Marvel’s Star Wars comics are entering a new phase, spearheaded by Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku—Insurgency Rising. The first issue revealed that the Rebellion is far from finished with the Empire after the Battle of Endor, and standing in their way is Moff Adelhard. He won’t give up on the Empire, even when Darth Vader and the Emperor are dead. Meanwhile, Sith allies lurk, and Luke Skywalker is called to something in the Force.
One of the most exciting things about this new era of Star Wars comics is how it may connect Return of the Jedi to The Force Awakens. This issue begins to show some connective tissue while fully fleshing out what’s going on with the bad guys.
The latter element steals the show, as the Rebellion has more enemies than just Moff Adelhard. That includes the Acolytes of the Beyond and their desire to bring the Sith back into power. They were teased last issue, but make a move here. The politics of the Empire continue as well, with crime lords also playing with the power vacuum of the Empire in cinders.
Writer Alex Segura also introduces a new ragtag group of young heroes, which is perfectly Star Wars. They get a colorful introduction and feel like the kind of crew that Han, Luke, and all the rest would respect for their gumption.
I like this red-cloaked dude.
Credit: Marvel
Segura does a great job with the opening captions, reminding us that the war may have been won, but it’s far from over. War is never neat and tidy, with battles continuing on where some haven’t heard who won or with stubborn parties not willing to give up.
Regarding the art, Luke Ross delivers good storytelling chops and solid likenesses to the movie characters. Some standout pages include an Empire baddie in a red cloak, a neat-looking helmet, and a fun sequence with Bib Fortuna. Unfortunately, most art looks half-baked and lacks detail or a dynamic range. For instance, a scene with Luke and a new young hero is quite simple and uninteresting. There’s also an odd moment where Moff Adelhard is sweating profusely for a panel but isn’t in the panel before and after.
Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku—Insurgency Rising #2 fleshes out the narrative far more, revealing more about the villains while introducing a new group of young heroes. When paired with the first issue, it’s obvious this is an awesome Star Wars epic you won’t want to miss.
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