Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Republic Under Siege #1

New Republic Era, the shattered Empire is attempting to regroup and strike back while the nascent New Republic struggles to establish itself as the new galactic government. To that end, the enemies of the new order recognize that Luke Skywalker exists as a key symbol of hope, one they want to see extinguished.

As seen in Marvel's new and canonical Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Republic Under Siege #3 by Alex Segura and Stefano Raffaele, Grand Moff Adelhard has begun making bolder moves against the New Republic, rather than simply locking down the Anoat Sector with his Iron Blockade. Defying the bulk of the Imperial Navy that has begun to assemble at Jakku under the guidance of Palpatine's protege Counselor Gallius Rax, Moff Adelhard has begun attacking the New Republic at its heart: Luke Skywalker.

Grand Moff Adelhard Has Hired Assassins To Kill Luke Skywalker

Wanting To Demoralize The New Republic

Prior to encountering Luke Skywalker in Battle of Jakku's preceding arc, Insurgency Rising, Grand Moff Adelhard believed the Force was nothing more than mysticism and parlor tricks. However, he's since come to respect its power and has even allied himself with the dark side cult known as the Acolytes of the Beyond (though the cult is truly allied only to the dark side itself). As such, Adelhard is determined to evolve and grow stronger, hoping to ensure that he will remain the victor in his war against Luke and the New Republic.

To that end, previous issues of Republic Under Siege saw Adelhard and the Acolytes making great efforts to keep Luke occupied while Adelhard builds his forces. This includes seeding the Outer Rim with fake Jedi relics and artifacts. That said, the new Republic Under Siege #3 features a hired Trandoshan assassin attacking Luke Skywalker himself on the New Republic's central world of Chandrila, right in front of Chancellor Mon Mothma and Luke's twin sister Leia Organa (who's pregnant with Luke's nephew and future apprentice Ben Solo).

Leia Gives Luke Skywalker An Epic New Name In The Star Wars Canon

"The Heart of the Republic"

Having been caught completely by surprise, Luke is momentarily at the Trandoshan's mercy before the bounty hunter is shot in the back by Leia herself. Likewise, Organa confirms that the attacker missed his one shot to strike at "The Heart of the Republic". Not only does this name for Luke confirm Leia's belief in her brother as a key symbol of the New Republic they're trying to build, but it also serves as the first time he's been directly referred to as such.

Currently in this new Star Wars series, Luke Skywalker is essentially the only public and known Jedi Knight in the entire galaxy. As such, it does follow that Luke become a major heroic symbol for the New Republic and the freedom that it stands for, glowing lightsaber and all. Conversely, it also makes sense that Adelhard would want to eradicate Luke and what he represents, not only crippling the New Republic by taking away one of its most effective heroes, but also removing much of its collective hope.

I Need More Stories With This Version Of Luke Skywalker

The Height Of His Jedi Heroism

With any luck, my sincere hope is that Lucasfilm will continue telling more stories set during this time period where Luke Skywalker is "The Heart of the Republic". After all, it's in stark contrast to the defeated and failed Jedi Master living in isolation he becomes by the time of the sequel trilogy. There's so much time in between where Luke Skywalker can be shown as the New Republic hero he was for years after the events of Return of the Jedi (before it all fell apart).

"There's so much time in between where Luke Skywalker can be shown as the New Republic hero he was for years after the events of Return of the Jedi (before it all fell apart)..."

New Republic Era comics like Battle of Jakku and Luke's appearances in both The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett are great examples where Luke Skywalker gets to be that symbolic hero, representing the best of what the New Republic stood for. To that end, I would love to see even more stories where Luke continues to serve as the New Republic's true heart, regardless of whether it's on-screen or on the page.

Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Republic Under Siege #3 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.