All the Star Wars book news from NYCC
Plus: More sequel stories and all the Star Wars books coming out the rest of 2024.
Star Wars books and comics at NYCC
Lucasfilm, once again, dropped a Star Destroyer load of reveals at a comic convention. Last weekend at New York Comic Con’s two Star Wars panels, there were announcements for new comics, cover art reveals, character art, and more.
Here are the highlights.
New art for The High Republic: Tempest Breaker
A little over a month out from the audio drama’s release, Star Wars revealed the stunning art of Marchion Ro and Lourna Dee in a (probably) deadly dance. A sequel to Cavan Scott’s Tempest Runner and The High Republic Marvel comic series, Tempest Breaker is also likely the beginning of the end for Lourna Dee’s story arc in The High Republic. Her relationships with the Nihil, Marchion Ro, and the Jedi have all been hot and cold. Now, she’s in a loose and reluctant alliance with the Jedi … for now.
The High Republic: Tempest Breaker full-cast audio drama arrives on Dec. 3.
Character art for the end of The High Republic Phase 3
I’ve been feeling some type of way since these new character posters of armored Jedi were revealed. Like, yes, Elzar Mann and Avar Kriss (and Bell and Burryaga) look fantastic. But I’m also sad that The High Republic is ending soon and that the last character art we’ll see of these characters features masks and armor.
It’s not surprising the Jedi are essentially going to war with the Nihil and the Nameless, and this armor may very well provide enough protection from the Nameless’s Force-eating effects. It’s also not surprising the Jedi Order is headed in this direction — The High Republic, after all, sets up key themes that lead directly to the issues the Jedi faced in the prequels.
I get the same feeling as when I watch Revenge of the Sith for the millionth time — I know Anakin and the Jedi will fall, but maybe this time they’ll choose the light.
Anyway, I’m going to stay in my feels about the end of The High Republic for the foreseeable future.
Cover reveal for The Acolyte YA novel
Jecki and Yord live! At least on the cover and the pages of The Acolyte: The Crystal Crown by Tessa Gratton.
The young adult novel is set toward the end of The High Republic and not too long before the events of The Acolyte TV series. This book and The Acolyte: Wayseeker were announced over the summer at San Diego Comic-Con, but NYCC’s Star Wars panel gave us an awesome cover featuring the two Jedi Padawans.
The Acolyte: The Crystal Crown arrives on July 29, 2025.
New comics: Poe Dameron and Jedi Knights
Poe Dameron is coming back! Writer Ethan Sacks (Bounty Hunters, Jango Fett) surprised a panel at NYCC to reveal he’s working on a new Poe comic series. There aren’t any more details about it at this point, but Star Wars did share some art and said the series will follow the Resistance pilot and his droid BB-8.
And finally, there’s a new Jedi Knights comic series coming soon — this one focused on the Jedi of the prequel era and set before The Phantom Menace. The series from Marc Guggenheim (Han Solo & Chewbacca, Yoda) features characters like Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, Yoda and more familiar faces alongside some new Jedi we’ve never seen before.
Star Wars: Jedi Knights #1 arrives in March 2025.
Star Wars: Legacy of Vader starring Kylo Ren
Darth Vader comics are coming back — well, in the title at least. It’s actually Kylo Ren, Vader’s grandson, who stars in Legacy of Vader by writer Charles Soule.
The new comic series is set between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, following the young dark sider on journeys to Mustafar and Vader’s castle as well as to Tatooine on a search for his family’s history.
Speaking to StarWars.com, Soule said the new Legacy of Vader series bookends his 2019 comic series The Rise of Kylo Ren.
“This new series is not just a combination of those two books (The Rise of Kylo Ren and 2017’s Darth Vader run), but also a chance to explore an extremely rich section of the timeline that’s almost entirely open: Kylo Ren’s time as Supreme Leader of the First Order,” Soule said.
It’s always exciting to get more sequel era content when so many new Star Wars projects are set in eras before Episodes 7-9. Reylos in particular had a field day with this announcement, especially when senior editor at Marvel Mark Paniccia shared a snippet of the script confirming Kylo Ren “fell in love” with Rey during The Last Jedi.
StarWars.com has more details about the new series, including variant cover art and a few inside pages. Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #1 arrives on Feb. 5, 2025.
The rest of 2024 in Star Wars books and comics
The year is almost over, but more Star Wars books are still to come in 2024. Many of them would make excellent holiday gifts, just saying.
Nov. 5
The High Republic: The Lightsaber Collection
The Essential Legends Collection:
The Force Unleashed (and a new audiobook narrated by Marc Thompson)
The Han Solo Adventures
X-Wing: Solo Command (and a new audiobook narrated by Marc Thompson)
Star Wars Bestiary Vol. 1: Creatures of the Galaxy
Nov. 6
Battle of Jakku: Insurgency Rising #4
Ahsoka #5
Nov. 12
Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years: Droids & Ewoks
The High Republic Phase II: Quest of the Jedi Omnibus
The Prequel Trilogy Graphic Novel
Nov. 13
Ewoks (2024) #2
Nov. 19
The High Republic (2023) Phase III Vol. 2: The Hunted trade paperback
Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
Nov. 20
The High Republic Adventures (2023) #12
Battle of Jakku: Republic Under Siege #1
Nov. 26
Modern Era Epic Collection: Darth Vader: Shadows and Secrets
Nov. 27
The High Republic Adventures: Echoes of Fear #3
The High Republic Adventures: Dispatches from the Occlusion Zone #2
Battle of Jakku: Republic Under Siege #2
December top picks
I’ll share a full list of December Star Wars books and comics at the end of next month. But here are my top picks to add to your TBR.
Dec. 3: The High Republic: Tempest Breaker by Cavan Scott — audio drama
Dec. 3: Someone Who Loves You by Beth Revis — children’s book
Dec. 18: The High Republic Adventures Phase III: The Wedding Spectacular — Lula and Zeen’s wedding in a one-shot comic!
This week’s Star Wars releases
Oct. 29
Star Wars Insider Presents The Phantom Menace 25 Year Anniversary Special — My story is in this!
Legends Epic Collection: The New Republic Vol. 8
Oct. 30
The High Republic Adventures (2023) #11
Battle of Jakku: Insurgency Rising #3