The first volume of the High Republic manga “The Edge of Balance” was harmless but extremely light on … pretty much everything, so I am happy to say Volume 2 has more meat on its bones and even ties into the greater High Republic Phase 1 story more naturally, but sadly it takes a while to get going… So let’s take a look then!
After a fun prologue of Marchiron Ro making sure everyone knows Banchii is still a target that must be destroyed we pick up from last time with Jedi Knight Lily Tora-Asi now in charge of the Jedi Temple on Banchii along with her Padawan Keerin. She is having serious self-doubt issues but is trying her best to help rebuild the settlement after the Drengir attack until eccentric Jedi Master Sav Malagan arrives on the planet in search of Master Arkoff. Lily tells her he left for Starlight Beacon to help with the Nihil, which leads to Sav admitting she was in the area due to Nihil activity. She proceeds to undercut all of Lily’s decisions and after the undercover Nihil Zaret explodes a bunker Sav basically tells her to take a break and head to Starlight herself to meet back with Arkoff and inform him directly, so she does, taking the two Younglings Viv’nia and Nima with her to broaden their horizons.
Sav makes her dramatic debut!
We then get some fun scenes on Starlight, including the Younglings taking part in a race around the space station and Lily conversing with both Arkoff and Stellan Gios, who’s always fun to actually see. She agrees that there must be an undercover agent on the planet and begrudgingly agrees that Sav’s thoughts and methods have merit, even if it’s in direct contrast to how she views Jedi. The fun ends thought when a Jedi temple goes dark near Banchii and everyone assumes that the planet must be the next target, leading to Lily and the Younglings heading straight back to the planet.
Sadly its too late as the Nihil are already invading en masse leaving Sav and Keerin to gather up the villagers, some of whom the former has been training, in order to protect them as Lily enters the system to see the Nihil ships above the settlement she promised to keep safe.
The people of Bachii make a stand! … Good luck random farmers, I’m sure you’ll do great…
There are some really good moments towards the end and the art is constantly on point, though I will admit it takes a good while to get going, as evidenced by this pre-Spoiler section being devoid of any action!
Overall Thoughts:
Marchion Ro in manga form is no less a great villain!
The Edge of Balance Vol. 2 ends the two-volume story on a dramatic and high note but does suffer from a rather plain first two thirds. Still not in any way essential reading for those looking to get into the High Republic era, it’s also a quick and harmless read. It’s harmless fun.
The Nihil rain down on Banchii and as Sav takes out a bunch with some thermal detonators Keerin is saved by a nick-of-time arriving Lily, who warns him many more ships are still in the atmosphere. As the Nihil invasion intensifies the Jedi get split up, eventually Sav and Keerin end up together find a Nihil group assembling a large cannon and against the Master’s orders Keerin jumps in and takes a hostage, demanding they shut the canon down but the Nihil leader arrives with a hostage… a hostage named Zaret. Keerin lets his hostage go so the “innocent Banchii settlement member” can go free, but as Zaret approaches out of thanks he pulls a blaster out and shoots the Padawan dead.
Lily arrives and helps Sav clear the area but falls to depression at the side of her Padawan’s body. She eventually regains herself enough to plan a counter that sadly involves letting the Temple get destroyed because the people are the key thing. They allow the majority of the Nihil to invade the Temple and then bomb it themselves, killing them with the very building they wanted to protect. The story ends with Sav getting the report on Starlight Beacon’s destruction and an order for all Jedi to regroup at the main Temple on Coruscant, but Lily watches Sav and the Youngling leave and decides to stay behind to protect those who want to rebuild the Banchii settlement, and to hold a funeral for her former Padawan…
It’s a dramatic finale, and I love how it tied into the end of the Phase. I hope Lily appears in some form during Phase 3, it’s a shame to hear she wasn’t going to Coruscant, it would’ve been fun to read or see her even if it was just in the background…
Hogan Reviews 