This post contains a preview for Star Wars: Jedi Knights #239 years after he was conceived, a major Jedi Grandmaster Yoda. Thanks to Marvel's new Jedi Knights series, new insights and adventures of the Jedi Order are being revealed in the years just before the prequels. This includes the debut of Yoda's new nemesis, who was originally envisioned as the next big bad after Emperor Palpatine.

In the new preview for controlled by none other than Atha Prime, a new Star Wars villain who nearly debuted in the galaxy far, far away almost four decades ago.

As this new preview suggests, something sinister is happening on Veeros other than mere crop harvesting, and Yoda intends to discover what that is. Likewise, Atha Prime is shown lurking in the shadows in what looks to be a secret laboratory where his real work is presumably being conducted.

Atha Prime Was A Rejected Star Wars Villain From Kenner Toys

A New Big Bad After Return of the Jedi And Original Clone Wars Architect

In the wake of Return of the Jedi in 1983, the Kenner toyline wanted to branch out with new Star Wars vehicles and characters not seen in the movies, connected to an all-new narrative taking place after the sequels in 1986. Much of this plot was centered around Atha Prime, an exiled genetic terrorist who returns to the galaxy following the Emperor's death. He was also going to be an original architect of the Clone Wars (back when the conflict was nothing but a reference in A New Hope).

Atha Prime's look was inspired by original concept art for Palpatine's royal guards. However, Lucasfilm was not yet ready to give Star Wars an Expanded Universe, and the proposal was rejected. Interestingly enough, future EU content would see the creation of Imperial Sentinels, hulking warriors who served Palpatine following his resurrection in Dark Empire, inspired by the same concept art that inspired Prime. To that end, Atha Prime largely became a distant memory, though certain Legends materials would feature a few loose/ambiguous references to his character.

Atha Prime Is Finally Canon (But There's A Cool Twist)

Debuting Before The Star Wars Prequels

Now, Marvel's Jedi Knights has made Atha Prime fully canon, albeit before the prequels in the Star Wars timeline. However, this will likely make him no less dangerous, and it already looks like he's been working on something dark and disturbing in the shadows of his operation on Veeros. To that end, it's going to be darkly fascinating to see what he's created (most likely the horde of monsters at the preview's beginning), as well as how he'll fare against Master Yoda when and if the duo ends up meeting face-to-face.

Star Wars: Jedi Knights #2 is on sale April 9th from Marvel Comics.

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  Star Wars

  Created by

  George Lucas

  First Film

  Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

  Cast

  Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal

  TV Show(s)

  The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions

  Movie(s)

  Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order

  Character(s)

  Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand iral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren

  Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.

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  Yoda

  Created By

  George Lucas

  Franchise

  Star Wars

  Died

  Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi

  Race

  Unknown

  Movies

  Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

  TV Shows

  Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels

  The aged Jedi Master had trained Jedi for 800 years by the time he met Luke Skywalker on the planet Dagobah. One of the most famed and revered Jedi, Yoda served as Grand Master of the Jedi Order for centuries; he was powerful enough to duel Darth Sidious himself, although he was defeated. Yoda exiled himself to Dagobah, where he learned how to become a Force Ghost and offered guidance to Luke Skywalker.

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