The legend of Luke Skywalker continues to grow.
The Star Wars comics have begun to explore the time immediately following Return of the Jedi, leading up to the Battle of Jakku where the Empire was defeated once and for all. And along the way, they’ve given Luke another truly epic moment that reminds us just how powerful he has become.
The four-part mini-series Battle of Jakku – Insurgency Rising is the first installment of this story, and it centers around an Imperial leader maintaining an iron grip. Governor Ubrik Adelhard of the Anoat Sector locked down his region of space and prevented any rumors of the Empire’s defeat at Endor from spreading. In response, the Rebel Alliance turned New Republic was determined to defeat him, sending a strike team to infiltrate his ship. Things went awry, however, and they were captured – until Luke Skywalker showed up, unexpected, to rescue them.
Luke snuck aboard the ship and confronted the Imperials who had captured the rebel spies. Among the Imperials was Reyna Oskure, a key member of the Acolytes of the Beyond who was dressed as an Inquisitor wielding a red lightsaber. Luke confronted her in battle and defeated her easily, and once she was imprisoned and the other rebels on their way to safety, Luke headed to confront Adelhard. The Imperial governor ordered his stormtroopers to ambush Luke, but the Jedi made quick work of them. He then incapacitated Adelhard before fleeing the ship with the rebels, thanks to the aid of Lando Calrissian bringing a rescue fleet.
The whole story is a series of pretty epic moments for Luke, and it shows just how powerful he has become since he was easily able to handle any threat against him, whether it be an Acolyte of the Beyond, a squad of stormtroopers, or Governor Adelhard. It, of course, would not be the last time Luke boarded an Imperial ship for a rescue mission post-ROTJ, as he did the same in The Mandalorian season two (set about five years after this event) to rescue Grogu and his companions. In both of these moments, Luke made it look easy – so it’s easy to see why he became such a legendary figure.
I’m thrilled that Star Wars is expanding on the story that follows the original trilogy during the remainder of the Civil War, and I’m especially glad that they’re giving heroes like Luke moments to shine.
Star Wars Thoughts 