Star Wars: The High Republic #10
THE HIGH REPUBLIC
THE SHADOW OF THE NIHIL
CHAPTER 2: OUT OF BALANCE, OUT OF TIME
As the hunt for the Eye of the Nihil intensifies, Jedi Master Avar Kriss goes against the will of the Council and launches her own mission to find whoever has taken over leadership from Lourna Dee.
Keeve Trennis and the Kotabi bond-twin Terec have been sent undercover, infiltrating a Nihil gas foundry on Xais in the Outer Rim. Face-to-face with Tempest Runner Zeetar, Keeve finds herself put to the test.
To prove she is loyal to the Storm, she must kill one of the Nihil’s prisoners, the Jedi’s former ally, Myarga the Hutt….
Writer: Cavan Scott
Penciller: Georges Jeanty
Inker: Karl Story, Victor Olazaba
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Colorist: Carlos Lopez
Cover artist: Phil Noto
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publication date: October 20, 2021
When faced with a difficult choice, one that would see the end of former Republic ally Myarga the Hutt, undercover Jedi Keeve Trennis really does have just two choices. Kill the self-interested Hutt leader, thus proving her mettle to the Nihil she has infiltrated, or find another path, and as Jedi across the centuries past, present and future have always done, she finds a way. That ‘way’ is to use the Force to pull a cannister of dangerous and combustible Nagnol out of the hands of a Lepi Nihil, causing a tremendous explosion that rocks all of them off their feet. The Lep gunned down for his apparent clumsiness, Keeve tells the Nihil of a Hutt who worked with the Jedi, giving Myarga and herself some time to live and work out a plan. Tenuous and on the edge, the plan works for the time being as we switch to the Republic ship Ataraxia, speeding through hyperspace as Ceret explains its bond to Terec and gives details of what is going on with its other half – literally, its other half – to Avar and Sskeer, who asks they change course to locate them. Meanwhile, Sskeer is contacted by Dr Gino’le who drops the news that he has learned why Sskeer is losing his connection to the Force.
We rejoin Keeve and Terec as they quietly discuss their actions as they walk into a chamber where Myarga is being held in a tank filled with noxious unrefined Nagnol, which will soon burn through the Hutts lungs. She begins to interrogate the Hutt, who appears to know Keeve is trying to help as Terec uses the Force to block the valve spewing the Nagnol into the tank. Having seen enough stalling, Zeetar electocutes Myarga, shocking the information out of her as Keeve prays she doesn’t sell her and Terec out, but in her agony she does and the two Jedi ignite their lightsabers to defend themselves.
They hold the Nihil back as Myarga writhes in pain and Zeetar uses his suit to turn up the agony, a distraction that disturbs Terec, and just as Keeve is attacked with a blow to the head and Terec is grabbed by Zeetar, the apparently deceased Lourna Dee returns. Removing her helmet she knocks out Terec and kills Myarga, ordering her underlings to open a box containing what appears to be the dreaded Great Leveller and while we don’t see the end of Keeve or Terec, we return to the Ataraxia where Ceret cries out that ‘I have lost them‘ and falls to its knees, turning to Avar and crumbling to stone.
Another thrilling entry in The High Republic, and one where the stakes are well and truly turned up to 11. Georges Jeanty delivers another crisp, exciting spread of artwork complimented by the lush colours of Carlos Lopez and writer Cavan Scott – who you can hear in conversation here on Canon Fodder – shows just why this is a brave new era for Star Wars storytelling by (as far as we can tell) ending the lives of four prominent characters in Myarga, Keeve, Ceret and Terec. It’s bold, adventurous storytelling that should be commended. Hurry up issue 11!
Star Wars: High Republic #11 (Momoko Variant) @ ForbiddenPlanet.com
