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Atha Prime is back. He’s both a forgotten Star Wars character (that never actually was) and the new villain of Star Wars: Jedi Knights.
From Kenner to 2025
Did you know that there was a ‘sequel’ Star Wars action figure line planned in the ’80s that never saw the light of day? Well, there was, and it was a series of toys that manufacturer Kenner meant to fill in the gap that existed after Return of the Jedi capped the film trilogy.
While some familiar heroes and villains would no doubt have appeared, wholly new characters were planned as well. Those included arch-villain Atha Prime, a menacing foe for Luke Skywalker and company, who wore red robes and a unique armored helm.
But, as mentioned, that wasn’t to be, and both The Epic Continues and Atha Prime would tumble into the dustbin of history. Til now. No, the line isn’t coming back, but Atha is, and it’s thanks to Marvel Comics’ newest title, Star Wars: Jedi Knights.
Flipping the script for the character of Atha Prime, Star Wars: Jedi Knights won’t follow Return of the Jedi, but will instead tell stories from the years before The Phantom Menace. That’s to mean that there are no Clone Wars yet, and the Jedi Order is exactly what fans have always been told it was: a group of peacekeepers.
The title will be written by Marc Guggenheim with art from Madibek Musabekov, and will debut with a special variant cover displaying what Atha Prime might’ve looked like as a Kenner figure. Joining that option is a second variant, this time foiled and with a closeup on Atha’s gold helmet.
“While developing the series, Marc discovered this deep cut—the antagonist from Kenner’s unrealized The Epic Continues toy line,” Editor Mark Paniccia explained. “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!”
Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and acclaimed Star Wars comics writer Marc Guggenheim and rising star artist Madibek Musabekov will introduce the character as a mysterious planet’s tyrannical ruler who boldly opposes the Republic and the Jedi Order. Befitting his legacy, ATHA PRIME is spotlighted on John Tyler Christopher’s Action Figure Variant Cover for STAR WARS: JEDI KNIGHT #1 and will also be featured on Ramon Rosanas’ Foil Variant Cover. ATHA PRIME was also previously teased on Rosanas’ “Sneak Preview” variant cover for Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #1.
Marvel Comics press release
It’s going to be a whole new era of action, when Star Wars: Jedi Knights #1 hits the racks this coming March 5th.
