Review: “Star Wars: The High Republic: The Balance of Power”

The first comedian of the second stage of the Upper Republic.

content (propaganda)

One hundred and fifty years before Starlight Station sinks, another beacon burns across the galaxy – a beacon of faith and spirituality. Hajj Qamar is her grandfather. But tensions in the holy city are still running high. Jedi Wilder Mac arrives in Jedha just as the fragile peace begins to crack. A Jedi is found dead, and another begins the search for his killer. All paths lead to a temple.

criticism

With Balance of Power, the first comic volume of Phase Two of the High Republic is available. In terms of graphic, the level is good and there is a high level of detail. The characters come across as plastic throughout and bring their emotions through too, the action scenes are bright, and the overview is always given. Very good conditions.

This also applies to the story, which immediately introduces a new tangle of characters. On the one hand, there is Wilder Mac, who is accompanied by Padawan Matty. Then we have (alleged) thief Tey Sirrek and Jedi Oliviah are also involved, albeit on the fringes. The three main characters are shown in a very funny way, because the team first has to clear up a lot of misunderstandings and learn to work together.

It’s good that all three are a little unconventional. Tey has his own way of helping others and is always annoying, but his heart is in the right place. Matte is also funky and mac… well, that’s it anyway. Which is why it all works so well and the slightly funny approach is shown in his comedy. It’s just fun to follow the characters and their intricacies. At best, one could argue they could have brought more depth. But the fun approach totally makes up for it.

Even fans who have been there for a long time will get their money’s worth, as many elements of the mythology will once again intertwine. Like The Wizards of Tund from Lando’s early 70’s/80’s series of books, to name just one notable example. This makes this stuff canon again, which is nice, but not too intrusive for new fans. Overall, the Jedha councillors’ brawls are well presented and provide the framework for the funny story.

But of course not everything that laughs is funny… er, he says in words and pictures on the pages. Because the path of the open hand reaches the planet and the comic leads directly to the Battle of Jedha! It plays immediately after “The Path of Deception” and before “…The Tenth Planet”. However, I have to play on you again, because the story ends in the middle, when it gets exciting.

However, it’s nice to see the characters from “…Path…” in visual form. Missionary, Mother, Yana – this is how comics and books, or rather the entire stage, are combined. Somehow I get the impression that he’s doing a little better now than he did in the first phase, which of course he means in a positive way. The story really leaves you wanting more.