The High Republic is a multi-year, multi-phase publishing initiative, like the Marvel Cinematic Universe but in books and comics, so in June the first Phase, Light of the Jedi, releases its second wave of titles that’ll push the story even further than the current monthly comics have been. The official site revealed new blurbs and solicitations for the all the previously announced upcoming content, like The Rising Storm, Race to Crashpoint Tower, the audiobook Tempest Runner, and even more, all of which tease the Republic Fair and the Nihil’s next phase of their attack…and other dangers growing as well for the Jedi and Republic. Head below for all the new details!
As mentioned above, and in some previous livestreams, the second wave of Phase I focuses on the Republic Fair, another of Chancellor Lina Soh’s grand and forward thinking ideas to show the possibilities inherit with the Outer Rim joining the Republic. The Jedi obviously want it to go off without a hitch, as it looks better on them to if they want to be protectors of the galaxy, but it seems things go wrong at the Fair when Nihil leader Marchion Ro launches his next attack. But the Nihil aren’t the only dangers on their way, as the growing threat of the Drengir continues to mess with the Jedi as well, as first seen in Into the Dark and beginning to spill into The High Republic comic. Speaking of, the list of content with new details today includes an already solicited The High Republic #6, though it was first listed as releasing June 30, a day after the next adult novel The Rising Storm hits, but the site says it launches early June, so I’m assuming the first date is still correct but we’ll see (I didn’t include it below anyways).
In release order then:
Star Wars Insider #203 – “Hidden Danger” Part I (June 8)
Written by Justina Ireland, Art by Louie De Martinis
“In preparation for the Republic Fair on Valo, the Agrarian and Agricultural Alliance is having their annual seed bank conference on Starlight Beacon. This is a chance for the agricultural experts from all over the galaxy to come together to discuss experimental farming techniques and sustainability. Administrator Velko Jahen and Starlight Beacon’s Head of Security Ghal Tarpfen have been stressed nearly to the breaking point with ensuring the safety of the Starlight while also making certain that the conference goes off without a hitch. And the pair will be pushed to the limit when the Drengir slither onto the scene…”
I like the idea that Insider gets to provide new fiction again, though I hope these will find their way to readers as bonus material in a trade paperback release of the novels! Either way, Justina joins Charles Soule and Cavan Scott in writing the next two-parter for Insider, this one connecting to the coming Republic Fair.
The Rising Storm (June 29)
“Following the dramatic events of Light of the Jedi, the heroes of the High Republic era return to face a shattered peace and a fearsome foe.
In the wake of the Great Hyperspace Disaster and the heroism of the Jedi, the Republic continues to grow, bringing more worlds together under a single unified banner. Led by Chancellor Lina Soh, the spirit of unity extends throughout the galaxy, with the Jedi and newly established Starlight Beacon station at the vanguard.
In celebration, the chancellor plans “The Republic Fair,” a showcase of the possibility and peace of the expanding Republic—a precept the Jedi hope to foster. Stellan Gios, Bell Zettifar, Elzar Mann, and others join the event as ambassadors of harmony. But as the eyes of the galaxy turn toward the Fair, so too does the fury of the Nihil. Their leader, Marchion Ro, is intent on destroying this spirit of unity. His storm descends on the pageantry and celebration, sowing chaos and exacting revenge.
As the Jedi struggle to curb the carnage of the rampaging Nihil, they come face to face with the true fear their enemy plans to unleash across the galaxy. The kind of fear that even the Force cannot shield them from.”
Written by Cavan Scott, this sounds like another intense entry in the larger story, and the biggest new threat from the Nihil since the opening novel, as only The High Republic Adventures has seen Marchion Ro and the Nihil up to anything major since. That final line is leaving me anxious, as I’m wondering if this “fear” is the already introduced Drengir or if it’s something else…maybe the Nameless, a group we’ve not heard of but have only been teased prior to this? Also, while the blurb doesn’t mention her, Ty Yorrick (on the cover next to Stellan Gios and Bell Zettifar), a Force-sensitive monster hunter for hire, also stars in this book and she’s the character I’m most looking forward to exploring; Scott’s graphic novel with her as the star, a prequel to this story, wasn’t mentioned with these release dates so I hope it’s still happening! UPDATE: It’s out in August, in 4 monthly issues, from IDW.
Race to Crashpoint Tower (June 29)
“The Republic Fair is coming! Visitors from all over the galaxy are traveling to the planet Valo for a massive, awe-inspiring festival celebrating the Republic. While his fellow Valons prepare for the fair, Jedi Padawan Ram Jomaram is hiding out in his favorite place: a dingy garage filled with mechanical parts and tools. But when a security alarm goes off on the nearby hilltop nicknamed Crashpoint Peak, he ventures out with his trusty droid V-18 to investigate. There he discovers that someone has knocked out Valo’s communications tower—a frightening sign that Valo, and the Republic Fair, are in danger. Sure enough, as Ram races to warn the Jedi, the dreaded Nihil unleash a surprise attack! It’s up to Ram to face down the enemy at Crashpoint Tower and send a call for help to the Republic. Luckily, he’s about to get some assistance from unexpected new friends…”
Releasing alongside The Rising Storm, much like the first two novels did in January, this middle-grade novel looks to show us the chaos happening at the Republic Fair from a smaller scale and scope, but no less important! Daniel José Older has been writing THRA for IDW and his first SW novel, Last Shot, was excellent, so I’m looking forward to see his next prose entry with this tale…especially with Ram Jomaram’s cool droid, which he’s riding on the cover. It’ll also star Yorrick, who I mentioned I’m curious to meet, and Lula Talisola, from Older’s IDW series. Plus, I’m glad to see Petur Antonsson will return to provide his whimsical, memorable illustrations of key moments from the story like he did in A Test of Courage!
The High Republic Adventures #6 (July 7)
New story arc!
As the galaxy prepares for the Republic Fair, Qort and Farzala leave their Padawan friends to join Leox Gyasi and the crew of the Vessel on a secret mission for the Jedi. What could possibly go wrong? As it turns out: literally everything.
ALERT, LEOX GYASI, AFFIE HOLLOW, and the King of the era himself, GEODE are coming to THRA! Repeat, LEOX, AFFIE, and GEODE are coming to the comics!! Not only do we get more time with these fun characters from Into the Dark, but we’ll get more art of them. As teased by Older, that definitely means more shenanigans with Geode! THRA has been a solid series so far and this will be a fun way to give its progressing story some new flair.
Out of the Shadows (July 22)
The darkest secrets are the hardest to bring to light….
Sylvestri Yarrow is on a streak of bad luck with no end of sight. She’s been doing her best to keep the family cargo business going after her mom’s death, but between mounting debt and increasing attacks by the Nihil on unsuspecting ships, Syl is in danger of losing all she has left of her mother. She heads to the galactic capital of Coruscant for help, but gets sidetracked when she’s drawn into a squabble between two of the Republic’s most powerful families over a patch of space on the frontier. Tangled up in familial politics is the last place Syl wants to be, but the promise of a big payoff is enough to keep her interested…
Meanwhile, Jedi Knight Vernestra Rwoh has been summoned to Coruscant, but with no idea of why or by whom. She and her Padawan Imri Cantaros arrive at the capital along with Jedi Master Cohmac Vitus and his Padawan, Reath Silas—and are asked to assist with the property dispute on the frontier. But why? What is so important about an empty patch of space? The answer will lead Vernestra to a new understanding of her abilities, and take Syl back to the past…and to truths that will finally come out of the shadows.
We just met Yarrow this month with the second installment of The High Republic Show, where it was revealed Syl will also have to contend with her ex-girlfriend as well, alongside whatever this property dispute is really about. Ireland already wrote my favorite non-Jedi character of THR, Avon Starros, and I have a lot of faith Syl will be right up there. The blurb mentions returning characters like Vernestra and Imri from Ireland’s A Test of Courage, alongside Cohmac and Reath from Into the Dark, but I really just want to know what Avon will be up to during all this!
Tempest Runner (August 31)
As one of Marchion Ro’s most trusted allies (well, as far as Marchion trusts anyone) Lourna Dee has carved out a place for herself as a leader among the Nihil. But it’s lonely at the top, and a Tempest Runner like Lourna is always watching her back for threats—whether those threats are from the Jedi or her fellow Nihil.
Cavan Scott’s recently announced audio drama finally has a release date though the blurb doesn’t add much to what we already know.
The Edge of Balance (September 7)
In the aftermath of the Great Hyperspace Disaster, young Jedi Knight Lily Tora-Asi is assigned to help displaced civilians relocate to Banchii, a planet in the Inugg system far in the Outer Rim. While balancing the arrival of incoming settlers and teaching the Padawans on their Temple outpost, Lily must also confront an attack by the insidious Drengir and, after the events of the Republic Fair, deal with the growing threat of the Nihil. But the dangers to Lily and her Padawans are much closer than she thinks….
This confirms what a lot of retail sites were telling us about Ireland and Shima Shinya’s upcoming manga, it’s releasing in September now. This blurb also offers us some new details from the story, like where it’s set and that it’s set post-The Rising Storm, so it’ll be a good place to see more of the fallout from those events before whatever comes next. Plus, it has ANOTHER Wookiee Jedi in the era, so you can’t go wrong there!
Showdown at the Fair (October 5)
The Republic Fair has come to the planet Valo, and everyone is celebrating. Until the dreaded Nihil launch a surprise attack and Burryaga the Wookiee and the other Jedi of the High Republic must save the day!
Much like Scott’s The Great Jedi Rescue, which retold the events of Light of the Jedi, to the youngest readers in storybook form, Showdown at the Fair will retell The Rising Storm, though it’s written by George Mann this time around. Antonsson also returns again for this, so hopefully there’s more stickers!
After all this content, I imagine we’ll have one, maybe two more books to end this Phase, but hey, I won’t be mad if I’m wrong and we get even more books to close it out. Phase I is supposed to last into early 2022, and Claudia Gray and Charles Soule’s next projects remain unknown, so something big is waiting to be announced/happen soon. Check back to the Manor and our The High Republic page for all the latest and greatest about the era!
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.