This post contains a preview forStar Wars: Jedi Knights #239 years after he was conceived, a majorStar Warsvillain is finally being brought into the canon to fightJedi Grandmaster Yoda. Thanks to Marvel’s newJedi Knightsseries, new insights and adventures of the Jedi Order are being revealed in the years just before the prequels. This includes the debut of Yoda’s new nemesis, who was originally envisioned as the next big bad after Emperor Palpatine.
In the new preview forJedi Knights #2by Marc Guggenheim and Madibek Musabekov, Yoda and Jedi Knight Vetna Mooncrest are investigating troubling reports on the remote moon of Veeros. While the first page sees the duo surrounded by a horde of alien creatures, the following pages backtrack to just a few hours prior when the Jedi first landed on the moon which iscontrolled by none other than Atha Prime, a newStar Warsvillain who nearly debuted in the galaxy far, far away almost four decades ago.
As this new preview suggests, something sinister is happening on Veeros other than mere crop harvesting, and Yoda intends to discover what that is.Likewise, Atha Prime is shown lurking in the shadows in what looks to be a secret laboratory where his real work is presumably being conducted.
Atha Prime Was A Rejected Star Wars Villain From Kenner Toys
In the wake ofReturn of the Jediin 1983,the Kenner toyline wanted to branch out with newStar Warsvehicles and charactersnot seen in the movies, connected to an all-new narrative taking place after the sequels in 1986.Much of this plot was centered around Atha Prime, an exiled genetic terrorist who returns to the galaxy following the Emperor’s death. He was also going to be an original architect of the Clone Wars (back when the conflict was nothing but a reference inA New Hope).
Star Wars: Yoda’s 8 Best Lightsaber Fights in History, Ranked
While they’re pretty rare, here are some of Grandmaster Yoda’s best lightsaber battles across the Star Wars timeline, ranked (on-screen and comics).
Atha Prime’s look was inspired by original concept art for Palpatine’s royal guards. However,Lucasfilm was not yet ready to giveStar Warsan Expanded Universe, and the proposal was rejected. Interestingly enough, future EU content would see the creation of Imperial Sentinels, hulking warriors who served Palpatine following his resurrection inDark Empire,inspired by the same concept art that inspired Prime.To that end, Atha Prime largely became a distant memory, though certain Legends materials would feature a few loose/ambiguous references to his character.
Atha Prime Is Finally Canon (But There’s A Cool Twist)
Debuting Before The Star Wars Prequels
Now, Marvel’sJedi Knightshas made Atha Prime fully canon, albeit before the prequels in theStar Warstimeline. However, this will likely make him no less dangerous, and it already looks like he’s been working on something dark and disturbing in the shadows of his operation on Veeros. To that end, it’s going to be darkly fascinating to see what he’s created (most likely the horde of monsters at the preview’s beginning), as well as how he’ll fare against Master Yoda when and if the duo ends up meeting face-to-face.
Star Wars: Jedi Knights #2is on sale April 9th from Marvel Comics.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
Yoda
The aged Jedi Master had trained Jedi for 800 years by the time he met Luke Skywalker on the planet Dagobah. One of the most famed and revered Jedi, Yoda served as Grand Master of the Jedi Order for centuries; he was powerful enough to duel Darth Sidious himself, although he was defeated. Yoda exiled himself to Dagobah, where he learned how to become a Force Ghost and offered guidance to Luke Skywalker.
