship between the two. When Tey’s flashback sequence begins in The High Republic #6 – Phase III, it doesn’t look like things got any better over a year after the events in the book/comic, as Vildar shoots down a rather sensible proposal by Tey for him to be the one who brings an end to a threat to the public given his past on the streets/Guardian of the Whills. There’s a spat which follows between the two, Tey storming off, and a comment from one of the Convocation members about their interaction keeps some hope alive by asking Vildar is there’s trouble at home, to which he response it’s nothing they can’t handle.
As for what trouble they or anyone might not be able to handle, it’s the Naldi freewielder terrorizing the streets of Jedha, collecting payments for a local mob using his ability to manipulate fire. Sirené, a Fallanassi practitioner, is the one sent to bring him to justice, but he makes quick work of her impressive tricks and renders her incapable of responding, her skills no match for his strength of purpose. After Tey and Vildar’s spat, he stormed off to the Guardian of the Whills temple, stealing something from its archives, and we find out just as Sirené is about to lose a chance to bring Zervo, the freewielder: the Hand of Siberus. Unlike how he seems using it against a Nameless in the Phase III present, using the device leaves him looking as crazed as he did when using it to protect Vildar, but he’s able to overcome Zervo’s abilities, though he keeps going, ranting about how he’s doing what the Convocation can’t, something he’s always done, which is protect the downtrodden when something like the governing body doesn’t care. He isn’t necessarily wrong, as much inaction in the world stems from debates over who and how to respond, especially with political fallout under consideration, while those who suffer only get put through worse and worse, but if he can’t control the power he wields to respond to crises, is he any better than those who delay for political reasons? Vildar swings in to stop Tey, to pull him back from the edge much like he did for Vildar a year before, leaving Zervo and the Em’ily alive, though still admits he’ll have to tell the Convocation of Tey’s actions.
While we don’t see Vildar’s conversation with the Convocation or learn what they decide about his place amongst them, we do get something far, far more important, the stage of which is set by the moody, spicy way we see Tey sitting on Vildar’s desk, waiting for him. Tey begins to apologize, saying he can’t help himself from confirming everyone’s worst thoughts about him and then…VILDAR KISSES TEY!!! Both PoV and THR #10 – Phase II came out in May of 2023, so almost a whole year later, all the hints and teases of their burgeoning feelings and relationship have finally been confirmed!!! It’s a glorious moment, paying off all of Scott’s character work and helping expand representation of MLM/gay couples in the Saga, the most visible being Just Lucky/Ariole from the Doctor Aphra (Vol. 2) series. One certainly wishes there would’ve been this overt confirmation a year ago, or an option for more of it given this was a one-time trip to the past, but at least it’s finally happened and shown in such a beautiful way. In fact, what comes next, the words they share between one another, outshines any lingering questions on Vildar and what the Jedi Order knows about him and Tey, as it reveals it matters little to what this bond means for them both. Tey helped save Vildar and despite their connection, Tey was concerned he’d gone too far this time, but Vildar urges him to let him save Tey much like he did for him, pointing out no one’s ever really gone, as there’s always a way back. It’s a wonderful sentiment and answers the questions about the Jedi Order’s knowledge of their relationship: does it matter if Vildar is using it to fuel its tenants?
In the present, this story doesn’t quite have as much of an effect on Terec and Ceret as it does us readers, but as Tey makes himself useful to ease Goonral Monshi’s pain (doing what he did to Vildar we originally thought might’ve killed him) and provides some information on his purpose, we see Vildar’s words have never left him: he’s here to stop Baron Boolan stealing more victims to become Children of the Storm. How, why, and when he started on such a quest remains a mystery, but it seems he and Sskeer are aligned potentially, as he, Keeve, and Lourna Dee arrive with Sskeer’s young Yacombe friend. There’s a hilarious exchange when about Lourna being a nursemaid and calling the Jedi her friends to convince the Yacombe to come out of hiding, but the humor ends the moment the young girl spots the Nameless: despite T/C saying the Nameless is harmless now, she pushing them with the Force! Will Tey be able to help with the situation and what caused her to attack? Was it something she sensed from the dead Nameless? Or was it H’tar again, the Fallanassi practitioner Boolan experimented on and made into a Child of the Storm, who is out in the jungle, stalking them? We’ll have to wait and see in the next issue, out May 1 currently!
As we said goodbye to Ario Anindito last issue, we say hello to Laura Braga, who joins Jim Towe on art, Jim Campbell on colors, and Ariana Maher lettering. As has been the case for most of the series, which has had two artists per issue mainly, the styles are complimentary, even if somewhat distinct, as I feel like Braga takes over for most of the flashback sequence and Towe stays in the present. For Braga’s part, I was really drawn to the passion she puts on Tey’s face throughout his recounting of the past, be it his righteous anger over not being picked for the mission, the regrettable sadness as he steals the Hand, and the unhinged delight of the power coursing through him while using the gauntlet. It’s the latter which impressed the most, as it hearkened back to the Phase II images of Tey using the Hand as Anindito drew him, while Campbell captures the same wild purple Frank William did, and since Maher was on the series then too, she brings back some intense “krakle” sound FX which blend into the Siberus’ lightning abilities, while a glance back at the Siberus effects the team employed in issue #5 marks a noticeable difference, as there’s blueish-white for the lightning and Tey, while we see its power coming out of his eyes in the background of a panel, it’s not as pronounced as the team makes sure to highlight here in the flashback, denoting his mastery or the lack thereof in a subtle way. The first time we see Tey using the Hand in the past, it’s a full page of him in full Siberus-mode, though Maher’s SFX for the power from it is what pulls you in first after flipping to the page, leading you to his crazed expression and white-filled eyes, followed by some word bubbles which drag us towards a little insert with Sirené’s concern. This page and the one following it, which gives us three panels for Tey to overpower Zervo, viewed together are shockingly bright due to the insane amount of lightning Braga sparkles across every panel and which Campbell and Maher make extra inspired. As for Towe, I really appreciated the look he gives Lourna as she can’t believe she decides to call all the Jedi friends to help convince the young Yacombe to come out of hiding, as there’s some humor there to match her reluctant realization these are what one could consider friends. Better yet, the perspective on the young Yacombe when she comes out of hiding is one where we are looking down at her, as if she’s small, helpless, and powerless. Things change quickly, as the final page kicks off with an intense close-up of her eyes going bonkers wide, full of fear, when they seemed sad and unsure only a panel ago, and then we have a close-up on the dead Nameless’ eyes, empty and blank, giving us all we need to know about the fear she’s feeling. She still remains smaller than Terec in the third panel on the final page, but it’s in the last, when she blasts him away with the Force, Maher throwing up quite the whoosh SFX, where the perspective makes her look bigger than she is, noticeable in the impressive might she displays when tapping into her fear.
Here are a few other things:
- As you can imagine, fans were celebrating Tey and Vildar’s kiss, from wonderful fan art of the couple by Junchan/this one by Luke/and Eli’s candle-lit delight version, sharing how it feels to never lose, to sharing their ideas on the lovely ways the couple interacts day-to-day, and so much more!
- I wasn’t the only one who thought the Circle of Kavaan was a sly reference to the writer himself, as the character claiming it protected them died and Cavan Scott has a reputation for killing off characters, but it turns out it’s a reference to the original Marvel comics back in the 1970’s, as well is the species who mentions it, an Em’liy!
- High Republic fans have more to enjoy from Scott next week, alongside more Rachael Stott’s excellent work, for April 17’s premiere of The High Republic Adventures – Saber for Hire #1! Ty Yorrick is back and, having read it already (though I won’t share any spoilers here ahead of my review next week), you DO NOT WANT TO MISS IT. Stott and Scott are cooking and I can’t wait to hear everyone’s reactions, especially about a certainly reveal in it…
- We already got the cover for the next adult novel, kicking off Phase III, Wave II, Temptation of the Force, and now we got the covers for the next young adult and middle grade entries, Tears of the Nameless and Beware the Nameless, respectively!
- Don’t forget, we’re closing in on The Acolyte, set at the tail-end of The High Republic era, which got its very intriguing first trailer not too long ago. Empire Magazine has an exclusive article out there with some new images and some small new details, so make sure to check it out (I went through my library system via the Libby app to read it)!
- The Fallanassi are having quite the year, as Luke Skywalker’s friend Gretta is one, and she and her Aunt help him on a journey to cleanse a red kyber, as seen in the Star Wars (Vol. 2) series!
- While Stellan Gios never got to see Vernestra with her lightwhip, I do love seeing them together, and her using it, on the Master & Apprentice variant above!
The High Republic #6 – Phase III takes a trip into the past fans won’t soon forget, fulfilling something that’s been a long time coming, while still interestingly pushing the present-set story forward.
+ TEY AND VILDAR KISS!!!!
+ And the flashback of them is all about the emotional journey
+ Lourna saying friends? And is the young Yacombe a problem…or is it the Child of the Storm affecting her?!
+ Art showing the difference in Tey using the Hand of Siberus
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.
THE HIGH REPUBLIC – PHASE III REVIEWS
Children of the Storm: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 — The Hunted: #5