Geek Culture Reviews

Phase II of The High Republic draws to a close this week with Star Wars: The High Republic #10.  “The LEVELER has been unleashed in a secret Jedi vault on JEDHA. Jedi Knight VILDAR MAC has risked everything to defeat the PATH OF THE OPEN HAND, but in the face of tragedy, can he resist the lure of the dark side? Jedha’s Battle for the Force reaches its epic conclusion!” Star Wars: The High Republic #10 will be heading to comic book shelves this Wednesday, 24th May, 2023.

Star Wars: The High Republic Phase II details... Over the last week Anaheim, California has hosted the annual  Star Wars Celebration  festivities. As part of this event, Marvel Comics announced what the publisher had in-store for Phase II of its highly successful  Star Wars: The High Republic  tie-in comic, as well as also the reveal of new mini-series; Star Wars: The High Republic - The Blade .  STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC #1 Written by CAVAN SCOTT Art and Cover by ARIO ANINDITO ' Launching in October, STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC #1 will see writer Cavan Scott and artist Ario Anindito reunite after their mega successful run on volume 1. Set 150 years before Phase 1, Phase II of Star Wars: The High Republic will center around Jedha, a planet rich in its connection to the Force and the focus of every major faith in the galaxy. The new flagship STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC comic series will introduce Jedi Vildar Mac, who ar...

Rob reviews Star Wars: The High Republic #15... As the world around the core cast continues to crumble there is a glimmer of light at the end. When Cavan Scott kicked off The High Republic last year it was under a banner of optimism. The Jedi are at the height of their power, and the newly constructed Starlight Beacon hangs as the shining light within the Outer Rim.  However, things soon turned sour as the Jedi (and the Republic) came under attack from the insidious Nihil. What started as routine search and rescue of an attacked starship, soon turned into a galaxy-spanning conflict that's pretty much torn the Jedi of Starlight Beacon apart. There's been loss after loss as the Nihil threw all their might at the Jedi. It's this onslaught that's also allowed Cavan Scott to tap into a side of the Star Wars mythos that's rarely explored - horror.  Our main viewpoint through The High Republic has been the Jedi Knight - Keeve Trennis. To say that the young Je...

Rob reviews Star Wars: The High Republic #14... Since its start, the main High Republic comic has been a real page-turner. From its fledgling opening to the current issue, Cavan Scott has weaved an intricate story that's all bound by one overall question - what it means to be a Jedi.  Through the eyes of the principal cast, we've seen every one of them ask this question in various ways. Whether it is Keeve Trennis - who doubts her abilities, Sskeer - who's losing his connection to the Force, or Avar Kriss - whose path for justice is leading her away from the Light. Now as The High Republic phase #1 enters its twilight, Scott starts to bring these threads together, as well as building towards the next phase. To say the Jedi have had an easy time is a serious understatement. Even catching the deadly Nihil by surprise hasn't been as easy as some may have hoped. While the bulk of the Jedi strike force has dealt a blow to the Nihil organisation, they nearly lo...

Rob reviews Star Wars: The High Republic #12... The nefarious Lourna Dee has returned from the dead and has in her possession a weapon that can turn the Jedi into dust. After narrowly escaping the Jedi at Xais, Dee heads back into the shadows. Meanwhile, tension builds amongst the Jedi of Starlight Beacon... So far The High Republic has been a pretty one-sided story when it comes to the Jedi. For every battle they win, there's been plenty of losses along the way. As such those at Starlight Beacon have become dishevelled and even afraid of what's to come as the war against the Nihil rumbles on. Even as a big Jedi fan, I'm loving this way of storytelling. During the previews of The High Republic last year, we were told that this series would focus on the Jedi (and the Republic) during their golden years. There's been peace throughout the galaxy for cycles, and as such both sides have become somewhat bloated by their success. Yet when it comes to the barbaric...

Rob reviews Star Wars: The High Republic #10... So far The High Republic has been an incredible series that's managed to capture everything that makes Star Wars great. The story has been superb with writer, Cavan Scott bringing plenty of twists and turns to his take on the Star Wars spectrum.  The story has seen all manner of trials for the Jedi of Starlight Beacon. While only just managing to see off the threat of the Drengir, the Jedi have now turned their attention back to the Nihil threat. This has seen the Jedi Keeve Trennis and Terec defect to the pirate faction. However, this is just the beginning as the young Jedi will soon face a tougher challenge. To prove her loyalty, Keeve has to execute the Hutt, Myarga - the Jedi's former ally against the Drengir. The High Republic #10 picks off straight after the events of #9. Keeve and Terec are really in the thick of it. With Myarga's life on the line, and the whole mission to capture "The Eye" at sta...

Previewing Star Wars: The High Republic #10... "A NEW STORY BEGINS THIS ISSUE – THE SHADOW OF THE NIHIL! Following the terrible events of The Rising Storm, the villainous NIHIL are in retreat, hunted by THE JEDI. WAYSEEKER KNIGHT ORLA JARENI is attacked by a lone Nihil Stormship in deep space, a Stormship commanded by one of the Jedi’s own. Which of STARLIGHT BEACON’S number have joined the Nihil Horde? And how far will they turn from the light?" Star Wars: The High Republic #10 is heading to stores this coming Wednesday (20th October 2021).  Can't wait? Then check out the official preview pages below...

Rob reviews Star Wars: The High Republic - Trail of Shadows #1... Trail of Shadows is the latest chapter within  Marvel 's High Republic Star Wars era. Much like the main series - The High Republic - Trail of Shadows is filled with deep characterization and a very intriguing plot.  This 5-part series follows on from the events portrayed within The Rising Storm novel, and follows two new - and very different characters to what we've seen before.   During the battle of Grizal, Jedi Master Loden Greatstorm seemingly turns to dust in front of his fellow Jedi. Stellan Gios is witness to this and recruits fellow Jedi, Emerick Caphtor to investigate. While Caphtor's initial investigation leads to a dead-end, Gios is haunted by a nursery rhyme from his youth which could be the key to unlocking the mystery. Meanwhile in the bowels of Coruscant Sian Holt stumbles into her mystery. She's on the trail of her partner Keefer Branto who's meeting one of Coruscant's...

Rob reviews Star Wars: The High Republic #9... The High Republic is fastly becoming my favourite comic out right now. So far writer Cavan Scott has brought a fairly unknown time within the grand Star Wars mythos to life with a bang. The High Republic era is the Jedi - and the Republic - at the height of their powers.  While the Sith are still nowhere to be seen, there has been plenty to test both the Republic and the Jedi's might. So far this has been both the Drengir parasite and the Nihil. For the last seven issues, Scott has had his Starlight Beacon Jedi fighting the Drengir as the parasite threatened the Outer Rim. Yet, as we learned after The High Republic #8 this was all a well-planned rouse by the Nihil which ended with the pirates attacking the Republic Fair on Velos.  Now months later the Jedi have turned their full attention to the Nihil and Jedi Council Member, Stellan Gios has a plan. One that involves Keeve Trennis... There's a lot to div...

Previewing Star Wars: The High Republic #9... “A NEW STORY BEGINS THIS ISSUE – THE SHADOW OF THE NIHIL! Following the terrible events of The Rising Storm, the villainous NIHIL are in retreat, hunted by THE JEDI. WAYSEEKER KNIGHT ORLA JARENI is attacked by a lone Nihil Stormship in deep space, a Stormship commanded by one of the Jedi’s own. Which of STARLIGHT BEACON’S number have joined the Nihil Horde? And how far will they turn from the Light?” Star Wars: The High Republic #9 is heading to stores this Wednesday 1st September, 2021.  Can't wait? Then check out the official preview pages below...

Rob reviews Star Wars: The High Republic #7... Star Wars: The High Republic writer, Cavan Scott has certainly given the Jedi quite a tough time over here last few issues. Not only have the Order had to deal with the threat of the Drengir, their old foe - the Nihil - have crept back out of the shadows.  The same can certainly be said for Jedi Kreeve Tannis. After her close encounter with the Drengir's Great Progenitor, Kreeve finds herself plagued by visions of the parasite sent through the Force. This then leads the young Jedi into a crisis of faith as she deals with these visions and her doubts about being a Jedi.  Star Wars: The High Republic #7 begins with Kreeve alone in a strange place. As she begins to explore her surroundings she soon encounters a few familiar faces and a mysterious figure clad in white. Suddenly the Jedi is attacked by a mysterious Sith and awakens back at the Starlight Beacon.  Unsure of what's real - or not - Kreeve then begins to do...