Jedha Is Front and Center Like Never Before in Marvels The High Republic #1

The High Republic has roared back onto the Star Wars scene these past few weeks, and its titular Marvel comic series has returned with it.



Written by Cavan Scott, this series, like all Phase II works, is set 150 years before Phase I of the High Republic publishing initiative. This first issue doesn’t waste any time getting started. Its perfect pacing introduces us to fresh, all-new characters while steering us in a wild direction full of possibilities for the comics. The issue follows Jedi Vildar Mac as he arrives on Jedha to begin his new assignment. We haven’t seen much of Jedha in previous Star Wars projects, so seeing it as a place bustling with life and new ideas was intriguing. The only time I remember seeing much of the planet would be in Rogue One. Rather than being on the brink of destruction under the oppression of the Empire, Jedha is perhaps near its peak.



Vildar Mac arrives here for his assignment feeling sure of himself, but hiding some deep inner fears too. There he meets padawan Matthea Cathley, whose excitement and vibrant personality meshes rather perfectly with the quiet and more private Mac. The two are going to work together much quicker than they thought as the adventure begins quickly.







Spoilers ahead...



Beginning with a look inside the head of Vildar Mac, this issue starts with a bang. The narrator, whose identity remains unknown until the end, speaks of Mac being a proud man who knows exactly who he is. This contrasts with the significance of Jedha and its holy city. Seen as a place of renewal and self-discovery, it seemed odd a Jedi like Vildar would come out this way. Everyone has their inner demons, and Vildar certainly has his. The first issue of The High Republic starts with a nightmare he has of an evil and dark power that came to his village when he was very young, before he joined the Jedi.







Upon waking and exiting his transport, he has his first encounter with young Matthea Cathley, or Matty. I instantly fell in love with Matty’s character as she seemed exactly how I might have been as a young padawan: exuberant and overly chatty. There is no doubt she and Vildar make an odd pair of characters. With his quieter -- perhaps even at times surly -- disposition, coupled with her vibrance, it makes for an intriguing contrast.







Vildar soon discovers that Jedi aren’t exactly beloved on Jedha. Enduring scowls and insults from passing locals caught him and me by surprise. In addition to their disdain towards the Jedi, he quickly learns the number of thieves might outweigh the number of answer-seeking pilgrims. As they reach a marketplace a “Truthsayer of Bpfhaash” begins putting on a show. He claims to be able to do wonders with the Force. As he puts on his performance a real Truthsayer shows up and begins to argue. All of this is happening while a clever thief begins picking pockets. Vildar sees this and begins to immediately attempt to run down this thief. Unfortunately, he loses him and reaches a dead end before being summoned back by Matty to help cool the situation.



Rather than ease the tension, Vildar only escalated conflict as a Sorcerer of Tund stunningly arrives on the scene. This was my favorite image of the comic. The sorcerer lit up the area in a bright flash of bright orange with the lights seeming to be flames from above. Within the flames, came the outline of a creature, and the Sorcerer was garbed in a bright red cloak. For Vildar, this triggered demons from his past. The nightmare seemed all too real, and he was reminded of the time he was a boy again. Thinking the Sorcerer of Tund a threat, he ignites his lightsaber and appears as if he will strike. Finally, Matty can calm him and tell him the sorcerer is none other than Adept Tarna Miak, the Sorcerer of Tund’s representative at the Convocation of the Force here on Jedha.







With the altercation behind them, Vildar and Matty continue to the Shrine of Sarrav, where a Force-imbued object has been stolen. It has been happening in the city more and more recently, and if you have read Path of Deceit, you might know why. In a matter of moments, Vildar notices a droid he saw earlier in the marketplace and, igniting his green lightsaber, chases it down to discover its owner: the very same thief who eluded Mac earlier.



Thinking this thief killed the dead Sister V’Kara of the shrine, he lashes out at the thief, who evades each of his attacks with uncanny reflexes. Astonished by who he knows to no longer be a common thief, Vildar asks him how he is doing this. The thief responds by saying he has mastered every Force ability, even the ancient Morichro: the touch of death. According to Vildar, the Morichro was a myth. He certainly changes his thinking in a hurry when this powerful Force user forces his hand on his chest and kills him with a single touch.







I was shocked when the main character died in this first chapter of The High Republic. However, we learned who the narrator was from the early pages at this moment. The narrator is this mysterious Force user. The final page of this section ends with him saying death was just the beginning for Vildar Mac. What comes next in The High Republic will certainly be anyone’s best guess.



The shorter, second part of this issue introduces us to a Jedi named Oliviah Zeveron, who is ordered by Master Leebon to attend the Convocation meeting in his stead. Oliviah is not exactly thrilled about attending the meeting but didn’t expect in the slightest to find the scene she walked into. Oliviah has a certain discomfort about being on Jedha. It seems to be this place of harmony to the outside, but on the plant, Oliviah knows of the conflict and petty squabbles that ensue every day.







A misunderstanding has turned into a near brawl as the representatives of the Fallanassi and Matukai are about to attack the representative of the Yacombe. The Yacombe are attempting to join the convocation, and some current members have a clear misconception of their religion. Believing the Yacombe to be dark side users, they attempt to lash out and attack this “affront” to their own beliefs.



Wasting no time, Oliviah springs into action with a brilliant green lightsaber igniting to life and stands between the Yacombe representative and the attackers. Pleading with them to see reason and realize the one person not attacking anyone is the Yacombe, the opposing representatives back down.







After this near brawl, the Yacombe withdraw their application and state their search for 'peace and harmony' will continue elsewhere. With Oliviah dismayed as the convocation concludes, one last event takes place. A visitor, who goes by the name Sunshine, arrives to speak on behalf of the Path of the Open Hand. Readers will certainly be excited once again.



The return of The High Republic has been invigorating. Considering how spectacular the series was for Phase I, the bar was set high for this arc. Cavan Scott undoubtedly delivers here. The art by Ario Anindito covers each page with special talent. Varying ideologies of the Force itself are being fleshed out in this phase, and I can’t wait to see where this new The High Republic comic series goes next.


<p style='text-align: center;']Rating: 8.5/10</p>






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