"The High Republic Adventures #8: Back Together and Away Again" by Daniel Jose Older

"The High Republic Adventures #8: Back Together and Away Again" written by Daniel Jose Older, illustrated by Toni Bruno and Rebecca Nalty

This issue was a bit odd as the first half was pretty much just the Padawans gossiping with and poking fun at each other. There was a decent amount of Nihil action, introducing us to Krix as the new Nihil heavyweight...dun dun dun! But it was obviously a set up issue overall, preparing us for a mission to Takodana to save Maz Kanata from the Nihil... Regardless, it was still enjoyable and a fun read.

The gossiping and poking fun wasn't even to a specific end as the conversations were all over the place. But it is true that Zeen/Lula hadn't seen Qort/Farzala in months, so I get how the conversation might ramble. Strangely enough though, Skarabda the Hutt's head of security, Ishnar Ti-Kharatal, has apparently joined up with Qort and Farzala...huh?!? I'm very confused over this bit. Ram Jomaram, the Padawan from Valo who was the star of the Free Comic Book Day issue, has joined Zeen and Lula. So the six come together (see them all below) and start talking about how Ishnar is a great warrior and a great cook, leading to a good roasting session over how Lula had once burned water while trying to make tea. Nice!

The Padawans + Ishnar finally make their way to Buckets of Blood and Master Kantam for a briefing. At first the two Masters eagerly offer to answer any questions the Padawans might have about all the craziness that's been going down in the galaxy. But the Padawans prove their awareness of the situation by asking some real heavy hitters. Where's Master Yoda? Is anyone looking for him? Did Master Greatstorm really turn to dust and disappear? Kantam and Buckets are both very good natured about it and admit that they don't actually have all the answers. But they do announce that the Padawans are now part of a special task force to deal with a dangerous new Nihil cell run by none other than...

Krix Kamarat, Zeen's former best friend (see him in his Nihil finery below). The boy has already been brought up through the ranks without trial or tribulation to stand at Marchion Ro, The Eye's, side but he wants more power! So Marchion sends him on a mission to take out the Jedi Temple and Maz Kanata's castle on Takodana. Unluckily for Krix, there's one bada** Jedi, Sav Malagan (see below), protecting the temple and she throws down on them!! She's also quite humorous. When the Nihil first arrive, she says, "Well, hello, visitors of dubious intent!" Haha. She's also so casual with how acrobatic and hardcore she is!

Krix doesn't like losing one bit and gathers a larger force of Nihil together with a battle cry to annihilate Takodana!! Krix is actually kinda scary...

I'll leave you with a Galactic Data File on Takodana:

-Marie E. Wilson a.k.a. @AliaMorgaine