Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #6
MISSION TO BILBOUSA
PART I
The Nihil are temporarily subdued, but a Padawan’s work is never done. FARZALA and QORT join the crew of the ”Vessel” and travel to the Nal Hutta for peace negotiations.
But they must put their Jedi training to the test to preserve the peace and appease the Hutts….
Writer: Daniel José Older
Artist: Harvey Tolibao, Pow Rodrix
Letterer: Jake M. Wood
Colorist: Rebecca Nalty
Cover artist: Harvey Tolibao
Publication date: July 21, 2021
Pages: 32
To kick off the next arc of The High Republic Adventures we join Farzala Tarabal, fondly remembering the holovids he used to watch when he was a youngling with his friend Lula Talisola of heroic Jedi Master Tal Bota, battling sith warriors many centuries before, in their eyes the greatest Jedi ever. Step to the present as Jedi Master Obratuk, Farzala and Qort are resting aboard the Vessel, a starship bound for Nal Hutta in Hutt space, and as it exits from hyperspace they realise that not only are they forbidden to touch down, but that the usual Republic escort is hanging far back – they are on a secret diplomatic mission flying under the radar. Learning that Master Obratuk has quite possibly entered a long hibernation, the ships pilot Leox Gyasi and Farzala leave to negotiate with the Hutts, a meeting that starts well until the Hutt envoy Skarabda the Hutt informs them that the Vessel is armed and aiming its weapon systems down at them.
The negotiations swiftly ended a chase ensues as Leox and Farzala make a break for it, only to be blocked by an enourmous blue rancor while above the ships captain Affie Hollow and Qort are faced by Hutt goons as Jedi Master Geode sneaks into the cockpit as Hutt fighters swing in, firing their weapons. Back on the ground, Leox and Farzala learn why they were forbidden to land – the Drengir are here, and quickly attack the Hutt contingent which springs Farzala into action, hacking away at the roots with his lightsaber and saving the head goon despite their attempts to capture them. A brief truce made, they are taken away with the promise they won’t be fed to the rancor…for now.
We head back to the Vessel for the final time as Affie and Qort stay low, Geode already hiding as the goons reveal they are working for Jabba the Hutt, and promise to tear the ship apart until they find them and we close with an image of a chained Farzala, downcast as he awaits his fate, and a tease of the seventh issue and the Drengir attacking Farzala and Qort in the dark.
No surprises or shocks here, this is yet another detailed, beautifully crafted issue of The High Republic Adventures, writer DJ Older brimming with confidence in the characterisation of this young band of heroes and Harvey Toliban once again treating us to lush artwork complimented perfectly by the colouring choices of Rebecca Nalty. The Drengir are clearly not going anywhere, their creeping death entering the story as the Nihil take a backseat for the time being and wherever the next issue takes us, we’re definitely onboard for the ride. Great fun and engaging as always.
Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #7 (Cover A Tolibao) @ ForbiddenPlanet.com
