Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: High Republic Adventures #15Star Wars has revealed a monstrous replacement for the classic Imperial AT-AT. Having been created during the Clone Wars and deployed during the Galactic Civil War, the iconic walker had yet to be built during the earlier days of the High Republic Era. Instead, the enemies of the Republic rode on the backs of truly terrifying creatures (who share some key similarities to the AT-AT).

In Dark Horse's new Star Wars: High Republic Adventures #15 by Daniel José Older and Toni Bruno, the Battle of Eriadu is underway, homeworld of the Tarkin Family and a key base for the Republic Defense Coalition near the region of the galaxy claimed by the Nihil marauders. Jedi Knight Farazala Tarabal is leading the charge, ed by an array of pirates and fellow Jedi including Master Yaddle, Tera Sinube, and more. However, they're still rivaled by Nihil forces on the ground, in the sky, as well as a contingent of marauders riding into battle on monstrous towering creatures:

Known as Bogaranths, it's not hard to see the creatures' resemblance to the mechanical troop transports the Galactic Empire would use centuries later in the Star Wars timeline.

Bogaranths Are Like Biological AT-ATs

Ridden Into Battle By The Nihil Marauders

Sporting armor and mounted guns on their backs, Bogaranths walk on four legs while also having smaller insectoid-like arms closer to their large heads with multiple sets of eyes and maws filled with sharp teeth. The bottom row of teeth also looks to be covered in armor plating, presumably to help them crush enemy vehicles and defenses. As such, it's evident that these gigantic Bogaranths were some of the Nihil's most terrifying assets, allowing them to dominate the battlefield with terrifying ease.

It's not hard to make comparisons to the similarly large and four-legged iconic Imperial AT-ATs first seen in The Empire Strikes Back. However, it makes sense that the Empire would gravitate more toward mechanical war machines with advancements in technology since the days of the High Republic. As monstrous and intimidating as bogaranths are, living organic creatures are arguably more unpredictable. Likewise, it's been established that much of the Nihil's history, weapons, and tactics were intentionally erased and largely forgotten once defeated by the Jedi Order and Republic.

Was The AT-AT's Design Inspired By The Bogaranths?

A High Republic Predecessor

Nevertheless, it's not hard to believe that the organic borgaranths might have indeed inspired the design of the AT-TE of the Clone Wars and AT-AT of the Galactic Civil War that came after. Either way, it's a prime example of repeated moments/elements in the Star Wars timeline across eras that echo and parallel each other. As George Lucas once famously said, the Star Wars galaxy and timeline is like poetry with repeated stanzas that are meant to rhyme, and this is a pretty impressive example of that sentiment in action.

Star Wars: High Republic Adventures #15 is on sale now from Dark Horse Comics.