Comic Book Review: Trail of Shadows #5

When I reviewed Issue #4 of Trail of Shadows, I said each issue came with a new question. In a shocking turn of events, the fifth and final issue does not contain more questions, but actually some answers. As in actual, conclusive ones. Color me shocked and delighted. 

After barely escaping the effects of the Leveler on Uttersond’s ship, Emerick Caphtor is recovering on board his own, with Sian Holt watching out for him. The private investigator admits to herself she’s starting to have feelings for him. Feelings that must be put on the back burner because of just how unattainable he is. 

Dr. Uttersond tries to play it cool and careless, until Beesar outs him for having a family he cares about back home. With all their lives now at risk, Uttersond hands over a handwritten note - shocking in and of itself - that finally puts an end to the mystery of what exactly shrii ka rai means, as well as answering a few questions about the Leveler overall. 

Armed with this new knowledge, and faced with the exploding Starlight Beacon, Emerick tells Sian he needs to go onboard to warn Stellan of what’s coming after Uttersond admits the Nihil have unleashed these Force-sucking beasts onto the space station. 

Sian agrees to go with Emerick, who still isn’t feeling 100%, and crashes the ship through one of the Beacon’s windows to gain entrance. They are greeted by Master Buck (Buckets of Blooood!), a newly-knighted Qort, and a group of Padawans who need a way off the station. Sian and Emerick usher them onto their ship then turn to face the threat of the Leveler.

The next sequence is where this issue truly shines, and a lot of the credit for that goes to artist David Wachter. We’ve had a few moments in the comics so far where the Jedi come face to face with the Leveler, but it’s never been for an extended period of time. The entire action sequence goes back and forth between Sian’s realistic view of events, and the contorted version Emerick is forced to experience. Wachter walks that line absolutely brilliantly. 

On a completely shallow note: Trail of Shadows gave us shirtless Marchion, shirtless Emerick, and capped off the run with shirtless (and pantsless, oh my) Buckets of Blood. Thank you Daniel José Older and David Wachter for these gifts to numb the pain.

Because this wouldn’t be The High Republic without just a little pain, and while the issue does conclude on something of a painful note, there is also that undercurrent of hope so things don’t feel quite as bleak as they might have. 

Author Daniel José Older’s work in Wave 3 of The High Republic Phase 1 has really stood out to me for a couple of reasons. First is what I mentioned above, that perfect mingling of hope and sorrow. But more crucially is the way he communicates the reasoning behind Phase 2 of the publishing initiative jumping back in time by 150 years. 

I’m sure a lot of this has to do with the timing of his work: it comes out towards the end of the wave, therefore he is the one to introduce that idea. I know I’m not the only one skeptical at the idea of the backward time jump, but being assured both in this and in Midnight Horizon that it’s all connected to a central mystery makes me feel more optimistic. 

Trail of Shadows #5: Dust is available now.