Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories: Tides of Terror #1
Jedi Master Kit Fisto has been sent to the ocean planet Torbus, alongside Mace Windu Shaak Ti, to investigate a controversial underwater research facility.
But when disaster strikes, his diplomatic excursion quickly becomes a rescue mission! Kit Fisto and his fellow Jedi must race against the clock to save innocent lives from the hungry leviathans that circle in the depths.
• Explore the murky depths and the leviathans that live there in this deep-sea Star Wars adventure, staring Kit Fisto!
Writer: George Mann
Penciller: Luis Morocho
Inker: Le Beau Underwood
Colorist: Michael Atiyeh
Letterer: Tyler Smith & Jimmy Betancourt
Cover Artist: Eduardo Mello
Editor: Spencer Cushing
Release Date: 30th July 2025
There’s absolutely no beating around the bush (or splashing in the shallow end) about the opening page of Tides of Terror, the latest mini series from Dark Horse Comics which sees George Mann return to comics and instantly hurl our heroes into the midst of a terrifying situation as an enormous creature rises, looming over Masters Mace Windu and Kit Fisto as Windu urges the affable Nautolan Jedi to force the creature back to its cave. Suddenly, racing along a ridge we see Fisto’s Mon Cal padawan Nahdar Vebb, who distracts Windu so much he is clipped by the creature and leaps off the ridge, lightsaber ignited and felling the towering monster.
Fisto points out that they weren’t trying to kill the animal, despite it having eaten some of the villagers and Windu explains that it was hungry and scared, and that killing is not the Jedi way. Fisto then makes allowances for Vebb, complimenting him on the efficiency of the killing blow, something he takes credit for as Vebb’s master. The moment is broken by Windu, who alerts Fisto to a message from Coruscant; it’s Master Yoda, who tells Kit he has a new mission away from Galgus and to the world of Tordus, where it’s claimed a station on the aquatic world is threatening the local wildlife. Shaak-Ti is already there, and Fisto and Windu are to travel and join her, to assauge the Tordusians. Vebb is less than impressed, believing such a diplomatic mission is another word for boring, but the grins on the faces of Windu and Fisto tell him otherwise, and we cut to Tordus and the underwater Axil Research Station, a circular facility propped up on stilts. Windu and Fisto have arrived, reuniting with Shaak-Ti and learning that tensions on the station are high. The Tordusian government want to oversee the excavation of the ruins and remain on the station, while another faction are eager for everyone to leave and protect the native creatures who live in the ruins. The stations chief, Patarina Scooth, wants to bang everyones heads together and make progress, much to Fisto’s amusement.
Scooth then describes the stilts holding the station above the ruins, and the escape pods that are bunched below the station in the unlikely event of an evacuation. She describes the native Xorfin, who are fierce but so far have kept their distance. We then move to the laboratory, where Scooth explains how their researchers are already investigating relics from the ruins, and how from the lab they’re able to keep in contact with the surface. As the walking tour continues she takes them to engineering where the air and water are filtered, the sleeping quarters and finally the impressive viewing gallery which affords them a view of what was the central district of Axiloth city 5000 years ago. Vebb is unsettled, thinking it’s creepy but Fisto explains that to understand the present one must understand the past. As they take a pause before the conference begins we see Vebb by the huge viewport, telling his master how he senses something, and then we see another enormous creature, this time a fish that slams into the glass. Vebb is rattled, and Fisto asks if he is alright, which he is, albeit a touch rattled. Scooth apologises, explaining again how ferocious the Xorfin can be, but as Shaak-Ti asks about the safety of the scientists studying down in the ruins Scooth reiterates that there have been no incidents and they make their way to the conference.
In the conference room a delegation determined to stop the dig are protesting, and while Vebb initially agrees with their viewpoint, Fisto reminds him that their place as Jedi is to help the government to find a peaceful solution. Later we see Lady Valk, the leader of the dig opposition explain how all the activity has stirred up the Xorfin spawning ground, but the government delegation counter that the Xorfin should relocate and the dig to continue. The fractious confrontation continues until Fisto and Windu both sense danger, and we see one of the struts explode and the entire facility shake. As Scooth tries to calm everyone down the government representative angrily tells her to sort the situation out, but then to her horror we hear the groan of metal as Scooth explains that a submersible hit the strut, destroying it entirely. The station is safe, but then we see Vebb point out the viewport; there are people in the water, and suddenly the situation escalates as the hungry Xorfin surround them as we end the issue.
Great fun, well crafted by penciller Luis Morocho, inker Le Beau Underwood and colourist Michael Atiyeh and giving us a much more relaxed Windu, one who clearly enjoys the easy company of Kit Fisto. In the years of the Clone Wars it’s very easy to get caught up in the import and weight of the era, the historical moments littering the three years between the Battle of Geonosis and the Battle of Corustant, but naturally there would have been easygoing, humourous moments and Mann has already shown one here.
An enjoyable, easy read that clips along at a nice pace, and with this being a three-issue mini it won’t have time to outstay its welcome (not that George Mann would ever write such a thing). It’s enjoyable to dip into these Dark Horse stories, tales from a company that solely carried the torch of Star Wars comics for well over 20 years, and long may that continue.
Have a listen to our Canon Fodder interview with George Mann below.
