The High Republic — The Blade 1

The High Republic — The Blade 1 is the first issue of the canon comic miniseries Star Wars: The High Republic — The Blade. The issue was written by Charles Soule, illustrated by Marco Castiello and Jim Charalampidis, and published by Marvel Comics on December 28, 2022.
==Publisher's summary==
Hundreds of years before the Skywalker Saga, witness the rise of a legend – the mighty Jedi PORTER ENGLE, perhaps the most skilled lightsaber wielder in the High Republic. With his fellow Jedi Knight Barash, he travels the galaxy, serving as a guardian of peace and justice. But even Porter Engle has enemies he cannot defeat.
==Plot summary==
===Peacekeepers===
About 150 years before the fall of Starlight Beacon, Porter Engle meditates in the Force while cooking a stew made out of various vegetables on the Boneworld. Engle later serves the broth for lunch to several strangers. When a human man asks the Jedi Knight why he has prepared a free meal for them, Engle says that he wanted to experiment with some ingredients he had never seen before due to his love for cooking. The man spits out the food in disgust and protests. Engle remarks that he loves to cook but that he is not very good at it yet. He promises to get better. 
Engle is visited by a cloaked figure who tells him that there is trouble outside. The Jedi Knight borrows a stack of Sabacc cards from the grumpy human guest. Engle exits the cave where he finds two groups in a gun standoff. Engle draws their attention by using the Force to levitate the Sabacc cards. He introduces himself and his cloaked sister, fellow Jedi Knight Barash Silvain, as visitors to the Boneworld. Engle asks what the dispute is about but is told by the belligerents including a Twi'lek and a Nautolan to mind his own business. 
The Twi'lek male points a gun at the Nautolan Ralen, claiming that Ralen and his friend Argo stole their buried treasure of Ambercryst. Ralen counters that is a lie and claimed they accidentally stumble upon the Ambercryst treasure while lost in the Ossein Plains. Through telepathy, Silvain determines that the Nautolan is telling the truth. When Engle accepts Ralen's account and tries to defuse the situation, the Twi'lek and his female companion reach for their blasters and shoot at Engle. Engle deflects their blaster bolts with his lightsaber and forces the pair to drop their weapons and flee. 
When Ralen thanks the Jedi Knight, Engle advises him to cash the ambercryst and leave the Boneworld. He and Silvain plan to leave soon but warns that the two Twi'leks will return. Engle thanks Silvain for her help and the two search for a transport to head offworld.
===Flashback===
Twenty five years earlier, Engle is a Jedi youngling at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. The instructor reassures the new class, many of whom are newcomers, that this is an opportunity for every Jedi student to learn about each other's differences in order to bring them together. He hands the younglings several training lightsabers. After practising with a green-skinned humanoid youngling with a long black braid, he chats with a lonely Kage girl. Engle tries to comfort her but the girl says that she doesn't need friends. After talking about the value of friendship, Engle offers to be her friend and introduces himself. The girl introduces herself as Barash Silvain and the two shake hands.
===Seeking a mission===
In the present, Silvain asks Engle what he is thinking about. When Engle expresses disinterest, Silvain reminds Engle that his Ikkrukkian species can live for hundreds of years while the Kage species she belongs to don't live that long. Engle quips that Silvain should find a way around it. When Silvain replies that he is being ridiculous, he replies that he is being fantastic. They disembark with the other passengers at the Office of the Frontier. 
Silvain remarks that the bright gleaming building is meant to remind locals of the power and influence of the Galactic Republic. Engle replies that the Jedi Order entered into an arrangement with the Republic to make it easier for the Jedi to travel where they are needed. The two head over to the petition to see where else they are needed. A droid tells the two Knights that there are 201 active petitions for Jedi aid in the unsettled sectors. When Engle remarks that this will keep them busy, Silvain reminds him that they don't have to choose every mission.
Silvain selects Petition 171. The droid explains that there is a dispute on the planet Gansevor where a besieged fortress city has requested Jedi assistance to break the siege and end the conflict. Engle is unfamiliar with Gansevor. The droid explains that the planet is located outside of the regular transport routes and that the Jedi will have to secure their own transport. While Engle wants to pick another petition, Silvain believes that the Force is leading them there. A group of Pathfinders and Jedi led by the Mikkian Jedi Master Helion Volte offer to give the two Jedi a ride to Gansevor, which Silvain takes as a sign that they should take the mission. 
During the hyperspace journey, Engle and the Pathfinders chat about their work. The Pathfinders explain that they are explorers who are working to build communications networks on the Republic's frontier. The pilot introduces himself as Sallee Ooph as well as the team's medic Grint Rupar. When Engle introduces himself, he is recognized by Helion, who is looking for a sparring partner. Mikkian's fellow Jedi companion Benj is a Padawan, Since Engle is renown towards the Jedi Order for his combat skills, Volte hopes they can practise with a professional. 
During the training session, Volte tells Engle that they were one of the best in their class at the temple. Engle quips that he was in the bottom middle but became better. Engle distracts Volte by dropping his lightsaber and then reactivating his second lightsaber. Ooph informs the Jedi that they are approaching Gansevor and warns that the planet lacks a communication network. Since they won't be able to contact the Republic once the Pathfinders have dropped them off, Ooph offers to equip them with a few EX droid. These droids record messages before heading to the closest network node and delivering it. 
A confident Silvain declines' Ooph's offer to provide droids. She believes that the Jedi Knights will be able to resolve the conflict just in time for the Pathfinders to return on their next round. She thinks the situation is something the Jedi can handle on their own.
==Continuity==
Jakku is incorrectly listed as being located in the Tashtor sector when, in actuality, the planet is located in Jakku's sector, which would be in a different part of the galaxy than the Tashtor sector according to the Star Wars Galaxy Map's placement of both.
==Media==
===Cover gallery===
File:The-Blade-1-final-cover.jpg|Final cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli
File:The_Blade_1_cover.jpg|Reveal cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli
File:TheBlade1-variant-McCrea.jpg|Variant cover by John McCrea
File:TheBlade1-variant-Baldeon.jpg|Variant cover by David Baldeón
File:MMTheBlade1.jpg|Variant cover by Mike Mayhew
File:Blade1-MikeMayhew.jpg|Virgin varian cover by Mike Mayhew
File:Blade1pv.jpg|Variant cover by Paolo Villanelli
File:Blade1-PaoloVillanelli-textless.png|Virgin variant cover by Paolo Villanelli
File:Blade1dp.jpg|Variant cover by Dan Panosian
File:Blade1-Panosian-textless.png|Virgin variant cover by Dan Panosian
File:Blade1Kirkham.jpg|Variant cover by Tyler Kirkham
==Appearances==
==Collections==
*Star Wars: The High Republic - The Blade
*Star Wars: The High Republic Phase II – Quest of the Jedi Omnibus
==Sources==
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==Notes and references==
==External links==
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