– Spoiler Review –
After the big conclusion to the opening arc, The High Republic Adventures #6 takes a step back from Lula Talisola and Zeen Mrala and brings Farzala and Qort to the forefront, alongside the wonderful and unique crew of the Vessel, for a funny, engaging, and memorable start to a quick two-part story.
After all the epic-sized drama of friends splintering apart and new friends found along the way, The High Republic Adventures #6, taking place in the lead-up to the Republic Fair (as seen memorably in The Rising Storm and Older’s Race to Crashpoint Tower) is a really refreshing and entertaining change of pace, focusing on a smaller conflict with big stakes, injecting the series with even more of writer Daniel José Older’s raucous humor with memorable characters from the novel Into the Dark. Farzala Tarabal and Qort, alongside Farzala’s Parwan Master, attempt to bring a lasting peace between the Republic and the Hutts, a conversation only happening thanks to Jedi Master and Starlight Beacon Marhsal Avar Kriss teaming up with Myarga the Hutt in the fight against the Drengir, as seen in Marvel’s The High Republic comic. Via Farzala’s narration, Older makes this all clear to readers, so whether you’ve been reading the other series or not, it’s easy for anyone to pick up this story and quickly be in the middle of it. Ferrying the three Jedi are the crew of the Vessel, which consists of the Vessel’s newest owner Affie Hollow, Matthew McConaughey as Space Pilot Leox Gyasi, and Vintian navigator Geode, a (memorable) slab of rock. They inject tons of humor into the story, which honors their previous appearance, as well as a new, exciting energy to the series. It’s not all humor though, as the stakes fly through the roof in a matter of pages, as someone doesn’t want any peace between the Republic and Hutts to begin and hijacks the Vessel, turning it on the negotiations. It’s Hutt hench-people, so it would seem the Hutts are holding these peace talks in bad faith, which wouldn’t be a big surprise, but it’s not clear if this is something by a specific Hutt or the Hutt Council’s wishes in general, a thread I hope the next issue answers.
Leox’s interactions with Affie during Into the Dark, with how he spoke with her as a grown-up, helped her where he could, and considered her opinion at all times made him such a great parental-type figure in a galaxy rife with poor examples, so having him alongside Farzala allows the young Padawan a chance to come into his own here. We’ve got glimpses of his personality in first 5-issues but he was more in the background, his fierce loyalty to his Jedi friends, close friendship with Qort, confidence, and quick acceptance of Zeen Mrala pegged him as a good being. His confidence isn’t excessive, though it is funny with how he wields it, eager and ready to take his Master’s position to negotiate since the Parwan is hibernating or taking cuts against him stride when the Hutt greeting party makes fun of him. In this moment, Leox’s worldly advice and supportive nature are exactly what Farzala needs as he begins negotiations, even as things crumble apart, as sometimes the more rigid viewpoint of the Jedi doesn’t allow for someone to teach the Jedi how to be…people, or interact with other citizens of the galaxy, or see through their artifice instead of always seeing the best in others. They make for a fun pair here and I look forward to their interactions in the next issue. For Farzala himself, saving the same Hutt hench-people attacking him from the Drengir infestation hiding on Nal Hutta was like quintessential Jedi stuff and I hope their quintessential Hutt hence-people behavior of capturing afterwards anyways doesn’t sour him for helping any and all who need it. I’m also worried his thoughts at the end, and his dour face while locked up in chains, point to him feeling betrayed by the inexplicable attack by the Vessel, his feeling of loneliness seems to come from a place of being abandoned rather than worried about the odds against him winning the day alone. I’ll be curious how this is handled or if I’m reading things wrong.
Oh Qort, you cute little alien-speaking mischief maker with Farzala! He doesn’t have much to do here, though stuck on the Vessel with Affie, Geode, and the Hutt attack squad who took over means he’ll probably get more focus next issue. Otherwise, he has a sweet, funny, and tender moment with Geode after Affie asks him about why he wears the mask all the time. Qort speaks in his native tongue to Geode, and while the Vintian doesn’t verbally respond, Qort ends up hugging the navigator for whatever he says! Into the Dark’s ending had Wayseeker Orla Jareni speaking with Geode in a similar manner, so he must communicate telepathically, if he communicates at all. That’s the great thing about Geode, he’s there for you emotionally and there for the crew in a pinch, as he scares much of the Hutt hence-people to break up them using the Vessel for nefarious purposes and then suddenly disappears. How the rock does it, still isn’t clear despite us being able to see him this time, and I’m glad Older kept the Vintian’s secrets safe so far. Back to Qort, where I have to admit: I didn’t realize he was wearing a mask this whole time! I honestly thought it was part of his body, something unique to his species, so when Affie asked him about the mask I was floored. There’s no one to blame but me for this, as while it’s never stated until this point, the art by Havey Tolibao and Rebecca Nalty’s colors make sure to differentiate the mask from his actual face, though since I wasn’t looking for it/expecting it, I missed all the hints that are obvious now looking back (and it’s very clear on this issue’s cover!). Why does Qort wear a mask? The way Farzala and Lula, and even Zeen after she joins them, never mention it or say anything about it means they accept their friend and aren’t going to push him to do anything differently/that doesn’t make him comfortable, so in a way the why might not matter as long as he’s happy/comfortable with who he is.
I love knowing there was a subtle detail in Tolibao and Nalty’s work this whole time and I just missed it, as it goes to show the talents of this team, making something so obvious you could even miss it. Tolibao is joined by Pow Rodrix again on the issue, though in only a few panels or pages could I truly notice the difference/change of artist. Rodrix has a softer look to his characters and world than Tolibao, who has harder lines and greater detail, but since it’s not immediate there’s much a difference, the two complement one another. Tolibao’s full page, where Farzala and Leox run into the rancor, is the perfect highlight of his style and abilities, where all the scrunches on their outfits, the rancor’s many scales and folds, and even the individual chains links show how much detail and little nuances he likes to pack into an image. The final page of Farzala chained up also gives him a chance to flex his facial work, as the grumpy, almost angry look on Farzala’s face allows it to be read in so many little ways, as I mentioned above I wondered if he even felt abandoned, and it’s a big change from the opening of the issue and his triumphant face as he heads into the negotiations. With Rodrix, he brings us the iconic panel of Qort hugging Geode, so do I really need to say more about how much joy and nuance his work can bring too?! He does more great Geode work with the exaggerated and scared reactions from the hench-person when the Vintian slams into the cockpit. Nalty’s colors help tie the two artists together, consistency from her selling the illusion even more. The blue of the rancor was a neat choice, while the swirling browns of Bilbousa, Nal Hutta give the place an off-putting, uninviting appeal that fits the Hutts well. The way she manages to keep Farzala’s green blade distinct from the various greens and yellows of the Drengir, while the red background to denote loud, surprising moments make those panels stick out. Letterer Jake M. Wood clearly has a handle on whatever Qort’s language is and I’m beginning to wonder if we’ll be able to decipher it soon from how much he’s getting to talk. I loved the lightsaber SFX, slashing alongside the blade, and the obvious difference to the sound of the Drengir tentacle being chopped off, a 3D/bubble SFX almost reminding me of wood being chopped. I also appreciate the lack of SFX for Geode’s movements, instead he’s just silently and suddenly there.
Here are a few other things:
- Make sure to check out our page dedicated to The High Republic, which is where you’ll find all our reviews, news articles, and a list of what content is yet to come! And return to the Manor Friday 7/23 for our coverage all the reveals in the SDCC panel for THR!
- The Galactic Data Files has been a neat feature of the series so far, but this issue’s was my favorite, showing us Drengir-related images, from the Amaxine station they were reawoke on, as seen during Into the Dark, the neat statues holding them in stasis the Jedi foolishly disable, to the Hutt/Jedi attack force from Marvel’s comic, showing us Avar, Kreeve Trennis, Terec, Cerec, and even some Hutts including Myarga.
- I’m curious how Leox knows the negotiating Hutt, Skarabda!
The High Republic Adventures #6 excels with the new story, Farzala and Qort in the limelight, and the introduction of the Vessel’s crew to the series.
+ Farzala and Qort taking center-stage
+ The Vessel crew!
+ Exciting new adventure
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.