SWBC: Star Wars books coming in 2023; review of new 'The High Republic Adventures'
SWBC: Star Wars books coming in 2023; review of new 'The High Republic Adventures'
Plus: All the Star Wars books and comics arriving in December.
My most anticipated Star Wars books coming next year
It’s looking to be another blockbuster year for Star Wars books in 2023, with more than a dozen books set to release through September. And there could be more announced for later next year.
For comparison, there were 12 Star Wars books published in 2022 — not counting reference books, artbooks, and comics. I read and reviewed all 12, and I can honestly say they all knocked it out of the park with captivating characters and storytelling.
Looking ahead to 2023, it’s hard to pick a few that I’m most excited to read. Honestly, I can’t wait to read all of them. But The High Republic continues to hold a special place in my heart and my brain.
The Battle of Jedha by George Mann: This upcoming audio drama with a full cast wraps up some key storylines from the first wave of Phase 2 storytelling — all in a probably epic clash of people and ideals on the sacred moon of Jedha. I highly recommend checking out Cavan Scott’s latest run of High Republic comics from Marvel for more insight on the many different religious factions on Jedha.
Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars by Sam Maggs: Set between Fallen Order and Survivor, Battle Scars is the first full-length tie-in novel for the smash hit video game series. As someone who is not great at gaming but desperately wants to learn the story of Cal Kestis and the Inquisitors, I cannot wait for this book.
Cataclysm by Lydia Kang: Having just finished Convergence, I am itching to find out what happens next to Jedi Knight Gella Nattai and Axel Greylark, son of the Chancellor. I also really need to know how Axel, who’s on the cover, got a hold of one of Gella’s purple lightsabers.
Path of Vengeance by Cavan Scott: Tessa Gratton’s and Justina Ireland’s Path of Deceit is one of my favorite Star Wars books of the year, and of all time. It’s as sweet and beautiful as it is dark and heartbreaking. And with this dark, ominous cover, and with Cavan Scott at the helm, we’re in for an emotional ride.
Full list: Star Wars books coming in 2023, so far
Review of The High Republic Adventures #1
Just like with the young adult novels, The High Republic Adventures (penned for younger readers) is not to be missed. In Phase 1, Daniel José Older wrote the ongoing series — as well as a middle-grade and YA book — focusing on the Padawans and younglinges of this era. Their stories were on a smaller scale but often more exciting, emotional, and impactful than the adult ones.
Older is back with The High Republic Adventures in Phase 2, with the first issue following the younger version of Sav Malagán, a Jedi stationed on Takodana — yes, that Takodana from The Force Awakens.
Issue #1 introduces Sav’s mischievous and rebellious character and her disconnection with the Jedi Order. Sav has great potential and near mastery of the Force and her skills in it, but she’s sick of the rules and stuffiness of the Order. She doesn’t feel like she can be herself, so at night she’s been sneaking out of the Temple and ferrying across the lake to hang out at none other than Maz Kanata’s castle.
There she finds some interesting and unsavory characters from pirates and prospectors to a guy whose spider robot legs are eerily similar to those of Darth Maul in The Clone Wars.
But the character appearance that had me grinning from ear to ear was DEXTER JETTSTER. It’s over 350 years before Dex settles down with his diner on Coruscant and helps Obi-Wan Kenobi discover the creation of a clone army, but at this time, Dex is traversing the galaxy and flirting with Maz.
The issue is an exciting page-turner and dives right into the action, setting up thrilling opportunities for Sav. She ends up tailing Dex into the woods, who is actually tailing another guy named Raf, who is investigating a mysterious group called the Dank Graks. The followers are former members of Dark Side sects, and in The High Republic Adventures they’re out to wipe Maz’s pirates and the Jedi Order from the face of Takodana.
But Maz already has a plan in place, launching it when Sav and Dex return to the castle to tell her what they saw and battled in the woods. The opportunity Sav has been waiting for has arrived — she’s joining Maz’s pirate crew.
The first issue is an exciting start to this run of High Republic comics, fleshing out the themes of this era of Star Wars history and infusing it with tried, true, and beloved familiar characters.
Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #1 is available now at your favorite local comic shop and online.
Star Wars books and comics arriving in December
December 2022 is light on novels, but there are a bunch of amazing comics hitting shop shelves this month.
Next Tuesday, Dec. 6, pick up a copy of Star Wars Insider’s Starlight Stories, which collects all the short stories published in the magazine from Phase 1 of The High Republic.
On Dec. 13, there’s the War of the Bounty Hunters omnibus, which collects the mini series of comics as well as crossover issues from other Star Wars series. That same day, the trade paperback of Obi-Wan: A Jedi’s Purpose will be available.
Then at the end of the month (Dec. 28), we get four new High Republic comics — The High Republic Adventures #2 and The High Republic #3, as well as new series The High Republic Adventures: The Nameless Terror and The High Republic: The Blade.
It’s a good thing I have almost a month off from teaching — my TBR pile of books and comics just keeps growing.
Full list: Star Wars books and comics arriving this month: December 2022
Star Wars books and comics arriving this week
Nov. 29
Legends Epic Collection: The Rebellion Vol. 5
Nov. 30
Darth Vader #29
The High Republic Adventures #1