More than six years after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker premiered, Marvel Comics has finally concluded its long-delayed adaptation of the film. Originally solicited in 2020 but canceled due to the pandemic, the series has now arrived with a fresh take on the finale of the Skywalker Saga. While the delay may have pushed it well past the film’s release, this comic adaptation isn’t just a rehash—it expands the story with new scenes, dialogue, and one major change fans have been asking for since the movie debuted.
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The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation's Biggest Change
Marvel’s adaptation aims to enrich the narrative, much like the novelization did, by including material absent from the film. Issue #5 delivers several meaningful additions. Readers witness Lando’s galaxy-wide broadcast as he calls allies to arms against the Sith Eternal fleet. There’s also a powerful depiction of Rey and Ben Solo strengthening their Force dyad bond through a psychic conversation.
But the most significant change occurs during Rey’s climactic confrontation with Emperor Palpatine on Exegol. In the film, she draws strength from the voices of past Jedi—Skywalkers, Obi-Wan, Mace Windu, Luminara Unduli, Ahsoka Tano, and Kanan Jarrus among them. While emotionally resonant, many fans were left wanting, especially given the visual cues suggesting a full Force Ghost ensemble that never materialized.
The comic rectifies this. In a striking upgrade, Rey is now physically joined by the Force Ghosts of these legendary Jedi, standing beside her in spectral form as she faces Palpatine.
Art by Will Sliney. (Image Credit: Marvel/Lucasfilm)
This moment elevates the scene with a cinematic grandeur the film only hinted at. While logistical challenges likely prevented the filmmakers from gathering every actor for a brief group shot, the comic faces no such limits—allowing it to deliver the visual payoff fans craved.
This isn’t the only instance where Force Ghosts appear where they didn’t in the movie. During the celebration on Ajan Kloss, Luke and Leia manifest together, sharing a quiet, heartfelt moment of sibling pride and banter. Given Carrie Fisher’s passing in 2016, J.J. Abrams had limited options for Leia’s role in the film. Both the novelization and this comic use their creative freedom to honor her legacy more fully, expanding her presence in the finale.
The Mystery of Ahsoka Tano
While the inclusion of Force Ghosts is a welcome upgrade, it also raises some lingering questions. The Star Wars canon has established that becoming a Force Ghost requires special training—knowledge passed from Qui-Gon Jinn to Yoda and Obi-Wan. So how are so many Jedi from the Prequel era—Mace Windu, Luminara Unduli, Aayla Secura, Ki-Adi-Mundi—now able to manifest? Is the Force making an exception for this pivotal moment, bending its own rules?
There’s also a noticeable inconsistency in how these spirits appear. Anakin and Obi-Wan are shown in their prime, as they appeared during the Clone Wars, while Luke appears as his older, cloaked self from Ahch-To. Why does Obi-Wan appear in his Ewan McGregor likeness rather than his Alec Guinness form, which has been his established ghostly appearance since Return of the Jedi?
Most puzzling of all is the inclusion of Ahsoka Tano. Her fate during the Sequel Trilogy era remains officially unresolved. Though Ashley Eckstein recorded a voice line for the film, it was never confirmed whether Ahsoka had died. Dave Filoni has since cast doubt on that idea. So what does her appearance here signify? Is she truly dead, or is this a case of Force projection—similar to how Luke appeared in The Last Jedi? Or is this simply a symbolic representation rather than a canonical event?
For now, Ahsoka’s post-Return of the Jedi journey remains unfinished. Rosario Dawson will return as Ahsoka in the upcoming second season of Star Wars: Ahsoka and in Dave Filoni’s live-action feature film, which may finally provide the answers fans are seeking.
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What do you think of the changes in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation? Do they enhance the story and deliver the closure fans deserve? Share your thoughts in the comments below. And don’t forget to stay updated on every upcoming Star Wars movie and series in development.
