Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising #1-3Star Warshas introduced an impressive roster of new villains who could have only emerged after Emperor Palpatine's demise in Return of the Jedi. As seen in Marvel Comics' new and canonical series, set in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Endor, the Empire is reeling from the destruction of the second Death Star and the massive loss in leadership with the deaths of both Palpatine and Darth Vader. To that end, new threats have emerged in defiance of the Rebellion-turned-New Republic.
As seen thus far in Alex Segura and Leonard Kirk's Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising #1-3, some surviving Imperial leaders have been following the posthumous orders left behind by Palpatine in the event of his death, known as Operation Cinder. However, others have chosen to act as if the Empire is still thriving and not on the cusp of absolute defeat, while others still have chosen to serve nothing more than the dark side itself. To that end, here are the new Star Wars villains who have risen in this new era of the Star Wars timeline, many of whom could only have risen to power once Palpatine was (seemingly) no more.
New Star Wars Villains Are Coming Out Of The Woodwork After Return of the Jedi
Where Were They During The Original Trilogy?
Star Wars: Battle of Jakku features several new villains, some of whom debuted in previous Star Wars media. This notably includes Councilor Gallius Rax, Palpatine's protégé, who was tasked with ensuring Operation Cinder was carried out and the future of the Empire secured according to the Emperor's designs. Likewise, Grand Admiral Rae Sloane aided Rax with Operation Cinder and its various bombardment campaigns across the galaxy, having been in command of the bulk of the surviving Imperial Navy following Endor. There's also Yupe Tashu, once a member of Palpatine's inner circle and now the leader of a dark side cult known as the Acolytes of the Beyond.
In the immediate aftermath of Return of the Jedi, it's been revealed that the Empire split into three key factions following the Battle of Endor.
Battle of Jakku also debuts several new villains to the Star Wars canon such as Moff Adelhard and Commander Bragh who have locked down the Anoat Sector with an Iron Blockade as the Moff has chosen to live in desperate denial, refusing to let his sector accept that the Empire has suffered major losses. Likewise, there's also the long-lived Anzati Reyna Oskure and Yuan Howzell, both of whom are serving the interests of the Acolytes of the Beyond. Furthermore, a brand-new hooded and red lightsaber-wielding Inquisitor has just made their debut among Adelhard's forces as well.
An Imperial Power Vacuum Makes Perfect Sense Following Palpatine's Death
A Shattered Empire Creating Several New Threats
When it comes to addressing the question of where all these new villains were during the original Star Wars trilogy of the Galactic Civil War, the shorter and easier answer is that they had yet to be created. That said, the more complex and in-universe answer is that many of these newly introduced characters were indeed part of the Empire during the original trilogy. However, none of them were truly given the chance to rise in power and become the leading figures they now are when Palpatine and Darth Vader were still alive in charge.
"All of these new villains are rising to greater prominence, particularly in Palpatine's absence..."
Now, the Empire has been fractured and a resulting power vacuum has been generated. As such, all of these new villains are rising to greater prominence, particularly in Palpatine's absence. While some of these foes' fates are already known, it's going to be fascinating to learn what happens to all of these new Star Wars villains and their conflicts with the New Republic as this new series continues in the aftermath of Return of the Jedi.
Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising #1-3 are on sale now from Marvel Comics.
The third film released and the sixth film chronologically in the Star Wars Saga, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi is a sci-fi epic adventure film that continues the adventures of Luke, Leia, Han, and friends as they battle against the Empire. After a narrow escape but crushing defeat at the hands of the empire, the rebel alliance learns that a new Death Star has been constructed above the moon of Endor. With the war reaching its conclusion, the heroes will team with the forest planet's inhabitants and prepare themselves for one final showdown with Darth Vander and the Galactic Empire.
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