When Star Wars was bought by Disney, the first thing Lucasfilm did was begin filling in the blanks between episodes with movies like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Rogue One was a particularly clever take on the prequel concept. It introduced an entire cast of characters, but it didn't create them with a new trilogy in mind. Instead, Rogue One was a story of sacrifice, the tale of the unsung heroes that made the first trilogy of Star Wars possible, with an ending that ran directly into the opening moments of 1977's Star Wars: A New Hope.
But while viewers learned of the heroism of characters like Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), the characters from the original trilogy remained blissfully unaware. For Luke Skywalker, the fight was one he accidentally fell into. But Skywalker also had another calling, that of a Jedi Master. Those two demands are part of what drives his arc in both the original trilogy and the new one. But in 2018's Star Wars #42, writer Kieron Gillen and artists Salvador Larocca and Guru-eFX reveal how learning about the events of Rogue One was part of that internal divide.
The Ashes of Jedha
Star Wars #42 is a pivotal issue of the run of comics headed by Gillen, starting with #38. The main thrust involves Han Solo and shows what changed his mind between the end of A New Hope, when he was still doubtful about joining the Rebellion, and The Empire Strikes Back, where he's risen to the rank of general. But it also focuses on Luke Skywalker's struggle between choosing the Rebellion and choosing to follow in his father's footsteps.
Luke Skywalker heads to Jedha, the "Pilgrim Moon" located in the galaxy's Mid Rim. This planet was introduced in Rogue One and is where Jyn and Cassian meet the warrior Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus. It's also where Saw Gerrera set up his headquarters after the fall of the Jedi Order. And as fans will remember, it was also the testing ground for the newly minted Death Star's super laser. Orson Krennic had planned to use it to destroy an entire planet, but Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin overruled him, taking out the Holy City instead.
A Mission to Scarif
When Luke arrives on the devastated planet, he discovers that despite the horror that ravaged the planet in the Empire's wake, there are still survivors eking out an existence on the surface. One of them, Ubin Des, was initially supposed to be part of Jyn's mission. Unfortunately, she became ill and didn't go to Scarif as planned. Her survivor's guilt for not being part of those who sacrificed their lives has driven her to commit to the survivors of Jedha.
Luke has heard of Rogue One, but the recounting of the suicidal mission to bring Leia the Death Star plans is the first time he learns about it in detail from someone who was there. "Those who were good enough to disobey orders to do the right thing went and died. Those who didn’t go are still here," Ubin tells Luke.
Luke's Decision
Though his vision on Hoth cements Luke's choice to go to Dagobah, it doesn't come easy. Meeting Des on Jedha reminds Luke of the importance of the Rebellion's work, and it's why he stays fighting up until the attack on Hoth. It's also one of the many times Luke finds himself torn between the Jedi and the Great Good of the Galaxy, before his ultimate sacrifice in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, when he discovers it's possible to do right by both.