This article contains spoilers for Star Wars: Yoda #3.
Is being a hero really worth it?
In the newest issue of Star Wars: Yoda, writer Cavan Scott invites us to examine the difference between a morally ambiguous victory and doing the right thing.
Released on January 25th, Yoda #3 completes the first arc of this 10-issue miniseries. The second issue ended with our Scalvi hero, Bree, killing the leader of the Crulkon to free Yoda from his supposed capture. In issue #3, we return to the planet Turrak to see the fallout from that encounter after what seems like at least a 20-year time jump.
Turrak is still wonderfully bright and colorful as shown in the art by Nico Leon, but the characters we’re familiar with have aged. Bree is now an Elderman village leader and has grown a beard and Dad Bod. He’s also “Uncle Bree” now, since his sister, Litah, has two kids of her own: Tren and Carli. So much is shown in the simplicity of the character art and bits of dialogue on the first two pages that it’s immediately evident how much time has passed.
What’s missing, however, is the little green Jedi grandmaster. Soon, we learn the whole story: after Bree killed the Crulkon leader, Yoda left Turrak, disappointed in Bree’s actions, and hasn’t been seen since. However, he does return at the same time a Crulkon scout ship is sighted for the first time in many years. (And hey, Yoda has finally mastered the taratti!) Bree is given another chance to set an example for his people, and chooses to listen to the Crulkon’s story instead of attacking them on sight.
Scott inserts a powerful dialogue into this issue about what it means to be a good leader. Young Bree was celebrated for defeating the Scalvi’s enemies with blind violence, but Yoda revealed that his capture was a test. The Jedi wished to see if Bree would take what he was taught and apply it to the situation with the Crulkon, to take the time to listen to their plight instead of leaping into action. Unfortunately, Bree chose to be “a conquering hero” over patience.
He doesn’t make the same mistake a second time. After his nephew, Tren, takes a small Crulkon girl hostage as a preemptive strike, Bree stops the fighting and listens to what she has to say. He learns that the Crulkon have been starving for generations while the Scalvi’s island is plentiful. Upon learning this information, Bree opens the gates to their enemies and welcomes them into their home to start a new future of peace and trust.
Scott’s messaging in Yoda #3 is poignant and powerful. Sometimes, people leap into action without first learning all of the relevant information. This is especially true if a harmful history or stereotype has been passed down from generation to generation. If we act first without listening to each other, there will never truly be peace. A leader should be focused on patience and trust to lead their people, not on being a hero. Sometimes temporary victory can be won by doing the easy thing, but only by having patience and an open mind can a long-term, peaceful solution be found.
This issue definitely made me emotional. It’s incredibly important to have such messages in popular media, and Star Wars continues to put forth inclusive and impactful stories like this.
While I’m sad to see the planet Turrak and the Scalvi go, issue #4 continues Yoda’s reflections with a tale including Master Dooku. This next arc will be written by Jody Houser with art by Luke Ross, and promises to continue the example set by Scott and Leon’s wonderful first issues.
Star Wars: Yoda #4 will release on February 22, 2023.
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