"Star Wars #20: Dangerous Lessons" by Charles Soule

"Star Wars #20: Dangerous Lessons" written by Charles Soule, illustrated by Marco Castiello and Rachelle Rosenberg

Hmmm...not sure how I feel about this one. It was all dialogue, and it was slightly disturbing, but the imaginary situation's connection to the High Republic was pretty dang rad. Plus, it looks like the next issue, "Trapped on a Star Destroyer," will finally give us the rescue of Shara Bey...or at least bring her back into the freaking story. Oh yeah, so I did say "next issue"...this issue is ALL Luke.

Last issue ended with Luke all excited at having found a holocron of Yoda. But, being a Skywalker, he whines over having heard the lesson before and almost gives up. R2 to the rescue as he chides and insults Luke into re-opening the holocron. Turns out there was new information if he had just been patient. "Locations exist where the Force is more sharply focused, but dangerous these places can be. Vergences, they are called, and should not be explored without training and preparation. The Jedi Temple on Coruscant has one such. The Living Sea of Gazian, another. Jedha, as well." Since Coruscant is the home of Palpatine and Jedha is in ruins, Luke perks up at the name "Living Sea of Gazian," especially since it was not in the Imperial records. And, Luke being a Skywalker--for which brashness is second nature--he ignores Yoda's "should not be explored without training and preparation." Luke KNOWS he's not trained or prepared enough for this, in fact he's desperate for training and preparing to be a strong Jedi. Regardless, he and R2 head for Gazian where the reader gets a HUGE surprise.

It wouldn't even be slightly stretching the truth to say Elzar Mann (of High Republic fame--see below) was the other main character in this issue. An imprint of him within the Living Sea still exists. Let me explain, when Luke gets sucked down into the sea, the living organism that is the planet, begins to attach to his brain. Yes, it is as spooky looking as it sounds, at least for me (see below). And this leaves an imprint of Luke within the organism. So, long ago, Elzar had made a trip to Gazian and had the same thing happen to him. All that is to say the rest of the issue is Elzar and Luke chatting away about the Jedi Order in some sort of weird dream world. Honestly, I didn't feel that much in the way of new information was given. The best line was when Elzar says he must be long dead by now since, "Believe me. You'd know my name." Haha, that is perfectly him. And his summation of Yoda is pretty great, "Ha! Yoda was old when I knew him. I can't imagine how crotchety he must be in your time. But I'm glad he's still kicking around. He is wise and an incredible teacher, but a piece of work, that guy is." 

The other interesting bit, was Elzar telling Luke that he had an option, that the Jedi were just one of many different forms of Force-wielders...but I'm thinking maybe it was the Living Sea itself and not the imprint of Elzar that was giving this option because very shortly after, Elzar tells Luke, "Why don't you stay a while, Luke?" But Luke turns out is smart enough to see through the lie after all...unlike a hoard of others that have been trapped in the Living Sea's webs...for seeming eternity. *shiver* One of the bodies which is now just a skeleton, holds a book in its outstretched arms covered in what look like magical symbols (see below). Thus begins Luke's next lead.

But before we get to that next lead, we FINALLY get Shara Bey back!!! Thank the Maker! Luke's story is great and all, but we have so much Luke...all the time...everywhere we look...I want the other characters to get some room to shine, too!! So many new canon characters have come on the scene since Disney took over, so why in the world would you squander these opportunities for brand new storytelling?? I just don't get it. Thank goodness they've given characters like Aphra and Valance time to shine--we know it works, so why not just go for it?