Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for The High Republic #2In the latest issue of The High Republic, the symbol of the Rebellion is intrinsically tied to the Force itself in the Star Wars galaxy. During Jedi Master Vildar Mac's investigation on the holy moon of Jedha, he and his new allies come across a stolen statue of a starbird made of pure kyber, the powerful crystal which powers lightsabers and more iconic weapons. As a result, the foreshadowed symbolism behind the work of art is rather impressive.
Previously in Marvel Comics' new High Republic series, Jedi Master Vildar Mac has come to the Pilgrim Moon of Jedha during the Convocation, a gathering of various groups dedicated to the study of the Force and its various aspects. However, growing division between sects has arisen, resulting in the Jedi working to maintain peace and order. However, the Jedi Order does not have the same kind of influence on Jedha they have across the rest of the galaxy, seeing as how they are only one voice amidst several.
Regardless, Jedi Master Mac and Padawan Matthea Cathley are looking into a string of recent robberies all over Jedha, resulting in the disappearances of several key artifacts and relics. In the new High Republic #2 from Cavan Scott and Ario Anindito, the duo encounters Tey Sirrek, a "righter of wrongs and defender of the oppressed" who helps those whose voices aren't often heard on the crowded Pilgrim Moon. The resourceful Sephi guides them to a dealer carrying this starbird statue made from pure kyber crystal. It's eventually revealed that the statue is an extremely valuable artifact stolen from the Temple of Kyber protected by the Guardians of the Whills.
The Rebellion's Starbird Symbol Represents The Force Itself
Effectively Star Wars' version of the mythological phoenix, the starbird is reborn within supernovas, a new birth in the midst of a dying star. Likewise, it's commonly believed in the Star Wars galaxy that kyber is the heart of the Force itself, a semi-sentient material that reacts to Force-sensitives. As the Guardian of the Whills' Chirrut Îmwe says in Rogue One: "The strongest stars have hearts of kyber". Keeping that in mind, seeing a starbird carved from kyber is a very powerful symbol which strongly foreshadows the future, even though the Galactic Civil War and the Alliance's adoption of the logo won't happen for hundreds of years.
It feels like destiny that the Rebellion took the starbird as its sigil/symbol. Not only was the Alliance seeking to restore democracy to the galaxy like the starbird restores itself from supernovas, they were also restoring the balance of the Force itself through key leaders such as Luke Skywalker and his sister Leia. Considering the destruction of Jedha following the events of Rogue One and the corruption of its kyber used to power the Death Star, the represented concepts of restoration and rebirth within this statue are very fitting and incredibly poetic in the Star Wars galaxy. The High Republic #2 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
