Star Wars Dark New Jedi Just Got The Powers of Marvels Groot

In a new preview for Marvel's Star Wars: The High Republic series, one of its new Jedi gone dark has gained similar powers to that of the talking tree Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy. While the High Republic era has largely been an era of peace of prosperity for the galaxy 200 years prior to the events of the Skywalker saga, a handful of Jedi are discovering new threats from the dark side that have emerged. Thought to have been locked away, the plant-based creatures known as the Drengir have been unleashed on the planet of Sedri Minor, and they've managed to corrupt the Jedi Order's Master Sskeer. However, he does have dark new powers as a result in this new preview.

Thus far in Marvel's High Republic series from writer Cavan Scott and artist Ario Anindito, the Republic's Starlight Beacon has just been unveiled to the galaxy, serving as a light of hope to all as it expands into the Outer Rim. Largely managed by the Jedi Order and its new Marshal Avar Kriss, a handful of Jedi were sent to investigate a derelict ship with a crew that had been slaughtered. This team included the formidable Kotabi Twins Ceret and Terec, newly knighted Keeve Trennis, and her old master Sskeer. However, their search for answers led them to Sedri Minor where they encountered the terrible Drengir who managed to corrupt Sskeer, replacing the arm he had lost in a prior battle with one made of their own plant-life.

While it seemed as though Sskeer had broken their corruption and turned their influence against them in order to save his allies, the new preview for the upcoming High Republic #5 suggests that the darkness of the Drengir has been planted too deep within Sskeer, which is evidenced when the Hutts arrive on Sedri Minor. Rather than waiting to see if diplomacy could win the day, Sskeer grows impatient and reveals the power of his new plant arm, which resembles the powers of Marvel's Groot. Here's the synopsis for the issue of preview pages from Marvel Comics:

    ATTACK OF THE HUTTS! The HIGH REPUBLIC JEDI clash with HUTT forces. GAMORREANS! NIKTO! BATTLE RANCORS! STARLIGHT BEACON over-run by a creeping alien horror! Can VERNESTRA RWOH and her Padawan IMRI CANTAROS find a way to save Starlight's infected masses? Plus, KEEVE TRENNIS learns the terrible secret MASTER SSKEER has been carrying for so long. Can she ever trust him again?

Unfortunately, Sskeer's dark actions have seemingly motivated his former apprentice to lose faith in him, fearing that he might never be redeemed back to the Jedi Keeve knew him to be. However, Sskeer's new power is impressive all the same in spite of the darkness, and it may prove to be exactly what this small team of Jedi needs. Myarga the Hutt has all kinds of forces as indicated by the synopsis and preview pages, which include fearsome battle rancors. Likewise, it doesn't look like the Jedi will be getting any backup either, considering that Starlight Beacon itself is facing its own infiltration of Drengir.

Despite Master Sskeer's new darkness and getting his team in this tense situation in the first place, it's hard to deny that seeing him in action against the Hutts when the full issue releases will no doubt be pretty exciting. It's as if Groot himself was given a lightsaber. In any case, fans will just have to wait and see what happens next when Star Wars: The High Republic #5 releases soon from Marvel Comics.