The High Republic #4 - Comic Review

Check out the review of the previous issue before moving onto my review for The High Republic #4!

Six years prior to the current galactic events, we see young Padawan Keeve Trennis training with her master, Sskeer, on conquering her fear and uncertainty in doing larger than life tasks only a Jedi can do. He teaches her that there are no shortcuts when it comes to the path of the light of the Force. Back in the present, Sskeer has been infested with the plant-like species the Drengir and seemingly mind controlled into doing their bidding. The rest of the Jedi, Avar Kirss, Ceret, and Trennis, as well as the young boy Bartol, are all trapped hanging from the ceiling just waiting for whatever the Drengir have planned. The Drengir infested Sskeer explains the life and history of the race of plant-like beings and their goal to once again rise up and become a powerful force to be reckoned with. Jedi Knight Trennis, however, decides she isn’t going to go along with this and attempts to talk Sskeer down from this dark and unforgiving path he is on. She offers him her aid in helping Sskeer work through his inner trauma that is plaguing him after the recent battles in his life and seems to have a small breakthrough with what is still left of her Master. Elsewhere, on Starlight Beacon, a few Jedi are having some problems of their own as they realize that the Hutt from the derelict ship they were investigating was not killed by Nihil nor it’s extensive injuries, but by something else. Something darker. Something alive.

This issue really brought the science fiction horror story that writer Cavan Scott has been slowly building to a whole new level. The High Republic #4 pulls out all the stops as Scott gives us cosmic beings and a story full of impending existential dread as well as intelligent and dangerous monsters and even a dash of body horror. The twists and turns throughout this issue are plentiful and the ending of the issue is jaw dropping with its unexpected terror. What’s really worth discussing, though, is how underneath all the horrific goodness of this story, Scott continues his exploration of pain and trauma with Sskeer and Trennis. Trennis delivers a beautiful speech of love, compassion, and hope to Sskeer that reaches far past the pages of a mere Star Wars comic. Scott’s writing here gives us a glimpse into not only what it means to be a Jedi, but also speaks out to anyone in the world hurting and says “things can be tough, but the path to happiness and life is still there and you can reach it.” Trennis proves to be quite possibly one of the best Jedi characters out there.

The art here continues to be spectacular as we have artist Ario Anindito, inker Mark Morales, and colorist Annalisa Leoni working incredibly hard to convey the many sensations throughout this story. We have the dark dread of the underground and root filled Drengir hideout, the fun and lighthearted open air of Trennis’ training session with Sskeer, the scientific and fascinating location of the quarantine zone in Starlight Beacon, and even the ferocity of that final page! They all mesh perfectly together to create a beautiful visual work of art to encapsulate Scott’s writing. The highlight of this issue, and there are so many phenomenal moments to choose from, would have to be the clearly Alien (1979) film inspired explosive sequence with the Hutt corpse within Starlight Beacon. It’s colorful, gorgeous, and grotesque!

Along with the beautiful artwork and storytelling, letterer VC’s Ariana Maher gives us absolutely incredible work going back and forth with the normal speech bubbles and font style of the main characters against the scrappy and intense lettering of the Drengir that oozes dark sided whispers. The lettering here literally feels like the words are tearing and scraping off the page through every word. The cover of The High Republic #4 is also beautiful as cover artist Phil Noto gives you a shocking and exciting portrait of the Drengir infested Sskeer looming next to a trio of captured Jedi! As the first thing you see before you open the book, Noto’s cover entices you with the horror and intensity to be found inside!

If you’re looking for a wholly unique Star Wars comic experience then The High Republic #4 is the issue for you! Run out today to pick it up and see the wonderful and horrific story as only this crew of storytellers can create all the way from the wonderful opening to it’s chaotic cliffhanger final page!