Star Wars: The High Republic Introduces Wookiee Jedi (But Not The First)

Despite a lackluster launch, we finally learned the details of Project Luminous. Star Wars: The High Republic will kick off a whole new era of the franchise through printed media beginning this August. Which each book and comic cover we see, and with every new detail we discover, fan excitement is beginning to grow. Chief among those things to excite fans is the prospect of a Wookiee Jedi.

If you’re a Star Wars fan unfamiliar with the name Charles Soule, shame on you. Soule is responsible for writing the 2017-2018 run of Darth Vader comics for Marvel. He also wrote the entire Poe Dameron series. His next offering, however, is Star Wars: The High Republic – The Light of the Jedi. And yes, there on the cover, is a Wookiee Jedi. Soule himself even confirmed as much:

Yes, that’s a Wookiee Jedi – his name is Burryaga Agaburry, and he is wonderful.

The lady in front is named Avar Kriss. The other folks have names too, but you’ll meet them later.

More soon!

— Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) February 25, 2020

Star Wars: The High Republic Introduces Wookiee Jedi

As exciting as it is to see a full-grown member of Chewbacca’s species as a Jedi, Burryaga Agaburry will not be the first instance of a Wookiee Jedi in Star Wars canon. That honor bellows to the Jedi padawan Gunji, who appeared in multiple episodes of The Clone Wars. He was among a group of padawans on a mission to obtain kyber crystals to construct their first lightsabers.

“A Wookiee! Rare are you to the Jedi. Proud, your people must be.”

~Professor Huyang, droid Jedi lightsaber instructor

Granted, we only got to see Gunji in limited action. Plus, he was but a padawan whose skills had not yet fully developed. Still, if there’s a claim to being the first Wookiee Jedi in Star Wars canon, it belongs to him. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see what Soule does with Burryaga Agaburry. Among the many questions will be how the Wookiee will communicate with fellow Jedi. As we know in canon, many can understand Shyriiwook, the language of the Wookiee race. Very few, however, can speak it. Han Solo was among the few (if you call what he did in Solo: A Star Wars story speaking Shyriiwook).

Likewise, Wookiees are known for their ferocity and aggression. (Remember: they tend to rip arms from sockets when they lose.) How does a Wookiee Jedi temper that innate characteristic? I suppose we’ll find out in August.

Until then stay tuned here to That Hashtag Show for all your Star Wars news, or visit starwars.com.