Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #4 Phase III by Daniel Jose Older, Elisa Romboli, and Harvey Tolibao is officially out and it’s potentially a big issue for collectors. There are 6 first appearances in it that will likely have a large impact on the Phase III story from Dark Horse Comics.
In this post, I’ll break down all of the first appearances in Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #4 and my overall thoughts on what went down in the story.
This book is the fourth issue from the all-ages Dark Horse Comics run from Phase III of the High Republic. If you haven’t read it yet and don’t want to see spoilers then hit that hyperspace knob and get on out of here. Full spoilers ahead.
Story Overview & First Appearances
I won’t break down everything that happens page by page because if you want to read it, you should buy the comic. But here’s the overview.
Zeen, Lula, and Co. find out that a Nihil prison ship has exited the Occlusion Zone and is now in Republic Space for a mission of some sort. So the Republic and nearby Jedi create a strike team to hit the prison ship and release the prisoners.
During the strike force briefing of the mission, there are a handful of first appearances. everyone involved.
- First Full Comic Appearance of Jedi Master Tani Briwell – Appears briefly in Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #1 from Phase III but that is a cameo as she does not speak and is not named.
- First Full Appearance of Jedi Padawan Eoin Gorcan – First cameo appearance is Star Wars: The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight #1 in the background.
- First Full Appearance of Jedi Master Fleur Ridleg
- First Full Appearance of Jedi Padawan Iric Lams
All four speak, are named, and are involved on multiple pages. Here’s everyone else that is included in the strike force.
- Lula Talisola – First appearance is Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #1 from Phase I
- Zeen Mrala – First appearance is Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #1 from Phase I
- Admiral Pevel Kronara – First appearance is Star Wars: The High Republic – Eye of the Storm #2
- Jedi Knight Qort – First appearance is Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #1 from Phase I
- Jedi Master Kantam Sy – First appearance is Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #2 from Phase I
- Argomon – First appearance is Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #3 from Phase III
- 5A-G3 – First appearance is Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #3 from Phase III
- Jedi Knight Ady Sun’Zee – First appearance is Star Wars: The High Republic Shadows of Starlight #1
The strike force does not know it yet, but their friends and fellow Jedi Farzala, Buckets of Blood, and Bindal Sep are on that prison ship. With them is another friend Ishnar Ti-Kharatal who was the Head of Security for Skarabda the Hutt.
The prisoners are planning an escape. The plans are rushed forward due to the presence of the Nameless on board the ship with Niv Drendow Apruk (first appearance is Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #3) in an effort to weed out any Jedi prisoners who have been hiding their identities.
Alongside Niv are Driggit Parse and “The Warden” who runs the prison ship.
This issue is the:
- First Comic Appearance of Driggit Parse – Nihil enforcer from Valo with wavering loyalties
- First Comic Appearance of The Warden – Disgraced former Nihil enforcer desperate to get back in Marchion Ro’s favor
From there the nameless are released, there’s a riot, the strike force shows up, and the Nihil made a desperate play to stay alive, attempting to sacrifice nearly everyone on board in the process.
The main theme of the issue is the contrasting way the Jedi and Nihil work together. The Jedi will do anything to save their friends while the Nihil will do anything to advance their personal career at the expense of everyone around them.
Also, cover A is the first cover appearance of Niv Drendow, Deblindrix III (a baby nameless), Driggit Parse, and The Warden.
With 6 first appearances, this appears to be one of the bigger keys from all of Phase III of the High Republic. At the moment I would rank it #2 behind Star Wars: The High Republic Shadows of Starlight #1.
UPDATED: Star Wars The High Republic Phase Three Reading Order & Comic Checklist
IMPORTANT: First appearances do not guarantee that a comic will go up in value. Don’t make buying decisions based on my posts. It’s your money. Buy what YOU personally want to buy.
That being said, if you haven’t secured a copy yet, and you want to, you can do so with the links below.
Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III #4 (2023)
W) Daniel Jose Older (A) Elisa Romboli (CA) Harvey Tolibao
Zeen, Jedi Knight Qort, and droid 5A-G3 have been following every clue to find answers about their friends who are missing—and presumed dead—since the Starlight Beacon disaster. Together with an assemblage of battle-ready Jedi, smugglers, and pirates, they’ve got a new lead to pursue and it is taking them straight to a Nihil prison ship . . . Dare they hope to discover surviving allies there?
Find out in issue #4 of Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures, from Phase III of the High Republic saga. Written by New York Times bestselling author Daniel José Older, drawn by Harvey Tolibao, colored by Michael Atiyeh, and lettered by Comicraft! Don’t miss it!
On sale Mar 13, 2024 | 32 Pages | 76156801131900411
SRP: $3.99
Variants:
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