"The High Republic #13: Jedi's End, Chapter 3: The Battle of No-Space" by Cavan Scott

"The High Republic #13: Jedi's End, Chapter 3: The Battle of No-Space" written by Cavan Scott, illustrated by Ario Anindito, Mark Morales, and Carlos Lopez

This issue was fairly straightforward with the Jedi attacking the Nihil Great Hall in No-Space...and that's about it. The character development of Avar Kriss surprised me and knocked me way off balance. It's as if she's done a complete 180 in how she approaches the problems of the galaxy. Perhaps it was all the stress of protecting the galaxy from so many dangerous threats? All the stress of making sure her Jedi companions were at their best? All the stress from being able to hear the songs of every Jedi as they interact with the world around them? Maybe it just got to be too much for the woman to handle and so...she broke...

If stress is not the answer, color me confused. Avar Kriss has been preaching adamantly about not killing or even harming the Nihil. She even took Sskeer's lightsaber away in a previous issue and angrily banned him from his Jedi duties. Of course, with the help of Keeve and the reveal of Sskeer having a rare Trandoshan brain disease, Avar came around to the idea of Sskeer helping after all...as long as Keeve kept him in check. But as soon as the group arrives to the Nihil Great Hall in No-Space (see below), Avar lets loose on the Nihil, like slicing them up at every turn letting loose. Keeve tries and tries to stop her, but Avar just angrily pushes Keeve away. Poor Sskeer doesn't seem to know what to do. The tables have most definitely turned. 

Lourna Dee and Zeetar the Talpini have been tasked by Marchion Ro to defend the Great Hall, much to both of their chagrin. The man never seems to be around when things go south... Zeetar thinks his mech suit isn't ready for use again just yet, so he enters the fray only wearing what appears to be some sort of space suit. Avar doesn't let him get very far...I'll presume the Talpini is dead at this point. Turns out the mech suit did work and Lourna has co-opted it for her own use (see below)...but again...this doesn't stop Avar. The Starlight Beacon Marshal is in a serious bad way right now, wreaking havoc at every step. Check out the last panel of this issue below for a good window into the situation.

One of the interactions between Keeve and Avar went like so: Avar--"I told you to stay with the others, Keeve." Keeve--"I can't do that, and I really hope you know why. It wasn't that long ago that you took Sskeer's saber for killing in cold blood. But he's sick. His judgement was clouded by his pain. What's your excuse, Marshal?" This leads to the two Jedi even clashing their sabers!!

So things are starting to look really bad what with Avar, the head of Starlight Beacon, having gone off the deep end. And we have 4 Jedi--Keeve, Sskeer, Monshi, and Avar--all stuck on the Great Hall which is being shot at by the Nihil by orders of Lourna herself. There's seemingly no way out... I'm definitely intrigued to find out how they escape this impossible situation...and how they bring Avar back from the brink. Keeve brought Sskeer back, can she do the same for Avar? Doesn't seem like it's working yet, but she is one strong-willed woman!

One last thing, Lourna Dee's artistic portrayal in this issue was blood-chillingly scary!!! She almost appears demonic. See two examples below:

I'd like to end with a bada** panel (see below--from left to right: Keeve, Sskeer, Avar, Monshi) of the Jedi bursting through the hull of The Great Hall, ready to fight!!