Review: Vildar Loses His Faith in Marvels The High Republic #9

The penultimate issue of Cavan Scott’s current The High Republic comic book arc is here! The scene on Jedha continues to grow more and more dire. The heroes we have grown to love in this series are pushed to the brink, and this issue left me itching for more. After reading some of what comes after, it was an interesting sensation going into this issue. There were moments I was worried it would take away from my enjoyment, but it had quite the opposite effect. Seeing how some characters are at the end of this chaos on Jedha made me more curious about how they got to those points.



Cavan Scott is one of the greatest creative voices we have in Star Wars, and he rarely pulls his punches. Vildar Mac, Tey Sirrek, and Matty Cathley have been a trio of characters I have really enjoyed diving into. Each has such a different vibe, but they connect in a wonderfully chaotic way.



The ninth issue picks up right where we left off. Jedha is in flames with the fighting having broken out across the whole holy city. Vildar and Tey have entered the secret Jedi vault within the statue of the Final Protector. Werth Plouth, the Herald of the Path of the Open Hand, was the one who incited the violence, and he is searching for the Rod of Daybreak to combine with the Rod of Seasons. When joined together, the rods can completely command the fearsome creature known as The Leveler, and all others of its kind.



This issue is jam-packed from start to finish. Let’s dive in.







Spoilers ahead...



The opening image is as frightening a scene as I’ve ever seen in a Star Wars comic. Master Leebon, one of the Jedi we have been introduced to, looks to be screaming in terror as she is being turned into a husk by The Leveler. With an outstretched claw, she hopelessly tries to get away. It’s an awful scene and one we are getting all too familiar with in this era.



The Leveler looks terrifying as it is hunched over its prey. I can’t say enough about how brilliant of a move it was to come up with this idea of The Leveler and other creatures known as The Nameless. It’s been an incredible addition to Star Wars. So much of me hopes we get to see them pop up in another medium, whether it be a live-action show, animation, or a full-on movie, it would be incredible no matter what.



The Leveler turning Master Leebon into a husk.



Having full command over The Leveler gives The Herald a new lust for power. Yana Ro tries to calm him down, but having control over these creatures is all Plouth can think about. Tey Sirrek has the unfortunate role of witnessing all of this nearby. Vildar Mac is lying helpless at his side from the effects of the nearby creature. Sirrek can hardly believe what he is witnessing but still finds a way to use his incredible sense of humor to keep the growing sense of dread he has at bay.



It doesn’t take long for the Path to discover him. In moments he is overwhelmed and getting knocked and tossed around like a rag doll. Once again, even when getting beaten to a pulp, he still has a few funny one-liners in him. After another punch or kick to the face sends him sprawling, he stumbles into an item of great intrigue.



What he finds is a metal claw-like object known as the Hand of Siberus. Needing something to help him turn the tide of the fight, he slips it on, and oh does it feel so good. Once putting it on, he’s overcome with a sense of power and a thirst to use it. He shoots out force lighting from the metal claw and overwhelms the Path’s forces. This new Force object screams the dark side of the Force.



Tey Sirrek unleashes the dark side.



Tey’s newfound sense of power seems to get Vildar to momentarily snap out of his daze. Imploring him to put the object down, he reveals an incredible secret. The vault is not just any vault, it’s a Bogan collection filled with artifacts belonging to the dark side. Its very existence has to be kept secret, which is why Master Leebon told no one.



Unfortunately for Vildar, The Herald learns of his presence. His lust for power, control, and dead Jedi takes over, and he sends The Leveler screaming toward him. The image below is another terrifying shot of The Leveler. I included another one because each one gives the sense of existential fear the creature creates. This one has the Leveler charging toward Vildar while leaving the husk of Leebon lying behind.



The Leveler charges towards Vildar Mac.



There aren’t many pages spent with Matty throughout this comic, but what we get is incredible. She’s holding up with a leader from the Sorcerers of Tund and several other civilians. The energy field keeping the incoming enforcer droids at bay is failing fast. Rather than tuck her tail and run to their demise, she wants to stand and fight. With an epic swing of her saber, she slices through the energy field, freeing the enforcer droids to make their way in. She is a bold one, but something tells me she’s going to handle herself quite admirably.



Matty Cathley takes on enforcer droids.



Back at the vault, Vildar desperately tries to commune with the Force, but with no luck. The Leveler has seemingly severed that connection from him. In an attempt to show off his newfound power, the Herald has the creature tower over Mac rather than feed on him. All it takes is a simple command from Werth Plouth and Vildar is toast.



Yana tries to reason with Plouth. Telling him that they’ve made their discovery and no more blood should be spilled. Blinded by power, he ignores her request and commands The Leveler to finish the job. It was about this time when Tey finished dispatching the other attackers and, in a flash, sends a burst of lightning directly into The Leveler. He saved Vildar’s life, but at what cost? The image below shows the dark shadow cast over Tey’s face. Like many objects of the dark side, this one seems to fuel a person’s lust for power and destruction. It’s only a matter of time before it consumes him completely.



Before the object can do more damage, Tey gets a blaster bolt into the chest courtesy of Yana Ro, and Vildar thinks he has died. The Herald ignites the lightsabers of two fallen Jedi he stole from and advances toward Mac to end the battle.



Mac has lost all faith in the Force and, in a move of utter desperation, grabs the Hand of Siberus and unleashes its full power on the Herald.



Vildar uses the dark side.



There is only one issue left in this arc of The High Republic, and I can’t wait to see how Scott wraps everything up. Credit to the artists in this one, as I thought it was the most stunning-looking issue yet! The pace ramped up to a frenetic level, and I am positive it will pay off. Hopefully, we get more of Matty, and some Oliviah sprinkled into the final issue. It will be fascinating to see if or how Vildar can overcome this loss of faith. Once again, Cavan Scott delivers the goods!


<p style='text-align: center;']Rating: 9/10</p>






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