– Spoiler Review –
The High Republic #5 finds the Jedi on Sedri Minor and Starlight Beacon in the fight for their lives from the Drengir, and even the Hutts and their gangsters, with the outcome of it all balancing on the teetering but strong bond between Keeve Trennis and Sskeer. Read on to find out how this emotional, action-packed issue will make the month wait until the next issue excruciating!
By the end of the previous issue, it seemed like the bond between Keeve and her old Master Sskeer had been enough to overcome Drengir’s influence of the damaged Trandoshan Jedi and allow him to fulfill his plan of using the Drengir against themselves. The cover of this issue alone is enough to tell you really how well things go afterwards, but it’s an emotional ride to get there and totally worth it for fans of these two, which includes myself thanks to how well Cavan Scott has written these two characters and their relationship in the span of these first few issues. Sskeer is only so strong and his past of overcoming his Trandoshan instincts to become a Jedi Master in the first place only so helpful against the onslaught of the Drengir’s telepathic, all-consuming need for meat that they continue to get the better of Sskeer. He causes a diplomatic incident with the Hutts, his impatience egged on by the Drengir’s influence prompting him to lash out at Myarga instead of waiting on Avar Kriss’ efforts, and the Hutts, with their rancor and gangsters, launch an attack. Keeve gets between her old Master and Myarga, the Hutt’s spokesperson, cutting at his Drengir-limb and deflecting his attacks on her, trying to break through again, but it’s harder and harder for her to do so. When Sskeer breaks free for a moment, it’s enough for him to reveal a truth to Keeve that Kriss already told us readers when she confronted Sskeer a few issues back: his connection to the Force is weakening, though he doesn’t know why, so he figured this was the last best thing he could do before he losses it for good. She of course asks him why he didn’t tell her and he admits he felt he let her down and she quickly tells him he couldn’t let her down; It’s an extremely tender but short moment between the two and helps make what comes next hit that much harder. As Sskeer describes their telepathic root system, he suggests a dangerous plan, which involves Keeve using a mind touch (aka mind trick, something Light of the Jedi discusses the difference on, for now) on Sskeer to spread the idea their harvest of meat is actually spoiled. Keeve is worried how it could hurt him, but there’s no other option so she sends a message through Sskeer and the Drengir buy in, believing the deception and calling off their attack, which spans various planets, including Sedri and Starlight Beacon. It comes at a cost though, as Sskeer lays motionless in Keeve’s arms, seemingly dead. Keeve trusts her Master, not quite expecting such an outcome, but she’s eager to see the Drengir beaten back, so she decides to follow and trust his plan regardless, so when he’s basically dead in her arms, her anguish is clear, especially thanks to the heart-wrenching sadness and anger on her face the art team of Ario Anindito, Mark Morales, Annalisa Leoni, and Ariana Maher offer up. It’s a big sacrifice on Sskeer’s part and it’s sad he’d choose not to tell Keeve, to ask for her help, considering how close they are and have been over the years, as how open the Jedi are in this era discussing emotions they’d likely help him avoid this situation or get help via Keeve and even Marshal Kriss. Here’s hoping Sskeer can make it through, though I have an unfortunate but inexplicable feeling this is just the beginning of hits to Keeve as the story of The High Republic era continues on.
Through Kalo, the citizens of Sedri were forced into working for the Hutts, their protection in exchange for the planet’s harvest (which turns out to be part of the growing field of bacta), so in the chaos amongst Hutts, Drengir, and Jedi, the citizens get back at him…until the Hutts’ rancor smashes through the moment and he manages to get away…only for the Drengir to find him! Hopefully they don’t have to rely on or be part of the Hutts’ plans anymore after this, especially with Kalo gone and the Jedi fighting for their freedom, so to speak. I really loved Avar Kriss’ never-ending attempts at diplomacy, even when she’s battling the gangsters or Myargar herself, and how she uses the various distress calls put into Starlight about the Drengir to help Myargar understand the scope of the situation, aka much larger than them on Sedri Minor, it’s enough to get the Hutt on their side to fight back the Drengir until Keeve is able to pass along the spoiled meat message. Kriss is the Jedi’s shining star for a reason, she is the Hero of Hetzal after all, so her being Marshal of Starlight Beacon (despite Jora Milla’s death, of course) is smart move, while Scott’s writing of her talking through things here highlights why, as not even Obi-Wan or Anakin felt like diplomacy much once a battle began in the Clone Wars, whereas Kriss never stops until she can’t make it work. On Starlight, there’s a brief moment between Vernestra Rwoh and her new Padawan, despite just becoming a Knight herself, Imri Cantaros that perfectly carries on their relationship (from A Test of Courage) and easily shows why it’s understandable she’s been given such responsibilities despite her age. And as for Ceret and Terec, the two are finally reunited and eager to help one another away from the Drengir’s influence, banding together once again since they are always stronger together than apart, now ready to help fight back the Hutts; it’s great to see them recovered from the Drengir and at each other’s side, giving them even more positive moments in their rare representation of non-binary in a growing list of LGBTQ+ characters…they even get a gorgeous new cover for Pride Month! In the end, I’ll be curious to see how long this trick by Keeve and Sskeer works on the Drengir, but if details on the upcoming Wave II of content is anything to go by, it’s clear it doesn’t last long, though I hope it can work a few more times…or at least Sskeer’s connection with them will help them understand how best to approach this new villainous group (issue #6 is out a day after The Rising Storm, though it might still take place prior to its events…we’ll know more next month!).
Most the action in the past few issues has been small and localized so issue #5 was the chance for the team to try their hands at a larger scale battle with the Hutts, Jedi, and Drengir working out their differences. In particular, while I loved all of Anindito, Morales, Leoni, and Maher’s work throughout the issue (as always!), the opening several pages and panels were some of their best in #5, as the chaos sown in them brings visceral life to Keeve’s less than optimistic feelings about the current situation and how unavoidable it was: Keeve pushed back by endless blasterfire, Ceret facing down the roving rancor and being stomped, a big “thwamm” from Maher’s lettering or the framing of the rancor looming over them, Rosenberg’s colors painting a dark and desperate scene, with little light and hope to be found. Starting off so dark and moody, it helps to brighten the later moments in the issue, even though the issue ends on such a heart-wrenching final image. Other panels and pages I enjoyed a lot: Thanks to Rosenberg,Vernestra’s panels were so pink-soaked in color was an awesome moment for the character, especially as she shows off her light-whip to give them a slight upper hand against the Drengir on Starlight; the way Myargar and Sskeer were throwing each other around, using his Drengir-limb against one another, really felt impactful from Anindito’s impact craters and dust that they kicked up, while Maher calls back to the “thwamm” from the rancor’s paws to drive home how hard these two are throwing each other around; I loved the chaotic bubble placement as Avar plays the distress calls for the Hutt, adding to the urgency of the scene, while Maher’s big SFX for the rancor crashing through a local’s home could’ve easily made the page shake in my hand. But we can’t not talk about the art and not discuss that final, daunting page, because of course they’d nearly make me lose my breakfast one week and then make me nearly cry another! Phil Noto’s cover captures the same moment, but the two couldn’t have gone for a different style and take. Noto’s offers a calm, serene look at a near-dead Sskeer, while Anindito and team’s brings out the anguish in Keeve’s face and making Sskeer look more dead than near-dead, the way she cradles him bringing me back to Obi-Wan holding his Master in The Phantom Menace (or even his nemesis on Tatooine), which means I’m there now with Keeve, yelling “Don’t you dare!” Thanks Scott and the art team, for really making this wait so much more unbearable. Don’t you dare do it again…though I know they will and I love it regardless, as much as I love/hate this moment!
Here are a few other things:
- We have a page dedicated to The High Republic, which is where you’ll find all our reviews, news articles, related videos, and a list of what content is yet to come!
- We’ll have a third installment of The High Republic Show to look forward too later in May, so more details on what’s ahead will likely be shared then, about a month out from Wave II content.
- There’s no merchandise for The High Republic beyond the books/comics content (yet), so it’s been up to fans to make some wild and fun stuff. I recently purchased some goodies, related to Geode and the Nihil, and you can grab them from GeekyGirlExperience on Etsy!
The High Republic #5 tests the bond between Sskeer and Keeve, which in turn tests our emotional responses to them because it’s been a stellar ride with them so far and oh my goodness, not Sskeer! The wait for the next issue is going to be so painful but I wouldn’t want it any other way!
+ NO, SSSSSKKKKKEEEEEEEEERRRRRR!!!!
+ Testing their, and our, bond with Keeve and Sskeer
+ Diplomatic Kriss, to the end
+ They’ve proven on the little moments and now the art team delivers on the big, action moments too!!
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.
THE HIGH REPUBLIC COMIC REVIEWS:
There Is No Fear: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4