Outside the Nihil’s so-called Occlusion Zone, Elzar Mann, Bell Zettifar, and the other Jedi work alongside the Republic to reach the worlds that have been cut off from the rest of the galaxy. But every attempt to breach the Stormwall has failed, and even communication across the barrier is impossible. The failures and losses weigh heavily upon both Elzar and Bell as they search desperately for a solution.
But even if the Republic and Jedi forces manage to breach the Stormwall, how can the Jedi fight back against the Nameless creatures that prey on the Jedi’s connection to the Force? And what other horrors does Marchion Ro have in store? As desperation for both the Jedi and the Republic grows, any hope of reuniting the galaxy could be all but extinguished. . . .
So while there was some Phase Three stuff in TALES OF LIGHT AND LIFE, and a couple of the new comics are underway, it really feels like George Mann’s THE EYE OF DARKNESS is the proper beginning of this final phase in The High Republic.
There’s so much story to factor in now…it’s actually kind of bananas when you stop and think of it. And wow, I think George Mann knocked it out of the park with this. THE EYE OF DARKNESS is incredible, utterly massive in scope, and such a welcome return to the Phase One characters I had grown to love so much.
It’s one year after the fall of Starlight Beacon, and things are…fucking bleak. Ostensibly, the Nihil have won. In addition to the ever-looming threat of the Nameless, since we last checked in with the Nihil, they’ve built something called The Stormwall.
This is a system of buoys/relays in space, creating a massive, impenetrable ring. Any non-Nihil ships that attempt to enter or leave this space are destroyed. This area is known as the Occlusion Zone, and just…ugh. This is some dark shit. The Nihil are out there fully conquering planets, and there’s a handful of Jedi trapped within the Occlusion Zone, attempting to do whatever it takes to disrupt the Nihil.
The scale of this story is, again, fucking massive. There’s a whole bunch of POVs, maybe (probably?) more than in any other book from The High Republic. That epic scope, coupled with a few of the plot elements is almost reminding me slightly of THE EXPANSE, which has been really fun!
Of course Elzar Mann is front and center in this story, and you could argue that he’s the main character of this first Phase Three novel. The weight of the grief that he carries is so palpable, and threatening to consume him. You almost get the sense that he is driven to work, to find solutions & answers, all in an attempt to stave off the unimaginable grief he feels. That grief & guilt is of course for everyone lost in the last year, but it all sort of manifests as grief over his friend, Stellan Gios. We find Elzar almost remaking himself in Stellan’s image, while also suffering from debilitating anxiety & self-doubt. Oof. I’m not sure I can think of a Star Wars story that shows a Jedi in the kind of pain that Elzar Mann is in…he’s just such an emotionally raw, vulnerable character.
I think THE EYE OF DARKNESS is probably the most we’ve seen of Avar Kriss since LIGHT OF THE JEDI, and of course I’m here for it. But this is a very, very different Avar Kriss. She is one of the aforementioned Jedi trapped within the Occlusion Zone, scrambling from one location to the next, trying to help prevent further Nihil destruction. Avar has always been portrayed as something of an ethereal spirit, the bright & shining leader of the Jedi. But here we see Avar as more of a solider. A survivor. She will always be one of my favorite characters from this era, and I was so glad to spend so much time with her in this one!
It’s amazing to see just how far Bell Zettifar has come since the launch of Phase One. While there’s this sense that some Padawans have been elevated to Jedi Knight a little faster than normal (to deal with the ever-evolving Nihil threat), that certainly isn’t the case with Bell. It was just awesome to see him leading the fight against the Nihil, knowing everything he’s been through to get him to this moment.
Oof, yeah. THE EYE OF DARKNESS was fucking fantastic. The story feels so vast & spread out across the galaxy. The Nihil have never been more of a threat, while also still potentially tearing themselves apart from within. Marchion Ro continues to be a charismatic, fascinating, and loathsome villain.
The book also introduces a handful of new villains, like the super creepy Ithorian “scientist,” Baron Boolan (he did make an appearance in Phase Two, but is much more present here), as well as some other extremely volatile players that are sure to factor into the story in major ways.
I really couldn’t have been more impressed with THE EYE OF DARKNESS…a riveting & explosive beginning to Phase Three. I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here!!
May the Force be with you!!
Grimdark Dad 