Atha Prime
Atha Prime was a humanoid being who was clad in armor and carried a staff. Around 32 BBY, Atha Prime entered into a state of conflict with Jedi Knights from the Jedi Order, including figures such as Yoda and Vetna Mooncrest.
Behind the scenes
Atha Prime is scheduled to make their initial Star Wars canon appearance in either the variant cover of the first issue of the Star Wars: Legacy of Vader comic book written by Charles Soule series, which is scheduled for release on February 5, 2025, or the second issue of the Star Wars: Jedi Knights comic book series penned by Marc Guggenheim. The revelation of Atha Prime's canon debut occurred at New York Comic Con in 2024.
Within the Star Wars Legends timeline, Atha Prime originated from The Epic Continues, an unrealized project. This was an original toyline that Kenner had planned to continue producing Star Wars action figures following the release of the 1983 film Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, the concluding film of the Star Wars original trilogy. With no new movies planned at the time, Kenner conceived a narrative where Prime would evolve into the galaxy's most significant menace after Emperor Palpatine's death. The character would then confront not only Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and the Alliance to Restore the Republic, but also a surviving Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin and his remaining Imperial forces after the Battle of Endor. However, Lucasfilm ultimately declined Kenner's proposal, expressing gratitude for their efforts but feeling hesitant to initiate an Expanded Universe set after Return of the Jedi at that time.
Marvel Comics senior editor Mark Paniccia told ComicBook.com that while working on the Jedi Knights series, Guggenheim discovered Prime's existence and the original project that he was created for, so when they both saw Prime's original design, they were "immediately sold" and considered Prime a "cool character" to introduce into canon with their comic book series, viewing it as the "perfect book" to do so. Mark Paniccia shared panels of Atha Prime confronting and fighting from Jedi Knights 2 on December 11 and December 18, 2024.