– Spoiler Review –
The High Republic Adventures – The Nameless Terror #3 is the horror movie which keeps on giving, as its penultimate issue will readers on the edge of their seats as the stakes have never been higher. Find out all the scary good details in my review!
In the framing story, Ty Yorrick’s suspicions of her droid Klo’s actions grows to the point she can’t let it go. As she questions the droid again, Klo claims the reason for their departure from their scheduled trip is she has always wanted to see a Acklay and it just so happens this planet has one plus the people there need their help bringing it down. Ty isn’t buying it, but Klo also claims the deviation is because Ty has been looking for surprises and adventures and she’s offering her one. When the issue picks back up with them, Ty’s still trying to suss out the real intentions to Klo’s actions, leaving us with the droid remarking she did tell Ty the truth, giving her enough information the fabled saber-for-hire should be prepared for anything they might run into. So far George Mann has done an excellent job juggling these two storylines, using the framing story to pause at tense parts and alleviate tension or to help build anticipation of what comes next, leaving me intrigued how he’ll handle it and split it up in the final issue if Ty’s about to have a bit of an adventure on her own. Though the way things are shaping up in the past, there might not be much story left for Ty to tell…
With the penultimate issue, it seems like some of the tension is set to cool off, but that couldn’t be further than the truth. Coron and Rok barely get back inside the ship before the charging Nameless creature overtakes them, only for them to run into the remaining Path of the Closed Fist members. Back with Master Sula and Ambar, Master Xinith is revived, though she immediately warns they are not even close to being out of danger, though Pako’s return and Ambar’s delight about it gives a moment of happiness in an otherwise bleak situation. Next, Coron and Rok return to the group, the Closed Fist following them, the Jedi willing to help because it’s what they do and there’s no point fighting when there’s a danger out there ready to attack all of them. It certainly feels like the moment in a monster/horror movie where everyone who is still alive comes together, regroups…and immediately hatches a plan to separate everyone again in hopes of defeating the monster(s). It is exactly said moment because plans are hatched and put into motion shortly after the respite, seeing the various groups split once again. It also allows for us readers to take a break from all the lingering tension of the Nameless’ “THUD”s permeating issue #2, but it opens a whole new and intriguing source of apprehension, as the Closed Fist and the Republic-aligned characters are forced to work together.
Thanks to Rok and Coron, the animosity between the Closed Fist and the Jedi takes a backseat to the current problem, though it doesn’t mean there’s not lingering friction. Specifically, Pako and the Closed Fist have problems, as they got into a firefight last issue and he managed to injure one of them. They’re here for aid considering the medic team gathered it all up and, despite their views on Jedi, they know the group will help them if they ask. Coron and Rok try to ensure eased tensions, while Sula isn’t so sure about the arraignment, but it’s the eldest Master, Xinith, who silences the doubts and tasks them with helping the Closed Fist. Despite the friendly demeanor, Rok has an ulterior motive to gain information, as the Closed Fist member he and Coron dealt with had some fiery rhetoric about the Jedi and the monster haunting them all, so he hopes keeping them close and aiding them will cause the Closed Fist to share what they know. One of the Closed Fist, a human woman named Shalish, claims she and their group know nothing about the other member’s dark ways, and she’s persuasive enough they don’t push the subject with her, though the need to figure out a way to send out a call for help and hold back the creature takes precedence. While we’ve had a lot of interactions between members of the Path of the Open Hand/Closed Fist and the Jedi, I felt like it’s been rare to see the cult dealing with regular citizens of the Republic one-on-one, so when the groups separate and Shalish and the Rodian Wole are left to chat with Pako as he attempts to help turn the engines into a bomb while Master Sula watches over them all, they get to talk to him about aligning with the Jedi. Wole seems to come around a little on the Order after dealing with Pako, but Shalish continues to mock, though regardless it really helps to crumble some of the cult’s messaging, as if not even the non-Force users see a correlation, the burden of proof continues to remain squarely on the Path’s shoulders, while why they’ve chosen to feel this way needs more examination. Will these groups manage to put aside these differences as all hell seems to break loose by the issue’s end?
Before we dive into the next insatiable cliffhanger ending, I quite liked how much time we got with all the characters here, making this large cast both feel small and seem more and more familiar to readers, to the point it’s quite surprising how much more I’ve come to be invested in these characters in three issues where series with 30+ don’t always find the same level of connection. A lot of this comes from the characters pushing the plot forward, talking through the situation with one another and coming up with plans on how to proceed, as in those moments they let their personalities burst out and shows the strength of Mann’s writing to makes this large cast feel so distinct.
Out of the group, it’s Coron and Rok who get the most attention, as Rok helps Sula’s Padawan understand that while he felt fear due to the creature, so too did a Master like Rok, and it’s less about avoiding feeling it and more about how you deal with it when you do. Their bonding helps build up Coron, giving him the confidence to volunteer to be part of the group which will both distract the monster and connect both sides of the ship so they can make it into a giant bomb. Sula doesn’t like Rok being there instead of her, but from the way Rok talks it seems to me like he has some certainty whoever acts as the distraction will not be coming back, so his desire to go with Coron potentially stems more from ensuring the young Jedi has his Master after all this over.
Things seem to be going well with all their carefully laid plans, but there’s a reason Ty talks about this as a legend more than anything else…it all comes crumbling down in the final few pages. As Coron makes for the other half and Rok acts as a distraction, the Nameless creatures thanks them for opening up a way in, sneaking in behind them!! It somehow gets worse, as the Nameless eggs in the hanger, a plot thread which hung over the entire issue like an approaching storm over a featureless desert, begin to crack open!!! How does Coron, at the very least, live to survive this?!!? Needless to say, I cannot wait to find out in the final issue later this May!!
Bringing all the spookiness to life is once again Eduardo Mello on illustrations, Ornella Savarese as inker, coloring by duo Vita Efremova & Nicola Righi, and lettering by Studio Ram. The “THUD” of the Nameless around the ship and its hull returned this issue a few times, but it wasn’t as pervasive this time, helping us related to the characters thinking they might have it all under control. The resulting “skree” SFX noise as it sneaks into the ship and is loose within its halls reads both like mocking laughter and excitement at access to tasty Jedi morsels, proving how wrong the characters were about the situation. Efremova and Righi’s coloring for the Nameless eggs keeps them in readers’ eyesight every panel they appear, so distinct is the glowing purple they give off, casually reminding us of the threat they pose even as characters claim they are just gemstones. Mello and Savarese really make the friction between the Closed Fist and the Republic/Jedi palpable, be it Pako’s angry look after just being so happy reuniting with Ambar, Shalish’s demeanor about their truce shown with arms crossed and leaning against a wall as far away as everyone else, and Sula’s frustration and surprise over Rok and Coron’s points regarding helping the Path members. Ty’s smile and grin as she tries to figure out Klo’s intentions is such a big swivel from these tenser moments in the past, which combined with the brighter palette of her scenes, helps pull us from the dreary events and aids in framing story’s ability to offer comic relief.
Here are a few other things:
- This is a big month for Phase II of The High Republic, as it (mostly) comes to a close with the final issue of this series, Cavan Scott’s big Path of Vengeance novel (which I’m reading right now and hope to have a review out a week or so from now), The High Republic – Phase II from Marvel’s final issues, The Edge of Balance: Precedent magna, and The High Republic Adventures – Phase II’s last half (though two go out into June).
- But that’s not all the goodies for The High Republic fans out lately! May 4 sees the arrival of Young Jedi Adventures on Disney+ (an accompanying picture book came out May 2), while video game Jedi: Survivor (which I am playing right now and should hopefully have a review in a month) features the era in some surprising and interesting ways! It’s a feast we can all enjoy!
The High Republic Adventures – The Nameless Terror #3 expertly sets us up for what should be a potentially instant classic finale.
+ Putting the Path and the Republic in the same room
+ A breathe of relief before the Nameless storm…
+ Palpable tension thanks to the art
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.
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 – THE NAMELESS TERROR REVIEWS
#1 | #2