Collects STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC - THE BLADE #1-4.
Hundreds of years before the Skywalker saga, witness the birth of a Jedi legend! Porter Engle is perhaps the most skilled lightsaber wielder in the High Republic. With his sister and fellow Jedi Knight Barash Silvain, he travels the galaxy, serving as a guardian of peace and justice. As the two Jedi journey to a planet far on the Republic frontier in response to a desperate request for aid, they are certain they will succeed. Because no one in the galaxy fights like Porter Engle. No warrior can stand against him. No one even comes close. They are sure of victory…until they see what awaits them!
Blogger Note: This is the first time I've ventured into The High Republic timeframe in any form so I can't speak to it's connection to anything before these graphic novel collections nor any connection to the new Disney series, The Acolyte, so I'll just review as is. (EDITED NOTE: I have since discovered the chronological order and that I have read a couple out of that order. However, like the movies long as you are able to read a particular story arc together the rest isn't that important, just something to keep in mind.)
The Blade seems to be a mini-series and a story arc of its own although from other reviews it sounds like the characters are not completely new and unknown but I have not come across them. Barash Silvain and Porter Engle are a pair of "adopted" siblings having grown up together at the Jedi Temple and their connection perfectly balances each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Great characters(good, bad, and in between), creative storytelling, action, adventure, drama, and humor. Everything Star Wars is all about. Would've liked to see more of Barash and Porter(and maybe down the road we will) but if this is all they had to tell the author than it's another great chapter in the SW Universe.
Phase 3 V2(coming 11/19/24)
Based in Brooklyn, New York, Charles Soule has written novels, comics, screenplays and stories of all types. He is the author of Strange Attractors, 27, Strongman and Letter 44, as well as runs on Swamp Thing, Red Lanterns and Superman/Wonder Woman for DC Comics. Also a musician and an attorney, Soule somehow finds time to be one of the busiest writers in comics: Among his Marvel credits are Thunderbolts, She-Hulk and Inhuman — as well as the landmark Death of Wolverine, its immediate follow-up (Wolverines) and its eventual sequel (Return of Wolverine). Soule charted the adventures of a much-loved Star Wars characters in Lando and Poe Dameron. He continued the story of Black Bolt, Medusa and the rest in Uncanny Inhumans and All-New Inhumans; brought his legal expertise to the pages of Daredevil; and assembled a blockbuster squad in Astonishing X-Men. Following a stint on the dark side with Darth Vader, Soule turned his attention to the rebel crew in a new volume of Star Wars.
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The Blade
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Series
Trail of Shadows by Daniel Jose Older
Shadows of Starlight by Charles Soule
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