The High Republic Adventures #11 - Comic Review

The group of Padawan learners have been through a lot together since The High Republic Adventures kicked off earlier this year. From relationship beginnings and endings to multiple encounters with the Nihil, it’s fitting that after the battle on Takodana, they get some down time. Though by Master Buckets of Blood’s standards, “down time” means having an epic Jedi race called The Great Jedi Rumble with absolutely no rules! It’s not all fun and games for Lula, however. She’s battling some pretty intense emotions that are overwhelming her entire being, causing her to question what means more to her, the Jedi Order or her friends. The Great Jedi Rumble is the perfect setting to have the cast of characters all together, working towards a common goal (Trail of Shadows’ Emerick and Sian even make cameos!). Thankfully the stakes are relatively low, and the Rumble doesn’t quite go as the Padawans planned (Buckets ends things with a major dad move).

Meanwhile, Krix and Sabata are meeting with a Nihil contact on Corellia, where their plot to take the Jedi down continues. Sabata, however, doesn’t intend to play nice and has a dastardly plan of her own to supplant Krix’s position. Using Krix’s emotional ties to Zeen against him, her plan will serve double duty in both taking down the Jedi and removing a weak member from the Nihil’s ranks.

On first read, it may seem like writer Daniel José Older is taking a break from narrative heavy lifting this time around. But while the majority of this issue is taken up with The Great Jedi Rumble, a fun way to provide action and comic relief, a theme of emotions is strong throughout. The main characters are teenagers after all, yet Older treats them with care and respect as they learn about themselves and each other. It will be interesting to see how the rage that consumes both Lula and Krix manifests in both of them and how that will impact the future of The High Republic Adventures. A surprise with issue #11 is the inclusion of the planet Corellia—we just might get to see how this planet with a sketchy reputation was forged.

Artist Harvey Tolibao returns and proves he’s more than up to the task of rendering literally almost every single character in this title (and then some). Rebecca Nalty’s colors treat the Rumble on the Beacon in the carefree way it deserves, while keeping the events on Corellia mired in murky darkness. With Jedi flying and beasts battling, the action on both Starlight and Corellia are major artistic highlights of this issue.

The race is on, so rush to your local comic book shop and get your copy of The High Republic Adventures #11, on sale now!