A stunning new variant cover for Star Wars: The High Republic #1 shows Master Yoda in action alongside Jedi Master Avar Kriss. The future of Star Wars lies in the past, with Lucasfilm Publishing exploring the High Republic era. Set roughly 200 years before the events of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, this will give fans their first look at the Jedi Order at its height.
Naturally, the High Republic will also feature a younger Master Yoda. This is a time before the Jedi Order moved to Coruscant and Yoda became Grand Master, and according to previews he is traveling the Outer Rim with a class of Padawans. They are caught up in the Great Disaster, a mysterious Hyperspace accident that appears to be triggered by an alien race known as the Nihil, and that wreaks havoc across the Outer Rim. The story of the Great Disaster, and the Jedi response to this catastrophe, will dominate the narrative of this exciting transmedia initiative.
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Quixotic Comics has released a first look at a stunning variant cover for Star Wars: The High Republic #1 by Stephanie Hans, showing Master Yoda alongside Jedi Master Avar Kriss. Although Yoda is the more well-known of the two, Lucasfilm has teased the Jedi of the High Republic are legendary, comparing them to the Knights of Camelot equivalent of Star Wars. Avar Kriss’ name may well have been taught to every Youngling in the Temple in the prequel era, with her adventures inspiring them to become champions of the light side. Hans’ artwork is absolutely breathtaking, perfectly capturing the mythological feel of the High Republic era.
This is our best look yet at Avar Kriss’ lightsaber, with its beautifully intricate spiraling crossguard. It’s easy to see why Obi-Wan Kenobi considered a lightsaber to be “an elegant weapon for a more civilized time” in the first Star Wars film – clearly this was the time he was referring to, when lightsabers were fashioned in a rather more beautiful, ornamental style than anything seen in the prequel trilogy.
Stephanie Hans’ design of a younger Yoda is particularly interesting, because he appears a little more youthful than in previous images from the High Republic initiative. Little is known of Master Yoda’s species – even now, after a new member of his race has played such a prominent role in The Mandalorian – and there’s no way to know quite how Yoda ages. He appears pretty spry in this shot, and it’s interesting to note he hasn’t been shown needing his trademark walking stick in any of the previews to date. Hopefully the Star Wars: The High Republic will reveal a little more about Yoda’s species, by answering some of these curious questions.
More: Star Wars May Have Just Revealed The Secret That Ended The High Republic
