Summary

• Lightsabers in the High Republic era went from being unique and personalized to more uniform and bland due to the devastating attack on the Starlight Beacon by the Nihil.
• The Jedi Order implemented the "guardian protocol" after the attack, which forced the creation of new lightsabers called "battle sabers" that have a simplified design and can be produced quickly.
• While the transition to battle sabers is a necessary evil, it is lamented that lightsabers are no longer intricate works of art, but their power in battle remains unaffected.

Spoilers for Star Wars: The High Republic - Shadow of Starlight #1!In a galaxy far, far away, the lightsaber is a Star Wars weapon that needs no introduction thanks to the iconic Jedi and Sith warriors who wield them with skill and grace. And now, in a High Republic-era comic documenting the fall of the Starlight Beacon, fans are given an official reason for why lightsabers went from being something unique and personal to something far more bland and uniform.

Set a few centuries before the Skywalker Saga, the period of the High Republic saw the Jedi at the height of their power and influence, only for them to hit a bit of a snag after the “dangerous marauders” called the Nihil carry out a devastating attack on the Starlight Beacon, a space station meant to act as a symbol of hope and unity across the galaxy.

Putting everyone on high alert after its destruction, the higher-ups in the Jedi Order implement something called the “guardian protocol,” forcing the creation of a new kind of lightsaber dubbed “battle sabers,” weapons that look far different from what had come before.

"Battle Sabers" Were Produced To Quickly Replace The Ones Lost In Battle

Explaining why lightsabers became bland in their design in Star Wars: The High Republic - Shadow of Starlight #1, by Charles Soule and Ibraim Roberson, this premiere issue of the newest volume of Star Wars’ distant past catches up with a saber-smith named Master Govena who has just finished making her last weapon post-guardian protocol announcement. Commenting on the battles by saying “…sabers will be lost and will require replacement. We’ll need a ready supply of battle sabers,” Govena acknowledges that weapons made in the now defunct High Republic style take “ages to create,” and while they may not be “pretty,” are a necessity to keep “…a Jedi safe and return our enemies to the Force.”

Previously developed as beautiful, hand-made blades that would take far more time and care to create, these new “battle sabers” bridge the gap between designs, bringing the look of the prequel, original, and sequel trilogy full circle. Going from blades that had more intricate hilts and a more meticulously crafted design wholly unique to the High Republic era to a type of lightsaber with a simplified aesthetic that can be pumped out far quicker to meet the demands of the Jedi’s combat with Nihil forces, this transition is one to lament over as a necessary evil, with the downgrade in visual appeal luckily not affecting the power a lightsaber provides in the field of battle.

The "Guardian Protocol" Forced The Jedi To Create "Battle Sabers"

So while it makes total sense for these “battle sabers” to have replaced the more ornate and traditional ones from the early parts of the High Republic era, it’s still a bit of a bummer to know that lightsabers were once unique pieces of art rather than the near identical and boring ones fans were first introduced to in the movies. Star Wars’ iconic lightsabers will continue to be a staple element of this sprawling franchise, so here’s hoping the High Republic’s impeccable taste for saber-making makes a comeback sometime soon whether in film, TV, or comics.

Star Wars: The High Republic - Shadow of Starlight #1 is now available from Marvel Comics.