Atha Prime

Atha Prime
Descriptive information
Species	Humanoid

Atha Prime was a humanoid individual who wore armor and wielded a staff. By 32 BBY, Atha Prime came into conflict with Jedi Knights of the Jedi Order such as Yoda and Vetna Mooncrest.

Behind the scenes

"While developing the series, Marc discovered this deep cut—the antagonist from Kenner’s unrealized The Epic Continues toy line. We saw the original design and were immediately sold. What a cool character to bring into canon and what a perfect book to do it in!"

―Mark Paniccia on how Atha Prime became canon

Concept art for Atha Prime's original The Epic Continues version.

Atha Prime will first appear within the Star Wars canon in either the variant cover of the first issue of Star Wars: Legacy of Vader comic book written by Charles Soule series set for a February 5, 2025 release or the second issue of the Star Wars: Jedi Knights comic book series written by Marc Guggenheim. Atha Prime's entrance into canon was revealed at New York Comic Con 2024.

Within the Star Wars Legends continuity, Atha Prime originated from the unproduced The Epic Continues project, an original toyline planned by Kenner to keep producing Star Wars action figures after the release of the 1983 film Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, the last installment of the Star Wars original trilogy. With no more films on the horizon back then, Kenner developed a story where Prime would become the galaxy's biggest threat following Emperor Palpatine's death. The character would proceed to engage not only Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and the Alliance to Restore the Republic, but also a surviving Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin and his surviving Imperial forces following the Battle of Endor. Kenner's proposal was ultimately rejected by Lucasfilm though, who while grateful for their efforts, did not feel comfortable starting an Expanded Universe set after Return of the Jedi back then.

Commenting to ComicBook.com on how they chose to canonize Atha Prime, Marvel Comics senior editor Mark Paniccia stated that while developing the Jedi Knights series, Guggenheim discovered Prime's existence and the unrealized project he originated from, so when both saw Prime's original design, they felt "immediately sold" and deemed Prime a "cool character" to bring into canon with their comic book series as the "perfect book" to do it. Mark Paniccia shared a panels Atha Prime confronting and battling from Jedi Knights 2 on December 11 and December 18, 2024.

Appearances

• Jedi Knights 1 (First appearance) (Vision to Obi-Wan Kenobi)
• Jedi Knights 2
• Legacy of Vader 1 (Variant cover only)

Sources

• NYCC 2024: New 'Star Wars: Jedi Knights' Comic Series Announced at New York Comic Con on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link) (First mentioned)