This week issue #2 of the 2022 Marvel comics run from Phase II of Star Wars The High Republic by Cavan Scott and Ario Anindito comes out… and I’ve been able to acquire it a few days early.
Woot woot!
Want to know the key events and first appearances?!? If so then you’re in the perfect place.
Issue #1 is huge High Republic key issue with over 11 first appearances and the introduction of the Convocation of the Force. If you want to get caught up on that one click the link in the last line for all of the details.
You can also still get first print copies at cover price online and there is a 2nd print coming out in a few weeks.
While Star Wars The High Republic #2 doesn’t quite have the same key issue ammunition… it’s still a key and has first appearances that will likely play a key role in the phase.
Also don’t forget to check out the Drunk Wooky Star Wars The High Republic Phase II Checklist to see every book , comic, and variant for the entirety of the phase.
BEWARE! SPOILERS ABOUND AFTER THIS SENTENCE!
Ok for starters, Vildar Mac isn’t dead. But we knew this from the official preview that StarWars.com published last week.
Here are the rest of the official preview pages before we get into the spoilers.
High Republic #2 Preview Pages
The comic kicks off with Vildar Mac unconsciously recalling traumatic events as a child where a Sorcerer of Tund murdered his parents on Kiffar. Something that seems to haunt him to this day. The interesting part is that the purple text about Vildar and that moment are all from the perspective of the attacker. This makes me feel that the Sorcerer somehow imprinted himself in Vildar’s mind and is kind of taunting him.
Looks like Vildar Mac’s force abilities include Psychometry. Where one can know where an object has been and details on anyone whose handled it (sometimes going back centuries) by simply touching the object. Cal Kestis also had/has this ability. That’s what Vildar Mac is doing with that arrow that Tey Sirrek used in issue #1.
With the help of Matty Vildar is able to identify the location of Tey Sirrek as a bar with red doors called, The Enlightenment. On the way to investigate that bar Vildar and Matty run into our first group appearance of The Path of The Open Hand.
I do not know the name of the character speaking at the moment but I do know that they are Quermian like Jedi Master Yarael Poof. We also know that they are a representative from the Path of the Open Hand. The Path of the Open hand was introduced in the High Republic The Path of Deceit novel that came out in October. You can get my review of that book plus a breakdown of who the Path of the Open Hand is on my review here. But the main thing you need to know at the moment is that they very much disapprove of the way the Jedi manipulate The Force.
I’ll try to find out more infor on who that speaker is but there are a handful of potential cameo appearances on the panels above.
But they work their way past the group and head to The Enlightenment to track down Tey Sirrek who they believe murdered someone and who tried to kill Vildar using advanced Dark Side powers that can kill people with a simple touch.
Once inside they are met by two huge members of the Enlightenment’s security staff… the Twinkle Sisters. (beautiful… aren’t they?)
This is the first appearance of the Twinkle sisters and based on Cavan Scott’s enthusiasm about them, they likely have a large role to play moving forwards. At a New York Comic Con in October members of the High Republic panel were asked about the characters that they were most excited for fans to meet.
Author Cavan Scott named the Twinkle Sisters as his most anticipated characters. Then artist Ario Anindito revealed the official concept art for the duo and their boss, Kradon (more on them in a sec)
Could just be me but when an author calls out two characters as highlights AND the artist is prepared with their concept art it feels like something big is in store for them.
The Twinkle Sisters eventually let the Jedi in and they are greeted by the owner of The Enlightenment, Kradon Minst. Kradon was first mentioned in the short story, Takes of Enlightenment: New Prospects that was inside of Star Wars Insider 213 and 214. He gives of real Hondo Onaka vibes. Very goofy and valuable at the right price.
Eventually Vildar see’s Tey Sirrek trying to creep out and throws his own arrow back at him to pin him to the door. The Twinkle Sisters slam Vidar’s head to the table like he’s a drunk hobo and Kradon threatens to behead him.
Then Vildar explains that Tey is a darksider who used to the Ancient Art of Morichro to try and kill him. This causes the bar to go into an uproar of laughter because they know Tey Sirrek… and he’s no dark side force user.
Turns out that Tey is less like a Sith and more like Robin Hood as he considers himself a hero and “defender of the oppressed.” And the trick he used to “kill” Vildar was actually just a pheromone created by his people to temporarily incapacitate predators.
They also find out that he didn’t kill the woman from the first few pages. Someone else did. He was trying to help her because someone was attempting to steal her force artifacts. We know that this is the Path of the Open hand from the Path of Deceit. They look to “liberate” objects that are force related from those who would abuse them. And they are not above killing to get them.
After sneaking out of the bar Tey Sirrek tries to sell Vildar’s lightsaber (he stole it from him in the bar) to an alien named Briff.
This is Briff’s first appearance but not sure they will be all that important. Either way it’s the same species that turned in Obi-Wan on the Kenobi show.
This is Briff’s first appearance but not sure they will be all that important. Either way it’s the same species that turned in Obi-Wan on the Kenobi show.
Tey notices a green bird artifact that is apparently made from Kyber. This makes Briff angry. Vildar hops in the mix. There’s a bit of a fight and then Briff runs away.
The important thing here is that the artifact is called, The Starbird, and it comes from the Temple of Kyber. Where the Guardians of the Whills look over more than 2000 force artifacts.
I also get the vibes that Tey is an estranged member of the Guardians of the Whills. You may recognize them from Rogue One. Chirrut is a Guardian of the Whills and he and Tey have very similar outfits.
Why do I think he’s estranged? Well because when Matty mentions that the Guadians and Jedi have a good relationship they suddenly appear and surround the group. Aiming some sort of crossbow looking weapons at them.
And that’s where the issue ends and I have to say I really liked it. My one complaint is that, thus far, the great Vildar Mac is portrayed as a big ole bozo. He has zero understanding of the culture and his one ally who does, Matty, he constantly ignores. So far he’s solved nothing and only escalated conflicts.
Part of this is arrogance in my opinion. He’s used to people kissing his feet since he’s a Jedi but there on Jedha, people are not impressed. There are countless force groups and cults in the holy city and the Jedi are not near as highly thought of.
The ending also makes me anticipate the 3rd issue being another big key in the run since we will undoubtedly get a ton of backstory on who is in charge of the Guardians of the Whills.
That’s all for today! Don’t forget to check out all of the variants of this issue (and all the others) on the Drunk Wooky High Republic Phase II checklist.
Until next time…
For light and life.
Grand Admiral Frik.
