The High Republic: Trail of Shadows #5 - Comic Review

Ever since the events of the attack on the Republic Fair and the subsequent attack on a Nihil base that left Loden Greatstorm calcified and dead, the Jedi of the High Republic have been searching for answers as to what caused this horrific act. The High Republic: Trail of Shadows #5 finds private investigator Sian Holt and Jedi Master Emerick Caphtor nearing the end of their journey to figure out this mystery. After finding Doctor Uttersond, who has been working with the Nihil, they are told that the Great Leveler, which is the source of the disaster that affected Loden, is a race of creatures known as the Nameless. They’re also known for the rhyme that accompanies them that has been stuck in Caphtor’s mind this whole time: Shrii-Ka-Rai, meaning Eaters of the Force. Armed with this information, Holt and Caphtor arrive at Starlight Beacon only to see it starting to explode! As they race to the station, they decide just how far they are willing to go to continue their investigation into these dangerous beings!

What an ending! Writer Daniel José Older has taken us on a beautiful, intense, mysterious, and fascinating ride throughout this miniseries, and this finale does not disappoint! Older continues to ramp up the stakes and tension as our duo arrive at the seeming end of Starlight Beacon only to jump right into the middle of the catastrophic events. He ties the end of this story to the events of The Fallen Star wonderfully while also letting it come to its natural conclusion. On top of that, we get some fascinating lore behind the creatures that have such devastating effects on the Jedi, which is a total blast.

The visual arts team for The High Republic: Trail of Shadows #5 continues to stay in top form as they breathtakingly convey Older’s story to the visual medium. Artist David Wachter, colorist Giada Marchisio, and letterer VC’s Joe Sabino absolutely blow this story out of the water with stunning splash pages, moments of intense and visceral psychedelic sci-fi horror, and even tender and beautiful moments between characters. It’s a stunning and beautiful masterpiece that deserves to be talked about with the very best of Star Wars comics.

The main cover art for The High Republic: Trail of Shadows #5 was done by artist David Lopez and gives off an explosive, literally, piece of art that has Holt and Caphtor running for their lives. It wonderfully encapsulates their relationship within the book as well as the absolute danger found within the pages of this issue. Lopez also has a variant cover that finds Holt wielding Caphtor’s lightsaber. The second variant cover comes from David Baldeón and Israel Silva and finds Holt and Caphtor, as well as guest appearances from two Jedi in Torban Buck, aka Buckets of Blood, and Qort, facing off against the Nameless!

Investigators of the Republic Emerick and Sian arrive at Starlight Beacon, where all the answers to their questions await them in The High Republic: Trail of Shadows #5. It’s an absolute wild ride that fits perfect with the fascinating and mysterious world of The High Republic era. So hop in your Jedi Vector and fly on down to your local comic shop to pick up a copy today!