WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for recent issues of Star Wars: The High Republic: Eye of the Storm, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
The Star Wars: The High Republic: Eye of the Storm miniseries is proving to be Marchion Ro’s victory lap. After destroying the Starlight Beacon, attacking multiple settlements throughout the Outer Rim and blocking access to the Outer Rim from Republic space, Marchion believed his victory was complete. Throughout the first two issues, Marchion’s ego was highlighted, and the miniseries fully illustrated that the villain has bought into the mythology that he has been building around himself throughout the stories of the High Republic.
Star Wars: The High Republic: Eye of the Storm #1 (by Charles Soule and Guillermo Sanna) focused on Marchion Ro's backstory and was told in scenes that form snapshots of his life and rise to power. This first act was simply titled "Ro" because it focused on Marchion's family and how their legacy shaped him. While the scenes span decades in the first issue, the action shifts to the aftermath of the Nihil's attack on the Starlight Beacon in issue #2 (by Soule, Sanna, Ariana Maher, and Jim Campbell). The scenes throughout the miniseries established that Marchion believed he was the star of the Nihil and of this particular moment of the galaxy's history.
The entire framework for the second issue was Marchion gloating over his victory as the Republic scrambled to respond to his declaration of his role as the leader of the Nihil and his claim that he now ruled the galaxy. The Republic's Chancellor Lina Soh noted that he talked about himself as the singular ruler rather than including all of the Nihil in his victory speech. Marchion's entire decision to come forward as the leader was rooted in his inability to allow other people to take credit for what he felt was his sole victory, disregarding the efforts of the rest of the Nihil who made his plans possible.
Marchion's ego was further established throughout the issue. In one scene, Marchion led the Nihil to capture the Nameless, creatures who feed on fear and specifically targeted Jedi. During this mission, he callously sacrificed many of his Nihil soldiers, seemingly feeling nothing about their sacrifice. He openly commented that he was all that mattered and he clearly saw the rest of the Nihil merely as pawns in his scheme, unworthy of his care or concern.
Nevertheless, Marchion has still proven willing to posture as if he cares about the rest of the Nihil when the ends justify the means, as he did with the reveal of the stormseeds, powerful, electrifying weapons. In his speech, Marchion returned to using "we" in regards to his plans rather than "I," attempting to create a sense of unity within his ranks. However, the villain's mask has been both literally and figuratively removed at key moments in his rise to power. He has shown multiple times that he only cared about his own power, and some of his enemies and followers have taken note.
By focusing on Marchion Ro's ego, the miniseries also highlighted how Marchion and the Nihil might be defeated. The Nihil have always been a fractured group with multiple factions vying for power. Marchion’s insistence on taking full credit for the victory showed that he ultimately was working for himself, not the Nihil as a whole. Also, because he currently believes that he has no weaknesses, he may overlook flaws in his organization and in his plans. Therefore, while the Star Wars: The High Republic: Eye of the Storm series was an ode to the villain's rise to power on the surface, it also highlighted his flaws and left hope for his ultimate defeat in future phases of the series.