– Spoiler Review –
Porter Engle’s legendary lightsaber status has been a part of his backstory since we’ve met him, and while he’s had a chance to show it off, what was he like in his younger, non-chef focused years? And how did he earn the name “Blade of Bardotta?” As one of the most anticipated Phase II projects, Charles Soule’s miniseries The High Republic – The Blade #1 doesn’t disappoint, as it kicks off the exploration of Porter’s name defining past by introducing us to a surprise variable: Barash, his sister. The easy chemistry between the two leads, great art, and promise of tragedy and action will leave readers anxious for more.
As you can tell from the opening paragraph, I quite enjoyed this issue and am eager for more, but we can’t dive into a review of The Blade #1 and its glimpse of Porter Engle’s past without addressing the choice to slim him down to show him at his prime. When we first met Porter in Phase I, he’s retired from being on the frontlines, happier in the kitchen, and he’s rotund for it. He gets into some epic hijinks, proving size doesn’t matter when it comes to pure skill and prowess, making up a bit for the stereotypical way him being a fatter character was initially handled. As fans have pointed out since the first concept art of a younger Porter revealed him to be slimmed down, the unintended consequences of claiming this will be all about his prime in Phase II digs into fatphobia, as it implies body shaming and being fat and bigger is only when you’re retired and past your prime, that only slim people can be powerful and legendary. Keeping him at the same size we met him wouldn’t have changed anything about the story or its outcome, so it’s not a necessary choice, but just one unfortunately our society has ingrained in us and our media can perpetuate whether it means to or not. This happened with Dexter Jettster in The High Republic Adventures – Phase II as well, though writer Daniel José Older has worked with artist Toni Bruno for future issues to make sure Dexter remains closer to the size we saw him in Attack of the Clones due to fan feedback, and while such a change didn’t happen here, there’s no ill-will by the creative team, and in fact I felt like having his interest in cooking be present even now helps show one doesn’t need to be heavier to enjoy such a passion (though it being his focus and he’s bigger is part of that stereotype). Regardless, it is an important thing to discuss when dissecting our favorite pieces of media and something for creatives to consider in the future as well.
The issue begins with Porter in a kitchen in some hovel on Boneworld, using the Force to help him cook up a meal for the folks inside, only for the results to be less than pleasant for everyone. He vows to become better, and we know he will, but for now he has more important things to take care of…or at least whatever Barash Silvain tells him to take care of. Porter and Barash travel the frontier, exploring and helping out where they can, though they aren’t on any express orders from the Council, just being Jedi when and where they can. He disrupts a dispute brewing outside that Barash located, doing so in a flashy manner of a man confident in his lightsaber abilities, giving us the first glimpse of their easy rapport and trust in one another. Porter trusts Barash to think for the both of them, pointing them towards situations to diffuse or help out with, while Barash stands back and trusts him to solve the problem, showing their sibling bond, even though they aren’t actually siblings, might as well make them a dyad they are so in-tuned and willing to trust one another. There’s even a brief flashback 25 years prior, with Porter and Barash as younglings meeting for the first time, her an introvert outsider and happy with it and him an extrovert happy with life and wanting to make friends, his insistence more than Barash can handle and she gives in, obviously leading to this kinship. But it’s clear Barash is still reserved and keeps to herself, judging by the way she hangs by the door to get his attention or stands back when it’s his time to shine, so while she’s made this connection, she’s more than fine being alone otherwise. Their rapport and connection is so well-written by Soule, it’s one of the issue’s strongest aspects, making them being the focus for the next three issues a very exciting and entertaining prospect…but also one tinted with the knowledge of the future, as there’s a connection between Barash and the Barash Vow many Jedi eventually take, including Porter, so seeing them with such a strong bond makes any potential tragedy already that much harder to bear. It also makes one hope that beyond this miniseries we could one day get more of these two travelling the galaxy, righting wrongs and exploring the unknown, and I’m already saying that after one issue!
After they finish business on Boneworld (which now I want to know more about!), they return to the Office of the Frontier to look for more petitions to assist with out in the galaxy. You get even more a sense of their mindsets when they visit the Office, as he sees it as a key component for the Jedi to be out in more unknown parts of the galaxy while she sees it as a stark, giant reminder the Republic exists even out here, in the middle of nowhere. Regardless of their opposite views, they still work easily together and don’t even view the talk as any type of fight, just rather a discussion. Using the Force, Barash picks one of the 200+ petitions for them to help with, though the details on it are vague and it’s so far out they can’t even use the shuttle service to get there. She’s so sure of the Force and her feelings, even when this roadblock presents itself, his questioning of it doesn’t have to last long, as another Jedi overhears them and offers them a lift on their Pathfinder ship. The Pathfinders are one of the ways Phase II is unique to Phase I, as it consists of Republic and Jedi working as a team to lay the groundwork for the communication arrays throughout the Outer Rim, all while responding to calls for aid. We’ve not spent too much time with them, besides in Quest for the Hidden City, so it’s nice to have them mentioned and featured again, and Porter’s feelings towards their noble mission, which will likely take generations the human officers don’t have, help give it the weight and importance the rest of Phase II hasn’t quite brought forth by not focusing on it a bit more. It’s also another excellent set up for future stories, the brave Pathfinders and the wonders and problems they run into exploring the unknown. In the end, the vague situation of the petition they pursue, and turning down any assistance from the Pathfinders despite the totally remote nature of the planet is a harbinger of bad news if I’ve ever heard one, regardless of Barash’s confidence.
One of the big things about Porter is his legendary lightsaber abilities and issue #1 shows he didn’t start that way in the youngling flashback, but by the time of this story he’s gained quite the reputation. Heck, even one of the Jedi on the Pathfinders team asks to duel him once they know he’s Porter Engle. It’s one thing to read his impressive skills in like Light of the Jedi, but now it’s in comics form, so making his prowess impressive falls on the art team. Thankfully the work of Marco Castiello’s art, Jim Charalampidis’ colors, and Travis Lanham’s lettering are up for the task. The first hint this is true comes from the opening scene of Porter cooking with the Force, the fun set up of him juggling knives only to be alone in a kitchen slicing and dicing and salt shaking his soup together. There’s some real cool visuals of him casually Force juggling sabacc cards when he comes to interrupt the dispute, his showmanship and confidence in full bloom on his face, and then the double page spread of him deflecting all the blaster shots harmlessly through the cards only serves to make us as confident in him as he is in himself. I later loved the way he uses the Force to keep fighting with his lightsaber as he dances over to his Jedi opponent, sneaking up behind them and unsheathing a mini blade from a hidden place on his wrist. The little way Castiello has him dancing backwards, arms wide to highlight him being unarmed besides dangling his saber in the Force, while Charalampidis’ colors really capture how truly up close and personal he gets with his hidden blade, the blue glow of it overcoming the Natuloan Jedi’s natural yellow skin right across his neck, plus Lanham’s let’s us share in the other Jedi’s confusion and surprise when Porter physically let’s go of his blade, the words hanging between them, until the final thought bubble after his sneak attack pulls us and Helion’s attention behind him where Porter now is. This is just a small taste of what the teams can offer for unique lightsaber moments so I can’t wait to see what they can bring for the bigger l, legendary moments which secure his nickname. Boneworld was so fascinating thanks to Charalampidis’ work, the pastel, almost watercolor nature of his colors given the giant bone corpses in the background an otherworldly and alluring quality to them, begging to be explored.
Here are a few other things:
- While the series has been hit with a few delays, the remaining three issues look to be out and wrapped up before Phase II Wave II, its final, begins in April. And later in November…Phase III begins!
- If you’re eager for more Porter but aren’t patient enough until the end of January, don’t forget to check out his Characters of the High Republic video (which no context spoils some of the series) and this stellar artwork by Jake Bartok!!
- 2023 kicks off with a High Republic bang, as The Battle of Jedha audiobook arrives January 3! We’ll have a review the day before, so return to the Manor then! Happy new year!
The High Republic – The Blade #1 sets up a winning dynamic between the two leads, meaning whatever emotional ride Charles Soule is about to take us on will hit that’s much harder.
+ Porter and Barash’s connection
+ Art delivering on these early lightsaber displays
+ Lots of potential
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.