I know a lot of hardcore Star Wars fans have been enjoying Marvel's Battle of Jakku comic series, covering the final battle of the Galactic Civil War, and inaugurating the franchise's post-Return of the Jedi era – but I have to it, I have been struggling with the story, and I'm ready for the comics to move on to something new.

Over the past several months, Marvel has put out a trilogy of miniseries covering the lead up to, and the pivotal action of, the infamous Battle of Jakku. For me, it has illustrated the fine line the franchise's comics have to walk.

While die-hard fans may appreciate the in-depth exploration of Star Wars lore that Marvel's Star Wars comic line offers, such detailed extrapolations may not always align with what casual fans need, want, or are equipped to fully understand.

The Battle Of Jakku Is A Pivotal Point In Star Wars History, But I'm Struggling With Marvel's Comic Series About It

Star Wars: Battle Of Jakku – Insurgency Rising #1-4, Available Now From Marvel Comics

In some cases, Star Wars comics’ depictions can even have the opposite of their intended effect; rather than capturing the hearts and minds of new or casual Star Wars fans, they risk alienating them. This is exactly what happened to me – for the sake of this article, let's classify me as a "semi-hardcore" Star Wars fan – when I encountered Marvel's exploration of the Battle of Jakku; Instead of an exciting, detailed depiction of a pivotal moment in the history of the galaxy, I have instead for the series to be off-putting.

The Battle of Jakku is one of the most significant events in Star Wars history. In many ways, it's a bridge between "death" of Emperor Palpatine.

Given its importance, it deserved coverage, but I'm honestly a bit surprised by the way Marvel decided to go about it. Considering how the Star Wars comic line has handled other significant events not depicted elsewhere, Marvel seemed like the best place to tell its story. Marvel, consistent with its approach to other explorations of the Star Wars saga, Marvel has chosen to depict the events of the Battle of Jakku through limited series, but rather than focusing on a single series, Marvel released three separate four-issue limited series.

Marvel Had The Right Intentions For Its "Battle Of Jakku" Series, But I Think The Delivery Was Flawed

Star Wars: Battle Of Jakku – Republic Under Siege #1-4, Available Now From Marvel Comics

The first limited series, Star Wars: Battle of Jakku – Insurgency Rising, describes the regrouping of Imperial forces after Endor, and the decision by its leaders to use Jakku as the base for launching efforts to regain control. The second, Star Wars: Battle of Jakku – Republic Under Siege, examines the Empire's resilience without its Sith overlords and the New Republic's challenges in establishing full control. Finally, Star Wars: Battle of Jakku – Last Stand details the final confrontation between the Empire and the New Republic.

I'd argue much of the blame falls on Marvel for failing to make the story compelling enough to overcome the casual fan's resistance to the intricate minutiae of Star Wars lore.

Marvel's fragmented approach is where the problem with their coverage of the Battle of Jakku begins; the issue for the interested but casual Star Wars fan with Marvel's extensive coverage of Jakku across three limited series is that it's far too easy to lose interest – and ultimately disengage – because, to put it mildly, I feel as though the story has boring, especially after its importance has been built up so much over the past decade. ittedly, part of the problem lies with casual fans preferring a broader, more global perspective on the Star Wars saga.

However, I'd argue much of the blame falls on Marvel for failing to make the story compelling enough to overcome the casual fan's resistance to the intricate minutiae of Star Wars lore. Marvel's approach to this series has several drawbacks. First, the series focuses on lesser-known characters. While Luke Skywalker and Doctor Aphra play larger roles in Republic Under Siege, much of the story centers on individuals within the Imperial and Republican forces, such as Grand Moff Adelhard, Commander Braugh, Reyna Oskure, and Rynn Zenat who were directly involved in the battle.

Don't Hate Me, But I Honestly Think Marvel Could Have Done So Much Better With "Jakku"

Star Wars: Battle Of Jakku – Last Stand #1-4, Available Now From Marvel Comics

Naturally, casual fans do not know much about these characters, and that emphasis on secondary characters can alienate casual fans unfamiliar with their backstories. Indeed, without additional context, such as tie-ins with other Star Wars comics, these characters feel one-dimensional and unengaging. Furthermore, since many of these characters don't play significant roles in the larger Star Wars saga, casual fans lack incentive to invest in their stories. Marvel could have addressed this —just as they have with other characters— by giving these individuals greater focus. However, this is nearly impossible to achieve within the constraints of a limited series.

Marvel chose what could be called "Option C" —a mid-range series that is too esoteric for casual fans but likely too shallow for die-hard enthusiasts.

A second drawback of Marvel’s approach to the event is that, while the Battle of Jakku is a major event in Star Wars continuity, it is just one among a plethora of other significant events and battles. Accordingly, Marvel had two options to effectively explore it. On one hand, they could have dedicated a maxi-series to its exploration. This approach, clearly aimed at die-hard Star Wars fans, would allow for a more detailed treatment of the battle, including a deeper dive into the personalities and politics involved.

Alternatively, Marvel could have opted for a single 4-issue miniseries that outlined the battle without delving into excessive detail. This approach would have catered to casual Star Wars fans, offering just enough supplemental information to enhance the larger narrative without overwhelming them. Instead, Marvel chose what could be called "Option C" —a mid-range series that is too esoteric for casual fans but likely too shallow for die-hard enthusiasts. Unfortunately, this drawn-out event has left many fans frustrated, souring them on Star Wars comics, even though they were previously avid readers.