Review: Understanding a Jedis Motives in Marvels Star Wars: Yoda #2

Star Wars: Yoda began with a solid whimper. While the art was stellar, the whole notion of hooking people in with the idea that Yoda couldn't possibly want to help people in need is undoubtedly a weird choice, because that isn't a hook. That is who Yoda is as the best of the Jedi. As with any story, however, you have to let it play out a bit more, but this week's issue #2 puts that to the test.



Spoilers ahead...







The issue opens with Yoda showing fellow Jedi Masters Sutan and Veter a trinket from the Scalvi people. Sutan makes a comment asking how long it's been - as old friends sometimes do when they reunite. The question is never answered, making it just a nice writing trick to establish that Yoda has been away from Coruscant for a while at this point.



When Yoda returns to the village, he finds the Scalvi are almost finished completing their watchtower to keep an eye out for the Crulkon. It's not going too well as an accident happens, but Yoda prevents anyone from getting hurt.







We get another scene with Veter and Sutan receiving another transmission from Yoda. They ponder the possibility that Yoda is growing too attached to the Scalvi. Yoda answers any call the Jedi Council makes, but instead of staying with the Jedi, he returns to his newfound home. Again, I really need someone to tell me what I'm missing. Have these Jedi Council members not helped anyone ever? Perhaps, the disconnect is explainable in Yoda's reluctance to really explain his true motivations, but what more is needed than 'these people are still unsafe and need my help?' You don't have to understand all of Yoda's many quirks to understand the bare bones of what he's been doing on Turrak.







Perhaps, another reason it might be considered odd is that Yoda isn't all that active when he's with the Scalvi, which also annoys some members of the village. He just watches over them passively and makes sure they can fend for themselves when the Crulkon inevitably return.



And sure enough they do. Bree fends them off by sounding some type of unbearable ringing sound throughout the village, a trick he learned from one of Yoda's stories about Dalna (thank you for reminding me about much better High Republic-era stories happening this week).







Afterwards, everyone is surprised to discover Yoda was captured during the fray. Bree and a couple others find his lightsaber left behind, and decide to go rescue him. They infiltrate the Crulkon base and manage to get the jump on who I assume are the leaders. When inside Yoda's holding cell, Bree ignites the saber and cuts the Jedi Master's bonds.



Yoda reveals he was here for a different reason, prompting Bree to hold the lightsaber up to illuminate a group of presumably captured Scalvi children. Enraged, Bree plunges the saber through the heart of the Crulkon leader. Meanwhile, Yoda looks on helpless pleading with the boy to stop because all is not as it appears.







I've read these first two issues of Star Wars: Yoda having no doubts Cavan Scott gets Yoda. He's a Jedi unlike any other and does things no other Jedi would do. I've read these first two issues loving Nico Leon's art and Dono Sánchez-Almara's use of color. Every panel just pops off the page, and I can't wait for more Yoda lightsaber action. Phil Noto's covers have been up to the incredibly high standards he's made for himself. What I can't wrap my head around is what this story is meant to be.







Because Scott has a firm grasp on the character and this is Yoda being a mysterious little devil, I am fully prepared to come here next month gushing about the 4-D chess being played in silence. Unfortunately, it might take 5-D chess to salvage this leg of the journey. If the purpose of this series is to uncover more of Yoda's teachings as he reflects on his life's work, then it's already clear what's happening. Yoda's been trying to teach Bree and the Scalvi patience as they have been quick to wrath anytime the Crulkon attack. Meanwhile, if the Crulkon aren't the baddies we thought, it's a lesson of not judging a book by its cover. For the High Republic Jedi, it's the strangest lesson of all, why you're a Jedi in the first place. Either way, the core sin remains.



There isn't anything in the narrative that suggests everyone outside of the title character should be this obtuse in their understanding of Yoda. Whether Scott has a trick up his sleeve or not with the next issue, no amount of hero work will make this first mini-arc worth revisiting. I'm already counting down the days to issue #4 with Count Dooku.


<p style='text-align: center;']RATING: 4/10</p>






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