Published Feb 11, 2026, 9:30 AM EST
Robert Wood is a writer and editor based out of Cheshire, England. He is the author of 'The False Elephant: and 99 Other Unreasonably Short Stories' - 100 stories, each told in exactly 100 words.
Rob got into comics via Bendis' Ultimate Spider-Man and the UK anthology 'The Mighty World of Marvel,' which was running Frank Miller's Daredevil, Classic Hulk and Contest of Champions II.
Prior to journalism, he worked in copywriting and copyedited for Oxford University Press. He is on X as @PinchTwigs and Instagram as roobwoodjourno.
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A major Star Wars twist just rewrote one of the franchise's most unlikely fan theories, turning everything fans had speculated on its head. Ultimately, it turns out that fans really were onto something, just not in the way they thought.
Star Wars' Darth Jar Jar Fan Theory Had Elements of Truth
In today's Star Wars: Jar Jar #1 - from Marc Guggenheim, Ahmed Best, Laura Braga, Kieran McKeown, Michael Atiyeh and Joe Caramagna - it's revealed Jar Jar Binks really was something of an apprentice to Emperor Palpatine, with Palpatine granting Jar Jar the honor of being his voice on the planet Urubai.
Around a decade ago, the 'Darth Jar Jar' theory began spreading across the internet. The theory - knitting together disparate evidence like George Lucas calling Jar Jar "the key to all this" and Binks being the senator who calls to award Palpatine emergency powers - suggests that Jar Jar is (or was originally intended to be) a secret Sith.
The theory has been widely discredited, though its popularity led to references like Darth Jar Jar appearing as a character in Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy.
Now, Star Wars: Jar Jar confirms that Palpatine and Jar Jar actually were close and do have a secret understanding, with Palpatine calling Jar Jar "my favorite delegate" and awarding him special favors. However, this isn't because Jar Jar is a Sith, but because Palpatine considers him a non-threat - a fact which allows Jar Jar the leeway to change the galaxy forever.
Star Wars Reveals Jar Jar Binks' Secret Role in the Rebellion
In Star Wars: Jar Jar #1, Binks visits the planet of Urubai, where Palpatine is working laborers to death in pursuit of early materials for his Death Star. Jedi Knight Kelleran Beq unites with Jar Jar, and the two even save dissident activist Mira Bridger.
It turns out Jar Jar was a secret agent working with Palpatine to enact a hidden agenda. However, he was working against the Empire, not for it.
At the end of the issue, Jar Jar uses Palpatine's indulgence and lack of concern for him to secure special powers as Palpatine's representative, then sends Kelleran Beq out to begin forging a network of the galaxy's "unseen" - people like Jar Jar who the Empire doesn't consider a threat.
Our Take on Star Wars' Jar Jar Binks Retcon
Star Wars: Jar Jar does a good job of starting to redeem Jar Jar, who feels immense guilt over granting Emperor Palpatine such expansive powers. Jar Jar not only saves a key dissident, he also starts a network that will come to form the backbone of the Rebellion.
The 'Darth Jar Jar' fan theory speculated that Binks was a secret agent enacting a plan on Palpatine's behalf. It turns out, those details were technically true - but only from a certain point of view. The difference is that Jar Jar's secret agenda came later, and he used Palpatine's favor against him to sow the seeds of the Rebellion.
Star Wars just effectively flipped the 'Darth Jar Jar' fan theory, revealing that the hapless Gungan was indeed a hidden prime mover in the galaxy - but one who is a crucial part of the Rebellion's eventual victory rather than a hidden Sith.
Star Wars: Jar Jar #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.
Movie(s) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
Character(s) Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
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