Star Wars – High Republic #3: Darkness Rising

This issue moves very fast, as this whole series has so far. The Marvel addition to the greater High Republic multimedia event has to be impressive, and it is. Issue #3 continues that by creating many more challenges for the main character. So far Kreeve Trennis has been knighted, she has confronted the new big enemy in the Nihil, and now she fears for her former master’s sanity. It would seem it could not get any more complicated. And yet there are bigger enemies to face, including from within her own ranks. The Jedi twins, Terec and Ceret have been separated, causing them madness. Meanwhile her closest companion continues to show signs of aggression that even the other Jedi sense. She alone goes to look for clues. What she finds, in short, is the next big villain in the High Republic storyline.

One of the best things about this series is that is makes sure the audience find Keeve Trennis admirable. She is prone to simply doing the right thing while still being a frequently cursing hip young Jedi knight that kids can look up to, and they do. During her investigation she encounters another child who helps her in her detective work. She even comments to herself how often she picks up strays on missions. She’s very likeable and clearly a model Jedi, even if she says bad words all the karking time. Kreeve understands her powers well, and follows her instincts. She isn’t just an agreeable Jedi, she is very skilled too. The High Republic books are also full of other youthful competent Jedi as theme overall. Kreeve fits well in that pantheon of heroes across all the High Republic stories. To make the series even more connected to the books, the seasoned Jedi Master Avar Kriss joins the story. Kriss is pretty much the She-Ra of Jedi. She is very in touch with The Force and is deadly with a lightsaber. She is almost mythic in her heroism. Kriss is a perfect companion on any mission or in any battle, in space or on planet. Adding big guns to Kreeve’s mission can only lead to excitement, and it does.

One of the things that is impressive about this series is the huge amount of dialog. When Kreeve is alone, she talks to herself. When some kid is following her, she talks to them. The Jedi also have a lot to say about the events at hand, as well as the village of farmers caught up in this conflict. It really makes the narrative richer and keeps the series on par with the books, which are much longer with many more characters. This doesn’t at all take away from the action either. The art adds to the fast paced style of the action, while spicing up panels of dialog so that no one gets bored. There is a very tight teamwork feel to this issue in particular. The creative crew, was firing on all cylinders. There is good amount of praise to given to letterer Ariana Maher, who managed to get all that dialogue in without getting in the way of the art at all.