‘Star Wars: The High Republic Phase II Vol. 1: Balance of the Force’ feels half-baked, but is saved by an exciting second half

Phase II of The High Republic kicks off with an exciting, but uneven first volume.

May 3, 2023

The High Republic initiative is considered to be the renaissance of the Jedi, and right now we seem to be in a renaissance of High Republic content. With the recent release of Jedi Survivor (which has heavy High Republic references throughout) and the looming debut of The Acolyte, the High Republic feels primed for the spotlight just as the the first trade paperback of the Phase Two titular comic, The High Republic Volume 1: Balance of the Force, hits stands.

Though you might see “volume 1” and think this would be a great jumping on point as a new reader, this five issue collection is not the best representation of what The High Republic has to offer. There are some really interesting ideas presented in this new phase, but this collection fails to be as compelling or engaging as the first phase’s comic series — though it finishes strong with undeniably exciting final two issues that serve as a great cliffhanger for the inevitable second volume.

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It’s both a pro and a con that The High Republic doesn’t use any existing characters from movies or television series. Pro: you don’t enter these stories with any preconceived notions about a given character and get a more rewarding journey because of that. Con: you’re introduced to at least a dozen new characters, each tied to a dozen factions who have their own lore and culture. Balance of the Force suffers from this dichotomy too, except none of the characters ever managed to hold my attention or interest long.

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Jedi Vildar Mac, for example, is a troubled Jedi with a traumatic past who struggles to keep his fears in check. An interesting premise for a character, to be sure, but one that feels mostly unexplored or leveraged. Instead, Jedi Mac comes off robotic, cold, and hard to root for, seemingly representative of blinding, egotistical self-centeredness the Jedi are accused of by other force factions on Jedha.

There’s also Master Leebon and Jedi Knight Oliviah Zevaron—both of whom are little more than background characters— and Padawan Matthea “Matty” Cathley, a somewhat awkward, somewhat endearing Padawan eager to ensure the Jedi are welcome among the various Force religions on the holy planet of Jedha. None of these characters are so severely flawed that they warrant any disdain, it’s just that they’re little more than vehicles for plot development. Phase I of The High Republic did such a phenomenal job making readers fall in love with a new cast of characters, and though it might be unfair to compare the two phases, it’s nonetheless a disappointment that the characters here feel so flat.

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It’s not just new characters that are introduced—entirely new groups of Force users, followers, and cultists make their debut in Balance of the Force. It’s here that both this comic and Phase II as a whole has the most potential. Star Wars fans have known about groups like Guardians of the Whills (who also feature heavily in this story) and the Nightsisters, each with their own perceptions of the Force, but this is the first time in the new canon that the Force is being examined like a religion instead of a mythical element. I love the idea of exploring how the Matukai, Lonto, Yacombe, or Fallanassi each worship the force and how those ideas align with or clash with the Jedi, and the potential laid out in this five issue arc is positively tantalizing.

Unfortunately, this potential isn’t realized within the five issues of Balance of the Force. Just like the new characters, these new Force factions aren’t explored nor fleshed out as much as I was hoping. If, like me, you’ve read the novel Path of Deceit, you’ll at least have a deep understanding of the Path of the Open Hand — who play a pivotal role in Balance of the Force. If, like me, you were hoping Balance of the Force would take the time to give the other Force believers a similar kind of depth, you will be disappointed.

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There are very small bits of lore dropped in moments of dialogue about some of these Force groups, but those moments are few and far between. Instead, these new religions feel like the start of an interesting idea that is never finished. There is hope that the second half of the Phase II comic will give readers more background on these groups, but in this first volume they’re essentially just set dressing to keep this story from being overrun with only Jedi.

Thankfully, once you hit the final two issues of Balance of the Force things get really exciting. The bantha fodder hits the fan in the most climactic way, to the point where I practically forgot about the character shortcomings and unreached potential of new factions. When the action breaks out, I truly felt the chaos on every page while feeling genuine feelings of anger towards the parties who had sparked the sudden violence. Anyone who has read Path of Deceit will quickly suss out who is behind the riot that starts, but Balance of the Force still does a great job building these antagonists quickly and effectively as slimy agents of chaos.

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These last two issues end in a major cliffhanger that had me immediately re-reading issues #6-#8 of the series to keep the story momentum going. If you’re a trade-waiting reader, you too might feel the need to skip the wait for volume 2 and hunt down individual issues instead. It’s also worth noting that these moments of excitement tie directly into and practically run concurrently with The Battle of Jedha audiobook, meaning if you’re a faithful High Republic reader you will be legitimately rewarded. The same can be said for those who are reading the novels of The High Republic alongside the comics, actually.

This night read like an overly negative review, but I did actually enjoy this arc and how it introduced me to this phase of the High Republic. It’s just hard to ignore how dull the characters feel and how half-baked some the genuinely fascinating ideas feel. If you’re a die-hard High Republic reader, you will be pleased with Balance of the Force even if you’re not blown away. But if you’re a newcomer to The High Republic looking for a jumping on point, you’re better off seeking out the Phase I comics.

‘Star Wars: The High Republic Phase II Vol. 1: Balance of the Force’ feels half-baked, but is saved by an exciting second half

Star Wars: The High Republic Vol. 1: Balance of the Force

Balance of the Force has potential and introduces some exciting new ideas, but this potential is never fully reached and ultimately feels half-baked. Thankfully, an exciting final two chapters might make you forget about any shortcoimings and will have you eager for the next volume.

Reader Rating0 Votes

The chaotic, explosive action that closes out Balance of the Force is sudden yet organic and believable, causing a visceral sense of chaos and unrest.

Readers of the Phase II novels will be rewarded with a deeper understanding of what is truly going on in the narrative.

The final chapters are so momentous and chaotic that you'll want to immediately read the next five issues of this story to see how everything plays out.

There's a palpable sense of potential with all the new Force factions introduced on Jedha, but...

... the interesting potential of these new groups is never reached and each group feels like an unfinished idea.

The characters feel flat and not all that compelling, mostly serving as little more than set dressing or vehicles to move the plot along.

Things don't really get exciting or truly interesting until the final two issues.

Good