Already in 1996 Star Wars: Shadow of the Empire was unleashed. A true transmedia event, before such sentences existed, which supposedly dramatized the myriad of adventures that took place in between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It was narrated through a formidable range of video games, novels, toys, and comics, and brought back iconic characters like Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and more fringe characters like IG-11. introduced new characters such as tough rebel ally Dash Rendar and scheming crime lord Prince Xizor; and offered an exciting look at part of the Star Wars timeline that had previously been unexplored. It was supposedly a new story, but it was steeped in so many pre-established lore, and all the extra stuff, like the temporarily impossible Nintendo 64 game (that train level haunts me to this day), made me feel like it was already one was part of the worn fabric from Star Wars.
Next month, Star Wars: The High Republic – referred to as the "publishing initiative", which includes books and comics – starts with similar ambitions (originally planned for last summer, but driven forward due to the pandemic). Like Shadows of the Empire, The High Republic is pushing the limits of the Star Wars universe, and the very existence of this new material becomes an event in itself. Part of the fun will be going to the bookstore or comic book store (handy please, there's still a runaway pandemic) and get this new stuff. If you learn about this era of a galaxy far, far away, you will no doubt get a glimpse into future stories as well (and that was during last week's Investors Day The acolyte, a new live action series from Disney + Russian doll Co-creator Leslye headlandwas announced to be established during the time of the High Republic).
There are a couple of things you should know about Star Wars: The High Republic (and we're completely staying away from spoilers) before you dive into this latest extravaganza. The first is likely when books and comics are discontinued in that first wave. According to official materials made available to us, these stories take place "centuries before the Skywalker saga". So that's a long, long, long time in a galaxy far, far away. The three film trilogies take place in a relatively short amount of time, but the events of Star Wars: The High Republic happen long before that. At this time, the republic is a relative utopia. a bastion for interplanetary growth and understanding. All designs have slim, Buck Rogers Lines, and there is an aura of sunny, peaceful contentment. The Republic is about to move its new Starlight Beacon space station to the far corner of the galaxy (there's a lot of talk about "core" systems and planets), but a catastrophic event messes up all of these plans. There are Jedi too; many, many Jedi. These Jedi operate at the height of their powers and with unparalleled technical efficiency. Just wait until you see what The Force is really capable of.
Image via Disney / Lucasfilm
More practically, here's what Star Wars: The New Republic is made of – an adult novel (Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule), a middle-class novel (A test of courage by Justina Ireland), a youth novel (Into the dark by Claudia Gray) and a pair of comics – one for Marvel (Star Wars: The High Republic by Cavan Scott) and another title for all ages for IDW (Star Wars: The Adventures of the High Republic by Daniel Jose Older). Everything will come out in January and February 2021. And while it sounds like a lot, it's a relatively small investment compared to the hours spent on Shadows of the Empire (again: that train level!) And during which there are no action figures or video games (this is purely publication-based Initiative). It's pretty clear that these things will come sooner rather than later. It will also be interesting to see if they incorporate any of the mythologies into the Star Wars: Galaxy & # 39; s Edge lands in Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
Like Shadows of the Empire, however, Star Wars: The High Republic creates a world that is recognizable but entirely new – you get new starfighters and weapons (including a nifty variation on Kylo's Crossbeam number) and a version of the Jedi we still have never seen before (even in the prequels) that peacekeepers and warriors are completely in harmony with power and with each other. But you'll get familiar species (hello young Wookiee Padawan!) And easily identifiable shoutouts on material just featured in the sequel to the trilogy, including a reference to Kylo Ren and Rey's "Force Time" sessions. Overall, it's a compelling new area to explore and one that will continue to bring joy for the foreseeable future.
We'll have a lot more of Star Wars: The High Republic very soon. For more information on the Star Wars universe, check out our comprehensive timeline.
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About the author
Drew Taylor
(307 articles published)
Drew Taylor is the Associate Editor for Collider. He has contributed to Vulture, Vanity Fair, the New York Daily News, the Playlist, Moviefone, MTV and SYFY in the past. He is also the author of "The Art of Onward" (Chronicle Books, 2020).
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