– Spoiler Review –
The penultimate issue of the series, The High Republic Adventures #19 – Phase III pulls in some characters its left behind, all while resolving some lingering question from #18’s cliffhanger. I’m trying really hard to ignore the penultimate part, but this is a mighty fine start to the end.
A week before this released, the final novel of The High Republic’s Phase III, Trials of the Jedi, hit shelves and brought a big section of the era’s story to a close. But there’s still some story left in the comics! While Trials of the Jedi had a bird’s eye view of the Battle of Eriadu, and covered how the conflict ends, there’s not a ton of specifics in regard to characters or events from this series, so one could read either the novel or this issue and not have the other really spoiled for them;* I wish the novel worked with this series a little better, as the comics does with the novel, but that’s neither here nor there for this issue itself (but I went over it in more detail in my review of Trials). Issue #19 picks up a little before the end issue #18, checking in with some characters the series hasn’t in a few issues, and then marches us towards the battle’s ending as victory inevitably comes the Republic, Jedi, and Eriaduans’ way. The fact the larger battle finishes all off-screen, and the battle these characters have been dealing with comes to an end via telling us and less showing us, like how Farzala’s big decision to shoot down the Warden’s Star Hopper and who survives is dealt with in one lovely double-page spread, makes issue #19 feel rushed, like the big build up to issue #18’s finale gets only a partial appropriate falling action, but I was still grinning ear to ear as Sevran Tarkin shouts Eriadu is free at the issue’s end. In fact, there’s some emotional and compelling interactions with Sian Holt and Emerick Caphtor which propelled me through the issue and after the less than hopeful tone of the series prior to this issue, it was a welcomed change of pace. Issue #19 ends with me hopeful than ever for what Daniel José Older has up his sleeves for the finale out in July, though I’m no fool and am stocking up on tissues beforehand.
The High Republic Adventures has been a giant conduit of story for Phase III, with a lot of spin-off miniseries and one-shots and even an Annual picking up the stories of many different characters and plot points, while the main series has focused on Lula Talisola and Zeen Mrala’s quest to find themselves and one another, the liberation of Valo, and securing and saving Eriadu. Issue #19 spends its time resolving a few threads and bringing the overall brand together, as many characters who received expansion in the miniseries and one-shots converge back into the main series, as Gavi Takitaken, Kildo, Zyle Keem, Ruu, Svi’no Atchapat & Alys “Crash” Ongwa, Ram Jomaram, and even Crank Flat make appearances here, and I think their collective return is promising and delightful, but it does add to the way the issue feels like we’re already leaving the Battle of Eriadu behind quicker than it felt warranted to do so.
The burgeoning feelings between investigator Sian Holt and Jedi Master/Investigator Emerick Caphtor has been a long simmering thread for Older since his excellent noir-inspired Trail of Shadows miniseries in 2021, and it most recently gained steam, in more ways than one, in The Wedding Spectacular issue. Sian takes a blaster bolt during the first page of issue #19 and Emerick’s trapped in a Eriaduan bunker with Navaj Tarkin and Kantam Sy that’s a target of the Nihil, so the issue starts with the sense there won’t be any happy resolutions. What does end up happening for Sian and Emerick feels like a fitting conclusion to their connection and, much like something that happens in Trials, it’s a decision I hope will become more commonplace in stories after The Rise of Skywalker regarding the Jedi Order.
Only two issues left with this art team?! Better cherish it while we have it. Harvey Tolibao is of course here for art, with Michael Atiyeh on colors,† and the Comicraft team of Jimmy Betancourt & Tyler Smith on lettering. Beyond her getting shot, of course, it’s the pained expressions and struggles, plus the other characters’ reactions, which really sell Sian Holt’s injury as dire and adding the emotional weight to Older’s dialogue. There’s the smoking blast from the shot on her shoulder, her often downcast eyes, all the little dirty spots Atiyeh adds to her otherwise vibrant outfit, the little tear as she shares to Zyle what she wished she told Emerick, while Zyle’s concern only heightens ours. When Sevran so coldly suggests Kantam Sy is dead, there’s a lovely little bit of flashback fun as memories flood Lula of their time together as Master and Apprentice, like a cute shot of a litttle Lula drinking, and spilling, alongside Kantam, with a Star Hopper in the sky above, or them trying to meditate together but Lula’s got one eye open, trying to lift her saber, all of which remind readers of their bond and hits a bit emotionally after Sevran’s dark words. Atiyeh’s colors give it a sense of times long gone with a sepia tone over his usual work, while Smith & Betancourt give the flashbacks some room, leading readers to them and out of them, so no words hit you as you enjoy the silliness and sense of loss they are trying to hit you with. Yet the letterers take you out to an insert, where a resolved Zeen assures her newly wedded wife, Kantam isn’t dead and they need to go find them once they finish this fight, and how we’re pulled out of the memories is how it must of felt to Lula as Zeen pulls her out of the memories too! On the final page, besides a rather joyous moment for two characters long in the making, features an image of Bri-Phrang City, beautifully done purples and magentas in the sky as Sevran’s words ring out about Eriadu being free, which keeps making me grin every time I see it or think of it. It might feel a little rushed, but the moment feels deserved and needed after these past few months.
Here are a few other things:
- *There is an image of a THRA character and their fate in Trials towards the end of this issue, which I was surprised they included here, but it really made me want more artwork with the Luminous Nine team in their armor, it looked so good in Tolibao and team’s hands!
- †Atiyeh isn’t just working for Dark Horse on Star Wars content anymore, he’s now colorist with Marvel on the new Doctor Aphra: Chaos Agent series, which just launched last week!!
- The finale comes out in July and Older himself drew a special variant cover, which was already revealed, featuring Lula and Zeen!! Can’t imagine not picking this one up!! His newsletters are worth subscribing to, as he’s incredibly open and honest and he also talks about the dichotomy of creating and enjoying things while doing one’s best to stay in solidarity with Palestine.
- While there are only TWO more releases left in Phase III of the High Republic, a recent round table interview with much of the Luminous authors behind the initiative ended with the reveal “Phase More” will see these characters and their stories continue! What could it mean?! Another anthology novel? Charles Soule’s The Broken Blade finally? Other new comics and novels? We’ll bring you the news the moment they reveal it, which might be at SDCC next month!
- As for those final two releases, here’s the current schedule for those: July 16, 2025: The High Republic Adventures #20 – Phase III; July 30, 2025: The High Republic: The Finale – The Beacon.
The High Republic Adventures #19 – Phase III might feel like we’re closing this chapter too quickly after all the weighty issues, but its hopeful tone creates quite the promise for the series’ finale!
+ Sian and Emerick developments!
+ Art left me grinning at the end
– Feels like we’re moving on a smidge to quick after all the weightiness to get here
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him and the website on Bluesky.
DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this comic from the publisher at no charge in order to provide an early review. However, this did not affect the overall review content. All opinions are my own.
THE HIGH REPUBLIC ADVENTURES – PHASE III REVIEWS
Vol. 1: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 — Vol. 2: #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 — Vol. 3: #11 | #12 | #13 | The Wedding Spectacular (one-shot) — Vol. 4: #14 | #15 | #16 | The Battle of Eriadu (one-shot) | Vol. 5: #17 | #18