Star Wars New York Comic Con Reveals
Article by Kieran Burt.
Star Wars The High Republic phase two has begun, and at New York Comic Con fans were treated to more reveals about what books and comics can be expected. At another panel on the following day, Lucasfilm Publishing unveiled even more Star Wars books, spread across the timeline.
On Saturday October 8, a hour panel dedicated to the High Republic was held, and featuring authors Zoraida Córdova, Tessa Gratton, Claudia Gray, Justina Ireland, Lydia Kang, George Mann, Daniel José Older, Cavan Scott and Charles Soule, artist Ario Anindito and Lucasfilm creative director Michael Siglain.
Audiences got to see many new projects teased at this event. Cavan Scott teased the main The High Republic comic series from Marvel, explaining that it will run for ten issues and will be set on Jedha, a planet familiar to many fans.
Daniel José Older will be taking The High Republic Adventures comics, which will follow Sav Malagán on Takodana. Of course, this means that the planet’s pirate queen, Maz Kanada but a more surprising return will be Dexster Jettster, everyone’ s favourite cook from Coruscant.
Claudia Gray will write the one-shot comic Quest from Dark Horse in 2023, which she called “Arthurian”. To wrap up the comics news, fans learnt of a mini-series by Charles Soule. Titled The Blade, it will focus on Porter Engle and his sister.
Looking at books, several were revealed. The cover of Cataclysm, featuring Axel Greylark on the cover, and Path of Vengeance was shown, as well as a teaser cover for Quest for Planet X. Audiences will return to a familiar location in Quest for Planet X, the planet Batuu.
Phase two will also continue the manga started in the first phase, with Daniel José Older and Tomio Ogata creating a prequel to Edge of Balance, following a younger Arkoff, everyone’s favourite Wookiee Jedi.
In a surprising announcement, Charles Soule brought his daughter, Rosemary Soule, onto the stage to show their joint book Star Wars: The High Republic: Yoda and the Younglings, releasing in October 2023.
To round off The High Republic Panel, audiences were treated to one final reveal. All of the authors will be joining together to write a YA anthology book, with stories spanning all the phases of The High Republic. This ambitious project will release in summer of 2023.
On Sunday’s panel, audiences were treated to yet more book and comic reveals. Once again hosted by Michael Siglain, authors present included Kristin Baver, Adam Christopher, Delilah S. Dawson, Marc Guggenheim, Ethan Sacks and Alyssa Wong.
The biggest reveal from this panel is Dawson’s upcoming novel focusing on an Inquisitor. Titled Rise of the Red Blade, this book will follow Jedi Iskat and his fall to the dark side following Order 66. The book will be released in 2023.
Kristen Baver will be taking audiences for an in-depth analysis of 100 Star Wars objects in her new book Star Wars: 100 Objects. Showing a double page-spread of the book on the Star Wars website, audiences can see Yoda’s blissle, a pipe instrument he made on Dagobah.
Star Wars has run for many years, and audiences might get confused on the timeline of the many events that go across the many films, TV shows, comics, books and videogames, but the book Star Wars: Timelines will set to address that. Releasing on February 7 2023, this book is the creation of a joint effort by Kristin Baver, Jason Fry, Cole Horton, Amy Richau, and Clayton Sandell.
More news came of more books that will explore The High Republic. A new book, focused on breaking down the lightsabers used in the era was announced. Audiences can add this book to their collection in April 2023.
For people who missed the start of The High Republic project, or those who want to know more facts about the time period, a new explainer was announced. Tilted Star Wars: Chronicles of The High Republic, Cole Horton will guide fans through this new era.
Turning back to the comic side of things, there is plenty to look forward to. In February, Marvel will release three new Star Wars comics, Doctor Aphra #29, Bounty Hunters #31 and Han Solo and Chewbacca #9.
New one shot comics were also revealed, with an explanation to fans that they will “chart a course for the future of Star Wars comics”. Four covers were unveiled, featuring characters such as Vader, the Eye of Webbish Bog, and several bounty hunters.
Justina Ireland will pen her own comic, focusing on the rogue San Starros from the Doctor Aphra series of comics. This will be released in February 2023, with the regular cover by Sara Pichelli, and Ken Lashley creating the variant cover.
Fans will surely be kept busy over the course of the next year, with many new books and comics coming out. Spanning the whole Star Wars timeline (quite literally) there is something for every type of Star Wars fan to enjoy.
