– Spoiler Review –
Emerick Caphtor and Sian Holt’s investigation into the death of Loden Greatstorm has been one stellar issue after another, full of noir and style, humor and compassion, terror even. Well, it’s all lead to this, The High Republic – Trail of Shadows #5, another fantastic issue that, as writer Daniel José Older promised on a livestream not too long ago, reveals everything and nothing in the best way possible, though what’s most important is how it all shakes out for the characters involved.
Daniel José Older has ensured Trail of Shadows has become so much more than its central mystery, but it was always going to return to it and gain some answers, so we’ll start there and get those details out of the way so we can get to the good stuff. There’s been a hint the Great Leveler and its fellow creatures were named the Nameless as far back as the initial reveal video for The High Republic (if you looked hard enough!), but Dr. Kisma Uttersond confirms it with a handwritten letter by a Jedi from the past, which names them as both the Nameless and the opening lines of the spooky nursery rhyme (which recently took a spot in my Top 5 Moments for 2021’s Star Wars comics!), Shrii-Ka-Rai: Eaters of the Force! It’s a fitting name, considering the descriptions we have of how Jedi feel while within its sphere of influence or the nightmare fuel art in comics whenever they’ve affected Jedi, but while a name is one thing, Uttersond admits he doesn’t quite understand how they are able to do it, so as Older promised, everything and nothing. We don’t know who the Jedi was who wrote the letter or exactly how they do what they do, but it’s a start, as well as the fact Sian manages to nab a claw from the creature when they face one and Jedi Master Torban “Buckets of Blood” Buck offers his robes to be examined for blood samples. Between what they can understand from it with those samples and what new details arise from someone else’s unintended investigation as seen in Older’s Midnight Horizon (out last week, don’t miss it!), the Jedi of the High Republic’s present might finally have an idea on how to proceed against the creatures, but it seems we’ll learn a lot more first when Phase II begins in October, taking us 150 years into the past!
The connection between Sian Holt and Emerick Caphtor, while brief due to only five issues for this miniseries, has been a central part of what’s pulled myself and other readers along. These two have connected, and quickly, despite the circumstances of their investigation and different life-paths, he a Jedi, she a PI, and the compassion they have with one another has given Emerick an outlet for his emotions, his fear seeing what the creatures can do to him and his fellow Jedi, and for Sian it’s a reason to trust in others, to care again. Their connection is what saves them both and allows them to grab such valuable intel, as Emerick sees the burning Starlight Beacon and wants to go help so Sian votes they go, despite Uttersond’s objections, their commitment to one another driving them towards destiny. On Starlight, they run into a pack of Jedi, led by Buckets and Qort, both characters featured heavily in The High Republic Adventures (also by Older!), with little spoilers for its upcoming final issue (which happened only due to delays), who have dealt with the Nameless recently and report potential losses, once again leaving characters like Lula Talisola and Farzala’s fates in question. Emerick chooses not to flee from the nightmare creatures but instead face them, in the hopes he can learn something about them, how to defeat them. Emerick’s been a steadfast, stoic Jedi for most of the series, his emotions sneaking out around Sian where he can talk through them, so it only feels natural he’s able to reject the fear the Nameless produce, but he can’t do it alone…that’s what Sian’s there for, his rock in the sea of fear they crash over him, keeping him grounded as he attempts to reject fear to unlock the mysteries of the Nameless. It’s an amazing scene, the two working in tandem to hold back the creatures while learning what they can, and it further cements them as a compelling and fantastic pair. Older seems to have a knack for pairing characters together to bring out the best in both of them, a trend which lead to some wonderful moments between Sian and Emerick throughout the series. As the issue wraps up, Sian puts her hand on his shoulder and he places his over it, another in a long line of tenderness between the two that shows how close and connected they come, how they care about one another, and both can still be great at their jobs…that Emerick can still be a Jedi despite it.
In the chaos of the Nihil attack and Nameless confrontation, not even wily and committed Beesar can keep track of Uttersond, as he slips away. Does he perish as Starlight collapses? Gets off alive in many of the various rescue or escape attempts as seen in The Fallen Star? Either way, he went from not much of a character to someone utterly relatable, knowing he’s in Star Wars and just wanting to make enough money to support his family and live to see another day, despite the galactic circumstances of his existence. Beesar doesn’t get as much to do this issue as the last, though she’s sassy enough about Uttersond and he hides behind her when the Nameless shows itself, saying enough about her that she’s still a surprising force to be reckoned with.
Originally meant to be out after The High Republic Adventures #13, the delays hitting the comics industry mean Trail of Shadows #5 released first instead, meaning some of the characters from THRA and their appearances here give us hints on what’s to come to the finale of Older’s other series. Much like Midnight Horizon, it remains unclear what happens to Lula Talisola, as even Buckets isn’t sure what happened to the other Jedi he was with, but now we’re left wondering about Farzala while also learning Qort does enough to be Knighted! Is Lula also Knighted? Is she safe? Is she alright? And what about Farzala? And Buckets, shedding his robes so Emerick can analyze the blood, heading off into the battle to help others…is he about to lose buckets of blood saving Lula, Farzala, and/or others? If anything, no matter the answers, these moments didn’t spoil anything but rather elevated the already high tension for the finale to THRA!
I feel like it’s been awhile since we’ve had a reliable, uninterrupted run on a series, or even miniseries, from an artist, and holy Nameless this team was perfect for the mood and vibe of this series, issue after issue, and then some. David Wachter, alongside Giada Marchisio on colors and Joe Sabino lettering, threads a fine, silk line through the different aspects of the story, from the horror-inducing influence of the Nameless to the tender moments between Sian and Emerick, they always captures exactly what Older’s script needs to make the emotions intended hit home. I particularly loved how Wachter and team made it clear, beyond his narrated struggle with fear, Emerick’s struggle with the Nameless’ affects on him, from the way Sian molds into the understandable freaky Ongree Jedi Master who used to sing the Nameless’ rhyme or how its effects aren’t as pronounced or as horrifying once Emerick confronts the fear it’s blasting through him, something Marchisio also conveys in her colors, staying psychedelic in the opening page but then holding back as Emerick manages to mentally fight back a bit; it’s palpable how dangerous they are to him and other Jedi from how he sweats and grimaces as well. The Nameless itself, still obscured in shadow (this is a trail of shadows, didn’t you hear?), has some aspects of it revealed (hewing closely to the brief glimpse in the video mentioned above), from its three clawed hands on long, spindly arms, while its eyes and tentacled face looks similar to the Ongree as we’ve seen them in Wachter’s art, a connection given more weight from the old Jedi knowing the song and how often we see her face in Emerick’s ‘visions.’ The team pivots easily to the compassion between Sian and Emerick, as I liked how light it felt when they touch one another, be it holding hands or Emerick placing his over her, the time unseen between the panels before he puts his hand down and after feels slowed down, almost like one can imagine how it could look as Emerick would meet her touch without haste. And lastly, wow, who knew Buckets was so ripped?! I hope readers were able to fan themselves appropriately upon that reveal, as it’s a doozy! I hope we’ll have this team back again in the future (past) of the era!
Here are a few other things:
- Another hint for what’s to come in Phase II: Quest of the Jedi? I stumbled on Cavan Scott mentioning beings know as the “Luminous” (yes, the name of this project for the title was revealed!) throughout some of his works, most recently in The High Republic #14, and he RT my tweet about it so it’s maybe something?! Someone mentioned they could be responsible for the Nameless, whether intentionally or not. Plenty of mystery on what’s to come in Phase II but something to mull over until then!
The High Republic – Trail of Shadows #5 is stellar ending for the mood-heavy, character-focused miniseries.
+ Sian and Emerick power through the Nameless’ influence
+ Glimpses of details about the creatures
+ Increasing excitement for THRA finale
+ Art team delivers another stellar issue, Buckets’ 12-pack and all
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.