We’re a day away from the launch of The High Republic initiative and the hype train jumped to hyperspace thanks to a livestream launch event, which included the fantastic trailer above and contained reveals for a bunch of new details, concept art, the names for the first three Phases, and tons of new content to enjoy! We’ll have reviews up on January 5 (UPDATE: they’re here!) for the opening novels, but in the meantime, head below for all the awesome announcements!
The trailer, which includes covers and concept art, certainly ramps up excitement for the series, especially with that ominous sounding line at the end about this being a battle for control of the Force itself, and it’s a grand way to kick off the start the big publishing initiative, which got even larger today with lots of new content. Then Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm herself, graced the screen to talk about The High Republic, because while there’s certainly tons of TV on the way (even a THR-era show!), publishing and this entire initiative just as important to the franchise’s future. She was followed by the real stars of the show, and THR in general: Michael Siglain, Creative Director of Lucasfilm Publishing; then the five authors in charge of the new era, Charles Soule, Claudia Gray, Cavan Scott, Justina Ireland, and Daniel José Older; and of course The Star Wars Show’s Kristen Baver joined as well to moderate. I think what I enjoy the most about seeing all the authors together is how much fun they seem to have with one another, as it looks less like a collaboration between colleagues, but rather of life-long friends and fellow Star Wars fans; the opening of the video goes over their creative retreats and it’s clear a quick and lasting bond formed between them, a found family, if you will, of authors much like Star Wars stories always seemed centered on.
Enough of the poetical, how about some sweet concept art!
For starters, there’s Claudia Gray’s Matthew McConaughey-esque pilot, Leox Gyasi. I will say, having read a good portion of the novel already (I was lucky enough to get it early for review purposes), Gray absolutely nails the 90’s McConaughey that it’s so damn easy to hear and see him in Star Wars. And the concept art above, well, that only brings it home!
Above you’ll meet Ram Jamoram and Ty Yorrick, characters who will feature into stories coming later in the initiative, as I mention below. Ram will star in the second middle-grade novel and seems like a fun mechanic Jedi, while Ty’s monster hunting ways are really making me believe she’ll be a favorite of mine.
And lastly, here are the strange but cute looking creatures Jamoram has helping him in his shop, while we get a glimpse at Republic Chancellor Lina Soh and her two protectors, lion-esque creatures I didn’t quite picture like the way they are depicted, but I love them far more like we see them here.
Before we jump into all the upcoming and new content announced, let’s cover the reveal of the first three Phases of The High Republic! They told us previously the initiative would be a multi-year endeavor, but the full scope of the project becomes a little clearer thanks to the Phases.
Phase I: Light of the Jedi. The first phase begins January 5 with Light of the Jedi and A Test of Courage and will go into early 2022, and all the content we’ve learned about so far, including today’s news, are all part of the opening Phase.
Phase II: Quest of the Jedi. Who doesn’t like a good quest?! And what do you bet that’s the name of Gray’s novel? Claudia Gray’s next contribution is shrouded in secrecy, so I’m guessing it’s probably the adult novel ending the current Phase/kicking off the second one.
Phase III: Trials of the Jedi. Well, that’s a little less fun sounding, isn’t?! What Trials are on their way for the THR Jedi? All I know is, it won’t be easy for them, no matter how impressive their abilities are in this era, which should make for some real entertaining reading.
Beyond the initial slate of content, several new titles, across new formats, were announced during today’s livestream, filling in more of Phase I. Soule began Star Wars Insider original fiction set in The High Republic era, but afterwars Cavan Scott and Justina Ireland will be writing more of the “Starlight Stories” as they’re calling them; Scott mentioned one of his will feature a medic who comes to Starlight Beacon. There are new details about the already announced second adult novel, The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott: it will focus on Stellan Gios, a Jedi who is great friends with Avar Kriss, the Order’s Golden Jedi, and Elzar Mann, both of who are more of the focus in Light of the Jedi and The High Republic comic; it takes place at the Republic Fair (like our World Fair); and we’ll be introduced to Ty Yorrick, the monster hunter for hire who will factor in more works. She’ll also feature in the second middle-grade novel, this time from Older, called Race to Crashpoint Tower, which will release on June 29, 2021 alongside The Rising Storm (much like the two novels on January 5)! In the livestream, they mentioned it takes place at the same time as TRS, so during the Republic Fair, following a Jedi Padawan Ram Jamoram (seen above) who’d rather repair mechnical stuff in his shop with the Force than go out and do Jedi stuff; that’s his droid on the cover the two Jedi are riding! Lula, from Older’s The High Republic Adventures comic, will also be in the novel! You’ll get a chance to explore the title if you pick up A Test of Courage, as it contains an excerpt for it!
Following those two in June, Justina Ireland has her SW first young adult novel, Out of the Shadows, on July 27! From the cover alone, I’m absolutely thrilled about this book, as it will star inventor and tinkerer Avon Starros, my favorite character in the initiative so far, Jedi Knight Vernestra Rwoh, another memorable new Jedi due to her age and wisdom, and Reath Silas, the Jedi Padawan who stars in Gray’s Into the Dark. Ireland has frequently made the moniker “middle-grade” moot with the depth of her stories, as I cover in my A Test of Courage review, so I’m excited for her and for this novel to see what she can do with the young adult level! Both Vern and Avon star in AToC, so having Ireland continue the characters she started with should bring some great continuity to their growth and depictions. Plus, just more time with Avon Starros is guaranteed to be excellent!
Beyond the novels, a graphic novel and magna were revealed! Cavan Scott, with art by Rachael Stott, bring us the graphic novel The Monster of Temple Peak. It’ll also feature Ty Yorrick, seen front and center on the cover, likely doing what she does best…monster hunting! It fills in events for her before The Rising Storm. Then there’s a manga (!), The Edge of Balance, with story from Justina Ireland and Shima Shinya (our potentially first non-binary writer for any Star Wars!), with art by Mizuki Sakakibara. I’ve never really read a manga before, besides The Legend of Zelda Free Comic Book Day issue from a few years ago, but I’m ready to give the style a shot! It’ll focus on a Jedi doing the work of the Force via the various Outposts they’ve established throughout the galaxy so they can be with the people, helping them.
Lastly, two fun tidbits: the Padawan from Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge (which I have VR now so I’ll have a review of this in the next month or so) Ady Sun’Zee will find her way into the books and comics; And they revealed a new bi-monthly The High Republic Show, which will dive into the series, feature guests and panelists, cover what’s coming, and have a few announcements of its own. It’ll be hosted by Krystina Arielle and begins January 27.
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.
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