Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising #2Star Wars' newest post-Return of the Jedi series has perfectly woven itself into the already-known events following the Battle of Endor. While there's certainly still room for tales to be told during the year between the second Death Star's destruction and the Empire's final defeat on Jakku, some key figures and events have already been established thanks to novels and games. As such, Marvel's new and canonical series Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising has impressively slotted itself within the established canon, referencing these past Star Wars quite well.

Right off the bat, Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising #2 from Alex Segura, Leonard Kirk, and Rachelle Rosenberg ties into the canonical campaign story of EA's Battlefront II, specifically Luke Skywalker's post-Endor mission to the planet Pillio, having been guided by the Force to retrieve an old Jedi star com that had been held in one of Palpatine's secret observatories. It also reveals that Luke faced off with the Acolytes of the Beyond immediately after his encounter with Inferno Squdron's Del Meeko as seen in the 2017 game:

Likewise, this new issue also ties into Palpatine's posthumous plans for the Empire known as Operation Cinder, which was first mentioned in 2015's Shattered Empire series by Greg Rucka and Marco Checchetto, the first post-RoTJ series in the current canon.

Insurgency Rising Ties Incredibly Well With Events Seen In The Aftermath Novels & Battlefront II

The Battle of Endor Was Just the Beginning

Likewise, key Imperial figures such as Yupe Tashu, Grand iral Rae Sloane, and the red-caped Gallius Rax are all featured in this new series, connecting to the events of the Aftermath trilogy of novels by Chuck Wendig. In the established canon, Rae Sloane was a prominent Imperial leader who was instrumental in marshaling the fractured Empire together, at least up until the Battle of Jakku. Following an Imperial surrender, Sloane and Brendol Hux took the bulk of their forces into the Unknown Regions, eventually reforming as the First Order under the rule of Supreme Leader Snoke as seen in the sequel era.

Brendol Hux made his live-action debut with the Imperial Shadow Council in The Mandalorian season 3.

Additionally, Gallius Rax was a protégé of Palpatine himself, tasked with ensuring the Emperor's Great Contingency was carried out by the Empire in the event of his death. Born on Jakku, one of Rax's primary directives was to protect Palpatine's secret observatory on the desert world and to create the Imperial Shadow Council. Rax died during the Battle of Jakku which he helped orchestrate, though he ensured that the Empire would live on to become the First Order. As such, his and Sloane's presence in Insurgency Rising makes perfect sense (and is a most welcome surprise).

Governor Adelhard's Iron Blockade Was A Problem For The Rebels (And The Empire)

A Dangerous Mix of Loyalty, Denial, and Desperation

What makes Insurgency Rising so fascinating is how its events have been woven into what's already been established within this Star Wars period. This is particularly true with Governor Adelhard and his Iron Blockade surrounding the Anoat Sector. Thanks to Insurgency Rising #2, it's revealed that Adelhard is not aligned with the protocols of Operation: Cinder like the rest of the Empire. When Sloane and Rax discuss his actions, they confirm that Adelhard is living in a state of true denial due to his extreme loyalty, refusing to accept that the Empire has just suffered its greatest loss in its entire history.

Instead, Governor Adelhard is desperately acting like the old regime is still thriving, attempting to maintain a status quo that no longer exists. As such, it's very exciting that Adelhard has essentially gone rogue concurrently with the events of Operation Cinder, Luke's attempts to learn more about the Jedi, and the overall journey to the Battle of Jakku. He's truly become a major threat post-Return of the Jedi, one both the Rebellion and the rest of the Empire look eager to bring to an end in the issues to come.

Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising #2 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.