The High Republic Adventures: Galactic Bake-Off Spectacular is a Delight
The High Republic Adventures: Galactic Bake-Off Spectacular is here and oh boy, Kantam Sy fans, we are being fed so well in Wave 3, aren’t we? It’s about dang time! I’ve been waiting for this one issue ever since it was announced. And the Galactic Bake-Off Spectacular did not disappoint!
After the heartbreak of The Fallen Star, and well, the rest of The High Republic thus far, this issue was some much-needed levity. Daniel José Older’s writing has been stellar from the get-go in The High Republic Adventures, easily being the highlight of my month. This time around, he’s teamed up with writer Vita Ayala. Together, they give a heartwarming and daring tale of teamwork in a dangerous time. I wore the biggest grin with each page, bursting out laughing at multiple points. The script is such a delight and one of the best of the series!
Toni Bruno is back with that distinct style that is just so good in these comics. It made the flashbacks pop against the present-day storyline, capturing the drama of Torban and Kantam fighting to save lives during The Great Disaster. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention Rebecca Nalty’s coloring of the flashback sequences. The washes, especially during the proximity alarm scene, help set the tone. Together they made something truly special.
But I have to say I am obsessed with Jo Cheol-hong’s artwork, especially for Kantam Sy. Kantam already has one of the best character designs in The High Republic, and I am in love with this version of them. Cheol-hong’s art is so ridiculously expressive for each character on the page. The bright vibrance pairs so, so well with Bruno’s grittier flashbacks making for a lovely balance the entire way through.
To talk a bit more personally about the Galactic Bake-Off Spectacular, this is what I wanted to see the most out of The High Republic Adventures which is a bit more focused on the adults. If I had any gripes about the comic run as a whole (which I discussed here with the Into the Dark section), I really wanted more time with Kantam Sy and Torban Buck as individuals as well as their relationships with the padawans. I’ve discussed before that there was confusion in fans early on whether or not Sy was Lula’s master. We’ve still had yet to have a one-on-one mission with just the two of them. With Phase I coming to a close, I have a feeling we’ll have to wait a while before we see it.
I do admit some of this is my personal preference. As one of the animation reviewers at the Geeky Waffle, I consume a lot of young adult media, so I’ve developed a taste for what I like to see. I love YA stories that embrace how and why the adults in a young protagonist’s life are important. For example, Zuko would not be who he is without Uncle Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Adults play a very important role in these stories. I felt a real lack of Kantam Sy in Lula’s life as we have neared the end of Phase I.
Luckily with The High Republic Adventures #12, we’re finally making that turn where Sy is less of a background character and finally stepping up into their own story. The Galactic Bake-Off Spectacular definitely helped quell some of my personal qualms as well as continue to pump me up for Midnight Horizon. I’ve loved Kantam the moment they appeared and cannot wait to learn so much more about them. They are on the brink of being a standout character, and it’s been such a joy to see more and more people come around to them. From the whispers I’ve seen on Twitter, I think we’re about to be fed so well with Kantam Sy content.
The heart of the Bake-Off is Torban and Sy’s friendship, clearly built on trust and love.
Kantam is so personal in this issue. I never knew I needed to see them helping sweet old ladies, but here we are with me fangirling over each moment. They clearly adore their kids too, always so kind to the younglings and padawans.
A bit of a side note, I’ve enjoyed The High Republic breaking away from traditional gender roles when it comes to raising kids. Most of the youngling and padawan caregivers in this era have been male or non-binary with Buck, Sy, Yoda, and Regald Coll fully introduced into The Fallen Star. I’ve enjoyed this trend and hope to see more of it!
Torban always shines in everything he’s in. But the quiet moments of this issue are what stand out. Moments where this giant man feels so small in the scope of the tragedy unfolding around him but still rising to the occasion to do his Jedi duty. One panel of him kneeling on the outside of a ship to gather his strength is easily my favorite Torban moment. It’s small and personal on the surface, but it’s so much bigger than what it seems.
It all leads to a finale that is well built in the short time span of this one-shot issue. The entire team from writers, artists, colorists, even down to Jake M. Wood’s dynamic choices as the letterer made for one of my favorite issues of Star Wars comics ever made.
I’m going to be thinking about The High Republic Adventures: Galactic Bake-Off Spectacular for some time. It’s absolutely everything I’ve waited for in this era, and I hope we get to see more of this storytelling. A little bit of slice of life mixed with daring drama! The Bake-Off is a perfect piece of Star Wars.
Now bring on Midnight Horizon!