Star Wars: High Republic Comics Are Going Even Further Back in Time

Star Wars: The High Republic Phase II is borrowing a trick from George Lucas himself, and going even further back in time. The last year has seen Lucasfilm Publishing launch their boldest transmedia initiative to date; Star Wars: The High Republic. Spinning between books, comics, audiobooks, and even the first Star Wars Manga, the story of Star Wars: The High Republic has given readers a vision of the galaxy before the dark side grew to dominate.

The first phase of Star Wars: The High Republic was set 200 years before the events of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, at a time the light of the Jedi shone brightly across the galaxy – but they did not go unopposed. The Republic’s exploration into the Outer Rim brought the Jedi into conflict with marauding pirates known as the Nihil, and a race of carnivorous dark side plant creatures called the Drengir. But, to the Jedi’s horror, the Nihil have uncovered a weapon that allows them to strip a Jedi of the Force – proving the life of a Jedi’s claim to be without attachment, because losing the Force causes all that Jedi reserve to crumble to dust. Claudia Gray’s recently-published novel The Fallen Star begins to close the book on Phase I, with the Nihil launching a devastating attack on the Jedi.

Lucasfilm’s High Republic Show has confirmed Phase II will be stepping back in time a further 150 years to what Claudia Gray teased is “an era of exploration and invention.” The various writers have avoided giving any plot details, with Charles Soule simply confirming he’ll be telling the origin story of a celebrated Jedi Master called Porter Engle, a character whose story he says he’s been working on for the past five years. But in one of the most exciting teases for fans, writer Cavan Scott confirms his writing will continue on the flagship High Republic Marvel comic series, taking yet another step backwards in time… a further 150 years before the current story.

There’s a long tradition of telling Star Wars stories out of order – with George Lucas himself telling the original trilogy before he stepped back in time to explore the prequels. But Star Wars: The High Republic‘s approach seems a little different to Lucasfilm’s, because Phase I is ending on a dramatic note. This feels rather more like the Machete Order, an innovative viewing order for Star Wars that begins with the first two classic films, before using the quasi-cliffhanger ending of The Empire Strikes Back as an opportunity to spring back to the prequels. This has the benefit of retaining most (but not all) of the franchise’s mysteries for an arguably better viewing experience.

There’s never been anything quite like Star Wars: The High Republic. While Star Wars has always been a transmedia franchise – the first Star Wars tie-in, Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, was published back in 1978 – this particular initiative has been more well-coordinated across mediums than anything seen before. Now Lucasfilm is conducting another experiment, with their story spinning across the timelines. It’s going to be exciting to see how things play out.

Source: Cavan Scott

About The Author

Thomas Bacon
(4897 Articles Published)

Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers, as well as a Peer Mentor for new writers and a member of the Care Team, offering support and a listening ear to members of the Comics group. A lifelong fan of major franchises including Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Marvel, Tom is delighted his childhood is back – and this time it’s cool. You can find him on Twitter @TomABacon.

A graduate of Edge Hill University, Tom remains strongly connected with his alma mater as a volunteer chaplain. He’s heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he’s into British politics too.

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