Star Wars – High Republic #10: The Dark Belly of the Beast

This story arc has attempted to push the limits of how far into brutality it can go. Marvel comics are rarely extremely violent and the good guys usually win and never get harmed. This series tests that. It must match some of the darker aspects of the “High Republic” novels in order to kep pace with them. Even the IDW series, which is more family friendly, has shown some darker scenes. This issue not only places its main character in the most dangerous places for her to be, but it askes its her to go against everything she stands for to keep from being found out. At the same time, her former Master Sskeer gets some potentially bad news concerning his inability to properly use The Force. Even worse the heroes find themselves without their only connection to help on the way. They have also  discovered and old enemy.

Lourna Dee is a legend among the overall “High Republic” series. She has appeared in many novels and even had here own audio drama, in which Keeve Trennis was a part of as well. It is about time she appeared in High Republic comics. The Jedi believe two incorrect things about Dee. The first thing is that she is the ultimate leader of the Nihil. The other thing is that she is dead. Neither are true. One of the great things about getting to see an undercover Jedi is being able to see the Nihil, many of whom have had a presence in the books with no visual representation. This issue give readers plenty of Nihil marauders and ship interiors to look at. The ship itself is very industrial looking and the art depicting it is reminiscent of Cam Kennedy who was the artist on the  Dark Horse “Dark Empire” series of Star Wars comics from the early nineties. It is great to be able to finally see what it all is supposed to look like.

The issue ends on a very dark note as well. This is something all the various “High Republic” books and comic series seem to have in common lately. The entire multimedia event is a planned out saga in three phases. All these series have been building up to the end of a massive act involving massive failures for the Jedi and a sense that the seemingly defeated Nihil are reuniting and gaining strength. Heroes have died, and cities have been destroyed. There has been assassination attempts and terrorism of all kinds. The ending of this issue culminated all that introduction of a device hinted at in other “High Republic” stories. It finally gets used when Keeve and her partner find themselves powerless in its presence. It seems the Jedi might have to confront their own kind of kryptonite.