Star Wars: Battle of Jakku – Republic Under Siege #1
FROM THE DEPTHS
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….
After the Battle of Endor, a New Republic was born in an attempt to unite the galaxy. But in its infancy, this Republic faced a threat as the relentless Governor Adelhard of the Anoat sector continued the Imperial fight in the aftermath of Vader and Palpatine’s deaths. As Adelhard’s power took hold, the dark side cult the Acolytes of the Beyond and member Reyna Oskure allied with him, intending to forge their own plans for the scattered remains of the Empire.
Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa assembled a rebel team to fight back against Adelhard’s forces. Though they managed to deter him and retaliate against his sector, the team barely escaped with their lives. The New Republic won its first battle, but it has yet to win the war….
Writer: Alex Segura
Artists: Jethro Morales, Stefano Raffaele
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colorists: Jim Campbell, Alex Sinclair
Cover artists: Taurin Clarke, Davide Paratore
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publication date: November 20, 2024
The New Republic is encountering the transition from the clear setup of Act 1 to Act 2’s escalating conflict with Grand Moff Ubrik Adelhard’s Imperial remnant, the dark force users of the Acolytes of the Beyond, and other underlings hoping to align with power and privilege promised by Adelhard.
From Luke Skywalker, with pilot Rynn Zenat, on Lehanis fighting the Acolytes to secure a powerful Jedi relic, to his sister Leia Organa on Chandrila, processing what has happened and the evils on the horizon, the tension keeps building against the heroes. From the internal politics of the New Republic as Mon Mothma informs Leia that help can’t be sent to their Wookiee friends on Kashyyyk, to the seemingly inevitable compromise of their mole aboard Adlehard’s ship, options for holding on to a hard-fought victory are shrinking.
Oh, and then there’s a famous archaeologist who is on brand with self-serving pursuits that drop a fly in the ointment of all involved. It’s a critical moment that ends the primary part of issue #5 prior to a sub-section titled, “Consolidation,” aboard Adlehard’s Star Destroyer.
It serves as a deeper look inside the mind of Adelhard as he is provoked by those he would demand to be allies to his cause in the name of the Empire. He takes the reader to his distinct memories of being forged into who he is by Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader, while playing out his manipulation of “false leaders” including Rae Sloane, Yupe Tashu, the Spice Runners of Kijimi, and other, necessary, Imperial remnants including a group on Malastare, led by Grand General Kenner Loring.
More deceit, desire, desperation, and death appear to be on the horizon as the 12-issue comic series approaches the midway point.