On the ancient world of Angcord, the Force works in mysterious ways . . . When a pair of Jedi arrive on the mysterious world, seeking ancient artifacts of the Force, they quickly find more than they were bargaining for. But just what is the mysterious Echo Stone, and what does its existence mean for the continued survival of all those who call Angcord home?
Claudia Gray is not my real name. I didn't choose a pseudonym because my real name is unpleasant (it isn't), because I'd always dreamed of calling myself this (I haven't) or even because I'm hiding from the remnants of that international diamond-smuggling cartel I smashed in 2003 (Interpol has taken care of them). In short, I took a pseudonym for no real reason whatsoever. Sometimes this is actually the best reason to do things.
I live in New Orleans. So far, in life, I've been a disc jockey, a lawyer, a journalist and an extremely bad waitress, just to name a few. I especially like to spend time traveling, hiking, reading and listening to music. More than anything else, I enjoy writing.
This is a quick story that is part of The High Republic series. In this one, a Jedi master and padawan travel to a remote world. They believe a force filled object is on this planet and they hope to retrieve it.
I want to say that this is a one off but I believe that this leads to something but for the life of me I have no idea what. That is essentially the reason I did not enjoy this more. I am not sure what the purpose of this collection (under forty pages) is trying to do. The story works for this universe. An object with the force and its effects on the people around it. The message of the story about balance and the two sides of the force. I enjoyed the characters especially the padawan. That is saying something because I have been vocal about this series and the lack of connection to the characters for me. I loved the artwork as the coloring was beautiful to look at. But I kept on asking what is the purpose of this. Why now when we are in the middle of dealing with the Path of the Open Hand or the peace treaty talks between two warring planets. That was lost on me and it did affect my enjoyment.
As you can see I have questions about this story. I am assuming that I will get answers to these questions in later books as this read as a prequel. The problem was that this left me unfulfilled and wondering why. I think if this was labeled a prequel and happened somewhere else in the timeline my enjoyment would have been higher.
“The Council has sent Jedi to the farthest reaches of the frontier in search of answers, but I believe there is one place we have not searched thoroughly enough […] The past.”
This was fascinating and terrifying all at the same time.
We've waited a long time for some of the answers that are being offered to us now, and it's great to finally get them, but, oh boy, those answers just make things more complicated and cast the situation at hand with horrible shadows.
Aside from that, the planet we visit in this issue was incredibly interesting and I really liked that aspect that this series, in general, keeps exposing to us, that of the different ways others use the Force and what it all means to them.
The characters all seem to be a lot of fun, which is always a plus.
“Perhaps this planet, more than any other, is one with the Force, but only a fool believes that the Force brings nothing but mercy. Without an end, there can be no beginning. The first demand of life is death. Closeness to the Force does not spare us from death – it only gives us meaning in life. Never is that meaning clearer than when – than at – the moment we die.”
This was a fun and worthwhile story that provided part of an answer to a question I previously hadn't even known I had. This comic has good dialogue and an interesting set-up, however it includes a continuity error on the first page (which was edited in the digital edition) and another one within one of the illustrations. Additionally, three of the characters basically carry the same name, which is unnecessarily confusing. All in all, while the dynamic between the Jedi and the citizens was fun and the connection to Phase II obvious and relevant, I wish this story had been longer, more fleshed out and didn't end so abruptly.
Page Turner Comic provides some answers and many new questions
Awesome! This comic had me turning pages so quick! The art was beautiful, a thrilling standalone story, and has me wanting more answers from the mystery of The High Republic! Highly recommend if you’re enjoying the high republic and the mystery of the nameless
This was a fun one shot. A little too short to tell an entire story. Couldn’t tell you the name of a single character but I enjoyed it. The High Republic is a lot of fun and I really need to catch up with Phase II
The downside to this comic one-shot? I want more!!
I want to see more of Master Vim and Padawan Vix's adventures in the galaxy. I can only assume that the Echo Stone has originated from Planet X? I'm not even sure why Azlin believes the stones are the key to fighting the Nameless.
Speaking of Azlin, he's another character I wish to see more of. I find him to have the most compelling jumping off arc after the ending of "Path of Deceit". I do believe his story picks up in the Edge of Balance Manga, so I look forward to reading that as well.
For light and life!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
At first, I didn't really like this comic. This was because I'm not very used to one shot stories and how to really analyse them.
While it's main message is front and center - "There should be a balance between the good and evil", after some time spent thinking, I found that there's another message that I find really turned this around for me.
"Through a different pair of eyes, comes evolution and knowledge". This world that is set outside of the Republic's radar is cursed from the fact that its citizens push out the idea of getting help from outsiders.
When the jedi come and analyse their situation, coming to the conclusion that the very thing they praise is their downfall, they reject the jedi and lash out.
This is such a strong message, as many people in real life try to fix their issues by themselves, without having different perspectives or other people to help them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
“Without an end, there can be no beginning. The first demand of life is death. Closeness to the Force does not spare us from death – it only gives us meaning in life. Never is that meaning more clear than when – than at – the moment we die–“
2,5/5!
While investigating what might have happened to Kevmo Zink and his master, a Jedi unearths an old story of Jedi Master Barnabas Vim who, on one of his adventures, encountered a strange and powerful Force object with the power to shatter the galaxy.
This comic was just alright. I enjoyed the way the story gave us some information on certain major things in the High Republic - namely the - since that has long been something I have wondered about. But otherwise, the story just felt a bit blah. The characters only appear in this one short comic, so I had no time to get to know them, and thus I didn't really feel connected to them, which was a shame. This has overall been an issue for me with Phase 2, especially the comics. I have not been able to fall in love with the characters the way I did in Phase 1, and I'm one of those readers who cannot love a story without enjoying the characters.
But while this is not the best THR comic out there, I do recommend checking it out. Even if you don't end up really loving it, it's worth it for the context and backstory it gives. Plus, it's not that long, so it won't take you a long time to read.
Given that this one-shot bears the name of the entire Phase II of the High Republic, "Quest of the Jedi," I was expecting the comic to be some sort of culmination or encapsulation of the phase, a manifesto of its themes and purpose (similar to Light of the Jedi in Phase I, and perhaps Trials of the Jedi in Phase III). In a way, my expectations were realized: Quest of the Jedi is a microcosm of everything wrong with the majority of Phase II. Shoddy writing, vague and unconvincing characters, few creative ideas, and above all, rote and uninteresting backstories for elements of Phase I that were already fairly self-explanatory.
The framing device: Azlin Rell (I am so proud of myself for remembering his name) is looking for answers after the husking of Zallah and Zink. For unexplained reasons, he believes he can find them in the archive files of the famed ancient Jedi Barnabas Vim. Sidenote: of the four named characters in this comic, one is named Vim, another Vin, and a third Vix; they're not, as one might imagine, identical triplets in some sort of comedy act, but rather three unrelated characters from different species and eras. But anyway, Rell, due presumably to the influence of the Force, finds exactly the story he needed to: that of Vim's (Vin's?) adventures on the planet Angcord, long ago at some undefined point in the Star Wars timeline. Most of the comic is a flashback to these events. Vim and his apprentice Vix (Jesus Christ I cannot with these names) are an extremely generic Jedi duo with AI-grade characterization. Vim claims they are on a "quest," but the purpose and nature of this quest is never explained.
This comic has further solidified my already-plenty-solid opinion that Claudia Gray is the most overrated Star Wars author working today, a Drew Karpyshyn for the canon era. Into the Dark was atrocious, Princess of Alderaan and Bloodline were mediocre, and Lost Stars was so bland and lifeless that I dropped it partway through, something I very seldom do. Her only book I've actually liked was Master and Apprentice, and much more for the appealing characters than for any particularly quality writing.
The crux of this comic is a spoiler, so we'll have to enter spoiler land now, I'm afraid.
All this being said, I can't neglect to mention the art, which I thought was quite good. Fico Ossio's intricate pencilling and Sebastian Cheng and Candice Han's vibrant colors make the visuals consistently engaging, even when the story isn't. I wouldn't say it's quite worth reading for the art alone, but any enjoyment I derived from Quest of the Jedi certainly sprung from the art rather than the storytelling.
This standalone comic delivers an engaging and tightly woven narrative that balances mystery, action, and meaningful plot development. From the beginning, it pulls you into a story that feels both self-contained and deeply connected to a larger world.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this comic is how it gradually unravels its secrets. Each addition to the plot reveals a new piece of backstory, providing clarity to the characters’ motivations and the world they inhabit. These revelations are perfectly timed, creating a sense of discovery while propelling the main plot forward. The layers of intrigue kept me hooked, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to see how the past informed the present and what twists lay ahead.
This comic achieves the rare feat of being both a satisfying standalone story and a piece of a larger puzzle. Whether you’re a seasoned fan or a newcomer, it’s a must-read that will leave you hungry for more of this universe.
Quest of the Jedi is a sweet one-shot comic with all kinds of Jedi awesomeness!
Claudia Gray writes a wonderful Jedi adventure on a wild world, strong in the Force. The art by Fico Ossio is brilliant and energetic. I love the light and colors used throughout. The story definitely jumps off the page and the art is top-notch.
This tale fits seamlessly into The High Republic and also stands strong on its own. When it was released I really enjoyed it and took it for a nice stand-alone adventure. As we move into Phase III I’m already seeing some very interesting connections to this story.
This comic is a must-read for any High Republic fan digging into the mysteries behind the nameless and looking for a Jedi adventure for knowledge!
Another great story from Claudia Grey. I liked this one! I have been working on reading the High Republic in chronological order. If you're like me, I recommend reading this after "Path of Deceit." Since it gives some context to the MacGuffin of the Path of the Open Hand, sought throughout the rest of Phase II.
I wish there were one more comic that takes place after this, with the crafting of the MacGuffin and them being separated and hidden to come full circle for the rest of Phase II.
Otherwise, a fun one-shot that helps to set up one of the big plot points of Phase II.
A critical underscore for the latter half of The High Republic Phase 2. This one-shot connects the dots on a lot of plot points as this phase wraps up.
This should be read after or in conjunction with Marvel Comics The High Republic #8, but before the phase finale in Cavan Scott’s Path of Vengeance.
This sort story does a good job setting up an interesting stage. The basis for the stone is asserted, though not explained. I think a little more explanation would deepen the significance of why action is needed and the stakes involved. A good beginning otherwise.
A great one-shot issue. Surprisingly enough, the story with Barnabas Vim might be the earliest full story we have in the canon timeline. I really liked him and his padawan, and the world they were on was cool. I always like seeing different force cults, so the Pilgrims were interesting. Honestly this made me wish we got from these characters, so I guess it did it's job well.
I enjoyed its direct tie-in to Path of Deceit which precedes this chronologically. But it’s pretty short, and I was hoping it would be a bit more in-depth considering it gives a glimpse into a much earlier part of the timeline and clearly will have ramification for upcoming chronological stories.
Nonetheless a quick, enjoyable read with cool illustrations.
This is a great one shot to read after reaching Path of Deceit by Justina Ireland. It's always fun seeing different Jedi and their Padawan together, in action. I hope this isn't the last of Vim and her master.
Five stars because it feels so essential. But it's more of a 3 or 4 in reality due to feeling so short! hahah I really appreciated the connections with Path of Deceit though! I had been asking to myself what happened to that one jedi...
I have definitely read the Spread-the-crystal-fragments-far-and-wide-lest-they-fall-into-the-wrong-hands story before. This one was drawn and written well. A good older kid/younger teen book probably.
Didn’t realize this was a one issue comic. I very much enjoyed the art and found the story good overall. Could have benefited from stronger character work and more emphasis on the tense beats, but still enjoyable.
Pretty weak for a one-shot. At the end of the series High Republic the next vol was Quest of the Jedi. This is what I found. It has nothing to do with the events of Star Wars High Republic. It is a standalone story that was, in my opinion, flawed.
This was a pretty cool one-shot. I love the new lore it brings to this era of The High Republic. I am hopeful someone picks up these threads and gives us another cool story.