First Comic Appearance Predictions for Star Wars: High Republic – Shadows of Starlight #1

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A few months back at Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 Lucasfilm and Marvel announced a brand new Star Wars comics mini-series for Phase III of the High Republic called Star Wars: The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight #1.

Included in the announcement was the reveal of Phil Noto’s beautiful art for “Cover A” of the first issue which features the entire High Republic Jedi council as it stands heading into Phase III.

This 4-part mini-series is said to cover the one-year gap between the ending of Phase I of the High Republic and the beginning of the main story from Phase III of the High Republic.

As a big High Republic fan, this is my most anticipated comic series of the year. Hopefully this post properly conveys why.

The Jedi have all (though not all listened) been recalled back to the temple on Coruscant to discuss the Nihil threat and the mysterious creatures that are feeding on the Jedi, The Nameless.

It makes sense for the Jedi to do this. Only a handful of Jedi have encountered the Nameless. Very few of those live to tell the tale.

Plus, as we see in Phase II of the High Republic, this isn’t the first time the Jedi encountered them. Many Jedi were killed at the battles of Jedha and Dalna but Yoda decided to keep the threat quiet as he felt the threat had been defeated. Very questionable decision by the great Jedi who seems to be full of questionable decisions.

Based on that cover and the preview below I anticipate the entire Jedi council to be included in the story. While some have been in previous comics… many have not.

High Republic Jedi Council Heading Into Phase III

• Yoda – First appeared in Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back #1 / Marvel Super Special #16
• Oppo Rancisis – First appeared in the background in Star Wars Episode 1 – Obi-Wan Kenobi and first named in Star Wars #13 (1998)
• Yarael Poof– First appeared in the background in Star Wars Episode 1 – Obi-Wan Kenobi and first named in Star Wars #13 (1998)
• Pra-Tre Veter – First appeared in Star Wars: The High Republic #1 (2021)
• Xo Lahru – First appearance will likely be in Shadows of Starlight #1 though he did have a cameo in Star Wars: The High Republic the Blade #4
• Ry Ki-Sakka – First appearance will be Shadows of Starlight #1 (seen in the preview below)
• Teri Rosason – First appearance will be Shadows of Starlight #1 (seen in the preview below)
• Keaton Murag – First appearance will likely be Shadows of Starlight #1
• Soleil Agra – First appearance will be Shadows of Starlight #1 (seen in the preview below)
• Adampo – First appearance will likely be Shadows of Starlight #1
• Ada-Li Caro – First appearance will be Shadows of Starlight #1 (seen in the preview below)

Star Wars: The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight #1 Variants

There are 4 public variants for this issue. There will also be a store-exclusive variant by Takashi Okazaki for Star Wars: The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight #1 for The Comic Corner. It was teased on social media the other day. I’ll share more details when I have them.

Be sure to check the Phase III variant checklist for the most up-to-date list of variants for every issue of the 3rd and final phase of the initial High Republic publishing initiative.

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(W) Charles Soule (A) Ibraim Roberson (CA) Phil Noto

WHO LIVED? WHO DIED? ANSWERS TO THE GREATEST CATASTROPHE OF THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE JEDI!

Little has been revealed about the year following the fall of STARLIGHT BEACON and the ultimate triumph of THE NIHIL…until now! THE JEDI COUNCIL, reeling from its losses, has recalled its JEDI KNIGHTS from across the galaxy and instituted the emergency measures. MASTER YODA has a plan to save the Order and the galaxy, but he must touch the dark side to achieve it…and the consequences will be grave indeed.

Rated T

In Shops: Oct 04, 2023

SRP: $5.99

Variants:

• Noto Cover A
  • The Comic Corner (bundle)
  • TFAW
  • eBay
• Garbett Variant
  • TFAW
  • eBay
• Marquez 1:25 Variant
  • The Comic Corner
  • TFAW (coming soon)
  • eBay
• Noto 1:100 Virgin Variant
  • The Comic Corner
  • TFAW (coming soon)
  • eBay

Star Wars: The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight #1 Preview

This is a short art preview released a month before release and does not include dialogue. But we can get an idea of what the issue is about using context clues and a bit of Aurebesh translation.