Star Wars' massive publishing initiative is going even further back during the age of The High Republic with a new series set on the Jedi moon of Jedha. First seen in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Jedha's holy city was destroyed by the Empire thanks to the first test of its devastating Death Star. However, the High Republic's new Phase II will explore the Pilgrim Moon hundreds of years before its dark demise.
The High Republic's first publishing phase took place 200 years before the events of the Skywalker saga, showcasing the Jedi Order at the height of their prominence while new threats such as the Nihil arose to threaten the galaxy's longstanding age of peace. However, Phase II will be going back further, a homage to George Lucas and the saga's prequel trilogy. To that end, Marvel Comics' High Republic series will be traveling back in time as well with an all-new series.
Revealed during this year's Star Wars Celebration, Marvel Comics and Star Wars will be releasing a new High Republic series in October. Not only will Cavan Scott and Ario Anindito be returning for this new Phase II adventure set 150 before their first volume, but the new series will be focused on the new Jedi Vildar Mac who arrives on Jedha just as its "fragile peace begins to crumble and a nameless terror arrives…" Here's the newly released cover art for the new Star Wars: The High Republic #1:
Exploring Jedha in the past should prove to be very exciting in this new series. Believed to be intrinsically tied to the origins of the Jedi themselves, Jedha is home to the Temple of Kyber, a major destination for those seeking spiritual guidance and the wisdom of the Force. Jedha was also sacred to more groups of faith beyond the Jedi such as the Church of the Force. However, the holy city's destruction soon after Jedha's debut in Rogue One meant that very little was revealed about the moon's dynamic history, something that can now be remedied thanks to The High Republic's Phase II.
It should also be noted that The High Republic panel at Star Wars Celebration revealed that a new audiobook is in the works entitled The Battle of Jedha. As such, it's a clear indication that the Jedi's Pilgrim Moon will be vastly important for this incoming era beyond this new Star Wars comic. At any rate, Marvel's new The High Republic series will release later this year in October.