Comic Review: The Battle of Jakku – Republic Under Siege #1 (of 4)

Clarke’s direct cover for The Battle of Jakku: Republic Under Siege #1 feels like a movie poster as the heroes of the Rebellion are ready to fight against the remaining tyranny of the Empire. The composition is so beautiful, and the little details are cleverly incorporated to be quite subtle to let the characters shine. Meanwhile Izaakse’s variant is based on a moment from the story as Luke Skywalker squares off against the Acolytes of the Beyond in a swamp reminiscent of Dagobah. 

At the Battle of Endor the Empire fell. But that was only the beginning. While the Rebel Alliance has achieved a massive victory, the Imperial remnants are desperate to keep control of the galaxy or seize power for themselves. Grand Moff Adelhard attempted to blockade the Anoat sector but was ultimately thwarted by the New Republic with the help of Luke Skywalker. However, Adelhard didn’t die in the encounter and is back for revenge. Picking up after the events of Insurgency Rising, this new mini-series continues to delve into this area that has been explored during the Journey to the Force Awakens publishing, including the Aftermath series and Shattered Empire.

Adelhard was already delusional in Insurgency Rising, obsessing overpower and the might of the Empire. Defeat has only made him angrier and more dangerous, which Segura writes so brilliantly. A lot of Imperial villains are often led by their emotions, leading to poor choices in the heat of battle, but Adelhard is far more cunning. It makes him a worthy threat to the New Republic. It also helps to explain his absence from the Akiva Summit held by Grand Admiral Sloane.

That summit occurred in Life Debt, which this issue references a lot, and Adelhard’s distaste for a so-called Imperial democracy is very clear in Republic Under Siege. He believes in power for himself and isn’t willing to share. With the New Republic spread so thin over multiple sectors, he’s planning to crush them in a final clash – which we know will be the Battle of Jakku. It’s interesting to see the alliances he’s trying to forge, really highlighting how Adelhard is a different type of Imperial to ones we’ve seen previously, and Segura’s inner monologue of the character is absolutely fascinating.

Meanwhile on Chandrila we get a glimpse into Leia’s struggles as she tries to support Mon Mothma with actually building a New Republic. At this point in time both Han and Chewbacca are trying to free the Wookiee’s on Kashyyyk, so she’s very much alone. While Leia respects Mon’s point of view, I loved how Segura captured the tension between the two women. Mon is an idealist, and Leia is much more a revolutionary. They have different priorities for the galaxy, and you can feel Leia’s frustration. She wants the Empire gone before they start rebuilding, but Mon is adamant that a government must exist first.

This tumultuous time really shows how the victory at Endor was simply one battle. Even with Palpatine and Darth Vader gone, the Empire is still a strong power. They may have lost a lot of the fleet above Endor, but some of their greatest military leaders were elsewhere, so they live on to pester the New Republic. Republic Under Siege is the perfect accompaniment to the Aftermath trilogy, plugging in some gaps as to what was happening across the galaxy, and also offering new perspectives on what was occurring.

Back to bring this time to life are artists Raffaele and Morales, who did amazing work already on Insurgency Rising. It’s great to see them returning and adds a continuity to Republic Under Siege which makes it feel like both these series are just one comic run. There’s some fantastic use of perspective on the characters when they’re giving longer dialogues, really focusing in on their faces to enhance the drama of the moment. And Morales’ work in the second half of the story is the epitome of a villain backstory for Adelhard, framed in moody lighting, shadows, and smoke.

Republic Under Siege #1 hits the ground running and Segura clearly knows where he’s taking this story. It’s a compelling insight into an Imperial villain while never losing focus of the bigger picture for the New Republic. With references to Life Debt and a surprise cameo that fans will adore, it’s a thrilling read that only leaves you wanting more. Next month sees Luke facing giant swamp rats and Adelhard routing a traitor.