Star Wars Yoda (2023) #5
STUDENTS OF THE FORCE
PART TWO: GROWING SHADOWS
The wise Jedi Master Yoda has lived a long life in service to the greater good of the galaxy. After the rise of the Galactic Empire, he now spends his days on the secluded swamp world Dagobah, awaiting an important visitor and reflecting on his many adventures….
Yoda and fellow Jedi Dooku have taken on the training of a new generation of Padawans at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. After a few sparring sessions, the students are energized and eager to continue their training.
But a dark vision haunts the young student Krrsish, threatening to unravel the peace….
Writer: Jody Houser
Artist: Luke Ross
Letterer:Â Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Nolan Woodard
Cover artist:Â Phil Noto
Editor:Â Mark Paniccia
Publication date: March 15, 2023
The history of Yoda, while largely sidestepped over the years, has enjoyed a closer focus of late, especially thanks to the arrival of the High Republic era, and here in the Yoda mini series we’re deep in his past again as we land with the master on Alaris prime only to find a field full of fallen Wookiees and Trandoshans, natural enemies who have fought to the last, the Wookiees coming out the victors. Yoda is visibly saddened at the sight, but brightens when he learns that a Trandoshan child survived, and sensing she is one with the Force takes her back to Coruscant where a dozen years later we see her training with her lightsaber, besting one of her fellow students but dealing with some physical attention from a young Wookiee who’s clearly not too pleased to be training with a Trandoshan. Yoda keeps the Wookiee – named Krrsish – back, initially him not specifically asking about the Trandoshan girl Gheyr but broadly what is troubling him. Yoda senses fear and anger, a potent mix for a Jedi, and while the Wookiee isn’t required to be friends with everyone, Yoda insists he respects any Jedi with a connection to the Force. The Wookiees found her, they were the reason she was there, and a crestfallen Krrshish soon apologises to Gheyr, a moment that is soon broken as we see the Wookiee wake with a start, terrible visions of Gheyr attacking him with her lightsaber.
Krrshish finds Master Yoda the next day by the tree in the temple courtyard, but instead asks for Count Dooku, and races off to find him. Explaining his vision to Dooku, the Count explains that Yoda would never take action on such a vague vision, and how the power of such foresight is a gift for a Jedi. Now Krrshish has time to watch Gheyr and prepare for the turn, should it ever arrive.
We cut to the Corvair II, a vessel similar to a Blockade Runner orbiting high above as Yoda explains to his young students that they are about to challenge the wilderness, the Force their only companion. For Yoda, it’s also an important time, a chance to escape the noise and bustle of Coruscant and reconnect for himself and his students. Krrshish continues to watch Gheyr, the visions continuing, and getting her alone he attacks, hurling her into a tree as she defends herself. Enraged, we end with the Wookiee igniting his lightsaber and the end of an issue that very deftly shows the pitfalls of the Force, be it light or dark side.
Another engrossing read from Jody Houser, with regulation crisp art from Luke Ross wrapped in an enticing cover by Phil Noto, this series is doing a grand job of showing just why Yoda was such a respected Jedi and teacher as well as showing the difference in his teaching style by juxtaposing it against Dooku’s more measured approach. With the fall of the Jedi and the Republic always on the horizon, we know these are steps on a long, dark road to despair, but even the wisdom of the Jedi is blind to this. How we get from here to there is the real story, not of strides into the dark but faultering steps away from the light into shadow, the very place where Palpatine and the Sith lurk.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Houser, Jody (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 23 Pages - 03/15/2023 (Publication Date) - Marvel (Publisher)
