Comic Review: High Republic Adventures #14 – The Battle Begins!

The final arc of The High Republic Adventures begins here! Everything from Phase 3 comes together as Daniel José Older kicks off the Battle of Eriadu.

Dark Horse Comics

Publisher summary:

Fighting erupts on Eriadu! After months of oppression by the dastardly Nihil, valiant partners Lula and Zeen lead the charge against the occupying force. Meanwhile, a hidden danger stirs beneath the battlefield that threatens to turn the tide of the war, but in whose favor? The fate of the galaxy is on the line as the final arc of The High Republic Adventures begins!

Why it matters: With Zeen and Lula’s wedding out of the way, the Battle of Eriadu can finally begin. Daniel José Older has been building to this for all of Phase 3, and things kick off in an epic fashion.

Key moments:

• High stakes action: This battle was worth the wait. The Nihil and Jedi have been gearing up for a showdown, and now they’re running into it head first. Harvey Tolibao’s art is as spectacular as we’ve come to expect from him, and the fights are accentuated by several full-page spreads.

• Character-driven flashbacks: Alongside the epic action, the narrative is driven through the viewpoints of Farzala and the Warden, who we now know is named Herwint Tiks. Flashbacks for both characters give insight into the motivations for each side of the battle and help ground a story that has an ever-expanding cast of supporting characters.

• The Beginning of the End: It’s bittersweet to think that the finale of this years-long initiative is only months away. This arc is poised to deliver an epic finale to Older’s High Republic Adventures storyline that began in Phase 1, four years and dozens of issues ago.

The big picture: The High Republic is a dense, vast, and - at times - complicated initiative. It is understandable that many readers simply cannot keep up with everything, but unfortunately The High Republic Adventures is often one of the books that people forgo in order to focus on the bigger titles. That’s too bad, because for my money this book has been one of the most consistent storylines and group of characters since Phase 1.

It’s wild to consider that these characters that are now married and going to war started off just a few years ago as young Padawans on a teaching vessel. This issue, compelling in its own right, is a fantastic illustration of the growth that Older has put these characters through. While the book can be a bit chaotic at times, the payoff of a four year story is off to a strong start.

Our rating: Good

What’s next: The battle continues in High Republic Adventures #15, in stores February 12, 2025.

For a deeper discussion of this issue and more, be sure to check out weekly episodes of The Cosmic Force podcast!