Star Wars: The High Republic #13
THE HIGH REPUBLIC
JEDI’S END
CHAPTER 3: The Battle of No-Space
Lourna Dee’s crimes are beyond imagining. She
has pillaged and she has murdered. Now, using Marchion Ro’s secret weapon, she has struck at the very heart of Starlight Beacon. Jedi Knights
Ceret and Terec lay in a regenerative trance in
the Jedi spire, their flesh calcified and their minds
lost.Going against the wishes of Stellan Gios and the Jedi Council, Starlight’s Marshal Avar Kriss retrofits the ”Ataraxia” to traverse the mysterious paths that lead to the Nihil’s secret hideout in No-Space.
Lourna Dee thinks she is safe.
Lourna Dee is wrong….
Writer:Â Cavan Scott
Penciller: Ario Anindito
Inkers: Mark Morales
Letterer:Â Ariana Maher
Colorist:Â Carlos Lopez
Cover artist:Â Phil Noto
Editor:Â Mark Paniccia
Publication date: January 19, 2022
It’s not often you see the Nihil so visibly agitated, but as issue 13 of this Phase One tale from the High Republic era opens, that’s clearly the case. Despite the Great Hall of the Nihil in No-Space being fortified by Lourna Dee, Tempest Runner Zeetar rails against the hologram of Marchion Ro, far removed and emotionless despite his promises to defeat the relentless Jedi and protect the Nihil. He’s talked a great game, and doubtless the attacks on the Republic have been devastating, ripping apart the Republic Fair and raiding worlds far and wide, but as a path opens above the Great Hall and Marshal Avar Kriss roars through in the retrofitted Atraxia, Ro cuts the transmission and Dee orders their warriors to their fighters, believing the Jedi wouldn’t dare fire first. She’s very wrong indeed, and as the Jedi board the ship and cut through the walls, the Nihil deploy their chemical weapons and prepare to defend the Great Hall.
From the moment she steps through the opening with Keeve Trennis and Sskeer, it’s obvious this is a very different Avar Kriss. Not pulling her punches, Avar seemingly takes out Zeetar and tears through the Nihil as Keeve watches closely, following her and questioning her actions. Kriss replies furiously, angry that she is questioned by a Jedi she knighted herself, but as Keeve momentarily gets the better of Kriss, a Nihil explosion takes her down and Lourna Dee suddenly appears in Zeetars armoured suit. A frantic battle ensues as Dee orders the Nihil to open fire on the Great Hall, clearly prepared to sacrifice her own to take out the Jedi. As the end looms, Kriss apologises to Keeve as she calls on the Force to tear apart the suit Dee is using and battle with lightsabers, Lourna using Terec’s stolen green blade. Enraged, Kriss takes the lightsaber and Dee’s hand with it as Keeve wakes up to see Avar, brimming with rage, raise her lightsaber high above her head to end Lourna Dee once and for all.
This really is gripping stuff. The situation continues to fall apart around the Jedi as their promised utopia crumbles into dust. The dark side is singing to Avar like the chorus of Duel of the Fates, and with only the injured Keeve to stop her descending into the dark, you have to wonder where issue 14 will take her. The entire underpinning of the High Republic era is predicated on these Jedi being better, more virtuous and respected than any we’ve known in other eras. As the ravenous appetites of the Nihil continue to gnaw at that foundation, the fragility of freedom is exposed as determination gives way to desperation, resolve descends into revenge.
Cavan Scott and Ario Anindito really are a dream team that need to stay together, Anindito and Mark Morales delivering crisp and confident lines fleshed out by beautiful colouring by Carlos Lopez. Lourna Dee has never looked more intimidating, Avar never more lost and the next issue can’t come fast enough. Top drawer.
Star Wars: The High Republic #14 (Mckone Variant) @ ForbiddenPlanet.com
