Writer: Daniel Jose Older
Artist: Harvey Tolibao
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama
Release Date: April 24, 2024
Price: $3.99
Reviewer: Christopher Patterson
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon as you read The Star Wars: The High Republic: Adventures #5 Review.
THE DISPATCH
A narrative is attempted in Star Wars: The High Republic: Adventures #5, yet the majority of the time, the story falls right on its face horribly. The characters in this story are mostly unremarkable and boring. For the most part, the characters in Star Wars: The High Republic: Adventures #5 go through hard situations, but the majority of the time, these choices lack the heart the story aims for. This is because the characters’ feelings have not been investigated in any detail, which makes the story seem empty.
The pacing of this comic is generally poor, with scenes feeling in limbo and taking forever to finish. Even more, uninteresting plot lines seem to take hold of this entire narrative and crash it down. If I had to label something for what made this issue so difficult, it would have to be the pacing, which made each scene more exhausting and annoying to finish. This is thanks to how slowly the plot covers shocking moments and ideas that, even in the most basic Star Wars stories, are simply done in a couple shots and are not used up for all their worth, like here. What’s worse is that this is, sadly, the series at its greatest.
ART
The art here is quite a mixed bag, to say it nicely, with some panels standing out not just in this series but in all of Star Wars, and some panels bore and annoy the mind to a high degree. Truly, certain panels stand out as some of the best that Star Wars has ever produced in the comics, evoking a depth and realism never before seen in the comics medium. The art style here communicates a fun energy rarely seen to this degree in Star Wars. I get the impression that someone watched Star Wars and made the decision to breathe fresh life into it. Though, sadly, even though the art delivers in many ways, it is still weak in parts.
In particular, if I had to explain my problem with this issue, I would say that it is the tendency for seeming laziness. As the comic goes on, panels and character designs start to seem rushed, and designs look clunkier, and there starts to be nothing that stands out about this volume. If I had to describe one of the best elements of the art here, it would be the heart of it, which is quite lovely. The art has a wholesome and loving feel to it that really stands out, with each panel having a sometimes intense yet laidback energy that makes it all the more compelling to read, combined with a sense of hope and liveliness in parts.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Star Wars: The High Republic: Adventures #5 is a generally fine issue that explodes with mostly nice art followed up with a lackluster story. The story is below average and dull, with absolutely nothing outstanding to convey. The art bursts with energy despite its many shortcomings. Overall, Star Wars: The High Republic: Adventures #5 is a generally below-average comic that anyone could enjoy. If you see it for half price, I recommend picking it up.
6.1/10