Published by IDW Publishing, Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #3 is written by Daniel Jose Older, illustrated by Harvey Tolibao, colored by Rebecca Nalty, and lettered by Jake M. Wood. The series follows the events of the High Republic 200 years before the Skywalker Saga and is aimed at a younger audience compared to its Marvel Comics counterpart. Unlike other Star Wars Adventures comics, Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures opts for a continuous story rather than the typical two one-shot stories that the series is known for.
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Previously in Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #2, the Jedi were locked in a battle with the marauding Nihil following the events of The Great Disaster. The Nihil used the chaos to capture an elder, Tromak, in an effort to gain information in some sort of agreement. The people of Tymant IV had been taught for generations to never trust the Jedi or the Force. This made it very easy for the elder to side with the Nihil and even convince them to allow a young boy named Krix to come with them. In an effort to save Krix, Master Yoda infiltrated the Nihil Spider Cruiser. To Yoda’s dismay, Krix refused his help as his distrust for the Jedi persisted despite the situation. The old Jedi Master was able to escape the cruiser, but not before giving Krix a holoprojector to communicate with Zeen Mrala, Krix’s best friend who exhibited Force sensitivity in the first issue.
With the Nihil able to escape Tymant IV and the Jedi off to the Starlight Beacon, Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #3 opens a week following the events in Bralanak City. In the first issue of the series, the story was told from the perspective of Jedi Padawans Lula Talisola and Zeen Mrlala. Older takes a similar approach in Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #3 by focusing on Zeen and Krix. The two exchange stories back and forth through the holoprojector given to Zeen by Yoda to show what has happened in the past week. Zeen, who had to hide her true self while on Tyamant IV, has never felt more at home. Krix, on the other hand, is torn and conflicted with his feelings after Zeen, his best friend, hid her Force sensitivity for him. Feeling betrayed and on a ship with the vile Nihil, Zeen is looking to survive no matter the cost.
Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #3 continues this back and forth storytelling throughout the issue. Despite the series being aimed at a younger audience, the themes being tackled will certainly entertain any Star Wars fan. Readers see Zeen becoming more and more comfortable with her new friends on the Starlight Beacon while Krix attempts to persevere at the cost of what is right. While the first issue of this series used this method to show how similar Zeen and padawan Lula were despite being lightyears apart, Older uses this issue as an opportunity to show how different Krix and Zeen truly are despite growing up together on Tyamant IV.
The pacing of Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #3 is done beautifully. The back and forth is never jarring as the experiences of the two friends are mirrored, and the lettering clearly shows who the story is being told via the holoprojector. Further, the art team has jam-packed so much color and detail into each panel. I spent most of my time searching for little details in the art on both the Starlight Beacon and the Nihil baseship.
Overall, I enjoyed Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #3 very much. This series is certainly trying to broaden its audience compared to its Star Wars Adventures counterpart. Readers get to learn more about the Nihil and how they operate their ships, and how the Jedi handle older Force-sensitive beings in the High Republic era. You will be delighted to see other Jedi who have made their appearances in other High Republic media like Jedi Master Avar Kriss. The fact that the team behind Project Luminous has put this much effort to tell this kind of story in a book meant for a younger audience really shows how interconnected and accessible these storylines for The High Republic truly are.
Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #3 is available now wherever comics are sold.
Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #3
TL;DR
I enjoyed Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #3 very much. This series is certainly trying to broaden its audience compared to its Star Wars Adventures counterpart. Readers get to learn more about the Nihil and how they operate their ships, and how the Jedi handle older Force-sensitive beings in the High Republic era. You will be delighted to see other Jedi who have made their appearances in other High Republic media like Jedi Master Avar Kriss. The fact that the team behind Project Luminous has put this much effort to tell this kind of story in a book meant for a younger audience really shows how interconnected and accessible these storylines for The High Republic truly are.
