SDCC | Marvel’s Star Wars comics pick up after ‘Return of the Jedi’ with ‘Battle of Jakku — Insurgency Rising’

Marvel’s current Star Wars titles will end with the 50th issues of Star Wars and Darth Vader, and in the lead-up to the San Diego Comic Con, StarWars.com has revealed what will come next.

Just as the two previous eras of Star Wars comics were set after Star Wars: A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back, this one will take us beyond Return of the Jedi into that fertile, uncharted space between that film and The Force Awakens. And they’ll start with the infamous Battle of Jakku, the final confrontation between an Empire struggling on without its two leaders and the New Republic, aka the evolved Rebel Alliance. It’s also the battle that left the planet covered in dead starships, as seen in The Force Awakens.

The maxi-series Star Wars: Battle of Jakku — Insurgency Rising is by writer Alex Segura and artists Leonard Kirk, Stefano Raffaele and Jethro Morales.

“I cannot say a lot about this yet, but it’s been an absolute thrill to explore this period of time in the Star Wars story and to elevate a fun new villain, especially when paired with such amazing artistic collaborators,” Segura said in his newsletter.

Here’s the full description from StarWars.com:

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!

Phil Noto drew the cover for the first issue, seen above, as well as issues 2-4:

The first issue will arrive in stores Oct. 2. Expect more Star Wars comics and publishing news this Thursday, coming out of the San Diego Comic Con.

Update: Marvel.com has posted more about the story, which includes another quote from Segura:

“We’ll not only give readers a front-row seat to the final battle of the Galactic Civil War—we’ll reframe the aftermath of the Battle of Endor and introduce a new, menacing threat that will keep our heroes guessing,” he continued. “The goal for all of us is to turn up the volume and make sure this adventure stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the other stories of the era. As the Empire collapses, a new darkness arises!”