I’m not one for hyperbole (current Bounty Hunters points apart), but it surely’s most likely secure to say Dark Horse may be the king of Star Wars comics. Dark Empire, Legacy, Knights of the Old Republic, Tales of the Jedi, and so many extra are fondly remembered as a number of the cornerstones this aspect of Star Wars. 2022’s relaunch of Dark Horse has primarily consisted of all-ages fare with choices like Hyperspace Stories and The High Republic Adventures most important collection, which doesn’t imply it’s been unhealthy; it simply feels missing in that outdated Dark Horse magic.
That all modifications with The High Republic Adventures: The Nameless Terror. Issue #1 of the brand new miniseries sees author George Mann inject a palpable rigidity within the air that feels not like Star Wars and, due to this fact, makes it extra partaking Star Wars. While I don’t imagine this collection would be the excellent entry level for these new to the High Republic, this might be that nice introduction to the horrors of what the Jedi are up in opposition to throughout this Star Wars period.
I don’t suppose it’s a spoiler to say that the Force-eating creatures often called the Nameless are again in an enormous manner with this collection. In this opening situation, they create a pleasant heaping serving to of dramatic irony for characters I didn’t anticipate to see once more, a lot much less instantly be sucked into their story, and concern for his or her destiny as they method a hazard, not like something they’ve ever seen. If they’ll even see it earlier than changing into a literal husk of themselves.
Spoilers forward…
We start with monster hunter Ty Yorrick, who’s looking for one other job. Her droid, Klo, suggests answering calls throughout the galaxy for assist in opposition to these monsters referred to as the “Nameless.” It’s unsure the place this prologue is within the High Republic timeline, however I want I had anticipated Ty as a candidate to confront the Nameless.
During her aspect appearances in part 1 of High Republic publishing, the previous member of the Jedi Order felt with no objective to the bigger story. She now may need discovered one if her inclusion bears fruit and the Jedi can discover a strategy to struggle again when part 3 kicks off. Either manner, it’s a pleasant framing gadget for what’s ostensibly a monster story.
In the meantime, Ty remembers a narrative she heard whereas within the Order that takes us again to a pathfinder workforce on the Witherbloom. Aboard are just a few returning characters, with the central determine being Jedi Master Rok from Mann’s Quest for the Hidden City. As a fast refresher, Rok’s total pathfinder workforce was sufferer to the monsters of Gloam. He was the one one to make it out alive, and Mann makes it clear that it nonetheless impacts him.
Consoling him is Jedi Master Xinith Tarl, who had a really minor function in Mann’s The Battle of Jedha. There is an implication that Rok is critically contemplating a drastic life change earlier than the 2 are referred to as away by the alarms blaring throughout the ship.
In the cockpit, we meet Jedi Sula, her Padawan Coron, the pilot Pako, and the medic Ambar. An unidentified ship comes flying out of hyperspace, bearing down on the workforce. Before lengthy, the thriller ship rams into the Witherbloom, and each plummet towards the planet beneath.
We observe the thriller ship to the bottom, the place the collision with the planet cripples it. Naturally, contained in the hangar we peer into are just a few sure crystal-shaped eggs that may be acquainted to Path of Deceit readers. One egg rolls outdoors the ship and cracks open in opposition to the surroundings beneath.
Our pathfinder workforce isn’t faring a lot better, compelled to evacuate earlier than the Witherbloom explodes. Things get even worse once we reduce to the egg, damaged open. A shadow lurks in opposition to the thriller ship, solely to have disappeared within the subsequent panel. The Nameless at the moment are on the prowl, with extra eggs nonetheless on the ship.
The interconnectedness of the High Republic shines on this situation. I already talked about Ty and Rok, however there’s much more. In The Battle of Jedha, the Path of the Open Hand talked about eager to find extra of the Nameless past simply the Leveler. While the jury continues to be out if it is a Path ship, you’ll be able to most likely guess the place that is heading.
Even if all these tales are by one creator, giving Mann the possibility to construct upon minor particulars and create extra substance together with his personal characters makes for richer storytelling.
I can’t go one other minute with out lauding the artwork by Eduardo Mello, with colours by Ornella Savarese. For my film individuals, consider the transition from VHS to DVD/Blu-Ray. There’s a purpose the trade by no means went again. The Nameless Terror looks like that kind of improve. I discovered myself unable to look away from the character’s faces and their perfectly-defined cheekbones… their cheekbones! The shadows on their faces add depth of subject, realism, and a way that Mello and Savarese went out into the sector and photographed what was occurring, with splashes of shade filling in the remaining. The artwork just isn’t overly difficult; it’s simply poured over, and it was clearly a labor of affection.
The suspense intensifies because the pathfinder workforce is compelled to enterprise into the empty hallways of the opposite ship seeking survivors. The day’s occasions have left Xinith injured and incapacitated, forcing Ambar and Pako to are likely to her wounds whereas Sula heads deeper. Coron and Rok are elsewhere attempting to get the facility again up.
Everyone quickly realizes they aren’t alone, which lastly brings members of the Path of the Open Hand out of hiding. They assault, however making the scenario worse is a starvation the Jedi start to really feel from outdoors the ship. Rok is already dropping his thoughts, falling into the psychedelics we’ve develop into accustomed to when the Nameless begin to feed (I by no means get bored with seeing what artists do with that). Coron, in the meantime, struggles to really feel the Force and is blindsided by a Path member who swings for his head.
Sula confronts her attackers, and the Path responds in flip by working away after they understand what’s coming. One of the core beliefs of the Path is that when the Jedi use the Force, one other pressure seeks to right it as a result of they deem it irresponsible. The finish of Path of Deceit noticed the Mother claiming the Leveler is the Force’s reply for the Jedi and their “misuse” of the Force. That’s why she needs to find extra of the Nameless species to allow them to unfold this “justice” in opposition to the Jedi. In this case, these decrease members of the Path simply don’t wish to be there when the creature they shipped throughout the galaxy inevitably reveals itself.
Xinith then awakes with a scream, befuddling Ambar and Pako who don’t perceive what’s occurring. Four of the workforce’s six members are Jedi, that means there isn’t a higher strategy to finish this situation than the final of them, Sula, additionally beginning to succumb to the starvation which may doom all of them. The previous couple of pages had been a bit chaotic and threw off the in any other case purposeful circulation, however I’m right here for it in opposition to my higher judgment.
The Nameless are my favourite creation within the High Republic. Mann expertly captures what makes them compelling: the truth that they’re a flat-out terrifying idea. Some of the most effective horror is what you don’t see, and essentially the most we ever get of the Nameless is a shadow. Despite this collection being solely 4 points, The Nameless Terror has the possibility to be what Trail of Shadows was for part 1 storytelling. That collection introduced a thriller thriller vibe in its expose of the Nameless. Mann’s miniseries now has the possibility to play with them inside a distinct thriller style. The Jedi of this time interval discovered a strategy to quell their risk. One of the questions this part nonetheless must reply someplace is how. In the meantime, time to make a horror comedian.
This is real style storytelling and is consultant of what the most effective Dark Horse comics did. They took an opportunity at one thing and let a creator run wild with an concept that concurrently fleshes out the world of Star Wars. While time will inform if The Nameless Terror reaches these heights, the collection is off to an awesome begin. Now in case you’ll excuse me, again to analyzing these cheekbones.
RATING: 8/10
Nate makes use of his love for Star Wars and flicks normally as a manner to deal with the ache of being a Minnesota sports activities fan. When he isn’t on the theater, you’ll be able to often discover Nate studying a comic book, listening to an audiobook, or enjoying a Mario online game for the 1,000th time.
