Jam packed week coming up or all of the scruffy-looking-nerf-herding (looking at you) Star Wars comics and books fans out there! On April 5th 2023 we will be getting Star Wars: Hidden Empire #5 & Star Wars #33 from Charles Soule, Star Wars: High Republic – Cataclysm by Lydia Kang, Star Wars: High Republic – Quest for Planet X by Tessa Gratton, and a brand new box set for the phase I High Republic YA novels.
It should come at no surprise that my most anticipated release is Hidden Empire #5. it’s the finale of Charles Soules’ Qi’ra trilogy that started with War of the Bounty Hunters 2 years ago. We should FINALLY get to see what is inside of the fermatta cage. I just hope it lives up to the hype.
Here are my three best guesses for what could be awaiting Vader and Sidious in this issue.
1 – Snoke – We know that that Snoke was a strandcast/clone that Palpatine was using as a puppet in an effort to transfer his essence into another body after Darth Vader yeeted him down a reactor shaft in the Return of the Jedi. What we don’t know is if the Snoke we know is just a lab creation or if he is a clone of a real being. That being, the original Snoke, a former Sith, could be waiting in the fermatta cage.
We know that Snoke made the Amaxine Station his home in between The Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens from the Star Wars: Rise of Kylo Ren comics series. Also Written by Charles Soule.
2 – Levelers – Another thought is if the cage doesn’t have a Sith in it at all but instead something the Sith feared. A Leveler aka The Nameless. This could make sense as Charles Soule is 100% trying to connect as much of his work back to the High Republic era. Lore wise it would also make sense to use something as powerful as the fermatta cage to lock away beasts that can turn force users, including Sith, into dust. Shrii ka rai ka rai!
3 – Nothing – The fermatta cage could also just be empty. And Qi’ra is just trying to use it to lock away Darth Vader and Darth Sidious instead of defeating them outright. While it would seem like a decent strategy I think it would be an underwhelming conclusion to this big event Soule has been working towards for years. Time will tell.
The other thing I highly suggest you pick up this week is Star Wars: High Republic Cataclysm by Lydia Kang. I was fortunate enough to get a digital review copy of this book and really enjoyed it. Hoping to post my full review in the next few days but if you’ve been reading the High Republic books so far I wouldn’t skip this one.
Check out everything new coming up below and get your pre-orders in over at TFAW.
Quick Shortcuts: (not just Star Wars)
Star Wars: Hidden Empire #5 – April 05, 2023
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(W) Charles Soule (A) Steven Cummings (CA) Paolo Siqueira
CHAOS REIGNS!
The epic conclusion to the trilogy begun with WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS and CRIMSON REIGN!
At last, Qi’ra will reveal herself to the Sith.
At last, she will have her revenge.
Rated T
In Shops: Apr 05, 2023
SRP: $5.99 (40 Pages)
Variants:
Star Wars #33 – April 05, 2023
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(W) Charles Soule (A) Madibek Musabekov (CA) Stephen Segovia
UNTETHERED!
Luke Skywalker’s connection to the Force has been disrupted; one of his most powerful tools in his journey to become a Jedi is gone.
He must undertake an epic quest to find what he has lost… or he, and the galaxy, will fall to darkness.
Rated T
In Shops: Apr 05, 2023
SRP: $3.99
Variants:
Star Wars: Cataclysm (The High Republic)
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(W) Lydia Kang
After the thrilling events of The High Republic: Convergence, theJedi race to confront the Path of the Open Hand and end the Forever War.
After five years of conflict, the planets Eiram and E’ronoh are on the cusp of real peace. But when news breaks of a disaster at the treaty signing on Jedha, violence reignites on the beleaguered worlds. Together, the royal heirs of both planets—Phan-tu Zenn and Xiri A’lbaran—working alongside the Jedi, have uncovered evidence that the conflict is being orchestrated by outside forces, and all signs point to the mysterious Path of the Open Hand, whom the Jedi also suspect of causing the disaster on Jedha.
With time—and answers—in short supply, the Jedi must divide their focus between helping quell the renewed violence on Eiram and E’ronoh and investigating the Path. Among them is Gella Nattai, who turns to the one person she believes can unravel the mystery but the last person she wants to trust: Axel Greylark. The chancellor’s son, imprisoned for his crimes, has always sought to unburden himself of the weight of his family name. Will he reconcile with the Jedi and aid in their quest for justice and peace, or embrace the Path’s promise of true freedom?
As all roads lead to Dalna, Gella and her allies prepare to take on a foe unlike any they’ve ever faced. And it will take all of their trust in the Force, and in one another, to survive.
In Shops: Apr 04, 2023
Get yours:
Star Wars High Republic Phase I | YA Paperback Set
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From the New York Times-bestselling series, this box set features all three young adult novels from Phase I of The High Republic. For light and life! Two hundred years before the events of The Skywalker Saga, in the era of the glorious High Republic, the Jedi are the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy. Follow the adventures of Jedi Padawans Reath Silas, Vernesta Rwoh, Ram Jamoram, and a host of valiant heroes as they deal with a threat unlike the Jedi or the Republic have ever faced before. Available in paperback for the first time with all new cover art!
In Shops: Apr 05, 2023
SRP: $32.99
Star Wars High Republic Quest for Planet X
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(W) Tessa Gratton
Head to the farthest reaches of the galaxy’s Outer Rim in this lightspeed paced and action-packed middle grade adventure set in the world of the High Republic!
It’s a world of enterprising hyperspace prospectors, brave Jedi Padawans, and meddling comms saboteurs intent on disrupting the Republic’s mission to connect the galaxy with communication buoys. Discover how even the galaxy’s youngest Pilots and Padawans will play a very big role in the fate of the Republic on the frontier.
In Shops: Apr 05, 2023
SRP: $14.99
Star Wars Comic Book FOC Deadlines
For those who aren’t familiar, FOC, or Final Order Cut Off, is when publishers and distributors require retailers to get their orders in. Printers then print according to that number (sometimes with overages). So, if you want to absolutely guarantee you get a book, best bet is to order it before FOC. Final Order Cut Off is Monday 4/3/23 this week.
COMING SOON. Short on time this morning.
