By Alberto Calderon
During Friday’s San Diego Comic Con at Home, Star Wars revealed the upcoming future of their publishing initiative, The High Republic. Hosted by Krystina Arielle, we were gifted with Wave 3 and the end of Phase 1.
Set roughly 200 years before the events of The Phantom Menace, The High Republic era made its debut earlier this year and for book lovers like myself, it has stand out as a new favorite in the expansive Star Wars repertoire.
Even though it is set in the past, its future is bright. Below are some highlights from the panel divided by authors.
Cavan Scott
Monster of Temple Peak: As Cavan Scott put it, an origin story of sort for monster hunter and saber-for-hire, Ty Yorrick and her two droids. A four issues comic miniseries set to debut August 11, 2021.
Ty Yorrick was a stand out new character in The Rising Storm and finding out why she left the Jedi Order to pursue monster hunting is incredibly interesting. She felt no connection to her droids (doesn’t see the value in naming them) so that relationship will be an interesting follow.
Tempest Runner: Described as Lourna Dee behind bars, the upcoming audio drama follows Nihil Tempest Runner and overall badass, Lourna Dee. ‘Nuff said. Listen to it August 31, 2021.
Daniel Jose Older
Trail of Shadows: A noir comic series for Marvel. According to Daniel, it’s dark, moody, complex. A deeper noir, detective story in Star Wars.
Could we see a Jedi detective? Yes, please. I love how Obi Wan was a detective of sort during the Clone Wars, so seeing this concept explored in more details, in The High Republic is incredibly interesting. We already have spies working for the Nihil (or at least Marchion Ro), so it would be cool to have a Jedi or some one from the Republic go chase them down.
Midnight Horizon: Finally we get Daniel Jose Older writing a young adult novel for The High Republic. He is doing great work with the comics (and Race to Crashpoint Tower) but can’t wait to see what he brings to it. Midnight Horizon, title which sounds more noir than Trail of Shadows, was described as a chaotic mess.
Justina Ireland
Edge of Balance: Previously announced, this Manga follows Lily Tora-Asi. A Jedi Knight assigned to a Jedi temple outpost helping to settle refugees from the Great Disaster. Look for it September 7, 2021
Mission to Disaster: Justina Ireland returns to the Middle Grade books with Mission to Disaster. No details were revealed but the name alone doesn’t bode well for our heroes. So far the middle grade books have been accompanying pieces to the main adult novel, so we might see the same here.
Charles Soule
Eye of the Storm: A Marvel comic highlighting the backstory to Marchion Ro? Yes! Written by Charles Soule? Yes, please. After The Rising Storm, one of my biggest questions was what did the Jedi do to Marchion and his family that he hates them so much.? Looks like we might find out.
Claudia Gray
The Fallen Star: Yeah, that’s not good. Claudia Gray, aka The GOAT, wraps up Phase 1 of The High Republic with this adult novel which seems to put the Jedi and the Republic back on its heels.
Will Chancellor Lina Soh, see her Great Works come crashing down (figuratively)? Can one, or some, Jedi fall to the dark side? Or will Lina Soh’s first Great Work, Starlight Beacon come crashing down (literally). Thanks to friend, Arezou Amin, for that last one.
Wave Three of The High Republic is set to be devastating for the characters and the readers. By the end of Wave Two, Marchion Ro acquired a weapon that could turn the tide and with the titles announced today, he might be able to do good on his promise to make the Jedi pay.
Thanks to Krystina Arielle for moderating the panel, all the authors involved in this initiative and everyone else at Star Wars and Lucasfilm Publishing for giving literary fans so much to dive into.
If you missed it, here is the full panel.
Radio Rebellion: A Star Wars Podcast 
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