- "… [issue two] is focused very specifically on Elzar and Avar and the way that they are dealing with everything that happened to them with the fall of Starlight and the loss of Stellan Gios, who remains dead."
- ―Charles Soule
The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight 2 is the second issue of the 2023 comic miniseries Star Wars: The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight. The issue was written by Charles Soule, illustrated by Marika Cresta and Guru-eFX, and published by Marvel Comics on November 8, 2023.
Publisher's summary
STARLIGHT DOWN! More SECRETS are revealed from the "MISSING YEAR" following the fall of STARLIGHT BEACON! ELZAR MANN and AVAR KRISS, star-crossed JEDI MASTERS, attempt to navigate a galaxy that seems determined to keep them apart…What is the STORMWALL, and what danger does it pose to THE REPUBLIC and THE JEDI ORDER?
Opening crawl
| "A RESONANCE OF HOPE" |
|---|
Plot summary
The Fallen Star
As the wreckage of Starlight Beacon succumbs to the depths of Eiram's ocean, Jedi Masters Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann embrace one another after they both narrowly survived the ordeal. Later, at Eiram Relief Camp #4, Elzar and Avar reflect on the loss of their dear friend Stellan Gios, who sacrificed himself to ensure Starlight Beacon crashed into the ocean and not a city. The pair contemplate grief under the Jedi philosophy. This reminds Elzar of Bell Zettifar's experience on the doomed space station. The Padawan is convinced his friend Burryaga Agaburry, who disappeared in a rathtar attack during Starlight's descent, somehow survived. Avar suspects that after Bell's master, Loden Greatstorm was considered dead but was truly imprisoned and tortured by the Nihil, he struggles to see another dear friend go missing without confirmation. The two wonder what Stellan would do, and decide they need to inform the Jedi High Council of Bell's struggle.
When Elzar Mann suggests Avar Kriss would be the likely candidate to inherit Stellan Gios's Council seat, she struggles to see how someone who has failed as much as she could ever be trusted. She looks to her skirting her responsibilities as Marshal of Starlight Beacon to fight the Drengir, losing her position, and not being able to save Starlight. Elzar tries to talk sense into her, but she will not have it. She feels that there ought to have been something she could have done better to save those lost in the Nihil's attack. She even blames herself for Stellan's death, since he may not have been on the station if she had been fulfilling her duties. In the song of the Force, all she can hear is a melody of failure titled as her own name.
Elzar reveals to Avar his own sense of failure. At a critical moment in Starlight's descent, Elzar struck down a Nihil scientist known as Chancey Yarrow. Unbeknownst to him, however, she was trying to save the station, and likely could have. In killing her without thinking, he failed morality and the people aboard the station. He lets Avar know she cannot carry the weight of Starlight's ruin alone, as the fault is not hers alone.
Elzar then suggests they discuss things more on their way back to Coruscant, given the recent recall notice from the Council. Avar, however, informs Elzar that she will not be adhering to the order. This frustrates Elzar, and he accuses her of going rogue due to her being upset about Stellan. Avar boldly asserts that as a Jedi Master, she does not get upset. Nevertheless, she explains all the ways she has fought the Nihil and will continue to do so to bring them to justice. When Elzar suggests her decision may have something to do with their relationship, she rebuts that her decisions are not based on relationships, and as a Jedi, neither are his.
Lost Stars
A week after the fall of Starlight Beacon, Elzar Mann and Master Soleil Agra look over the Coruscant skyline from atop the Jedi Temple and talk about Avar defying the Council's orders. Elzar feels that Avar has internalized her failure since she let her identity be her reputation as the Hero of Hetzal. She wanted to turn her failure into success by confronting the Nihil directly.
Meanwhile, Avar flies through Nihil space alongside her droid KC-78. She analyzes data from Keven Tarr of ideas where Nihil may be rendezvousing in the Outer Rim. She is interrupted by an incoming transmission. Meanwhile, Padawan Aster Forian rushes to Masters Mann and Agra with urgent news of a transmission. The frightened Padawan informs them that the Nihil have sealed off a sector of the Outer Rim behind what they call the Stormwall. No ships can pass through it via hyperspace, nor can communications pass through. To make things worse, as it activated, it destroyed an entire Republic Defense Coalition fleet.
As Avar Kriss listens to the transmission, she learns that the true leader of the Nihil is someone called Marchion Ro. The Eye of the Nihil claims that anyone within the Occlusion Zone is now de facto Nihil. Ro threatens those who may not conform to the new rulers. He claims that life under Nihil rule is one of freedom, but of consequences. Avar Kriss then realizes she has her new target.
Defy the Storm
Now ten days after the fall of Starlight Beacon, Elzar Mann repeatedly sends out desperate transmission for Avar. His droid JJ-5145 offers an unwelcome observation detailing the most likely reasons Avar is not responding: Avar is behind the Stormwall so she cannot receive or respond, she was destroyed when the Stormwall went up, or she is ignoring him. The droid then suggests Elzar focus his time on more valuable efforts, especially when Elzar could much more easily transmit a recording on multiple frequencies. Elzar explains that he wanted to be present if Avar ever answers. Nonetheless, he remembers his duty and tosses his headset to JJ-5145.
Two months after the fall of Starlight, Avar Kriss arrives to the world Allard, within the Occlusion Zone. Her rations have run low, and she needs to find allies to help her resupply. She arrives at a nearby town and hides in a tree as a Nihil proclaims how the Jedi are the people's enemy. They explain that anyone helping or sympathizing with Jedi are enemies of the Nihil and must be punished. Conversely, those who report, ignore, or kill Jedi will be rewarded.
Four months after the fall of Starlight, Elzar pours over the incomplete blueprints of a tythonic resonator and attempts to test his recreation of the ancient device. He reaches out to Avar through the Force, channeling his energy into the device. Meanwhile, on Allard, Avar speaks to her contact, Warryn, who has generously resupplied her. As she offers her promise of protection, they are alerted to a number of Nihil ships under the control of General Abediah Viess. Warryn quickly surmises that a traitor must have informed the Nihil that a Jedi is there. Warryn begs for Avar to flee since there are too many enemies. Avar, however, longs to help the people of Allard and wishes she had the help of even one other Jedi. As Elzar senses he is almost connecting with Avar, the tythonic resonator beings to spark until it explodes.
Unaware of Elzar's attempt to reach her with the Force, Avar runs to a nearby ridge to see what Viess's people are doing. Elzar, frustrated, laments his failure. JJ-5145 tries to offer comfort by reminding Elzar that Stellan would never have given up. This causes Elzar to lash out at the droid, shouting that he is not Stellan Gios. The man calms, saddened, and realizes the tythonic resonator is no use. Avar arrives to the ridge to find it is too late; Viess and her people have razed the town.
A New Dawn
Seven months after the fall of Starlight, Elzar Mann and JJ-5145 zoom through space just outside of the boundaries of the Stormwall. Elzar has an unorthodox, very dangerous idea: jump to hyperspace from within the Stormwall, rather than before crossing. JJ-5145 finds this type of action to be quite ill-advised, and suggests maybe sending a probe. Elzar points out the obvious flaw in sending a probe across since it would never be able to transmit its status. He reaches for the lever and prepares to jump. Before he can, JJ-5145 uses Stellan Gios's lightsaber to destroy the mechanism. The droid explains that he acted how Stellan would have: saving Elzar from his worst ideas. As recompense, JJ-5145 gives to Elzar a better-constructed version of a tythonic resonator.
On her scouting ridge on Allard, Avar dictates her operations journal. She explains General Viess's occupation of the nearby towns as she and her Jedi hunters search for her. The Nihil have been punishing the people of Allard, perhaps to lure Avar out or perhaps out of sheer sadism. Avar wants to intervene, but worries that doing so could make things worse and lead to her death. Conversely, fleeing would leave the people of Allard defenseless, and the Nihil could end up eliminating the population in their frustration. Avar feels distant to the song of the Force, feels alone. Just then, she hears the voice of Elzar Mann through the Force. This gives her the strength she has so desperately craved. She ignites her lightsaber and raises it high.
Viess's Jedi hunters scoff at the supposed heroism of the mystery Jedi and boast about who will deliver the killing blow. They all hope they can keep her lightsaber as a prize. The Nihil open fire on Avar Kriss. As she deflects their blows, she proclaims to the people of Allard that the Jedi will not abandon them, nor will she.
Elzar Mann reels from the exhaustion of using the tythonic resonator. The device smashes into the ground, and Elzar bleeds from his ears and nose. He figures why the device was phased out. He is not sure if it worked, but he dedicates himself to continuing his efforts, realizing it is what Stellan would do.
Media
Collected in
- Star Wars: The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight trade paperback
- Star Wars: The High Republic Phase III – Trials of the Jedi Omnibus
Appearances
| Characters | Organisms | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
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Organisms
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Droid models
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Events
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Locations
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Organizations and titles
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Sentient species
Vehicles and vessels
Weapons and technology
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Miscellanea
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Sources
Star Wars: The High Republic Show: The Fate of Burryaga Revealed, The High Republic Heads to San Diego Comic-Con, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)- SDCC 2023: 10 Reveals from the Lucasfilm Publishing Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Lucasfilm Publishing: Stories from a Galaxy Far, Far Away... | Panel | San Diego Comic-Con 2023 on the official Penguin Random House YouTube channel (original link is obsolete)
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 220
- This Week! in Star Wars Dispatch: "Where Are They Now?" but make it High Republic on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
- "Charles Soule: Luminous Legacy" — Star Wars Insider 231
- "Star Wars: The High Republic Companion: Phase III: Trials of the Jedi" — Star Wars Insider 234
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Star Wars: The High Republic - Shadows of Starlight (2023) #2 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
- ↑ The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight 2 features the creation of the Occlusion Zone and Stormwall which Star Wars: The High Republic Character Encyclopedia dates to 230 BBY. The issue also takes place in the following months and between the attack on Travyx Prime and the events of The High Republic: The Eye of Darkness, both of which The High Republic Character Encyclopedia dates to 229 BBY.
- ↑ Lucasfilm Publishing: Stories from a Galaxy Far, Far Away... | Panel | San Diego Comic-Con 2023 on the official Penguin Random House YouTube channel (July 24, 2023) (original link is obsolete)
