SWBC: Reviews of 'Convergence' and Hyperspace Stories #3, The High Republic #2
SWBC: Reviews of 'Convergence' and Hyperspace Stories #3, The High Republic #2
Plus: A sneak peek at a High Republic comic releasing for Free Comic Book Day.
Review of The High Republic: Convergence
The first adult book in The High Republic Phase 2 is finally here. Convergence by Zoraida Córdova caps the first wave of this phase, which is set 150 years before Phase 1.
The novel chiefly follows four characters — Jedi Knight Gella Nattai, son of the chancellor Axel Greylark, and the heir to Eiram and E’ronoh, Phan-tu Zenn and Xiri Albaran. These two planets are locked in a Forever War, and the only hope for peace lies in the star-crossed marriage between Xiri and Phan-tu.
Convergence is a war story and a love story, but it’s also about overcoming generational trauma and opening up yourself to peace and hope. The stars of the book are the relationships between these four characters and how much they evolve over the course of the novel.
It’s a beautiful Star Wars story that I’m loving more and more every time I think about it — and listen to it on audiobook!
Some snippets from my review for Dork Side of the Force:
“…a riveting story of hope-filled star-crossed lovers and the high cost of both war and peace.”
“…At its core, Convergence is a character-driven story. What it does well is dropping right into the action from the first page as well as telling a romantic, hope-filled war story with a poignant focus on a small number of characters.”
“Overall, Convergence is a solid addition to The High Republic era of storytelling and sets up some captivating plot lines to be explored in future books. It embodies the dark, ominous tone of The High Republic while still giving its characters — and its readers — peace and light to hope for.”
Comic reviews
The High Republic #2
Picking up right where we left off in the premiere issue, The High Republic #2 opens with Jedi Vildar Mac on the floor and presumed dead while Padawan Matty frantically calls for help from her elders. In his unconsciousness, Mac remembers a clash with a dark side user when he was a child. Suddenly, Mac sits up — he’s disoriented but is able to get up and walk.
The driving force of this issue is Mac’s quest to find the person who knocked him out — a being he believes is a dark sider and who used a deadly technique called “morichro.” Mac and Matty’s journey leads them to a bar called Enlightenment, where they find Tey Sirrek — the supposed dark sider who is actually a Sephi, an alien race that can use pheromones to take down enemies or predators.
These three become an unlikely team as Tey inadvertently joins the two Jedi’s mission to return a stolen statue to the Temple of Kyber, a sacred place home to the Guardians of the Whills. Though Matty thinks the Jedi and the Guardians are on good terms, when the trio arrives at the Temple, they’re greeted by an armed welcoming committee.
The new run of High Republic comics is doing an excellent job setting up dark and juicy details as well as helping connect to the other plot threads of Phase 2. If you’ve read Path of Deceit, it’s clear these stolen artifacts from Jedha are connected to the Path of the Open Hand’s acquisition of such pieces. In fact, Mac and Matty run into followers of the Path in issue #2 — once again, they are far from welcome.
What’s also interesting about Phase 2 stories so far, especially the comics, is that they show how the Jedi aren’t as revered or respected as they are in Phase 1 or even in the later eras of the Star Wars timeline. And especially on Jedha, as Matty explains, the Jedi are just one group of many who believe in and in different ways worship the Force.
The High Republic #2 is available now. The High Republic #3 is expected to arrive on Dec. 28, 2022.
Hyperspace Stories #3
The third issue in the mini-series of comics features Poe Dameron and Finn on a mission to acquire much-needed livestock and ship parts for the Resistance.
Hyperspace Stories are little nuggets of adventure set all along the Star Wars timeline. So far, we’ve read stories set during the prequel era, the original trilogy, and now the sequel era. Hyperspace Stories #3 appears to be set between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.
Every issue has a different vibe so far — issue one was sweet and heartfelt, issue two was classic Star Wars action, and issue three leans into the cheesy-fun space Western trope.
Hyperspace Stories #3 features cowboy hat-wearing Finn and Poe trying to strike a deal with farmers for some livestock. But, of course, things don’t go as planned and they end up fighting First Order officers on a speeding train. Again, classic Western, and I’m very much here for it.
This issue in particular is goofy and full of cliches, but Dark Horse’s Hyperspace Stories are intended for a younger audience. Plus, Star Wars is often its best, Star Wars-iest went it embraces its campy influences.
Hyperspace Stories #3 is available now. Hyperspace Stories #4 is expected to release on Jan. 18, 2023.
Free Comic Book Day preview
Next year’s Free Comic Book Day arrives on Saturday, May 6, and FCBD recently announced the slate of free comics being created for the holiday. One of those free issues is a Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures story.
The cover of the FCBD issue features Jedi Lula Talisola, a fan-favorite often written by Daniel Jose Older and featured in The High Republic Adventures and in Older’s Midnight Horizon.
We don’t know exactly where this story takes place in The High Republic Phase 1 timeline, but we do have a publisher’s summary:
“…the galaxy-wide conflict between the Jedi Order and the Nihil intensifies, and a shuttle full of younglings gets caught in the crossfire!”
Learn more about Free Comic Book Day and find a local comic shop near you.
Star Wars books and comics out this week
Nov. 22
Nov. 23
Yoda #1
Revelations #1
Find me on Hive!
Twitter hasn’t been the coolest place since a certain billionaire took over. I’m still on Twitter for now — it’s hard to completely give up a place that helped get you opportunities and jobs, and grow your network of like-minded nerds.
But I also joined Hive — along with a bunch of other Star Wars fans and book nerds. It’s still a new community, so there isn’t a desktop version yet. But if you download the app, find me on Hive at @ chelseazukowski.