The High Republic: Trail of Shadows #1 - Comic Review

The High Republic: Trail of Shadows #1 takes place not long after The Rising Storm and The Battle of Grizal where Jedi Master Loden Greatstorm, who until then had been a captive of the Nihil, was destroyed, turned to dust, by a creature of sorts used by the Eye of the Nihil Marchion Ro. Following these events, Emerick Caphtor was approached by Stellan Gios to look into the matter of Loden’s death, and subsequently what this creature is that could do such a thing. With very little information to go on, Caphtor takes a lead from Gios’ previous Padawan, now Jedi Knight, Vernestra Rwoh who found a small Nihil base on Vrant Tarnum. At the same time, private detective Sian Holt is on Coruscant on a job tailing a criminal, Keefar Branto, who she’s also been reluctantly partnered up with. While she knows Branto wants to do good, she has a hunch he’s gone in with some bad criminals and has decided to follow him around to see exactly what he’s up to.

Writer Daniel José Older starts this five issue miniseries off incredibly well. The High Republic: Trail of Shadows #1 has very little action throughout most of the issue, but that’s not a bad thing as he has put in a lot of fascinating mystery behind the events currently unfolding and the characters surrounding them. The characters start off very well rounded and fleshed out even through the first few panels of the individual introductions of our main players Caphtor and Holt. By the end of the issue we are left with many questions, in a very good and exciting way, as well as a great mantra by Caphtor that I’m sure will be a running theme in this story: “In an investigation, everything is something and nothing is nothing.”

The visual art team for The High Republic: Trail of Shadows #1 does a fantastic job setting up this great intro to this miniseries. Artist David Wachter, colorist Giada Marchisio, and letterer VC’s Joe Sabino have crafted a comic so visually unique that it rarely feels like you’re reading a Star Wars comic, even if there’s lightsabers and Jedi robes all over the place. Where The High Republic as a whole continues to push Star Wars into a new direction that feels wholly unique, these three artists take that goal and challenge to a completely new level by making this issue feel as unique as a Star Wars story as I’ve ever seen so far. Also bonus for the adorable design of Caphtor’s little droid buddy, Cuetoo, who feels reminiscent of Jedi: Fallen Order‘s BD-1.

The main cover art of The High Republic: Trail of Shadows #1 is a fantastic piece by artist David Lopez depicting our two new main characters Emerick Caphtor and Sian Holt in a back to back pose with their weapons drawn not unlike many buddy detective style mystery film posters. The first variant cover comes from Ario Anindito and Rachelle Rosenberg and also gives us a back to back weapons drawn display of the two main characters this time, however, from a top down perspective with a much bigger sense of urgency. The second variant is by Julian Totino Tedesco and sports a more action oriented pose by Caphtor and his lightsaber with Holt and her blaster faded back more in the background. All three of these covers give off a great and exciting mystery action vibe that is sure to come in future issues!

All in all, The High Republic: Trail of Shadows #1 is a fantastic and intriguing start to this exciting chapter in The High Republic era of Star Wars! Coming hot off the tragic ending of The Rising Storm, the first issue in a five part miniseries sets itself up to be a fascinating piece to the Jedi/Nihil puzzle. So fire up your Jedi Vectors and fly on down to your local comic shop to pick up the issue today!