– Spoiler Review –
As the chaos escalates throughout the streets of Jedha, Vildar Mac finds himself in a tricky situation…will the Force provide or will it take his friends and foes to turn the tide? Find out in our review of The High Republic #6 – Phase II!
Since things ended a little unclearly last issue, as we never see Vildar head into the Path of the Open Hand’s almshouse to help the injured, we’re left to assume he did due to Matty’s reaction to it exploding. There’s no doubt he was inside when this issue starts, as we see him straining with the effort of holding up the debris with the Force, protecting those around him in the rubble. Considering he was in the Path of Open Hand’s compound, there are those down there with him who aren’t helping his concentration, as the Path’s belief the Force shouldn’t be used is central to their mindsets, so regardless of the situation the heckling of the Jedi doesn’t abate. Despite their feelings, he’s not giving up and doing everything he can, even if his pep talks for a being who tries to crawl out and ask for more help isn’t the greatest, but he’s also realistic with them, saying he might not be able to save them as is, by himself. In the process, as he tries to distract those around him from the terrible situation and give them comfort, he recalls what happened when he was younger, how a Jedi Master happened to save his village and took him in, believing Vildar was meant for more. It was nice to have some closure on the events of his youth, though it felt a little too clean and easy a resolution and almost did feel like it fit he’d still have these nightmares, but he’s been struggling since we’ve known him with trusting others, trusting in the Force even, so it makes sense it would still haunt him. But maybe the haunting will be over, as while all things look lost…Tey and Matty are there to help?!
Saving the Guardians of the Whills, despite them locking him up and not giving him a chance to explain himself, is still almost not enough for the enmity between Tey and Captain Viss to dissipate. As they close themselves off from the city, not guarding anything but old trinkets after the raiders leave knowing their item isn’t within the walls, Tey confronts Viss again about what caused him to leave in the first place: if you’re one with the Force, wouldn’t you guard the people of the city too? It’s a great argument and one Viss should’ve committed to long again after the death of those children, but I’m glad to see he changes his tune and goes out into the city to help, including assisting Matty with rescuing Vildar buried under the rubble. As great as this moment was, it’s weird in the larger Phase II context, as the Guardians are fighting alongside Creighton Sun and Aida Forte against the Eiram and E’ronoh machines swarming the city, slowly dying in the effort at this point, so I guess Viss was just a small contingent that didn’t join the fight? A little clarity would’ve gone a long way here.
With Tey urging everyone on to chant the now famous phrase, “I am one with the Force, the Force is with me,” Vildar trusts in them to give him the strength he needs, blasting the rubble away and freeing all those underneath. Vildar has come a far way, learning to trust those around him, and Tey has been able to start repairing his relationship with the Guardians by showing them how to actually be one, but poor Matty still feels stuck as a character. I trust writer Cavan Scott after the amazing journey he put Keeve Trennis on in Phase I that’s only just beginning, and there are four issues left so she could get her due, though there is the chance she could be this Phase’s Avar Kriss in the comics, someone who features in many issues but doesn’t get the extended internal dive we’d have hoped for/deserved unfortunately. We’ll see, but Matty was one of the earliest bright spots and I hope she can return to being one in the final few issues.
Elsewhere in this issue, I was surprised the thread regarding how Master Leebon knew the hoodlums were taking down the Protector’s statue was left unanswered and Oliviah didn’t push for the info. Either way, the next issue looks to be a fun one, as Vildar and crew take everyone to shelter the only place they know should be available: Enlightenment, though proprietor Kradon doesn’t seem too excited about the prospect, which could lead to some fun interactions.
Artist Ario Anindito and inker Mark Morales return to put Vildar Mac through the paces, alongside colorist Frank William and Ariana Maher on lettering. Before some comments on their great work there, I have to start with a giant highlight for more: Silandra Sho!!! In the opening page, Tey’s narration takes us across the various skirmishes happening across Jedha, sort of the connecting this series to the larger picture, and in one panel we see the glorious Jedi Master Silandra Sho being the shield she brandishes! It’s only one panel but I love the look of her shield here, red as it reflects the blaster fire she’s blocking, intricate little details to show the love and craftsmanship that went into it, while William’s able to include the little lock of white hair that also distinguishes her. Sho is my favorite character of Phase II so far so this little inclusion was a damn delight from this great team. Elsewhere, the absolutely intense and immense strain Vildar is under holding up the rubble ripples across his face, his eyes often closed in most panels, wrinkles and creases pulling his face tight, little drippings of sweat growing with every page. Frank William’s colors only add to the struggle, the darker blues matching the undersides of the rocks around him seem to put their weight directly on his face, us being able to see the color underneath them only because the same strain on is on his face. Maher is sparing with SFX during the struggle, his wave word bubbles and small text her method to show the pain this is causing him instead, until the big “kroom” and red-tinted word bubble show his win over the rock’s weight. There’s a steely confidence to Vildar afterwards and it shows through the determined look Anindito and Morales give him, a big difference from the surprise we often saw him express as he ran headfirst into situations.
Here are a few other things:
- While Matty might be taking too much a backseat at this point, she’s at least honored with a starring role on the Women’s History Month variant cover.
- Issue #7 should be out later this March and we got our first previews in this week’s return of The High Republic Show!
The High Republic #6 – Phase II pushes our characters forward finally, even if it leaves others and certain threads weirdly unanswered, but with only a few issues left, it’s best to enjoy the ride and see if it sticks the landing.
+ Vildar trusting
+ Tey turning opinions around
– Backseat Matty
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.
THE HIGH REPUBLIC – PHASE II REVIEWS
Balance of the Force: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 — Battle of the Force: