Star Wars: Battle of Jakku – Insurgency Rising #2
STRATAGEMS & SURPRISES
Following the Battle of Endor and the destruction of the second Death Star, the galaxy is in a time of uncertainty. While the rebels forge a path toward peace, there are still those who would bring chaos and destruction. The war continues on in….
In the hours after the Galactic Empire was seemingly defeated in the Battle of Endor…war raged on. Though Vader and the Emperor are now dead, Moff Adelhard of the Anoat sector has persisted in the Imperial fight, lying to his troops about the Empire’s true state. Adelhard and his aides, Commander Bragh and Lieutenant Alaytia, sent for allies to retain control of the sector and called for Reyna Oskure–a high-ranking member of the Acolytes of the Beyond. But Reyna, cleric Yupe Tashu and the rest of the Acolytes have plans of their own for the Governor.
Meanwhile, rebel soldier Rynn Zenat was overtaken by Imperial forces and crash-landed on Endor, where Luke and Leia worked to establish the New Republic. Rynn warned them of Adelhard’s ruthless commitment and the continued threat of the Empire….
Writer: Alex Segura
Artist: Leonard Kirk
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colorists: Rachelle Rosenberg
Cover artist: Phil Noto
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publication date: October 16, 2024
20 pages of comic book narrative shouldn’t be able to prompt hours of research rabbit holes and confirmation—but issue #2 of The Battle of Jakku: Insurgency Rising is that welcome gift that can energize the fan base while tying in so many different Star Wars stories from comics to films to animated series on Disney+ to novel trilogies. This issue is powerful.
Rynn Zenat, a New Republic pilot, seems to be the lynchpin for at least this first quad of the overall 12-part series. Before getting into the new groups and characters introduced in this issue that had me turning each page with giddy anticipation, here is the listing of locations crammed into this book: Devaron, the Super Star Destroyer Ravager, Darlyn Boda (Anoat sector), Chandrila, Endor, Tatooine, Pillio, and the space on the fringe of the Anoat sector. It moves!
Once again we see The Acolytes of the Beyond—and they have their sights set on Luke Skywalker and the ancient Jedi relic that calls him to leave Endor for Pillio.
The Ravager reintroduces us to Palpatine’s sentinel droids from the Aftermath novels. It is there we see a holo of Grand Admiral Rae Sloan talking to who appears to be Gallius Rax (he is not mentioned by name—but hence, research to jog my memory). This is where the Contingency comes into play, referenced as “Operation Cinder,” and carried out by Palpatine’s most loyal followers.
Grand Moff Ubrik Adelhard checks in on Darlyn Boda and shows his unhinged approach and embrace of alternative history (to his benefit, of course) in his exchanges and treatment of captured New Republic pilots.
On Chandrila, Mon Mothma, Leia Organa, and Agent Calder Behrens (likely a nod to British mystery and thriller writer Michael Gilbert’s characters) strategize their next move for the nascent New Republic and call together a group of operatives to gather intel on Adlehard’s Iron Blockade of the Anoat sector. The small crew consists of Zenat, Kes Dameron, father of Poe and part of the Pathfinders, General Han Solo’s special forces strike team on Endor, Jarek Yeager, initially introduced through Star Wars Resistance, and Therisa Alern, an intelligence operative who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.
And dirty they may need to get as the crew, in a less-than-stellar ship, is surrounded on the outskirts of the Anoat sector by Zeva Bliss, mother of Zorii, and at least five Kimiji Spicerunners — who had just spent time talking to Bib Fortuna at the former palace of Jabba the Hutt on Tatooine, encouraging the underworld leader to join them in supporting Adelhard to “foment chaos” because it’s good for business.
The way things are going, this series is primed to be good for business for Star Wars, Lucasfilm, and Marvel.