A Quick Guide To Star Wars: The High Republic
Image Source: IGN
Over the past few years, a ton of new Star Wars content has been released in a variety of different mediums. Some are shows that have expanded on stories of characters that we were already familiar with, and some were brand new ideas. There’s been lots of new Star Wars books released as well, with some continuing the stories of familiar characters, but some of these are brand-new stories that have expanded on the Star Wars universe as a whole. This brings us to The High Republic.
The High Republic is a multimedia project that is a single storyline, with a variety of interconnected stories through various books, graphic novels, audiobooks, and webisodes. It tells the stories of various Jedi who came approximately 200 years before the Skywalker saga. The Galactic Republic is in an era of peace, and the Jedi believe the Sith have been vanquished for 800 years. New hyperspace technology has allowed for further exploration within the galaxy. With this new technology, the Republic has created Starlight Beacon, a space station that will reach planets in the Outer Rim that have never interacted with larger civilizations. Of course in Star Wars, nothing is as it seems, and tragedy strikes. A new threat, called the Nihil, disrupts the hyperspace lanes. The Nihil is a band of pirates that come from the furthest reaches of the Outer Rim. They are led by Marchion Ro, who calls himself the Eye Of The Nihil. Ro harbors a lifelong hatred towards the Republic and the Jedi.
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A member of the Nihil, Lourna Dee, from the cover of the audio drama, Tempest Runner by Cavan Scott Image Source: Star Wars
The High Republic does a good job of introducing brand new characters in the vast established universe. It’s great to see the Jedi actually being keepers of the peace, and not relying on lightsaber duels to tell a good story. The characters that are introduced are present throughout various stories, and you really get to know them. However, there is one familiar face in these stories that every fan can appreciate- Jedi Master Yoda. He plays a big part in the ongoing comic book series. Jedi Master Yarael Proof has also made an appearance.
There is a lot of content when it comes to The High Republic. It may seem overwhelming, for a new fan to start their journey into this unfamiliar era of Star Wars. The High Republic is split up into three phases. Phase One, called Light Of The Jedi, which concluded in January 2022, introduced us to the Jedi of the High Republic and Starlight Beacon. It takes place 200 years before the events of the prequel trilogy. Phase Two, called Quest of the Jedi, is set even earlier in the Star Wars timeline and takes place before Phase One. It will introduce even more Jedi and threats to the universe. Phase Three, called Trials Of The Jedi, will kick off sometime in November 2023. This may still seem overwhelming to new fans, so head over to the Star Wars website, where they have the chronological reading order of all the books, and where to start. As someone currently reading these books, there is no wrong book to start with.
Cover art from Phase 2 of The High Republic Image Source: Daps Magic
There might even be a TV show eventually, and Phase 3 could lead into this. While it may seem overwhelming to some, The High Republic is great at telling the stories of those who came before the prequels, and the stories we’re already familiar with. If you’ve been wondering about these stories, now is your time to pick up one of these books, or comics and start getting to know The High Republic.
For light and life!
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