Published by IDW Publishing, Star Wars Adventures #20 continues the young adult series of anthology comic books for Star Wars canon. Star Wars Adventures #20 composed of two short stories: “Hide and Seek” and “Tales from Wild Space: The Journey.” The two stories per issue format has been a staple of the series since its inception in 2017 and provide adventures that are short, to the point, and not related to each other.
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“Hide and Seek” is written one the titular authors of the Star Wars Adventures series Cavan Scott, features art from Derek Charm, and is lettered by Tom B. Long. Star Wars Adventures has made it a point to give us looks into things never seen before in the Star Wars canon. It truly is one of the best things about the series as it gives us a chance to see planets, species, characters, and stories that may never make it to the big screen.
This story certainly continues this trend. Like Scott’s previous addition in the Star Wars Adventures #19, this story takes place during the Clone Wars. In it, we join General Anakin Skywalker and Master Yoda on their mission to find out what the Separatists are searching for in Wild Space beyond the Outer Rim.
Meanwhile, a troop of B-1 Battle Droids are looking for a secret hidden on the jungle planet Retta. They are under the orders from an alien female general named Flebek who appears to be report directly to Count Dooku. Before they are able to find what they were looking for, General Skywalker and Master Yoda are able to get the jump on the buckets of bolts. After quickly dispatching their forces, the two Jedi feel as someone is watching them. In an eerily similar fashion to the way that Yoda will sneak up on Luke decades later, they are startled by an elder alien who even says she means them no harm. It becomes known that this beings name is Kreeda, the last remaining Segredo and an old friend of Master Yoda.
Kreeda, who does not show signs of being a Jedi herself, has mastered the way to become invisible to the see. Much like the Jedi mind trick, she confuses the minds of individuals to render herself invisible. Her “psychic camouflage” is undoubtedly what the Separatists are looking for as an advantage in the war effort. Even General Skywalker sees this benefit and at the mention of bringing her back to Coruscant to serve as a spy for the Republic, Kreeda vanishes into the jungle. Now the two Jedi must race to find and protect Kreeda as well as any other secrets she may be harboring on this planet.
The rest of the issue provides readers with twists that will entertain and a moral quandary for the always tactically thinking General Skywalker. However, I am more intrigued with the introduction of Kreeda. If the new wave of Star Wars canon media has proved anything, it is that we have not yet learned all there is to know about the Force.
There are multiple examples of beings with deep connections to the Force who are Jedi nor Sith. The natives of Lew’el, Bendu, the Force Priestesses only to name a few point to multiple Force sensitive beings that introduce new ways to view the mystical energy. Kreeda and her connection is the newest addition this understanding as Force Cloak is something rarely seen outside of trained Jedi and Sith in the new canon. Despite this series’ target audience being a younger demographic, it is these kind of tie-ins that keep me coming back issue after issue. I truly hope that we get more of Kreeda in the future Star Wars Adventures and possibly even some background on how her and Yoda are acquainted.
The next story in issue #20 is written by George Mann who sports a long list of credits on multiple franchises including Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes, and Dark Souls, as well as the upcoming novel Star Wars: Myths & Fables. He is joined by artist Valentina Pinto and letterer Tom B. Long who round out the team for this story.
Here, we follow Jedi Padawan Barriss Offee while she is on mission to find a hidden secret by Master Luminara Unduli as it is told by series storyteller Emil Graf. Followers of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars will remember Barriss as leaving the show with a not so great final impression. Luckily for readers, this story takes place before those events. At the point, she is just a Jedi Padawan following the orders of her Master.
Barriss isn’t sure what she is looking for, but her mission takes her through trials and tribulations in an ancient temple. She faces many challenges reminiscent of the trials faced by Padawans on the path to becoming a Jedi Knight. While the story is short, it does provide a quality tie-in message with what is happening in the present time with Emil Graf. There isn’t a lot of Easter eggs or new canon material in this story but I do find the timing of this story to be very interesting. While nothing is confirmed, I do have my own dots to connect.
Spoilers for Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 19: Fortress Vader, Part I to follow.
We haven’t seen Barriss in quite a while. With the addition the Inquisitors in new Star Wars media, there has been a lot speculation on the identity of some of the brothers and sisters of the Inquisitorius Program who are behind masks. The trailer for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order reveals of the presence of the Second Sister in the game.
Since the introduction of the Second Sister in the Darth Vader comic, many have hoped that Barriss would be behind the mask. The appearance of Barriss in this comic may point towards a need to reintroduce her to the public. Perhaps a story before the events in Star Wars: The Clone Wars is an attempt to make her a more sympathetic before her turn to the Dark Side.
We know that the Second Sister is a former member of the Jedi Order. We know that Barriss turn to the Dark Side was apparent. We know that Darth Sidious may have had the power to liberate her from her bonds after Order 66. Or, maybe I am looking too far into the short story in aimed at a younger audience. Regardless, this speculation has made this story more than worth the read.
Besides, what a nice moment this would make if I connected the dots correctly!
Star Wars Adventures #20 is available anywhere comics are sold.
