– Spoiler Review –
As exciting as it is that we’re at the big finale for Daniel José Older’s The High Republic Adventures with issue #13, it also means it has to end, though if you’ve read anything else he’s created for the era, then you already know it’ll be more than worth it.
When I went into The High Republic Adventures #13, I had a whole slew of expectations, and while it didn’t cover what I was expecting/hoping, I’m glad it went the way it did, hence why I’m the reviewer and not the writer! After reading the other parts of writer Daniel José Older’s corner of The High Republic, be it the stellar, moving, and eye-opening thrill ride of Midnight Horizon or the chilling, yet hopeful ending to Trail of Shadows, I had a whole list of what I thought this issue might cover, the most important being the still unclear fate of Lula Talisola, this series’ main character and one half of its emotional core. While this issue doesn’t answer the lingering question, nor has any of the other content yet, it answers a far more important one, and I’m glad it went the route it did because it’s a far more fulfilling and fitting ending considering what the series has focused on and attempted to do over its year-long run.
At the end of issue #12, Lula, Zeen Mrala, Farzala, and Qort have completed their mission of bringing in Krix Kamerat, Zeen’s childhood friend turned Nihil, bringing his reign of terror and destruction to a close, even though his fellow Nihil still have many plans in play in this final part of Phase 1’s story. The real focus of the issue wasn’t on those events, even though they were fist-pumping good to see play out, but rather on the budding feelings and relationship between Lula and Zeen. At its close, The High Republic Adventures #12 saw the two young women acknowledge their feelings for one another, if not necessarily to each other, but it was a big, fulfilling, and emotionally rich moment the series has been building to since issue #1. For how Zeen reacts to their admittance that happens later in this issue, reading Midnight Horizon is a bouquet of wonders, but it left how Lula dealt with it and what it meant for her on her path to being a Jedi up in the air.
Issue #13 is Lula’s section of Older’s web and it’s as rich and colorful as you’d come to expect from this team, offering layers of nuance for any age reading, plus affirming LGBTQ+ fans with such representation. For Lula, whose wanted to be the best Jedi since we met her, as Master Buckets of Blood steps in for her Master Kantam Sy, off on Corellia for a mission (as seen in MH) and asks her if she’s ready for what she’s been waiting for: being Knighted. Whereas issue #1 Lula would’ve had no qualms saying yes, issue #13 Lula is in a far different place after accepting the feelings swirling inside of her regarding Zeen, and she’s unsure of being Knighted. Once she takes that next step, what place in her life will Zeen have? Be allowed to have? And if she never acts on those feelings, will she ever know if she choose the right path or not? There’s a beautiful section in MH regarding Kantam Sy’s own struggle with their feelings, leading them to discovering Lula in the first place, a scene depicted so cutely in THRA #13 by Harvey Tolibao, Rebecca Nalty, and Jake Wood it hurt my cheeks from smiling in glee, that adds more depth to Lula’s decision here, but Older still conveys enough within this issue alone you can see how Lula would also naturally come to her choice. After admitting to one another they love each other, by saying “I need you” adorably enough, Zeen goes to off to help the Jedi on Corellia and Lula stays behind to go to Starlight Beacon with Krix, so once Lula is amongst Farzala and Qort for their joint Knighting, she decides she wants to wait on being Knighted, taking the time to explore what Zeen’s connection means to her. I love how it all unspools so organically throughout the issue, it’s clear from the start what she’ll choose but she has to arrive their logically at first and Older makes it easy for any age to appreciate the conversation she has to have to get to that point. On top of that, there’s no fight put up by Masters Buckets or Obratuk Glii, nor her friends Farzala and Qort, instead accepting her decision and allowing her the time to figure things out, as they’ve all proved they’d be there for her regardless of her decision once she’s explored her feeling for Zeen fully through the way they’ve accepted and treated Zeen as one of their own despite her non-Jedi affiliation. It’s really powerful to have this feel so natural, both in and out of universe. Inside, it shows the stark difference of the Jedi of this era versus the ones in the prequels, as this option of leaving to figure things out never seemed like a possibility for someone like Anakin Skywalker, though the galaxy-wide war they got sucked into, beyond other things, certainly helped push him forwards/the Jedi Order from slowing down things for him, and this potential for Jedi to soul-search and explore their attachments and emotions seems to lead to a healthier outcome. For readers, no matter your orientation, the way this series has dealt with the feelings between Zeen and Lula could apply to anyone reading coming to understand their first love, but it’s a big, bright shining star for LGBTQIA+ youth especially, as it’s important for media to represent the full spectrum of human feelings and orientations so everyone has a chance to be affirmed and feel accepted (particularly topical on the day terrible, evil choices were made in Texas), thus leading to healthier lives for them and others.
Beyond their moment together, there’s some other Zeen content too, as we get a condensed version of her interrogation of Krix. Talk about how far people have come in a year, hey? For Krix, he’s all in the Nihil, so convinced he can worm his way back into their graces and believes their plan on Corellia unstoppable, he’s just ready to confront Zeen. But she’s so far beyond him, it’s not even fair, confident in the acceptance of those around her, of the Jedi, or letting her be who she is rather than shove it back down inside like he wanted her to. One of the many memorable lines from MH makes it way into THRA #13, as she tells Krix about the comfort she has amongst the Jedi, amongst those that would see her be who she is inside, not who they want her to be, it’s awesome she has this little moment amidst Lula’s focus here in the finale.
It’s not all Zeen and Lula, however, as even Farzala and Qort have their moments. For Qort alone, he meets Zint, a young Aloxian like himself who has joined the Order and he goes to meditate with her. Farzala almost bursts in on the moment but joins them, but eventually they are having fun tossing Zint around with the Force. It’s not all cute little Aloxians and friendship tossing that makes their moment special, or their Knighting, but rather Farzala’s comment to Qort about their friendship and happy to have each other no matter what comes next. The Padawan Pack is a tight-knit group and this shows how attachments, no romance needed, are an important part of a Jedi’s life, as the teamwork, trust, and ability to learn from one another allow for camaraderie in the face of danger and strengthening of each Jedi’s connection to the Force, which is why Obi-Wan and Anakin worked so well together during the Clone Wars or why Avar Kriss’ ability is so important and allowed the Jedi to help save Hetzal in the opening crisis of the era.
Considering how things go throughout the rest of the content in Phase I, Wave III, be it The Fallen Star, Midnight Horizon, Trail of Shadows, and The High Republic comic from Marvel, THRA #13 probably is the most hopeful of the batch, even though they all end on a little hint of hope despite the Nihil’s deadly plans. There’s no real hint of the horrors that await everyone as the Nihil attack Starlight Beacon and the Jedi, beyond the image of Starlight Beacon in the background of the final page, as Lula and the others aboard the Starlight Hopper race towards it. Lula and Zeen are able to share their feelings with one another and Lula makes her pivotal choice, Qort and Farzala are bonding, and everyone’s shouting “For Light and Life” as the two Padawans are Knighted. It’s nice to have this hug from Older’s work still, despite everything else going on, though reading everything makes it clear what dangers are ahead despite the happiness here. But for now, for this moment, it’s nice to have a ‘happy’ ending. BUT NOW PLEASE TELL ME WHAT HAPPENS TO LULA!!! This better not be a cliffhanger until Phase III begins in like, what…2-3 years?! I’m reading through Older and Shima Shinya’s The Edge of Balance Vol. 2 right now, which released digitally February 22 and will be out physically in May (expect a review by next week at the latest), so maybe it’ll contain hints at what happens to her…or will that be reserved for the final two entries in Phase I, Wave III?* We’ll have to wait and see until next week when the current Phase comes to an end, which is hard to believe!
It wouldn’t be a full gush about this lovely issue if we didn’t talk about the art a little more than my few mentions so far. I think one of the biggest things to mention is one of the smallest, but once Wesley of Queers Watch pointed it out, I couldn’t keep my jaw from the floor. After Zeen and Lula confess their love for one another, they part ways for their separate journeys, not before embracing one another, where one of Zeen’s headtails reach out and grasp Lula’s hair and…it’s hard not to cry right there! Like seriously, it’s such a small, light touch to a big scene for the two, but it has a giant impact, taking their connection and showing how many levels and layers it has, how so intertwined they are, and it’s a fitting way for Tolibao equate their connection in physical terms. Tolibao was in rare form this issue indeed, especially in some flashback panels, be it the aforementioned cuteness of little Lula being saved by Kantam or the bursting with detail panel of Padawan Pack’s moment during the Republic Fair, giving us a little appearance from Ty Yorrick as she rides one of the dragons, though you can make out Zeen on the other and even Ram and his yellow blade. Nalty’s colors with distinctness, a bright, clear style that highlights even more of the detail work by Tolibao, while the color choices for panels like Zeen’s finality with Krix or the hug/confession of feelings between Lula and Zeen provide different feelings to the main moment, the pink and magenta of Lula and Zeen prompting romantic, loving feelings while the dagger-like red and black spots as Zeen leaves Krix in the past highlights the stern, final break between the two, like a murder of their connection with words, not violence. Tolibao even gives Zeen quite the expression of stern, almost scolding nature, as if Krix is still only a kid compared to where she’s come, while other facial drawings like Lula’s emotional look as she says “I need you” or the delight on Farzala’s as he spends time with his friend build up Older’s script in such a delightful, evocative way. The final page is a damn delight, Nalty’s colors vividly displaying the lightsabers, the crowd and their delight at new Jedi Knights, shouting “For Light and Life,” infections thanks to the jolly page. Wood’s lettering closes the door on Krix for Zeen in a dramatic, final way, the “shhnk” outside most of Wood’s usual choices for the series it stands out, giving a noise and weight to Zeen leaving her past behind for the future. Otherwise, I enjoyed Krix’s internal dialogue, not constrained to a box like Lula or Zeen’s have been, but jumbled and flowing out onto the panel, as if he’s trying to talk himself into believing what he’s thinking, not that he actually believes it. Be it the stellar script or empowering ending, the art team has the same level of excellence for the final pages of one of the era, and Star Wars comics, best.
Here are a few other things:
- *Phase I, Wave III will release its final pieces of content very soon…March 2, to be exact! The High Republic #15 and Eye of the Storm #2 close out the Phase, and Lucasfilm Publishing Creative Director Michael Siglain highly suggests reading Eye last, so take from that what you will! Chris and I will likely have a big retrospective on all of Phase I, something we’re figuring out the scale and focus on right now, so stayed tuned to the site for that! Otherwise, we’ll have more news as it comes in on Phase II…and beyond!
- Speaking of, The High Republic Show returned and featured a slew of new titles for Phase II when it drops in October, including an Art of The High Republic book, as well as some chat time with Siglain, Kristin Baver, and Older!
The High Republic Adventures #13 is a rousing, emotional, beautiful, hopeful, engaging, fitting (I could go on!) ending for a series focused more on its characters and their journeys and what it means for them and the readers.
+ Lula’s Choice and the potential of that future story
+ Zeen and the others have their moments too
+ Going where it should, not where I had hoped
+ Harvey Tolibao, Rebecca Nalty, Jake Wood…we were far too blessed. THE HAIR HUGGING. Wow.
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 ADVENTURES REVIEWS
#1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 | #11 | #12 / Annual 2021 / Galactic Bake-Off