The time of the High Republic is continued with Star Wars: The High Republic #1! This storyline is Balance of the Force, Chapter I: The Pilgrim Moon. The comic is by Cavan Scott and Ario Anindito, the creative team from the first series released last year. It is set one hundred fifty years before the time of Starlight station in The High Republic novels and comics. The cover by Anindito has two Jedis, the female Twi’lek, Matty, with blue lightsaber blade, and a taller bearded Jedi, Vildar, with green lightsaber, behind them is looming, hooded figure in grey. There is a main title roll-up, shoved to a credits page, but intriguing. There are still parts of the galaxy unknown, the Challencors of the Republic and Jedi Knights sent Pathfinder Teams to explore it! They are their own Starfleet operating under the United Federation of Planets.
It is noted that the planets of Eiram and E’ronoh are in a forever war, I wonder if the Jedi act as negotiators with that war. Then, it is noted that on the frontier world of Dalna, a new danger to the galaxy appears! In a splash page, on Kiffex, a savage man has another victim in his claws above two other bodies. It is brutal, but I can’t help thinking Evil Santa Claus with the red cape and white beard! This is witnessed by the young Vildar Mac, his eyes seen in closeup, a villager with a spear attacks the spectral Mumm-Ra like creature. Vildar has the Kiffar facial tatoo, Qukuuf, similar to Jedi Quinlan Vos. It slashes him and Vilmar gasps! The creature, a Sith?, destroys Vildar’s hiding place and sends out Sith lightning! This startles awake the older Vildar.
A talkative, lizard-like alien woman, a Sarkan, is on a pilgrammage. Vildar thinks about his destination, the Pilgrim Moon. A two page spread shows the Jedha world, the shuttle descends towards Jedha City, an incredible visual since we see the warping of the city vista. It is located in the Mid Rim and of course introduced in Rogue One (2016). The shuttle lands and Vildar is instantly recognized by Twi’lek Padawan, Matthea Cathley, who likes to be called Matty. She tells Vildar that they are sent to a holy relic theft in the Shrine of Sarrav. Matty explains that the locals don’t like Jedi and asks him why he isn’t fighting on the “Togruta front line.” We get a presentation by Ran Yaltan that has brought in a crowd. She has control as a Bpfasshi Mystic of spirits.
Her assistant is a Kessurian, reddish skin, pointed ears, slight horns, and facial designs. A man slaps away her donation plate, angry since he is an actual Truthsayer of Bpfassh, the con is gone! Another con artist, later known as Tey Sirrek, tries to calm him down while sneaking away a paper from the truthsayer. Matty also tries to calm the situation down. Vildar chases after the thief, but loses him on the rooftop. He returns to find the truthsayer and another big guy about to fight. Vildar sees a woman in a red cloak send out flames, this shocks him to back to his childhood memories, and then he screams, “Never again!” He ignites his lightsaber. I like the Jedi with a troubled background, the fun Padawan, and a tense situation! The back up story, is “Peace and Unity”, with art by Andrea Broccardo. Jedi apprentice Oliviah Zeveron is medidating under a statue on Jedah.
Her master Leebon, also master to Matty, sends her to the Convocation of the Force. Leebon is of the Selonian species with a cheetah-like head. They first appeared in the Star Wars comic strip by Russ Manning, “Gambler’s World” (1979). She opens the door to the meeting of the advisory board and it has turned chaotic. Representative Siriene has a sword drawn, but is held by vines sent by the Lonto official. The Yacombe woman is dressed in a hooded purple dress with a mask. Siriene is told that the Yacombe are not with the Dark Side. Another fight breaks out with Representative Waran, a Kel Dor like Plo Koon, leaps with a glaive polearm! This is stopped by Oliviah with her green lightsaber. She notes that the Yacombe woman is not part of the fighting. I find Oliviah slightly more interesting as a Jedi negotiator of the characters plus all of the aliens in the group. These Jedi stories in Star Wars: The High Republic #1 add tension to the early Jedha moon from the streets to the Convocation of the Force!
Five Lightsabers out of Five!
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