As Phase III of The High Republic really begins in earnest this month, the official site’s slowly been showing off concept art we all hoped we’d see after spying the little folder on Lucasfilm Publishing creative director Michael Siglain’s laptop at NYCC 2023. Since it’s been a year after Starlight Beacon fell, many of our favorites have gone through a lot and have updated looks to match, while there also introductions to new characters, like the younglings at the core of January’s Escape from Valo. Head below for all the new concept art and details!
It’s really neat to see these updated looks for the returning characters, especially since I’ve already read The Eye of Darkness as these are very close to what I was expecting from George Mann’s descriptions. They’ve definitely been through some things since we last saw them, so these are all very appropriate updates as well, lining up with how the galaxy and they have changed. Avar Kriss’ new look even already made an appearance in Shadows of Starlight #2, where she dons the more undercover look now that she’s a priority target while being stuck behind the Nihil’s seemingly impenetrable Stormwall. Porter Engle’s new digs, also stuck behind the Stormwall but doing his own thing, show a more muted palate as well, to better blend in and not seem like he’s about to whip out a lightsaber and go Light and Life on some fools. Bell Zettifar losing his signature dreads is disappointing to see, though Keeve Trennis has picked up the slack as seen in The High Republic #1 – Phase III, but it better fits his more furious attitude towards the Nihil and seeking justice for all they’ve done. And Burryaga, who we saw rescued by Bell in Tales of Light and Life, has let the experience physically change him, but as author George Mann says on the official site, he seems glad to be back and “…making a difference.”
Since Vernestra Rwoh, my favorite Jedi character of the era just above Keeve, likely won’t be seen until March’s Defy the Storm, her change feels the most drastic, as gone are her robes and instead a far more practical look and more determined, almost angry expression to her face and hair. Artist Ario Anindito says when we’ll meet her, “She’s basically a badass, now more than she ever was.” Her story in Tales of Light and Life, and how she hasn’t quite been able to use Mari San Tekka’s special hyperspace Path just for her, are guiding lights why I need to see more of this character, and immediately. Add in the fact she’ll be in The Acolyte, over 100 years old, her journey, and ours with her, is only just beginning.
The next two batches of Jedi are newer characters, as Jedi Master Mirro Lox and his apprentice, Amadeo Azzazzo, were first introduced in Lydia Kang’s Tales of Light and Life story, while the youngling trio of Gavi, Kildo, and Tep Tep are set to make their debut in January 30’s Escape from Valo! Lox and Azzazzo are part of a dazzling, often surprising tale spun by Kang and I definitely left hoping to see more, as they are relatively fresh to the conflict with the Nihil due to their roles exploring remote parts of the galaxy. I like how Siglain sums them up:
“These are our Optimistic Jedi — our Jedi Dynamic Duo. Mirro is charming, warm, and strong; always ready to lend a hand or an ear. Amadeo is wide-eyed and eager to learn — a more adventurous version of early Phase I Reath Silas.
They only really get a passing mention a few times in The Eye of Darkness, but there’s plenty of story ahead so I’m sure they’ll get to take a more starring role soon (maybe in Kang’s “Tales from the Occlusion Zone” in Star Wars Insider?)!
As for Gavi, Kildo, and Tep Tep, THEY MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS. But seriously, the descriptions Alyssa Wong gave on the official site tease not only some big mysteries and threads to be explored in the upcoming middle-grade novel, but also offer more of this era’s penchant for providing representation across the spectrum.
Of the three, Gavi seems to be the focal point to some degree as Wong not only reveals he has a secret, but their deeper description reveals some extremely interesting information and I love this is the type of story and character who will be pivotal even in a middle-grade book:
“Gavi was once the most promising youngling of his age, but when the Nihil occupied Lonisa City and murdered every Jedi they could hunt down, he saw the Nameless kill one of the masters. Now traumatized, he’s lost the ability to use the Force. He’s just trying to keep his friends alive… but the Force has always been the most important thing in Gavi’s life and he isn’t sure who he is without it. And then there are his burgeoning romantic feelings for his friend, another youngling boy named Kildo… and his complicated feelings of guilt surrounding Driggit Parse, the non-Jedi friend he left behind.”
This sounds like something you’d typically hear about a character in adult novels so I’m glad Siglain and the writing team of Daniel José Older and Wong wanted to give readers such a character. Is Gavi’s secret related to not being able to touch the Force for now? Why he left this Driggit Parse behind? His feelings for Kildo? Or something else?
Speaking of Kildo, he’s one of two Alcedian characters in the novel, a species we first met in Wong’s Doctor Aphra series via Kho Phon Farrus, and him being described as the class clown means I’m eager to meet him! I was usually that person in school, sometimes regrettably as I look back now and other times actually worth it, so I’m curious to see how Kildo will see himself. And if he’s reciprocal or even aware of Gavi’s feelings. Then there’s also Tep Tep, who Wong describes as shy and basically the animal whisperer, explaining “There’s a pack of five acklays who would die for her,” and boy she’d make the Nihil regret messing with her and her friends, I can imagine!
Lastly, we get new looks for some of the Nihil, like the Eye of the Storm himself, Marchion Ro, as well as politician Ghirra Starros, who chose to join with the group and is trying to turn them into a respectable powerhouse on the galactic field. Marchion’s look is of somehow who won, basking in the glory of his efforts, but readers will soon learn in both The Eye of Darkness and Shadows of Starlight #4 more of what this self-proclaimed king has under his immaculate cape. Ghirra’s style hasn’t changed terribly much, still looking far more regal than your average Nihil, playing into her efforts to make the Nihil more orderly than her chaotic usual.
UPDATE 11/15: Even more concept art has been revealed, this time going into even more villains that’ll haunt our heroes in Phase III! For starters there is Baron Boolan, an Ithorian who was once a member of the Path of the Open Hand and now works for the Nihil with, “…excruciatingly painful experiments that turn ordinary Force users into vicious berserkers and hunters. And that’s before he started experimenting on the Nameless to make them just a little bit more terrifying,” says Cavan Scott. We’ve met one of his Children of the Storm already in The High Republic #1 – Phase III and they look like an extremely formidable foe for the Jedi! Scared and excited to see what else he’s cooking up. Alongside Boolan is a new character named Niv Drendow Apruk and Daniel Jose Older wants us to know Niv Drendow is the character’s first name for a reason I’m sure we’ll see in his and Wong’s Escape from Valo, while also revealing he’s an acolyte of Boolan’s. While Older goes on to say Niv Drendow is rather useless on anything but science, he is ruthless and someone to watch out for. And lastly is General Viess, who first appeared in The High Republic – The Blade miniseries, and is now a volunteering member of the Nihil and its armies to control the Stormwall territories. And you know she’s eager to settle a score with Porter, out there behind the Stormwall as well, and you’ll just need to read The Eye of Darkness to find out how that goes!
If there’s more concept art revealed soon, we’ll update the Manor! Otherwise, if you’re wondering when/if we’ll see a new The High Republic Show, with the SAG-AFTRA strike over, that might just be in the cards!
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Bluesky, Twitter @MynockManor, and Instagram @mynockmanor.
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