– Spoiler Review –
Porter Engle and Barash Silvain find themselves in a real pickle that’s getting more complicated all the time, testing the strength of their bond and their way of operating like never before. The High Republic – The Blade #3 is another excellent issue, where events which unfold are sure to result in a memorable finale.
I’ve really loved how each issue of The High Republic – The Blade, writer Charles Soule can squeeze in not only a flashback to build up the connection Porter Engle and Barash Silvain have formed, but also push forward what’s already a complicated story and making it even more so, yet it never strays too far from the lovely main personalities centering the miniseries. The Blade #3’s flashback scene is my favorite of the miniseries so far and lands so well because of the scenes before it, as they build off each specific slice of their past and pays it off in a big way. In the first issue, we saw how they first met, Barash reluctant to make friends, and the second issue sees the two, now thick as thieves with one another, hatching a plan to ensure they can work together in the future despite the designs of the Jedi Council to separate them. Reunited in this issue’s flashback, Barash reveals why she was so reluctant to make friends, as Kage remember everything so she could remember her family and the feelings of connection with them, so the way the Jedi operate meant she focused more on what she lost than what her time at the Temple could provide. In Porter she’s found what she’s lost, though it’s not the problematic attachment I was worried about in my review last issue, but rather something that keeps her whole after situations like her older age joining the Order and long memory affect her training. She askes him to be her brother and Porter’s a little overwhelmed by her admission and request, but he feels the strength of their connection too, taking the honorary title of brother and calling her sister, showing how helpful such a bond is for them. Regardless, the Barash Vow Soule introduced years ago hangs over everything, so how and why that forms remains a dangling thread I’m curious to see how/if the miniseries will explore by the end of the final issue.
As the mercenaries arrive to assist Bethune retrieve their princess back from Firevale, an assault begins, leaving it up to Barash and Porter to see if they can prevent any bloodshed. The situation on Gansevor is a complicated one and while Barash has heard both sides, there’s still work to do, as everything seems to hinge on the princess both sides claim is theirs, while the precious mineral Firevale and Bethune are feuding over due to access factors in too. Porter does his impressive thing, hopping down into the midst of the giant mercenary army to gain a cease-fire until Barash can consume more information, like Obi-Wan jumping into General Grievous’ lair but on a much larger scale. His convincing manner spitballs into Barash’s discussion with the Firevale Queen, where it becomes clear everyone’s far too willing to speak for the princess in dispute, so Barash requests an audience. While both the Queen and Prince aren’t forthcoming in allowing a meeting, in a concerning way almost, Princess Sicatra makes a grand entrance to tell Barash her story. Essentially the Prince was telling the truth, they are in love despite coming from the two different cities, and since she believes her people would never accept a Firevale as their Prince, they decided to shack up in Firevale and with the prince’s mother (who isn’t the happiest with the situation) rather than run away and leave it all behind. Barash is curious about the suddenness of the decision, and is hopeful their union could result in a potential peace like Eiram and E’ronoh’s union inspired (for a little a while, set to be resolved in April’s Cataclysm), to which Sicatra reveals she’s pregnant, saying staying with Bethune would’ve resulted in them taking her child and giving it to someone else to raise, never considering it a heir, so she dispels Barash’s notion all wars can be fixed with a little love. Between the Queen’s dislike of Sicatra and the Bethunians eager to rip the pair apart, and no peace likely despite such a union, the situation’s too complicated for them to pick a side, but Barash wants Porter to convince the Bethune to leave and return to the city, leaving me curious to hear how she plans on bringing a resolution to the situation. But we don’t get to see that this issue, as things go sideways quick…
When Porter jumps into the mercenaries’ midst, he finds himself meeting with Field Marshal Tozen again and finally introduced to the snarky and intriguing General Viess, whose intro last issue left an impression she easily lived up to this issue. She’s immediately antagonistic to Porter despite Tozen’s willingness to hear the Jedi out, stating she hates the Jedi because they meddle in other people’s business while claiming it’s their right, to which Porter counters he hates mercenaries like her and having murder as your business deserves to be interrupted. This riles her up but Porter warns her off of action, though she’s quick to return to her disinterested face, like all of this matters little to her as long as she gets paid in the end. Once Barash tells Porter to get them to leave, Tozen’s true colors are shown, as he’s emboldened by their lack of connection to the Republic’s comm network and therefore eager to kill the Jedi to ensure they are successful, requesting Viess to do it for him…to which she negotiates some extra plundering of the city after it’s all done. One minute Porter’s enjoying a rest on one of their tanks, the next he’s dodging a rocket she’s shot at him, starting their assault on the city. Barash has faith he’ll not only survive, but bring the mercenaries to their knees, and the issue ends with Porter looking ready to absolutely blow our minds with his lightsaber prowess in the finale. If this is Viess’ proper introduction, I’m glad Soule’s hinted she’s connected to Phase III somehow, because we absolutely need more of a mercenary character like her, confident in her abilities to take out even Jedi, fighting for the right price, and probably sneaking away when things go south…or able to stand until the end, as her always assured stance seems to suggest. After this issue, I am all in and eager for this finale!
Once again Jethro Morales and Marco Castiello share art duties this issue, with Jim Charalampidis on colors and Travis Lanham lettering, where this pairing continues to be an excellent, nearly seamless one, making me hope they both return in future stories. Viess’ arresting outfit, which singles her out in the field of mercenaries to show she isn’t scared of getting her hands dirty, set a certain precedent for her time this issue and, from her actions to her dialogue, she doesn’t disappoint, while the art team excels with her as well. Her apathetic reaction to Porter waving his lightsaber around almost lets me hear her eyes rolling by looking at them, the only person on the planet who wasn’t rattled by his abilities, while her later snide look, changing her deal with Tozen to give her more time plundering for goodies if she kills the Jedi, speaks volumes to often she gets what she wants, as she knows he won’t fight her but she almost sets him so he could and she can pounce on his insolence later. It seems like it was Castiello drawing the flashback scene and it feels like he had facial references in mind, but I can’t quite place them (I’m getting Laura Prepon for Barash, at the very least and maybe Jared Leto for Porter?), but regardless I loved the scene between them, as he captures Barash’s vulnerability and Porter’s excitement and later commitment to being the best brother Barash could ask for (literally!), while Charalampidis makes it a bright, cheery scene, though shadows form from the breaks in windows, allowing the focus to shine brightly on these two. It’s such a juxaposition to the conversation in the scene before it, Barash and Sicatra discussing what really all happened, a less cheery moment where Charalampidis doesn’t hide away from the shadows, bringing the Gansevor’s night darkness feel the seriousness within their words. Lanham’s SFX punctuate Barash’s conversation with the Queen, the loud and giant “k-thoom” engulfing panels between them talking showing the Queen’s point, making for their sudden absence to hit home Barash’s point about her brother’s ability to stop the fighting for now. Later, the “sfwssh” of the rocket blasting towards Porter, who was enjoying his rest on the tank, makes readers almost wonder if he was caught off guard, the SFX a quick, almost quiet sound, the finality of the SFX for the explosion daring Porter to walk out alive. The final panel of Porter, lightsaber ignited, alive and well after the explosion is a great display of why the mercenaries should’ve listened to him in the first place because he’s about to wreck them.
Here are a few other things:
- The final Black History Month variant cover arrives with this issue, putting Phase I’s Jedi Knight Keeve Trennis, and my favorite character of the era, front and center. It also partakes in the beginning of the Women’s History Month variant covers as well, featuring Barash herself!
- We won’t have to wait long for the finale, as it’s out March 29! By then our reviews for The High Republic: Cataclysm will be out and the last two months of Phase II will almost be upon us, as the final books and comics are all set for May releases!
The High Republic – The Blade #3 is another stellar issue from this well-paced, character-centric miniseries, to the point I don’t want it to end so soon!
+ Big flashback payoff
+ General Viess is one to watch
+ Eager for the final issue to see Porter go off!
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.