"The High Republic #6: Heart of the Drengir, Chapter 1: The Galaxy Unites" by Cavan Scott

 "The High Republic #6: Heart of the Drengir, Chapter 1: The Galaxy Unites" written by Cavan Scott, illustrated by Georges Jeanty, Karl Story, and Annalisa Leoni

Okay, so I'm super way behind on reviewing the "High Republic" mainline comic series and I now intend to rectify that with the next several reviews playing catch up. Enjoy!

This was a very straightforward issue with one big moment propelling the story onward. Other than that one moment, it was mostly just Jedi/Hutts fighting Drengir. The imagery of this was stellar though so at least the visual feast was rewarding even if the story didn't go much of anywhere.

We start on Daivak in the Outer Rim where Avar Kriss and Myarga the Hutt ride into battle against the attacking Drengir. Avar uses a Hutt rancor as a mount while Myarga appears to be riding some sort of open suspensor vehicle (see below). A number of Jedi are none too pleased about Avar working with the giant slugs, but she feels that the Jedi need all the help they can get to fight the angry plant monsters. Giant slugs? Angry plant monsters? Yeah, this is definitely Star Wars, haha! 

The big moment in this issue involves Master Sskeer, the Trandoshan Jedi who has been taken over by the Drengir. He rests in a stasis field to slow the incursion of the Drengir into his body. Keeve Trennis, his former Padawan, watches over him, desperately wishing there was something she could do to help the situation. She actually comes up with a brilliant plan to allow Sskeer to infect her with Drengir vines so that both Jedi can share the same mindspace. They both find themselves in the Drengir's Root Mind, able to communicate as if they are physically standing in front of one another. (See an image of them embracing below--you can tell that they care for each other deeply. *heart*) In the Root Mind, they are even able to locate the Great Progenitor, the source of Drengir power!! (See how the Great Progenitor looks to Sskeer and Keeve in the Root Mind below.) Once Sskeer and Keeve separate themselves completely from the Drengir and come back to reality, Keeve notices writing on her leather wrist cuff--a planet name! Mulita, a planet in Wild Space, becomes the Jedi's next stop in their quest to destroy the evil plants.

So now the Jedi have a solid goal for how to move forward in the fight. Before, they were simply battling for their lives against an endlessly regenerating enemy, but now there's a chance!! Will the Jedi conquer the Drengir?? ...wait, will it all really be over that quickly?? I feel like this story just started and already the Drengir are going to be taken care of?? Hmmm...there must be something HUGE on the horizon...

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Trivia:

-Doctor Gino'le is an Anacondan Jedi (see below) watching over Master Sskeer in the med bay.

-The Nightmare Conjunction was an ancient event in the galaxy.

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I'm immensely looking forward to catching up on this series because I've found everything High Republic to be a true delight and I cannot wait to see where everything goes from here!