Review: Star Wars High Republic: Trail of Shadows #5 (Final Issue)

Daniel Jose Older has quickly established himself as one of the top writers in the Star Wars universe and this book continues that legacy. The High Republic Trail of Shadows #5 is a well crafted book and a key piece to the Shrii Ka Rai monsters. Over the last arc of the High Republic books we’ve been seeing a new threat grow that seems to be visible to Jedi but not necessarily to others. It haunts the Jedi with a childhood rhyme they all somehow know, clouds their connection to the Force and turned some of the Jedi to stone.

This book goes into full action mode and gives us a great look at these threats which have been lurking in the shadows. We then dive deep into the evacuation of Starlight Beacon as the series meets up with the other novels and books. We do lose the noir flavor of this book with the move to action and monsters, but it is an interesting book with dynamic art by Dave Wachter and great color work by Giada Marchisio.

The book begins with Emerick having visions of the Shrii Ka Rai creature in spite of being saved by Sian. Uttersond interrupts them with a hand-written note from a former Jedi and tells them about the two parts of the artifact which allows control of the Shrii Ka Rai monsters. The team arrives at Starlight only to see its explosion as the station is torn in half and falling fast. Uttersond explains this is a Nihil assault and that the monsters will be on the station but Emerick and Sian crash onto the Beacon anyhow in the hopes of saving lives.

They run into Buckets of Blood and Qort and face another of the monsters. This time Sian can see the creature although it does not affect the non-Jedi. They battle the monster on both physical and psychological fronts. A group of Nihil fire on them. As they escape, Sian reveals she got a piece of the monster and Buckets got the blood of the monster. Buckets of Blood stays behind to fight as the others escape to take the information they have gained to the surviving Jedi.

This book is an interesting read with solid characters, a strong focus and interesting perspectives on the dual threats of the Nihil and their monsters. Which the noir feeling so key to the beginning of the series feels a bit lost at the end, the art, action and characters are all rendered in interesting and dynamic ways.

Writing: 5 of 5 stars
Art: 4.5 of 5 stars
Colors: 4.6 of 5 stars

Overall: 4.7 of 5 stars

Writer: Daniel Jose Older
Art: David Wachter
Colors: Giada Marchisio
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.