The High Republic Adventures: Galactic Bake-Off Spectacular #1 is a special issue written by Daniel José Older and Vita Ayala with art by Jo Geyong and Toni Bruno, colors by Jo Geyong and Rebecca Nalty, and Letters by Jake M. Wood, published by IDW Publishing. Aboard Starlight Beacon, Jedi Master Buckets of Blood is baking Yoda’s famous special baked sweet story custard cakes along with some of your favorite other High Republic Jedi.
Getting this part out of the way first: the name of the comic is a bit of a misnomer. Galactic bake-off seemed to imply a competition and sadly, there is no such contest. The baking, even more unfortunately for those hoping for a baking-centric story, is relegated to a frame. The whole issue is really split between two stories, the baking, and the story requisite of the custard at hand. In fact, I think I’d have enjoyed both of these stories better were they separated. The story within the story, a harrowing rescue of elder Jedi from a Great Disaster-related incident, is fair enough. It just doesn’t really connect to the baking I wanted to see.
In fact, you really barely see any baking. Which is such a shame, because the whole gimmick with Buckets of Blood is that he’s more of a wizard baker and medic, not a killer, and this was a great chance to showcase his skills. But alas, we’re left with a few panels and mostly screaming children demanding to just keep hearing the other story. It’s a creative storytelling device, I just wish it was used elsewhere and not in the middle of a baking story.
The alternating artists do well distinguishing their crafts while still fitting together well. The shift from one story to the other was admittedly jarring at first, but it all smoothed out quickly, to the point where I forgot they were even different. The bright colors of Starlight Beacon bring a lot of joy around all of the young Jedi and food. I only wish I saw more of it. The blue and red washes over the rescue mission create a sense of urgency while rarely becoming too overwhelming, save for one or two pages where it does. I love the design of Master Griswal, one of the elder Jedi being rescued. It’s adorable but can also be formidable, like Yoda but cuter.
In fact, the whole concept of a cruiser full of retired Jedi is great. I’m not sure I’ve seen anything like it in Star Wars before and it allows for a great lesson in how Jedi age as well as how their value to the order doesn’t diminish in their older age. Classic Star Wars-feeling font compliments the whole issue with some fun SFX and nice coloring behind narration boxes to keep them visible in front of various backgrounds.
The High Republic Adventures: Galactic Bake-Off Spectacular #1 is two good stories that take away from each other’s value. While the story and art are good in both parts of the comic, I just really wish there was more baking happening in the baking spectacular. There is a recipe by Claudia Grey at the end though, which is quite fun. I just wish there had been more baking in the baking issue.
The High Republic Adventures: Galactic Bake-Off Spectacular #1 is available wherever comics are sold.
The High Republic Adventures: Galactic Bake-Off Spectacular #1
TL;DR
The High Republic Adventures: Galactic Bake-Off Spectacular #1 is two good stories that take away from each other’s value. While the story and art are good in both parts of the comic, I just really wish there was more baking happening in the baking spectacular. There is a recipe by Claudia Grey at the end though, which is quite fun. I just wish there had been more baking in the baking issue.
