Star Wars: The High Republic #5 is written by Star Wars lore staple Cavan Scott while Ario Anindito provides art, ink by Mark Morles, colors by Annalisa Leoni, letters by Ariana Maher, and cover art by Phil Noto. It is published by Marvel Comics. Star Wars: The High Republic #5 continues the Jedi’s struggle to overcome insurmountable odds on multiple fronts across the galaxy.
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Previously in Star Wars: The High Republic #4, readers were introduces to the true terror that is the Drengir. The sentient carnivorous plant-like beings had captured multiple Jedi on Sedri Minor, taken control of Jedi Master Sskeer, and infiltrated the Starlight Beacon by infecting the corpse of Hutt thought to be killed by the Nihil. Just before the Drengir were able to assimilate the Jedi on Sedri Minor, including Sskeer’s former apprentice Keeve Trennis, the Trandoshan Jedi Master shook off the Drengir control to free his comrades. All seemed well as the Jedi were able to force the Drengir back; however, a new foe would enter the fold when the Hutts arrived on Sedri Minor.
Star Wars: The High Republic #5 picks up immediately on the conflict between the Hutts and the Jedi on Sedri Minor. While Jedi Master Avar Kriss attempted to reason with the Myarga the Benevolent of the Hutt Cartel, Master Sskeer opted for “aggressive negotiations” with the Hutts. Still connected to the Drengir, Sskeer realized he woke and chose violence as he falls back under their control, unleashing his Drengir abilities. Yet again, Keeve Trennis struggles to bring her former back to the light with no success. As the battle between the Hutt and the Jedi begins, Master Kriss attempts to call for aid from the Starlight Beacon. Much to the reader’s dismay, the Jedi on the station are being overrun with Drengir. Now on the back foot against the Nihil, Drengir, and the Hutts, Star Wars: The High Republic #5 shows how dangerous the enemies of the Jedi can truly be.
The Star Wars: The High Republic #5 plays out the battles on Sedri Minor and the Starlight Beacon. Star Wars: The High Republic #5 more than makes up for the last issues slower pace as the Jedi battle a host of mercenaries, Hutts, rancor monsters, and a crazed Jedi Master on Sedri Minor and a plethora of Drengir on the Starlight Beacon. The art surrounding the combat is where this issue truly shines. Through much of the novelizations, fans have been introduced to various lightsabers that we are not used to in the Skywalker Saga. Reading their uses is one thing, but seeing them on full display is another as the panels give full attention to the differences. On the Starlight Beacon, Jedi Knight Vernestra Rwoh uses her lightwhip while Jedi Knight Keeve Trennis uses her double-bladed lightsaber that she easily can change into single blades on Sedri Minor.
The combat panels are stunning and continue to show the difference between the Jedi of this era and the one that fans are used to. Further, writer Scott plays out the conflict that Keeve Trennis has as she watches her former master struggle against the Drengir influence. The lettering in this series has always been astounding, and letterer Maher reached a new level in Star Wars: The High Republic #5. Keeve Trennis’s inner dialogue has always been accompanied by green boxes, while controlled Sskeer used black boxes. However, red boxes are used in this issue to emphasize the inner conflict that Sskeer is going through as his former padawan attempts to help him break through. As the two speak to each other, panels, flash back and forth between the Starlight Beacon and Sendri Minor to really set the direness of the Jedi’s situation.
Overall, Star Wars: The High Republic #5 is a great continuation of the series. The stakes for this now galactic infestation continue to build, and I am really not sure how the Jedi are going to be able to defeat all of the enemies that have been placed before them across all of The High Republic media. This is the kind of Star Wars I am sure fans have been waiting for. Readers continue to see characters that were introduced in other media like Avar Kriss and Vernestra Rwoh, which has led to speculation and discussions that I haven’t seen in the fandom since The Sequel Trilogy. Despite the cast of characters being expanded with every issue, Keeve Treenis continues to be the star and the symbol for what a Jedi should be.
No matter what I think will happen in the next issue, I am wrong, and I love it. The expectations for this series were high, and I fully believe that Scott, Aninditio, and the rest of the team are exceeding everything I hoped for. For Light and Life!
Star Wars: The High Republic #5 is available now wherever comics are sold.
Star Wars: The High Republic #5
TL;DR
Overall, Star Wars: The High Republic #5 is a great continuation of the series. The stakes for this now galactic infestation continue to build, and I am really not sure how the Jedi are going to be able to defeat all of the enemies that have been placed before them across all of The High Republic media. This is the kind of Star Wars I am sure fans have been waiting for. Readers continue to see characters that were introduced in other media like Avar Kriss and Vernestra Rwoh, which has led to speculation and discussions that I haven’t seen in the fandom since The Sequel Trilogy. Despite the cast of characters being expanded with every issue, Keeve Treenis continues to be the star and the symbol for what a Jedi should be.
