One of Star Wars’ mysterious villains is returning after 40 years

40 years after his first birth, a Star Wars villain who never spent a day in the sun is back. Admittedly, this is an obscure character even by hardcore fan standards. This is as unknown as they come, but that only serves to make the character’s return more interesting.

Marvel Comics and Lucasfilm recently announced a new book titled “Star Wars: Jedi Knights.” The book is adapted from writer Marc Guggenheim (“Arrow”) and artist Madibek Mosabekov (“Star Wars”). In terms of the general timeline, it takes place in the Fall of the Jedi era before “Phantom danger” events. Aside from the rich storytelling proven by the prehistoric era, the book’s intrigue has more to do with making Atha Prime part of the official canon. Readers could be forgiven for not being familiar with that name, but he’s a villain whose roots go back to the mid-1980s after the release of Return of the Jedi.

Atha Prime was supposed to be an action figure released by Kenner to help keep Star Wars alive after the original trilogy ended. With toy sales declining, Kenner’s idea was to keep the story alive through toys. Atha Prime was meant to be the biggest villain in this abandoned story. Editor Mark Panicchia explained in A press release How did it all come about?

“While developing the series, Mark discovered this deep cut – the antagonist from Kenner’s unrealized ‘The Epic Continues’ toy line. We saw the original design and were instantly sold. What a great character to bring into canon and what a perfect book to do him in.” !

You can take a look at the character in the cover above. Aside from the toy packaging cover, there is also a cover that stands out on his large golden helmet. The character also appears on the cover of “Star Wars: Legacy of Vader,” which you can also check out below. Most importantly, Atha Prime now He joins the likes of “Shadows of the Empire” villain Prince Xizor As abandoned characters they were later brought into the official canon by Lucasfilm.

This isn’t the first time Lucasfilm has brought back an old character during the Disney era. Rather, the famous one Grand Admiral Thrawn makes his long-awaited return in ‘Star Wars Rebels’ Before he became the main villain in “Ahsoka”. The difference here is that Thrawn was part of the very popular “Heir to the Empire” novel trilogy. The same can’t be said for Atha Prime, who only the most die-hard fans know about.

So, who exactly is Atha Prime? Naturally, Guggenheim put his stamp on the character upon his official introduction. However, Keener said (per Bantha skull) Ahtha Prime was originally described as follows:

“A powerful force that has long lain in exile in a remote region of the galaxy has been released by the death of the Emperor. It now moves, like the plague, to secure control over the shattered remains of the Imperium and re-enslave the newly liberated worlds. Become Atha Prime, master of genetics, and ruler of the Dark Realms The architect of the Clone Wars, free again. His advanced army of combat clones has already destroyed Rebel positions along the galactic borders. His goal is to crush the Alliance forever Rebels and take over the galaxy.”

The mention of cloning is interesting A major factor in Palpatine’s resurrection following his death in Return of the Jedi. As for how Atha Prime will influence matters during an era of relative peace in the galaxy? We’ll have to wait for the book to arrive in March, but the series synopsis states that it will pair him with Obi-Wan Kenobi’s former master Qui-Gon Jinn.

“Star Wars: Jedi Knights” takes place before “The Phantom Menace” and stars legendary Prequel Trilogy icons like Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and more, including fan-favorite characters and an all-new Jedi. Each exciting installment follows a different Jedi duo on pivotal missions across the galaxy, with an overarching threat binding them together Who is a mysterious new villain targeting Qui-Gon Jinn for death, and how will it force them? Is the Jedi Order evolving for a new era?

Those interested can get the full story when “Star Wars: Jedi Knights” #1 hits shelves on March 5, 2025.