Ruu was a trans male Lucem who was a Padawan at the Coronet City temple. He asked Jedi Master Conithr to help change his name in the Jedi records, then later to be his master. After the destruction of Starlight Beacon, he and his master refused the Jedi Council's summons back to Coruscant, instead choosing to defend Corellia from the Nihil. In battle, Conithr sacrificed her life to save Ruu from the Nihil. Disillusioned with the Jedi Order, he stopped adhering to the Jedi teachings, not caring whether he used the light or dark side. He became an assistant in Hamatan's twist-candy business while continuing to attack the Nihil, using one of their masks as a disguise.[1]
In 229 BBY,[3] he killed a group of Nihil who were transporting a new Nihil model of scav droid, which caught the attention of Alys Ongwa. Later, Ongwa and Svi'no Atchapat visited the business and commented on his injuries. Later that evening, Ruu found the factory that was producing the scav droids and attacked it, followed by Ongwa and Atchapat, who convinced him to work with them to destroy the factory. Ruu discussed his doubts of the Jedi Order with the women, who reassured him that he could still fight for Corellia without being a Jedi. They invited Ruu to join their crew, and he accepted. Ruu wielded a blue lightsaber.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
- "This is a great question I've gotten a few times about "Rogue Element", so here's the spoiler-tagged answer! Yes, Ruu is trans!"
- ―Alyssa Wong
Author Alyssa Wong's commission of Ruu's design, with artwork done by Cherriielle
Ruu appeared in the young-adult short story "Rogue Element" by Alyssa Wong.[1] The story was released in the Barnes & Noble exclusive edition of the 2023 anthology novel The High Republic: Tales of Light and Life[5] as part of the Star Wars: The High Republic multimedia initiative.[1] Wong acknowledged the character being trans,[4] and expressed their desire to see more transmasc characters in Star Wars.[6]
The character was first pictured on the cover of The High Republic Adventures: Crash Landing, a one-shot comic written by Daniel José Older and featuring a cover and illustrations by Rachele Aragno. The issue is scheduled for release by Dark Horse Comics on March 20, 2024.[7] Wong confirmed that the cover included a depiction of Ruu on Twitter. Wong also expressed their excitement for the installment's release, having had the opportunity to read its script.[8] On December 13, 2023, Wong unveiled artwork commissioned of Ruu's design drawn by the artist Cherriielle,[9] a variant comic cover artist for the third issue of the 2023 comic series Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures.[10] The author indicated their fondness for the character, including his turn from Jedi to vigilante. The commission features Ruu in dark clothing holding a lightsaber.[9]
Appearances[]
- "Rogue Element" — The High Republic: Tales of Light and Life (First appearance)
- The High Republic Adventures: Crash Landing
"Chronicles of Corellia: Heir Apparent" — Star Wars Insider 227- The High Republic Adventures (2023) 7
- The High Republic Adventures (2023) 8 (Indirectly mentioned only; in the opening crawl)
- The High Republic Adventures: Crash and Burn
- The High Republic Adventures – Dispatches from the Occlusion Zone 2
- Star Wars (2020) 47 (Variant cover only)
Sources[]
- Star Wars: The High Republic Character Encyclopedia
- The High Republic Authors on Authors: Daniel José Older and Alyssa Wong on StarWars.com (backup link)
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 224 (Picture only)
- Star Wars: The High Republic Chronological Reader's Guide on StarWars.com (article) (backup link) (Picture only)
- New 'Star Wars' Pride Variant Covers Celebrate Pride Month in a Galaxy Far, Far Away on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
- SDCC 2024: New Battle of Jakku Comic and Other Reveals Ahead of the Lucasfilm Panel on StarWars.com (backup link) (Picture only)
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 227 (Picture only)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 "Rogue Element" — The High Republic: Tales of Light and Life
- ↑ Star Wars: The High Republic Character Encyclopedia
- ↑ The events of "Rogue Element" take place one year after the destruction of Starlight Beacon, which Star Wars: Timelines dates to 230 BBY.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1
Alyssa Wong (@crashwong) on Twitter: "This is a great question I've gotten a few times about "Rogue Element", so here's the spoiler-tagged answer! Yes, Ruu is trans!" (backup link)
- ↑
Star Wars Celebration LIVE! 2023 - DAY 2 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- ↑ Alyssa Wong (@crashwong) on Twitter: "He's the first?! That's so wild! We need more transmasc characters in Star Wars for sure! 💜" (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: The High Republic Phase III--Crash Landing one-shot (CVR A) (Rachele Aragno) on Penguin Random House Comics (archived from the original)
- ↑ Alyssa Wong (@crashwong) on Twitter: "CRASH AND THE CREW ARE BACK!!! New looks! New friends! (And… could that be Ruu, too?) 💖💖💖💖 This comic is so good. It's so good!! I got to read @djolder's script and it's incredible." (backup link)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Alyssa Wong (@crashwong) on Twitter: "Had the pleasure of commissioning the one and only @cherriielle for my sweet nightmare boy, Ruu, from my High Republic story "Rogue Element"! Love a former Jedi turned vigilante 👁️🗨️" (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III #3 (CVR B) (Cherriielle)) on Penguin Random House Comics (archived from the original)