Star Wars Brings A Force-Sensitive Species Back into Official Canon (As The Bridge Between Original & Sequel Trilogies)

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising #1Star Wars has brought back a long-forgotten Force-sensitive species between the original and sequel trilogies. Having recently concluded its canonical comics set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Marvel has begun a new era of storytelling in the immediate aftermath of Endor that will lead up to the definitive Battle of Jakku. To that end, this new Star Wars series' first issue has revealed the return of the Anzati.

In Marvel Comics' Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising #1 by Alex Segura, Leonard Kirk, and Rachelle Rosenberg, dark forces react to the fall of the second Death Star and the demise of both Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader. This includes Yupe Tashu, a member of Palpatine's inner circle who leads the dark side cult known as the Acolytes of the Beyond. Seeking to end the "New Republic" before it can begin, Tashu meets with new Star Wars character Reyna Oskure who agrees to work with both the Acolytes of the Beyond and the Empire's Governor Adelhard.

Introduced as a brand-new villain to the Star Wars canon, it will be fascinating to see how Reyna will affect the overall timeline and the eventual future of the sequel trilogy. However, the reveal that Reyna Oskure is also a member of the Anzati species is notable in and of itself.

Reyna Confirms The Anzati Live For Centuries

Just Like The Original Force-Sensitive Species

In both Legends and minor references to their race made in the pre-existing Star Wars canon, the Anzati are a Force-sensitive and telepathic species capable of living for centuries. This is due to their ability to drain the life essences of other beings, extending their lives and satisfying their hunger with the energy they refer to as "soup" or "the sea of memory". While they've been referenced with some of their history being partly canonized, this new Star Wars series is certainly the most high-profile story they've ever been a part of in the official Star Wars continuity.

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Keeping that in mind, Legends' Anzati had hidden tentacle-like proboscises in their cheeks that extended to feed on their victims. However, it's thus far unclear if this is still the case for Reyna Oskure. She does look more vampiric than past depictions of the Anzati in Legends, which would be fitting and speaks to a potential visual change. However, readers likely won't be sure about the proboscises until Oskure is perhaps ready to feed once more.

Reyna Oskure Is Working With The Acolytes of the Beyond

Aiding The Empire and the Dark Side Itself

This issue also confirms that Reyna does agree to work with the Acolytes of the Beyond and the remnants of the Empire. That said, it certainly doesn't seem she's invested or loyal to either group, having lived long enough to witness the rise and fall of several empires, republics, and more. Instead, the Anzati seems more interested in serving the dark side of the Force itself. As such, it will be very exciting to see what Oskure does next alongside the Acolytes of the Beyond and the fractured Empire as this new Star Wars series continues.

Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.