Where Does Marvel's Star Wars Flagship Go Next?

So we now know that Marvel's two flagship Star Wars comics (Star Wars and Darth Vader) will be coming to an end this September with each line's 50th issue. They also announced that they would announce a new line of comics in a "different era" in the coming weeks. You know what that means? Time to speculate about what era that is. Here are the top contenders as I see them, keeping in mind the current High Republic ongoing comics:

1. Between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker

The flagship Star Wars comic has dovetailed with the flagship Darth Vader comic during both its initial run set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back and its second run set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The point of these comics is to explore the unexplored period between these movies and flesh out both the relationships between characters and pave over some of the plot holes that exist within. Logically you get this same opportunity with a Star Wars comic and a Kylo Ren comic set in the year between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. Couple this with the fact that there will be a movie in the near future focusing on Rey post Rise of Skywalker makes this a fairly solid idea.

The main problem with this comes from the fact that the sequel trilogy mirrors the original trilogy too closely so where Rey is in her arc is relatively close (not identical) to where Luke is and where Kylo Ren is in his arc is close to where Vader is. This would lead to some inherent similarities but the personality differences would be interesting. I'd especially be interested in Kylo Ren's journey to Exogol if that was explored in a comic and a further fleshing out of the growth of the Resistance which was somewhat addressed in Resistance Reborn.

2. Between The Acolyte and The Phantom Menace

The lack of an immediate movie tie-in is what makes this #2 on this list instead of #1. I think the storytelling potential of a book set within the Trade Federation and the rise of Sidious under Darth Plagueis that dovetails with a book about Obi-Wan training under Qui-Gon with the prequel-era Jedi is something that is entirely worth exploring. Of the hypothetical books on this list, the Darth Sidious monthly comic is probably the only one that would be put on a pull list for me personally because it could flesh out Palpatine into the methodical Bene Gesserit-like planner that was never really fleshed out properly in the movies. This is especially true if they turn the comic into a sort of political thriller about the Jedi desperately trying to maintain their control as galactic peacekeepers and the Sith doing everything they can to undermine them in small and subtle ways.

3. Between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones

Considering the popularity of The Clone Wars, there's a solid chance that another series set between two of the prequels could be in development. That said, I think Anakin's age here would be more appealing for an animated show on Disney+ and there is the issue where there is a lengthy series of Mid-Grade novels in legends that covers the same era. I don't think that's necessarily a deal breaker but I'd assume Marvel doesn't want the potential negative press if some of the stories are similar or if the presumed quality of this hypothetical comic does not measure up to the presumed quality of the Jedi Quest series.

4. After Return of the Jedi and Before The Mandalorian

Ordinarily this would be relatively high but the issue is there is already no shortage of content set in this era. There's Alphabet Squadron, there's Aftermath, if I remember correctly Bloodlines is set here, Battlefront II's campaign is set here with the introduction of Operation Cinder. The canon could get muddied very easily so I think there could be a hesitancy to have a comic set here, even if there is an appeal to have Jedi Master Luke as the lead in their flagship monthly book. There's also a lack of a clear iconic bad guy to lead a parallel book because a random Imperial Moff (even if it is Gideon) or Sith Acolyte is not nearly a draw for buyers that say a Maul, a Dooku, or a Sidious book would be. That said, since all roads lead to The Mandalorian and Grogu in 2026 and the impending Heir to the Empire film, this is probably going to be the one they go with.

5. The Old Republic

This is a long shot but my tinfoil hat comes out every time I think about the official Star Wars website's page detailing the various eras. Every era from the Dawn of the Jedi to the New Jedi Order has something either known to be in development or something actually released except for The Old Republic. All that exists there is the following little blurb:

Look at that description and tell me that isn't just ripe for storytelling within this universe. The story of the schism is probably something that will probably be explored in a show or movie but the Jedi of the era and the sort of prelude to this could be something explored in a comic. It's not the founding of the Jedi but the early days of the Jedi and the Republic as they develop into what we know it to be. At the same time, this would be where the somewhat-canon Mandalorian-Jedi War takes place which would make for an excellent event comic, as would the Jedi-Sith War that causes the geopolitical state of the galaxy leading into The High Republic.

Now we do know that there is a nebulously still happening Knights of the Old Republic remake happening but historically these remakes tend to maintain their legends status (Battlefront/Battlefront II, Dark Forces, and Episode I Racer). Unless there is some major story deviation, I think its likely that should the game ever see the light of day it will retain legends status. Beyond that game that may or may not be canon, there is nothing there which is why this makes the list.