Comic Review: The Edge of Balance: Volume 4

Writers: Shima Shinya & Daniel José Older
Artist: Mizuki Sakakibara

Publisher summary:
A massive, interconnected cross-publisher initiative focused on an all-new era of Star Wars storytelling.

It is a dark and dangerous time for the galaxy, and the Jedi of the High Republic must face their greatest trials yet...

Despite barely surviving a vicious battle against the Nihil and the Nameless, Jedi Knight Lily Tora-Asi knows the battle to protect the Jedi Temple on Banchii and the people of that frontier world is far from over.

With an even more fearsome army headed their way, led by the infamous Nihil scientist Baron Boolan, Lily must trust her allies and dig deep to face their biggest challenge yet!

As Lily and her friends try to rebuild their defenses in time, Master Sav Malagán and Master Arkoff vow to rescue their comrades taken by the Nihil. Sav will have to look within her past to find the only person that can possibly help…

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Why it matters: The High Republic is coming to a close, and every story counts. Lily Tora-Asi’s journey as a Jedi Knight, and her arc as a character, makes for an incredible tale.

Key moments:

• Heated Action: There have been action scenes throughout the previous volumes, but it feels like they turned it up a notch here. There were a few instances of full spread fight scenes without dialogue, and Mizuki Sakakibara did an incredible job with it.

• Familiar Faces: The Banchii crew is plenty familiar at this point, but Volume 4 also brings in several other friends and foes from throughout the High Republic initiative that feel at home in this story.

• Character Growth: Lily’s journey has been a great one to follow. She has been through so much during The High Republic (like many others), but her growth and healing feels particularly well-executed. And, she is not the only one to show that growth in this volume.

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The big picture: The Edge of Balance wraps up as a high point of the initiative. I didn’t know what to expect when Volume 1 was announced back in 2021, but I have loved each entry in the series. They seemingly have gotten better each time. I would love to see them collect it all in one volume one day.

We touched on it already, but Lily’s journey is very moving. She has been through so much with the attacks on Banchii and the loss of her padawan Keerin. However, her healing and acceptance feels earned and genuine. Alzin, especially after Precedent and Volume 3, also feels the same way. For a character that has been through so much pain, the payoff of having him see the light again is fantastic.

I will say, from a meta standpoint, the release timing of this volume is interesting. I do believe Volume 3, then Premonition, and then Volume 4 is the correct order for the manga itself. However, it has an interesting interaction with Tears of the Nameless, Seeds of Starlight and Haunted Starlight, Echoes of Fear, and Into the Light. It shouldn’t really matter for most people, but I wish I could’ve read this a bit earlier. Either way, you can always refer to our Youtini Reading Order for the series.

In addition to the stories of Lily and Azlin, I was also moved by the interactions between the locals and the Bachiians. For the settlers, it was great to see them grow from the time of Volume 2, where they first felt under threat by the Nihil. On the part of the Banchiians, there is almost an Ewok-esque dynamic with them here that was incredibly fun.

I can’t sing this series’s praises enough, and I am sad to see it end here. I will say, I am happy that it gets to feel like it had a proper ending, even though Trials of the Jedi is still upcoming.

Our rating: Incredible

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What’s next: Although there are no more entries for this manga series, stay tuned for the final adult novel of the series: Trials of the Jedi releasing on June 17, 2025.