Notice! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Battle of Jakku – Insurgency Rising #1-3Star Wars introduced an impressive roster of new villains that could only have emerged after Emperor Palpatine’s death in Return of the Jedi. As seen in the new, canonical Marvel Comics series, set immediately after the Battle of Endor, the Empire is reeling from the destruction of the second Death Star and the massive loss of leadership with the deaths of Palpatine and Darth Vader. To that end, new threats emerged, challenging the Rebellion that became the New Republic.
As seen so far in the book by Alex Segura and Leonard Kirk Star Wars: Battle of Jakku – Rise of the Insurgency #1-3some surviving Imperial leaders have followed the posthumous orders left by Palpatine in the event of his death, known as Operation Cinder. However, others chose to act as if the Empire was still thriving and not on the brink of absolute defeat, while still others chose to serve nothing more than the dark side itself. To this end, here are the new ones Star Wars villains that emerged in this new era of Star Wars timeline, many of whom could only have risen to power when Palpatine was (apparently) no longer around.
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 which debuted in previous Star Wars media. This notably includes Advisor Gallius Rax, Palpatine’s protégé, who was tasked with ensuring that Operation Cinder was carried out and the future of the Empire secured in accordance with the Emperor’s designs. Likewise, Grand Admiral Rae Sloane assisted Rax in Operation Cinder and his various bombing campaigns throughout the galaxy, having been in command of most of the surviving Imperial Navy after Endor. There’s also Yupe Tashu, once a member of Palpatine’s inner circle and now leader of a dark side cult known as the Acolytes of the Afterlife.
Battle of Jakku also debuts several new villains for the Star Wars canons such as Moff Adelhard and Commander Bragh, who blockaded the Anoat Sector with an Iron Blockade, as the Moff chose to live in desperate denial, refusing to let his sector accept that the Empire had suffered great losses. Likewise, there are also the long-lived Anzati Reyna Oskure and Yuan Howzell, both of whom serve the interests of the Acolytes of the Beyond.. Additionally, a new hooded, red lightsaber-wielding Inquisitor has also just made his debut among Adelhard’s forces.
An Imperial Power Vacuum Makes Perfect Sense After Palpatine’s Death
A Shattered Empire Creating Several New Threats
When it comes to addressing the question of where were all these new villains during the original Star Wars Galactic Civil War trilogy, the short and easy answer is that they hadn’t been created yet. That said, the more complex and in-universe answer is that many of these newly introduced characters were in fact part of the Empire during the original trilogy.. However, none of them really had the chance to rise to power and become the major figures they are now, when Palpatine and Darth Vader were still alive and in charge.
“All these new villains are gaining more prominence, especially 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 gaining greater prominence, particularly in Palpatine’s absence.. Although the fate of some of these enemies is already known, it will be fascinating to know what happens to all these new ones. Star Wars villains and their conflicts with the New Republic as this new series continues after Return of the Jedi.
Star Wars: Battle of Jakku – Rise of the Insurgency #1-3 are now on sale at Marvel Comics.