Whilst the first issue of The High Republic showed readers a new era of the Star Wars universe filled with hope, where the Jedi were at the height of their powers, the second issue took something of a dark turn, and we got hints of some very evil things rising in the Outer Rim. Well, issue three not only continues to build on these ideas, but presents a truly horrifying new threat for our heroes.
We rejoin newly knighted Jedi Keeve Trennis as she, Terec, and Avar Kriss as they reach the farming world of Sedri Minor, where Jedi Night Ceret has gone missing, and Sskeer is acting very strangely. Whilst Kriss deals with Terec, who's suffering because of their connection to their missing twin, and Sskeer, who's acting increasingly hostile, Keeve begins searching the farmland, drawn into the fields.
She's soon joined by a local child, and the two of them eventually discover a huge sinkhole. Delving deep inside they find a missing Rodian child, and Ceret, both of whom have been enveloped in a series of strange vine-like plants. Whilst the child has died, Keeve is able to get Ceret free before their life force is completely drained. Unfortunately, this makes Keeve the primary target of the thing that took Ceret, the Drengir; a sentient plant creature with a powerful connection to the Dark Side of The Force.
Much of issue three of The High Republic plays out like a horror movie, with Keeve separated from the rest of her team, searching through lonely fields or dark and winding tunnels. It's claustrophobic and tense, even with her new friend tagging along with her trying to lighten the mood somewhat. This actually seems to have become something of a pattern with Keeve, and I'll be interested to see if she ends up with a small companion every time she ends up going to a new planet.
The scenes where the two of them are searching through the dark tunnels are some of the best moments of the book, as they really ramp up the tension. Though Keeve keeping her light saber aloft with The Force, illuminating the dark, whilst she hugs the crying child as he grieves for his dead friend is possibly the single best panel, because it sums up the kindness and compassion that is so important to the Jedi.
We also get to see more of what's been going on with Sskeer this issue too, and we have it confirmed that it might not just be PTSD from his losing his arm. At the end of the issue it's revealed that Sskeer has fallen under the influence of the Drengir, and even has a new arm produced from their plant matter. Now, this does raise some interesting questions about how long he's been under their control. Is it possible that he encountered the Drengir long before, and this has what's always been going on, or did they only infect him in the second issue when he came to the planet? And if it is the second option, why was he acting so strangely before he arrived on Sedri Minor.
I'm sure those answers are coming, but first Keeve and Kriss have to deal with not only the Drengir, who seem to be able to heal and divide from light saber wounds, but also the now evil Sskeer; an encounter that I'm eagerly awaiting seeing. Issue four can't get here soon enough.
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