Comic Review: Fear of the Jedi #3 – A Jedi Space Battle

Writer: Cavan Scott
Artist: Marika Cresta
Colors: Jim Campbell

Publisher summary:
BLOCKADE OVER ERIADU! Lines are drawn as KEEVE TRENNIS' STORMWALL DEFENSE FLEET joins the fight against the NIHIL. Can Keeve remain true to the Light as she leads her team into battle? Meanwhile, heartbreak is relived as the past catches up with one of LOURNA DEE'S crew.

Marvel Comics

Why it matters: The Battle of Eriadu comes to Marvel Comics! While Dark Horse’s High Republic Adventures sees the Jedi fighting the Nihil on the ground, Keeve and her fleet take the space arena in one of the most action packed issues yet.

Key moments:

• Shadows of the past: Cavan Scott has put this cast through the ringer over the past four years. In the aptly titled Fear of the Jedi, he calls on that history to give the Jedi one final emotional trial.

• Epic battles: With all the exciting lightsaber action we see in the High Republic, it’s easy to forget how much fun space battles can be. This issue is full of the cool ships, dogfighting, and explosions that got us all into Star Wars years ago.

• They fly now?!: Just when you thought Baron Boolan’s Nameless experiments couldn’t get scarier…

Marvel Comics

The big picture: What do the Jedi fear? That was the big pitch that launched the High Republic nearly five years ago. It makes for a fitting title of this final (ish) comic story of the initiative, and it’s a topic that Cavan Scott is clearly eager to explore. As we see in this issue, there is not one single answer to that question. Keeve is afraid of failure as a leader. Tey fears betraying the legacy of his late husband. Orba Lin can’t handle the thought of not doing enough to help. And the Nameless? Well everyone’s afraid of them.

Amid all the emotion and fear is a thrilling space battle with a fantastic cast of characters. The dialogue is fun and quippy, but it doesn’t betray the more serious themes of this story. It’s the perfect mix of consequential and exciting that we’ve come to expect from Scott’s writing. And, as usual, it’s all expertly rendered by Marika Cresta. The issue ends with a shocking reveal that reminds us that we call Star Wars a space fantasy for a reason, and it will no doubt have big implications for the rest of Phase Three’s finale.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to focus on the issue at hand without thinking about the ending that’s just around the corner. There are only two issues of Fear of the Jedi remaining and a finale special to follow. This cast has a lot to accomplish in that time - especially Keeve Trennis, whose fate has been teased for years. Using this issue as a pseudo tie-in to the events of The High Republic Adventures feels like a distraction. That said, it’s a great read on its own, and it’s telling that my only qualm is not having more of this book.

Our rating: Good

What’s next: The Battle of Eriadu isn’t over yet! Fear of the Jedi continues next month - issue #4 on sale May 21, 2025. See the other side of the battle in High Republic Adventures #17 and The Battle of Eriadu from Dark Horse (out now!).

For a deeper discussion of this issue, be sure to check out this week’s episode of The Cosmic Force podcast!