The prequel era of The High Republic is in full swing but the connections to the first phase are a bit vague at present. What makes The Blade so much fun is that it presents the past of a relatively minor character from the prior group of stories. This gives the reader an emotional touchstone from which we can experience the other characters and conflicts.
Charles Soule gives us a rich and interesting tale on the planet Gansevor. The story is really about the relationship between Porter Engle known as The Blade of Bardotta and his empathetic sister Barash Silvain. The story carries a haunted feel as we don’t know Barash in the future which creates a tension where she could be harmed at any time. The brother and sister bond is so enjoyable that we feel protective of them even as they manage a seemingly routine conflict. In the Outer Rim world of Gansevor, the siblings have been called in by Envoy Seleen of Firevale.
Firevale is being held under siege. Firevale produced a valued mineral called Baudraxite. The Jedi travel with a peaceful supply envoy to the besieged area and are attacked by Marshal Tozen and his opposition army from Bethune. The Jedi fight off the attack and meet with Tozen who chides them for ignoring the planet’s welfare until conflict occurs. Tozen reveals that their princess has been taken by Firevale. He seemingly allows the Jedi to pass but secretly calls in a mercenary army to attack them. The Jedi discover that the princess has actually sought sanctuary in Firevale and married it’s prince just as the massive mercenary army arrives with a powerful new foe.
The issue is artfully written with a steady patter and flashbacks involving Porter and Barash. They are a great duo who really do work better together than apart. The detailed art is beautiful in most places although the closeups are much more impressive than the siege and battle sequences. This book is a fun, intriguing examination of sibling Jedi who clearly enjoy working together. Ultimately the final fates of both these characters are tragic, but we will enjoy their stories as long as we can.
Writing: 4.3 of 5 stars
Art: 3.8 of 5 stars
Colors: 4.1 of 5 stars
Overall: 4.0 of 5 stars
Writer: Charles Soule
Art: Marco Castiello and Jethro Morales
Colors: Jim Campbell
Publisher: Marvel Comics