We recently learned that Marvel's flagship Star Wars and Darth Vader comics are ending later this year, fueling speculation that the publisher will shift to exploring the era of the franchise after Return of the Jedi. That is indeed the case. Just ahead of the start of San Diego Comic-Con 2024, StarWars.com revealed the first details about a new series called Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising.
The Battle of Jakku: Insurgency Rising will explore the events leading up to the titanic final battle between the Galactic Empire and the fledgling New Republic. This maxi-series will be written by Alex Segura and drawn by Leonard Kirk, Stefano Raffaele, and Jethro Morales. Phil Noto will provide covers for the series.
As established in Star Wars lore, the Battle of Jakku is the last major battle between the New Republic and the dying Empire, taking place roughly two years after the events of Return of the Jedi. The battle was first alluded to in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which shows Rey scavenging parts from the wreckage left behind on the desert planet. Up till now, this conflict was chronicled mainly in author Chuck Wendig's Star Wars: Aftermath novels and the video game Star Wars: Battlefront II.
The Battle of Jakku: Insurgency Rising promises to reveal much more about this pivotal Star Wars event and the actions of key heroes like Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa. The series will also introduce new Imperial characters as it explores the crippling power vacuum left after the deaths of Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine.
Here's Marvel's official description for the new series:
IN THE WAKE OF THE BATTLE OF ENDOR, CAN LUKE, LEIA AND THE NASCENT NEW REPUBLIC STAVE OFF AN UNEXPECTED — AND DEADLY — NEW THREAT?
A DEFIANT IMPERIAL takes center stage — and goes on the offensive against the NEW REPUBLIC! LEIA makes a startling discovery in the forests of ENDOR! Who are the mysterious and deadly ACOLYTES OF THE BEYOND?! What is the new villain’s connection to DARTH VADER? All this as the post-Return of the Jedi storytelling BEGINS!
Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising #1 will be released on October 2, 2024.
Star Wars fans can expect more news about the future of Lucasfilm's publishing line at SDCC this week. Will Marvel have more post-Return of the Jedi comics to reveal? Stay tuned to IGN as we learn more.
For more on this year's Comic-Con, check out the Marvel, Star Wars and Transformers figures Hasbro is selling at the show, and find out how to watch SDCC from home.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
