New Concept Art from Phase III of ‘Star Wars: The High Republic’ Puts Familiar Characters In a Different Light
Writers and artists from The High Republic publishing initiative recently shared new story details and concept art on Starwars.com. The art and descriptions of the new characters give a better understanding of the direction Lucasfilm Publishing is going for the final phase of The High Republic.
Phase III of The High Republic has officially begun with the first adult novel, The Eye of Darkness, releasing on November 14. Feel free to read our review of The Eye of Darkness by George Mann that Staff Writer, Nate Manning, described as an “intimate beginning of the end.”
Writer George Mann and artists MinJi Yoon and Ario Anindito elaborate on how the appearances of various characters have changed. Starting with the man on the front cover, Marchion Ro, writer George Mann says that “he’s got everything he wanted, and it feels hollow.” It appears that the villain of the story isn’t satisfied with his power and may be seeking even more power in the upcoming novel.
Regarding Ro’s physical changes, Anindito commented:
“He feels like a king. He is now at the top, feeling all powerful and untouchable! I want him to look both victorious and cunning at the same time, elegant yet dangerous.”
Switching to some of the main protagonists, many of the Jedi seen are in hiding or working undercover. Because of this, characters like Avar Kriss and Porter Engle have shed their bright Jedi robes for darker civilian clothing. Both are stuck in the Occlusion Zone, an area controlled by the Nihil, the story’s villains.
Speaking about Kriss, Mann commented:
“When we meet Avar at the beginning of Phase III, she’s operating alone and undercover in the Occlusion Zone. She’s struggling with guilt over what happened to Starlight Beacon, blaming herself for Stellan’s death, and ultimately, trying to make amends.”
Regarding Engle, Mann said:
“Porter is also stuck inside the Occlusion Zone when Phase III begins, but he’s taking a slightly different approach to Avar. He’s traveling from place-to-place, seeking bits of old technology that he’s figured might be able to help him breach the Stormwall. He’s determined, but also hopeful.”
Phase III will also feature some returning favorites. The three mentioned characters are Burryaga, Bell Zettifar (alongside his charhound Ember), and Vernestra Rwoh. All three of them are more mature and battle-hardened compared to when readers first met them.
For Burryaga, George Mann describes the Wookie as “just glad to be alive and able to be amongst his friends, making a difference.”
Artist, MinJi Yoon commented:
“Burry’s design has him in the classic High Republic Jedi leathers. He is older and a little thinner than last time we saw him, and is now fully equipped to be out in the field.”
The young Bell Zettifar is no longer the bright and optimistic Padawan he once was. The Jedi now has additional armor and is more mission-focused than ever before.
Mann included the following on Zettifar’s character changes:
“Bell is furious with the Nihil, and a little with himself, too. He’s counting the Jedi’s failures as his own. He’s spending more and more time out on the edge of the Occlusion Zone, patrolling for Nihil raiders. And he’s set his sights on one Nihil in particular, named Melis Shryke, who typifies everything about the Nihil that he wants to stop.”
Then there’s fan-favorite Vernestra Rwoh, the youngest Jedi to be knighted in a generation. But her new responsibilities are certainly affecting her, as she faces them with determination.
Artist, Ario Anindito commented on Rwoh for Phase III:
“Vern is more mature. She’s no longer the young Jedi Padawan that we knew. When we see her, we know she is now capable of holding her ground on her own. She’s basically a badass, now more than she ever was.”
And finally, there is Ghirra Starros, the former senator now aligned with the Nihil. Artist MinJi Yoon highlights the character’s gas mask, and gleaming pendant showing the Eye. Those are symbols of the characters’ loyalty to the Nihil. But Yoon also remarks that her colors are more muted as she begins to “fall in line.”
Mann also included the following comment on Starros:
“Ghirra knows that for the Nihil to survive, they have to become something different. They have to stabilize and organize and become more like a government, overseeing the worlds now under their jurisdiction.”
Be sure to also check out an excerpt of The Eye of Darkness featuring Avar Kriss, and another previous excerpt featuring Elzar Mann. For the latest Star Wars Disney Plus news, check out our report on all the writers revealed for The Acolyte, the first Star Wars live-action media set in The High Republic era.
Born and raised in Hawaii, Jay Goodearl runs the YouTube Gaming channel “Good Games, Dude” His channel aims to open up video games to beginners and immediate players and help them understand what makes games the art form that it is.
