A new era of Star Wars comics is launching this week in the form of Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku – Insurgency Rising #1. Moving on from a post-Episode 5 era, the comics are now entering a post-Episode 6 era, bridging the classic trilogy with the latest trilogy. The new four-issue series aims to establish a new threat for Luke, Leia, and the Rebellion in the face of the Emperor and the second Death Star’s destruction. Can’t these guys catch a break!?
Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku – Insurgency Rising #1 opens in the Anoat Sector. A Rebellion ship is being bombarded by TIE Strikers only hours after the Rebellion’s victory at the Battle of Endor. It seems the Empire isn’t giving up across the galaxy.
Alex Segura writes the issue catching us up on where Han, Luke, and Leia are in this post-Battle of Endor world. They’re all still on Endor, and a clear sense of new relationships has formed between Luke and Leia and Leia and Han. If you’re curious about what plans Marvel has, there’s a strong sense of what Luke and Leia may be up to going forward. Segura nails Leia’s defiant nature and Luke’s newfound wisdom.
Meanwhile, Segura catches us up on a shadowy figure in charge of a Star Destroyer. Given his second-in-command and cover art, you can probably guess who they are. They were first introduced in Star Wars: Uprising. Fans of the darker side of Star Wars and secret Sith cults will adore a key scene later in the issue.
Not looking good for the Rebellion!
Credit: Marvel
This issue is somewhat lacking in stakes. The main villain is introduced, and there’s a sense that the Sith are on the move, but it still feels like the heroes have won, and the biggest threat is behind them. This is only the start, but I was hoping for more imminent conflict.
Artist Leonard Kirk, a staple of Marvel’s Star Wars comics, draws the issue with Rachelle Rosenberg on art. In general, the art is good at storytelling, the opening dogfight is particularly well done, even if it’s a bit lacking in detail. Some characters, like the main villain’s blonde assistant, are so simplistic looking she doesn’t add much. She comes off as one-dimensional. As far as likenesses go, Luke is one of the best of the bunch, but Leia and Han are a bit iffy.
Segura also writes a backup tale with art by Stefano Raffaele titled “The Rising.” Focused exclusively on the new villain, this story fills us in on his backstory. It also reveals he’s as ruthless and dangerous as Darth Vader, even if he’s just a non-Force user. Raffaele gets to show off his ability to draw ships and tech with a cool full-page spread of a planet getting attacked.
A new era of Star Wars comics is finally kicking off today, and it’s exciting to see new ground being established. A new threat die-hard Star Wars fans will recognize rises while our heroes forge new paths after Return of the Jedi. I want to be more excited, but the stakes don’t seem all that high as of yet.
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