Comic Book Review: Monster of Temple Peak #4
by Arezou
When it comes to something High Republic, having a plot prediction come true is a mixed blessing. You get bragging rights and you get to feel smart, but at what cost?
Let’s back it up a little.
After realizing at the end of the last issue that the Gretalax wasn’t attacking the settlers unprovoked, Ty Yorrick takes matters into her own hands. She appears before the villagers, without the head of the monster as promised. Because according to her, the real monsters do not reside on Temple Peak, but right there in the village.
Her ability to connect with the creature on the mountain opened her eyes to the truth, namely that the monster she was hunting was only half of the symbiotic being known as the Gretalax. Her quarry was merely the Greta, while the Lax - its counterpart, and ostensibly the other half of its soul - was trapped in a cage on the outskirts of the village.
The villagers, and particularly Pela’s uncle Layton, are aware of what they’ve done and are indifferent to the struggle of the Gretalax. This fantastically underscores a recurring theme of The High Republic as a whole, where those who would colonize and settle the Outer Rim have very little regard for the beings that already reside there. Given that the idea is presented so strongly in the main Marvel line of comics - written, like The Monster of Temple Peak, by Cavan Scott - it’s hard to believe this is unintentional.
The Ty/Klias storyline is also wrapped up in heartbreaking fashion, and Cavan absolutely knows what he did. I had initially predicted that Klias was the one whose death caused Ty to leave the Jedi Order, and while we don’t formally see her leaving, it’s hard to imagine, given the tragedy that unfolds, that that isn’t the cause. However bad I thought it would be, it was somehow much worse, with Klias confronting Ty with what she likely sees as her own failings regarding their adventure. She is forced then, to fall back on instinct, only for her instinct to betray her in the worst way.
Throughout the miniseries, artist Rachael Stott and colourists Vita Efremova and Nicola Righi have done a fantastic job of blending both the natural wonder of Ty’s journey and the spiritual pain of her past into a vivid, engaging style that absolutely screams “adventure”.
The series wraps up with Ty Yorrick only a short while out from the events of The Rising Storm, which effectively sweeps her into the larger adventure of The High Republic. However, with the door left open for smaller, more personal adventures down the line, it gives cause for hope. It’s always great to get smaller side missions, especially with a cast this large, as it allows the reader to get a really good picture of who each character is. Now that we know Ty Yorrick’s past, I am eager to see where her future takes her - and us.
Monster of Temple Peak #4: Bones of a Jedi is available now
