The much anticipated 2nd issue of Star Wars: The High Republic – The Blade comes out this week but I was able to access a time machine to read it early. Before I get into the details, I wanted to say that this issue is a ton of fun and moves the plot forward significantly by introducing the key players in the conflict that Jedi’s Porter Engle and Barash Silvain are tasked with resolving.
There are five key first appearances in this:
- The First Appearance of Envoy Seleen
- The First Appearance of Field Marshal Tozen
- The First Appearance of a Droid named “Sevens”
- The First Appearance of Prince Colden
- The First Appearance of General Viess (likely considered a cameo)
There are other firsts in the book but non e that likely will matter throughout the whole story.
UPDATE: Star Wars: The High Republic – The Blade #2 is officially getting a 2nd printing.
Also if you are jumping in a little late to this series know that the first appearance of Porter Engle is Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Annual #1 (check eBay listings) and the first appearance of Barash is Star Was: The High Republic – The Blade #1 (check eBay listings).
See the full spoilers plus details on every variant of The High Republic The Blade #2 below.
BEWARE! SPOILERS ABOUND AFTER THIS SENTENCE!
There is a lot that happens in this issue so I won’t be going page by page of the entire comic. Instead I will focus on key events and new character appearances. Be sure to support the writers and artists by buying a copy on release date. You can pre-order from TFAW here.
The story starts with Barash and Porte being welcomed by the Envoy Seleen who represents the city under siege in this series, Firevale.
She is the one who sent the distress signal for help that Porter and Barash picked up on in issue #1. Envoy Seleen tells us that Firevale has large mining operations to mine a rare mineral called, Baudraxite, that is essential to planets energy infrastructure. The people of Firevale then trade Baudraxite to other cities for food, technology, etc.
The rival city that is attacking Firevale in the story is called Bethune and is lead in battle by Field Marshall Tozen.
Field Marshall Tozen tells Porter and Barash that Firevale cannot be trusted. When questioned about the reasoning behind the siege one of Tozen’s men tells the Jedi that Firevale kidnapped the Bethune heir and princess.
He agrees to let Porter and Barash safely through their blockade with food and supplies if they promise to, in turn, work on getting their princess back and resolving the conflict.
BUUUT… As the Jedi head into the walled city of Firevale, Tozen tells his droid “Sevens” to establish communications with an unknown person for help.
Meanwhile our two Jedi head into Firevale with the supplies and are greeted by the presumed leader of the city, Prince Colden. When questioned about the missing Princess, Prince Colden tells Porter that the missing Princess is his wife who ran away from Bethune to seek asylum in Firevevale.
The Jedi are trying to make sense of it all when alarms sound inside of Firevale. A new fleet has emerged from space and is converging on the sity. We then find out that Tozen was calling a mercenary army to come in and help him finish this conflict once and for all. This alarm signifies that the mercenaries have arrived.
Porter and Barash jump on these two Dragon looking creatures that the people of Gansevor (the planet they are on) use for travel and transporting supplies to go intercept the emerging threat. Then we see this menacing mercenary contacting Tolzen…
That character is the leader of the mercenary army and, while they are not named, we know from an interview that author Charles Soule did on The High Republic Show that they are named General Viess. Charles mentioned that they would show up at the end of The Blade #2 and also said that General Viess would be very important moving forward.
He even went as far as to specifically say that Viess will have a direct impact on Phase III of the High Republic.
For comic speculation purposes General Viess seems to be the big character to focus on. The one potential issue for issue #2 though is that, while they speak, they are not named and are only in one panel. This will likely be considered their first cameo first appearance in a comic. General Viess’ first full appearance will then be Star Wars The High Republic; The Blade #3 out next month.
That’s all for now my friends. You can see all variants of both The Blade #2 and The Blade #3 on the Drunk Wooky High Republic Phase II checklist here. Be sure to get your pre-orders in now to make sure you can get them at or below cover.
Until next time… for light and life.
Grand Admiral Frik
