The High Republic #3 - Comic Review

Check out the review of the previous issue before moving onto my review for The High Republic #3!

Still reeling from the encounter with the Nihil on the abandoned Hutt controlled ship and losing, Jedi Master Avar Kriss accompanies Keeve Trennis and Terec to Sedri Minor after Ceret was reported missing. Terec, whose mental connection with Ceret currently puts them in great emotional turmoil, puts the blame on Sskeer for losing Ceret on his watch. After they also bring up Sskeer’s butchering of the Nihil they encountered, the Trandoshan lashes out at Terec. Avar Kriss separates them, but it’s very clear that something isn’t right with Sskeer, especially when she mentions that the dark side is strong in Sedri Minor—she’s shocked Sskeer didn’t notice it the second they arrived. Meanwhile, Keeve Trennis has been attempting to make friends with the locals which works for the most part until Speaker Sulman, a representative of his people, becomes agitated and tries to convince the Jedi that they should leave the planet. Keeve, thankfully, mostly ignores Sulman and continues to look for Ceret, ultimately discovering her fellow Jedi is the fifth missing person so far. She encounters Bartol, a child looking for his missing friend and together they run into a massive sinkhole leading underground where the missing residents are being held captive by a creature great and powerful in the dark side: the Drengir!

Things slow down a little bit with The High Republic #3, but writer Cavan Scott keeps up the intensity while the first half of the issue deals with the conversations between all the characters, old and new. The interactions between Terec and Kriss with Sskeer is full of ferocious dialogue that keeps the intensity at the same level of the previous issues, especially with Terec’s accusations and Sskeer’s growing anger and aggression. Scott continues to give glimpses at the darkness that’s surrounding Sskeer and his life, though the author shies away a bit from the introspective look at Sskeer’s trauma and allows us to see his darkness through the eyes of the supporting characters.

We also have the juxtaposing storyline here with Trennis making nice with the locals and being offered various types of bread from children and adults alike. She eventually meets up with the young child Bartol and gets to have a bit of fun with him as well. The way Scott writes Trennis’ interactions with children is honestly so sweet and realistic. The latter half of the issue turns up the intensity with horror and action sequences while setting us on what could be a very dark path within the galaxy which is very exciting.

The High Republic #3 once again gives us some wonderful artwork with artist Ario Anindito doing a fantastic job during all of the character moments and interactions throughout the issue. We get a lot of wonderful expressions—from anger and fear to joy and excitement and even bits of curiosity and worry. Anindito also gives us a wonderful creature design for the Drengir and that’s absolutely where inker Mark Morales and colorist Annalisa Leoni shine; they both give us beautiful bold work throughout the issue, but it’s really the Drengir that had my jaw drop. The artistic team created a gorgeous, earthy, and scary entity that has the power to both enthrall and terrify at the same time. And once the action does start to kick in, they deliver on a spectacular level, however brief in this issue, once again as a powerhouse team of artists.

In this week’s fantastic issue, The High Republic #3 keeps the intensity going with both great character moments throughout as well as a scary and action filled second half as Keeve and her companions encounter an underground creature full of dark side energy in a story hitting the shelves today!