The High Republic: Shadows of Starlight #3
THE HIGH REPUBLIC
SHADOWS OF STARLIGHT
“THE WILL OF THE FORCE”
Centuries before the Clone Wars or the Empire, during the glorious era of THE HIGH REPUBLIC, the Jedi were at their height.
The galaxy was at peace until dangerous marauders known as the NIHIL caused THE GREAT DISASTER. Their attack on the Jedi and the Republic reached its peak with the destruction of STARLIGHT BEACON, a space station meant to symbol hope and unity.
Now, the Jedi have been recalled to Coruscant, fearful of the Nihil and the monstrous creatures they possess….
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Jethro Morales
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Colorist: Chris Sotomayor
Cover artist: Phil Noto
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Release Date: December 13, 2023
The first two issues of Shadows of Starlight moved at a clip, and the third issue is no different as we join old friends – Bell Zettifar and Elzar Mann – as they stand on the shores of Eiram, staring at the wreckage of the downed Starlight Beacon 5 days after its fall, the order for the Jedi to return to Coruscant bothering Bell as he stands determined to find his lost friend the wookiee padawan Burryaga. Elzar believes the wookiee to be gone, but Bell has to believe he is alive, and so as Elzar returns to Coruscant as requested and hands Burryaga’s lightsaber to the padawan, Bell follows his own path and stays, finding the long-lost wookiee on the very next page (read the Tales of Light and Life anthology for how he was found) and telling his friend how he plans to go back to Coruscant to help make the Nihil pay.
Two months after the fall of the beacon we’re back on Coruscant as Bell is reunited with the injured Indeera Stokes and his firehound Ember, where she informs Bell and Burry that they are to be promoted to Jedi Knights and after we see them be ordained we watch Bell as he does his research, looking into the actions and movements of Marchion Ro. There’s a friction growing between the two, with Burry in no hurry to leave the temple and Bell semeingly itching for revenge, and that is communicated to Grandmaster Pra-Tre Veter who informs Burry of Master Yoda’s work in combating the Nihil and the Nameless, and a joint Jedi / Republic mission to the Stormfront where they plan to remind the Nihil that they cannot act with impunity and raid Outer Rim worlds at will.
Burryaga opts to stay at the temple to help train the younglings, but he is increasingly worried about Bell and his mood, opting to instead join them on their journey to the Outer Rim aboard the cruiser the Third Horizon. Grandmaster Veter reminds Bell that their place is to help those on the ground, on the world of Asternin rather than in the skies above with Republic forces, and as they meet the mayor we see they’re being watched by two Nihil who identify Grandmaster Veter and report back to their captain, who attacks their vessel in a huge, heavy artillery Nihil Stormship. Using a weapon that can nullify lightsabers, the Jedi are unable to ignite and fight, and so Veter orders them to roundup the townspeople and get off Asternin while he takes them on using a Force-powered martial art called Shon-Ju until he is knocked down by a blast from the Stormship, and we end with Burry and Bell flying the townsfolk away.
An excellent issue, one that shows every angel of the problem facing the Jedi after the fall of Starlight and the arrival of the Nameless. The Jedi have retreated, leaving the wider galaxy to the mercy of the Nihil, and while they are seconded behind their Stormwall and largely attacking only the Outer Rim worlds (a vast expanse of planets) the order appear to be far too comfortable justifying that retreat, locked away in the safety of their Coruscant temple. We see them working alongside Republic forces, a foreshadowing of centuries later during the Clone Wars, and also watch a curious weapon that can stop lightsabers from igniting – how the Separatists would have liked to own that during the Clone Wars (though it may have stifled Palpatine’s plans somewhat if one side or the other wasn’t able to fight back). A brief visual recap of how Bell found Burryaga would have been welcome, but despite that another fast-paced, galaxy-spanning, engaging read, the latest in an impressive start to Phase Three of The High Republic.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Soule, Charles (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages - 01/03/2024 (Publication Date) - Marvel (Publisher)
