Notice! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Battle of Jakku – Republic Under Siege #1
Luke Skywalker twin sister just gave the Jedi Knight the name Mayor, and I think it's remarkable that we haven't heard this before. Set during the New Republic Era, the shattered Empire attempts to regroup and strike back as the nascent New Republic struggles to establish itself as the new galactic government. To that end, enemies of the new order recognize that Luke Skywalker exists as a key symbol of hope, which they wish to see extinguished.
As Seen in Marvel's New and Canon Star Wars: Battle of Jakku – Republic Under Siege #3 by Alex Segura and Stefano Raffaele, Grand Moff Adelhard began making bolder moves against the New Republic instead of simply blocking the Anoat Sector with his Iron Blockade. Defying the bulk of the Imperial Navy who had begun to gather on Jakku under the guidance of Palpatine's protégé, Councilor Gallius Rax, Moff Adelhard began attacking the New Republic in its heart: Luke Skywalker.
Grand Moff Adelhard hired assassins to kill Luke Skywalker
Wanting to demoralize the new republic
Before meeting Luke Skywalker in Battle of Jakku anterior arch, Rise of InsurgencyGrand Moff Adelhard believed that the Force was nothing more than mysticism and parlor tricks. However, he has since come to respect its power and has even allied himself with the dark side cult known as the Acolytes of the Beyond (although the cult is truly allied only with the dark side itself). As such, Adelhard is determined to evolve and grow stronger, hoping to ensure he remains victorious in his war against Luke and the New Republic.
To this end, previous editions of Republic under siege saw Adelhard and the Acolytes going to great lengths to keep Luke occupied while Adelhard built up his forces. This includes seeding the Outer Rim with fake Jedi relics and artifacts. That said, the new Republic under siege #3 features a hired Trandoshan assassin attacking Luke Skywalker himself on the New Republic hub world of Chandrila.right in front of Chancellor Mon Mothma and Luke's twin sister, Leia Organa (who is pregnant with Luke's nephew and future apprentice, Ben Solo).
Leia gives Luke Skywalker an epic new name in Star Wars canon
“The Heart of the Republic”
Having been taken completely by surprise, Luke is momentarily at the Trandoshan's mercy before the bounty hunter is shot in the back by Leia herself. Likewise, Organa confirms that the attacker missed the only shot to attack “The Heart of the Republic”. This name for Luke not only confirms Leia's belief in her brother as a key symbol of the New Republic they are trying to build, but it is also the first time he is directly referred to as such.
Currently in this new Star Wars series, Luke Skywalker is essentially the only public and known Jedi Knight in the entire galaxy. As such, it follows that Luke has become a great heroic symbol for the New Republic and the freedom it represents, shiny lightsaber and all.. On the other hand, it also makes sense that Adelhard would want to eradicate Luke and what he represents, not only crippling the New Republic by taking away one of its most effective heroes, but also removing much of its collective hope.
I need more stories with this version of Luke Skywalker
The height of his Jedi heroism
With any luck, my sincere hope is that Lucasfilm continues to tell more stories set during this period in which Luke Skywalker is “The Heart of the Republic.”. After all, this is in stark contrast to the defeated and failed Jedi Master living in isolation he becomes by the time of the sequel trilogy. There is a long time between Luke Skywalker being shown as the New Republic hero he was for years after the events of Return of the Jedi (before everything falls apart).
“There is a long time between Luke Skywalker being shown as the New Republic hero he was for years after the events of Return of the Jedi (before everything falls apart)…”
New Republic Era Comics as Battle of Jakku and Luke's appearances in both THE Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett are great examples of where Luke Skywalker becomes that symbolic herorepresenting the best of what the New Republic represented. To that end, I'd love to see even more stories where Luke continues to serve as the true heart of the New Republic, regardless of whether he's on screen or on the page.
Star Wars: Battle of Jakku – Republic under siege #3 is now on sale at Marvel Comics.