Phase III of the Star Wars: The High Republic publishing initiative kicks off this October 2023 with Star Wars: The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight by Marvel Comics. Something High Republic fans have been clamoring for since Phase II ended over the summer.
Like the first two phases… there will be two main runs of High Republic comics. A teen rated version from Marvel and an all-ages High Republic Adventures run from Dark Horse Comics.
Earlier today, Starwars.com, posted a primer for the upcoming High Republic Adventures comics run by Dark Horse for phase 3.
Here are some highlights:
- The series will be once again penned by author Daniel José Older
- The interior art and cover A (for the first issue at least) will done by Harvey Tolibao
- There will be a variant for issue #1 Soroush Barazesh
- The first issue is set to go on sale on Wednesday, December 6th, 2023
- The series is set one year after the fall of Starlight Beacon and Lula Talisola and others are still missing and presumed dead by many
Two things stand out.
First… variants?!? The most recent 8-issue series from Phase II of Star Wars: High Republic Adventures included only two variants total. Both were store exclusives. If you want to check those out you can see all issues from phase II here. You can also see my Phase II breakdown here.
I don’t know if this variant will be a retailer incentive ratio type variant for open order. I personally hope it’s an open order variant so everyone can get in on the fun.
READ NEXT: Star Wars The High Republic Phase III Reading Order & Comic Checklist
And if you don’t like variants, I get it, but I personally think that it is great for chatter around the comics to give collectors a choice of what cover they want. And it gives more artist’s work.
The other important detail is that Lula is STILL missing. We get some details in the most recent YA anthology book, Star Wars: Tales of Light and Life, about two other missing Jedi. One was found and the other remains lost.
It appears that one of the core premises of this series will be friend of the order, Zeen Mralla, and Jedi Knight, Qort, investigating the Nihil with hopes of finding their lost friends. Likely uncovering secrets of the marauder organization along the way.
My guess? Lula and friends have been captured by the Nihil during the fall of Starlight Beacon and are being used in experiments or held as prisoners. I’ve got no inside info though.
No pre-orders jest yet but I would imagine they will be up shortly now that we have a date. December solicits for both Marvel and Dark Horse Comics are due to be released anyday now.
Until then I will leave you with the cover art for Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #1 and #2 that were unveiled at either SDCC 2023 or Star Wars Celebration Europe. I honestly can’t remember which one.
You can see all known comics, books, and variants for Phase III of the High Republic here on my checklist.
That’s all for now.
For Light and Life!
Grand Admiral Frik
