#highrepublicera — Public Fediverse posts

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Pathfinders #3 | Comic Review

Dark Horse has a fantastic story on their hands with Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Pathfinders # 3. These are the kinds of stories that I think will continue to flourish in the “Phase More” aspect of the The High Republic.

This was a great book following Jedi Master Temesh, Padawan Anula, and Pol the Pathfinder. They are continuing their investigation into the murder of Master Atticus Cale, and after answering a distress call, they stumble upon another murder mystery.

The book is brilliant and continues to impress every release. George Mann and Caio Filipe are a great team.

Now, the bummer is that we have to wait until nearly the end of August for the next book in the series to come out. They sure are stretching this release schedule for all they can.

This book is going to be fantastic once it’s collected.

Book: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Pathfinders # 3

Publisher: Dark Horse

Written by: George Mann

Illustrated by: Caio Filipe

Colored by: Michael Atiyeh

Lettered by: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith and Bobby Bradford

Cover Art by: Jake Bartok

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Pathfinders #2 | Comic Review

I know I’m late to this review for Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Pathfinders # 2, but I haven’t really been interested in talking about it. The book was great, but the constant release delays have been a bummer.

I love a hyperspace mystery.

While the overarching story continues in the second book, I loved this individual issue. This was awesome, and it’s exactly what I was hoping for whenever we first learned about these Pathfinders during Phase Two of The High Republic. It’s Star Wars but with a very Star Trek-like story.

When the Pathfinder team gets pulled through a gravitational anomaly, they have to figure out a way back to “normal” space if they want to survive.

The artwork Caio Filipe and Michael Atiyeh in this one was fantastic. I was really blown away by the appearance of the anomaly from both sides. It looked great

They’ve got to fix these release dates.

Listen, I get their delays in the comic book industry. Star Wars comics seem to be especially delayed these days at kind of crazy levels. The first book in this series came out in March, and the final book is currently slated to come out in October.

Ever since the high Republic publishing initiative ended, Star Wars has greatly struggled on the comic front. The releases have been all over, and it’s hard to tell what kind of plan there actually is.

I am wondering if there is a recalibration of sorts going on with the 50th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope next year combined with the launch of Star Wars: Starfighter, and Kathleen Kennedy leaving the company and the new leadership of Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan coming into power.

Here’s hoping.

Book: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Pathfinders # 2

Publisher: Dark Horse

Written by: George Mann

Illustrated by: Caio Filipe

Colored by: Michael Atiyeh

Lettered by: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith and Bobby Bradford

Cover Art by: Jake Bartok

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 20 | Comic Review

Following the Battle of Eriadu, Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 20 brings the journey as a whole to a close.

Phase III of The High Republic Adventures was my least favorite.

For me, I thought Phase I of The High Republic Adventures from Dark Horse was better than the High Republic comics coming from Marvel, while they were about equal in Phase II. In Phase III, I really think Marvel was away with the competition, and it wasn’t very close. (It’s not really a competition though.)

I can’t really tell you what about THRA in Phase III didn’t connect with me, but I struggled for a lot of it. I’m wondering if I go back and read them in one sitting if the story will flow a little bit better for me.

Honestly, I think that a lot of it has to come to how in my brain I felt that Lula Talasola and Zeen Mrala were sidelined. It really felt like Phase I was their story, while Phase III tried to spread the love to all of the characters that we have spent time with in Dark Horse comics.

Getting to see what happened to Buckets of Blood was awesome (and terrible).

I was super bummed with what happened to Buckets of Blood in Star Wars: The High Republic: Trials of the Jedi. Still, the guy we were introduced to way back in Phase I of The High Republic Adventures went out as an absolute legend.

Haven’t Tolibao and Michael Atiyeh recreated that death in these pages, and it was heartbreaking all over again.

RIP Master Torben Buck.

I can’t wait to see what the future holds for some of these characters.

The possibilities are endless with the characters as we leave THRA. There’s a lot of Jedi who will be coming into their own that I can’t wait to hear more about in the future.

We also have characters like our main couple of Lula and Zeen who are leaving the Order to do their own thing.

There’s so many directions, and I can’t wait to see what’s next

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 20

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Daniel Jose Older

Artists: Harvey Tolibao

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Elisa Romboli

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 19 | Comic Review

There’s still one book remaining, but the main story of Phase III has come to an end with Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 19. What a journey.

The Battle of Eriadu comes to an end.

Having read Star Wars: The High Republic: Trials of the Jedi, I was interested in seeing how certain story beats would play out in THRA. I think Daniel Jose Older paired the events well with what we saw in the novel.

I’ve talked about how the Battle of Eriadu hasn’t been my favorite, and I still don’t love it. However, parts of the story were terrific, and I’ll remember them and specific panels for a while.

I don’t think THRA Phase III is as strong as Phase I, but now that the whole picture is available, I think I enjoy it more.

I’m pleased DJO gave all of the Starhopper kids time to shine in Please III.

I’m sure this won’t be the last time that we see THRA characters; however, I’m glad that DJO showed all of them being heroes in the battle.

Since the first book in Phase I, these kids have been on a fantastic journey. Seeing all of them get huge, splash page hero shots has been a joy.

Oof, the kids reaction to finding out (spoiler) didn’t make it off of Sophros/Planet X.

Don’t read further if you don’t want a spoiler for Trials of the Jedi.

I have no idea how the kids are going to react to finding out Buckets of Blood died. RIP Torben Buck.

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 19

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Daniel Jose Older

Artists: Harvey Tolibao

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Elisa Romboli

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 18 | Comic Review

The Battle of Eriadu comes to an end in Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 18. It turned out to be a pivotal fight in the publishing initative, one in which the Jedi and the Republic finally came out on top.

I wish I liked the Battle of Eriadu more.

Once The High Republic Adventures turned to the Battle of Eriadu, the amount that I liked this story started to decline. I wish I liked it more, I really do. There’s just something about it that didn’t work for me overall, despite loving certain moments.

Some of the artwork in this book was phenomenal.

Harvey Tolibao and Michael Atiyeh combined for some absolute fantastic artwork in this book. The full page spreads were so vibrant and awesome. Loved it.

I need full recaps of all my favorites.

So far, all of the Jedi padawan that we met way back in Phase I aboard the Star Hopper are still alive and well.

Thank goodness.

I’m going to need a full update on what has happened to all of them. Every single one.

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 18

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Daniel Jose Older

Artists: Harvey Tolibao

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Elisa Romboli

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 17 | Comic Review

I’m so glad that Farzala Tarabel appears to be the main focus of the final run-in for Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 17.

What is Farzala struggling with?

Farzala learned a very important lesson in this book.

He learned that his attachment isn’t to his friends like I expected. We get the twist, however, in that Farzala’s attachment is to certainty.

“If I’m certain that the worst thing will happen and I take actions based on that, I believe I can evade it and save my friends. But the truth is, there is no certainty. To act this way it’s not to evade fear — it’s to be ruled by it!”

Farzala learns that he can’t control a future that isn’t written yet. And by trying to control the future that he is afraid of, he’s allowing fear to dominate his future. 

As Master Yoda would say, “Always in motion the future is.”

MASTER OBRATUK!

It was very nice seeing Farzala’s former Jedi Master even if it was only a Force vision. He was a unique character design that I really liked.

Farzala hero shot!

The full page shot of a confident Farzala to end the book was exactly what I needed. I love that dude.

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 17

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Daniel Jose Older

Artists: Harvey Tolibao

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Harvey Tolibao, Kevin Tolibao

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 16 | Comic Review

We head back to Eriadu with the request of Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 16.

The Nihil assault in Eriadu continues, but the Jedi and their pirate friends do their best to help defend the citizens of the Tarkin home world.

I was pretty upfront that the arc leading into this final battle wasn’t my favorite of THRA, all I’m glad that these last few books have turned things around for me.

You can pick up the comic here.

The Nihil Stormwall is DOWN!

The Nihil Stormwall has been an all-encompassing presence in Phase III, and it would appear, with the Republic showing up at the end, that it has finally been destroyed/deactivated.

I’m not sure about everyone’s feelings on the Stormwall, but I’ve enjoyed it as a storytelling device to force the Jedi and Republic into dangerous situations and give the Nihil some “home territory”. Sure, the stuff with the path engines and “no space” has pretty much died, but there had to be a trade-off.

I’m interested to see in the upcoming novels the moment that the Stormwall comes down and how it pairs time-wise with this book.

That’s Keeve Trennis and company on that ship, right?

Based on the previews for this final wave of Phase III across all media, I’m pretty sure that Keeve Trennis and Sskeer (among others) are on that Republic cruiser that showed up at the end.

As I keep saying in my reviews of the Marvel High Republic book, what here breaks Keeve and causes her to leave the Order?

I like the focus on other characters, but I really miss Lula and Zeen.

I love Farzala Tarabel. He’s an awesome character. I love Qort, too. They’re two awesome fellas. However, the little cameo at the end of the book made me realize how much I miss Lula Talisola and Zeen Mrala.

I’m assuming, at least based on the cover for next week’s book, that they will slowly be coming back into the forefront in the final four issues, so I won’t complain. I just miss them.

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 16

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Daniel Jose Older

Artists: Tony Bruno

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Harvey Tolibao, Kevin Tolibao

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 15 | Comic Review

I’ve been loving The High Republic Adventures line from Dark Horse from day one, so it’s no surprise that Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 15 was a home run for me.

The Battle of Eriadu kicked off in # 14, and it’s in full swing here. We’ve seen Qort get shot (though, he’s alive for now!), and we know there’s now a traitor in the Jedi/Republic side. But, they’re only a traitor, because the Warden kidnapped a family member.

You can pick up the comic here.

I’m really digging what’s going on with Farzala.

Farzala is the one of the original kids that were part of The High Republic Adventures that hasn’t really had any of the main focus so far in the series. I’m so glad that he’s getting his time to shine now, because he’s such a cool character.

These visions that he’s having are spooky. At this point, I really have no idea what these visions are signaling. I’m excited.

I didn’t love the art in this one.

Normally, I don’t have any complaints about the artwork in The High Republic Adventures, but something about this book just didn’t work for me.

This book incorporated so many people.

One of my favorite things about this book was how many different characters got to feature. It was really fun to see so many different people that were seen throughout the first two phases show up to help Eriadu.

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 15

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Daniel Jose Older

Artists: Tony Bruno

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Harvey Tolibao, Kevin Tolibao

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 14 | Comic Review

We’re in the end game now. Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 14 kicks off the race to the finish of The High Republic Adventures, and I’m excited!

I’ll be the first one to admit that I thought several of the comics leading up to the Battle of Eriadu dragged. I struggled with several of them and just wasn’t enjoying myself as much as I normally do with The High Republic Adventures.

However, now that we’re finally here, there is a feeling of almost relief. Issue 14 kicks off the big fight between the Nihil and everybody else. It also finally gave us some backstory on the evil Warden who has been a thorn in everybody’s side.

Interestingly enough, it looks like our two books from Dark Horse and Marvel are going to be telling a lot of the same event for the climax? That’s exciting!

You can pick up the comic here.

There were some amazing full-page spreads in this book.

Harvey Tolibau and Michael Atiyeh combined for some awesome pages in this book. There are too many to count, but I really loved the two-page spread of the Jedi/Republic characters and the Nihil characters in battle. That is such an awesome image.

Finally, the Battle of Eriadu has begun.

It’s interesting that the Tarkin home world of Eriadu is the stage for one of the biggest battles of The High Republic publishing initiative.

As I said earlier, I didn’t love the build up on The High Republic Adventures side of things. I haven’t not liked it though, if you get what I mean. I’m excited to see how the Marvel comics from Cavan Scott will tie into THRA from Daniel Jose Older.

Oh MY god, I thought we lost Qort.

The moment that Qort was shot, I nearly lost it. The High Republic has been full of characters being killed (sometimes brutally), so it wasn’t unusual. However, The High Republic Adventures has spared us from any of our main characters losing their lives.

So, when Qort was shot, I thought that this was the moment we were finally losing somebody. Thankfully, he’s mostly okay. At least, it seems that way.

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 14

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Daniel Jose Older

Artists: Harvey Tolibau

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Harvey Tolibao, Kevin Tolibao

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: The Wedding Spectacular | Comic Review

For the longest time, I wondered if we were going to see the wedding of Zeen Mrala and Lula Talisola, and they delivered on that promise in Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: The Wedding Spectacular.

We’ve been building toward this wedding for several years now. I didn’t quite know if we were going to see it after Lula woke with amnesia at the beginning of Phase III, but credit to Daniel Jose Older for bringing it around organically.

The majority of the characters that we met in The High Republic Adventures showed up for the wedding, and the Tarkins agreed to enter the fight against the Nihil.

You can pick up the comic here.

For Light and Life Wife!

The relationship between Zeen and Lula has been one of the highlights of the entire High Republic Era. While we still have several books left of The High Republic Adventures, It’s hard for me to imagine that these two characters won’t get their happy ending after all.

The Tarkins have finally chosen a side.

The Tarkins joining the side of the Republic/Jedi against the Nihil will very likely be the tipping point that they need to defeat the Warden and his army.

I’ve always loved the bits of the High Republic that tie back to the Skywalker Saga characters that we know and love or love to hate.

Only the Battle of Eriadu remains for the main line of High Republic Adventures.

I am really excited to see what’s going to happen in the Battle of Eriadu. The buildup has been so well done, and all of our characters have been slowly moving into place through the various series in The High Republic Adventures.

It is going to be epic.

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: The Wedding Spectacular

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Daniel Jose Older

Artists: Harvey Tolibao, Caio Filipe, Andy Duggan, Jo Mi-Gyeong, Toni Bruno, Megan Huang, Nick Brokenshire, Elisa Romboli

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh, Vladimir Popov, Dan Jackson, Nicola Righi

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Cherriielle, Priscilla Bampoh, Akinobu Hara

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Dispatches from the Occlusion Zone #2 | Comic Review

In Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Dispatches from the Occlusion Zone # 2, we head right back into the search for who discovered the Republic EX droids.

In Dispatches from the Occlusion Zone # 1, we learned that at least two of the Republic EX droids bypassed the Nihil Stormwall and landed on Eriadu. In this issue, we discovered that former Jedi Ruu and Driggit Parse both track down the droid at the same time.

When we first met Driggit, she was on Valo choosing to abandon her Jedi friends in favor of the Nihil. Now, it seems as though she’s realizing the folly of her ways even if she didn’t trust the Republic to help long-term

You can pick up the comic here.

Driggit’s arc is finally coming to where I thought it would.

I have to admit that I was a little shocked that Driggit willingly joined the Nihil in Escape from Valo, abandoning her Jedi friends that she had made. Now that her redemption arc is starting, her story is coming to where I thought it would.

She was an interesting character from the beginning since we didn’t normally see Jedi with many non-Jedi friends. Then, when she essentially turned on Gavi, Kildo, and Tep Tep to join the Nihil (even if she thought she was protecting her planet and people), she didn’t seem to show a lot of remorse for the betrayal.

Now, even though she admits that she expects the Republic (and the Jedi) to eventually abandon the area in favor of the Core Works through Middle Rim, she’s turning to them for help with all the information that she had. Is it too late? Will she be able to survive among the Nihil ranks until then?

I still really love this concept.

This is such a smart feature for a comic miniseries. The concept allows for a few authors of The High Republic to add to the main story of how the characters that we’ve been following get to the final wave of Phase III without cluttering up the main story.

We need more Ruu.

Ruu is such an interesting character, and I hope we get a lot more one day. He has left the Jedi Order but is determined to help them in this war with the Nihil/Nameless, because the Jedi still mean and do good.

What does the future hold for this Force sensitive non-Jedi?

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Dispatches from the Occlusion Zone # 2

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Alyssa Wong

Artists: Valeria Favoccia

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Jake Bartok

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Echoes of Fear #3 | Comic Review

Once again, George Mann has delivered with Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Echoes of Fear # 3. It’s another fantastic venture for investigating the past of a famous Jedi, Barnabas Vim.

Jedi Reath Silas and Amadeo Azzazzo continue their investigation into the past of Barnabas Vim, but they’ve hit a roadblock. Nobody knows what happened to the legendary Jedi after he disappeared when looking for what we now know is the home planet of the Nameless.

However, they’re smart fellas, and with the help of former Jedi Master (and Reath’s master) Cohmac Vitus, they figure out where the Rod of Ages could be.

It turns out that being a nerdy Jedi who loves researching books and old Holocrons is a worthwhile pursuit.

You can pick up the comic here.

I can’t wait for stories about adult Reath Silas.

Reath is another one of these characters (like Ram Jomaram) who started in Phase I of the High Republic publishing initiative as a padawan, and we’ve been able to watch him grow into an independent Jedi Knight.

In a way like with Ram, I love that Reath isn’t your “typical” Jedi. While Ram is the tinkerer, Reath is the thinker in that he lived the research aspect of being a Jedi. It’s a fun dynamic that has really been pushed through this process that the Jedi are more than just going out and using a lightsaber.

As Reath grows and matures into a full-fledged adult, I hope we get more stories. I hope Reath is doing crazy research on their ancient past.

Even when he’s not physically present, Barnabas Vim is a huge deal.

The Jedi overshadowing this entire series has been the legendary Vim. In particular, Reath and Amadeo are trying to figure out if he ever found the Nameless home planet, how the Echo Stones are related, and what happened to him.

I truly hope we get more of Vim’s escapades in the future, as I have grown really fond of him in a short time.

This comic series will have huge repercussions for the final wave of Phase III.

It looks like with the fourth book in this series that we’ll get an answer, at least, into whether or not the Jedi can recover the Rod of Ages and use it to their advantage. I love the fact that this all-ages, comic mini-series will potentially impact the overarching plot of the High Republic in such a way.

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Echoes of Fear # 3

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: George Mann

Artists: Vincenzo Federici, Giorgia Sposito

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh, Francesco Segala

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Eduardo Mello, Valentina Taddeo