It’s time to finally put a cap on Phase II of the High Republic by looking at the comic run that unlike Phase I didn’t really have a clear breaking point (even though the trade paperback people tried, as you can see by the title!) Over 10 issues we see a mostly new group of Jedi on the planet Jedha, dealing with several issues to do with the many different Force-based groups before seeing the Battle of Jedha through their eyes. It’s a very fun story actually, not that I should really be surprised at this point… Let’s take a look!
The story focuses mainly on two characters, the first of which is Jedi Vildar Mac, who comes to Jedha after he has a nightmare based on when he was 4 and he saw his entire home village destroyed by a Sorcerer of the Tund (a Darkside-aligned cult) so he wanted to clear his mind, and Jedha was the place to do just that. He’s shocked however at just how many Force-using groups and cults (plus the very anti-Force-using cult The Path of the Open Hand) have great destain for the Jedi, though Padawan Matthea Cathley, who has been on Jedha for some time, explains that its been that way for as long as she’s been here. The two are soon brought to the Shrine of Sarrav where they’re told there has been a theft and the various different Force groups are blaming the other. This doesn’t last long as soon Vildar is freaking out at the sight of a Sorcerer of the Tund he sees on the street before giving chase to our second of the two main characters: a thief called Tey Sirrek.
Vildar has more evil Tund Sorcerer flashbacks. Then, who doesn’t?
Tey escapes by claiming to know how to use the ancient and mostly forgotten Force power Morichro by stopping Vildar’s heart but it actually turns out to be a pheromone and thankfully temporary. As Valdar’s investigation continues we find out more and more about Tey, that he was formally a Guardian of the Whills who ignored protecting the holy sites in order to help a member of the public, something that was frowned upon enough that he eventually left the order and became something of a Robin Hood figure, only stealing to help the downtrodden, though he insists he isn’t the one stealing precious Force artefacts, something Vildar admits he feels is true, despite what the Guardians assume. Before Vildar and Tey can hug it out though a bomb goes off.
Matthea is a rare red Twi’lek, at least they’re normally green, anyway.
Vildar wakes and although he’s injured he’s soon back in action, once again reiterating to those around him that he doesn’t believe Sirrek is behind the thefts or the explosion either. A short while later a “Convocation of the Force” takes place and Vildar believes another attack there would be likely but they brush him off. While there isn’t a direct attack the Herald of the Path of the Open Hand, Werth Plouth, arrives and taunts everyone before popping outside to deliver his intentionally riotous speech that can be heard in the audio drama “The Battle of Jedha”, so that was a fun crossover. The Battle of Jedha begins and Vildar and Sirrek are in the thick of it…
The story is a fun one, mostly because Vildar’s calm sarcastic nature blends well with Sirrek’s hyperactive and quippy nature, making for a fun double act. The art is good as well, and it ties in with both the audio drama “Battle of Jedha” as well as the wider High Republic story arcs really well, too.
Overall Thoughts:
Vilder and Tey banter… isn’t really on show here, but hey. I had limited choice for screenshots…
I really enjoyed the Phase II comic run, the duo of Vildar and Tey made for some fun scenes and there was some good use of Force-related lore as well as the then-on-going Phase II story. Probably would’ve enjoyed it more if I’d read it closer together rather over the course of 10 or so months as some issues were a little less interesting, but overall it was a fun read.
As the Battle gets in full swing Vildar and Cathley take refuge in the local bar where they meet back up with Tey. Their shelter is less than secure but it soon doesn’t matter as they hear that the Jedi Statue that’s been standing for countless years has fallen and that the Herald is heading to its wreckage, and then a short while later that Jedi Oliviah Zeveron was attacked and badly hurt at the scene. Vildar and Tey head to the statue site, leaving Cathley to look after the people in the bar and when they reach the statue they find out that it’s a secret vault filled with Darkside artefacts, the statue build around it to hide them all those years ago.
Vildar taps into his darkside.
The duo head inside and find the Herald and another Path member who have gained the Rod of Seasons which isn’t a Legend of Zelda weapon but instead the method of control for the Great Leveller, which the Herald has brought with him. Vildar is crippled by fear (including more Tund Sorcerer imagery) but Tey manages to fight back using a Sith artefact called the Hand of Siberus but he is defeated as well. In a last act of desperation Vildar puts on the Darkside gauntlets and pushes back and defeats the Herald, though the Leveller escapes. Tey manages to pull his new Jedi bestie away from going over the edge and fully embracing the Dark and soon the Battle is over. Vildar and Tey are now strong allies, or friends from Tey’s point of view. I have to say I thought they’d be scenes from the “Day of Sorrow” on Dalna as the Edge of Balance manga showed Vildar and Tey were there but I guess that was just a fun crossover cameo type thing…
Hogan Reviews 