The inaugural issue, titled Tales of the Jedi: The Freedon Nadd Uprising 1, kicks off the comic book series Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi — The Freedon Nadd Uprising. Dark Horse Comics released it to the public on August 2, 1994.
With the Beast Wars concluded, the newly established Onderonian monarchy, along with their Jedi allies under the guidance of Master Arca Jeth, are preparing to move the sarcophagi of the dark siders. Jeth receives assistance from his apprentices Ulic Qel-Droma, Cay Qel-Droma, Tott Doneeta, and Master Thon's apprentice, Oss Wilum. Galia, the new Onderonian Queen, and her consort Oron Kira are determined to rid Iziz of the dark side's influence, left by Nadd and Amanoa. The Onderonian military has readied a tomb on the Dxun moon to house the remains of Nadd and Amanoa.
Before the remains of Nadd and Amanoa can be loaded onto a starship, a groundborer breaks through the spaceport's surface, unleashing several hundred Naddists led by Warb Null. While the Jedi and Iziz forces are distracted, a Naddist group manages to seize the sarcophagi and retreat underground into the city's deep sub-levels, which stretch for kilometers.
Master Arca detects a dark side presence emanating from Iziz's depths. Queen Galia proposes that her father, King Ommin, who has been confined to a life-support system for years, might be able to provide assistance. While Cay, Tott, and Oss Wilum secure the royal palace, Master Arca and Ulic accompany Galia to Ommin's facility. Arca demands the location of Freedon Nadd's sarcophagus, but a defiant Ommin reveals that Freedon Nadd is present with them.
The Force ghost of Freedon Nadd materializes, and Master Arca realizes that he is the source of the dark side influence in Iziz. Empowered by Freedon Nadd's spirit, Ommin reveals his true mobility by attacking Master Arca, rendering him unconscious. Warb Null enters and attacks Ulic, but the young Jedi quickly defeats and kills him. However, this allows Ommin the necessary time to abduct Master Arca.
Ulic and Galia return to the royal palace, only to find it under Naddist control. They reunite with Cay, Wilum, and King Oron, escaping on Drexls to Modon Kira's fortress in the wilderness to regroup. Tott also transports the Beast Riders to Kira's citadel. Recognizing their disadvantage against the dark side, Ulic decides to request reinforcements from the Republic and the Jedi Order.
In the meantime, Jedi Master Thon arrives on the planet Ossus alongside his new apprentice, Nomi Sunrider, and her daughter, Vima Sunrider. Ossus has been a Jedi learning center since ancient times. Master Thon introduces Nomi and Vima to Master Vodo-Siosk Baas, who is instructing Dace Diath in the construction of a lightsaber. While Thon takes Vima to play with other Jedi children, Vodo introduces Nomi to another Jedi student, Shoaneb Culu, who is also learning lightsaber construction.
After a week of instruction, Nomi completes a green lightsaber. Following several weeks of training, Nomi and other Jedi volunteer to rescue Master Arca from the Naddists on Onderon. Nomi, along with four other volunteers—Dace Diath, Shoaneb Culu, Kith Kark, and Qrrrl Toq—are selected for the mission. With Vima safe with the other Jedi children on Onderon, Nomi and her companions journey to Onderon to participate in the upcoming Second Battle of Onderon.
On Coruscant, the galactic capital, the Defense Minister and several senators are in debate over whether to send military support to Ulic on Onderon. Simultaneously, Satal and his cousin Aleema Keto, heirs to the Empress Teta system royalty and members of the Dark Side cult known as the Krath, visit the Galactic Museum where they discover a captivating Sith book.
Satal steals the book while the curator is not watching, and they return to their lodgings. Satal and Aleema are unable to decipher it. After seeing a news report about Sith practitioners still active in Iziz, the Ketos travel to Onderon to find these practitioners and unlock the secrets of their newly acquired book.
Upon exiting hyperspace, they discover Onderon blockaded by the Republic Navy, which has established a secure military zone. Defying the Republic blockade, the reckless Satal pilots the Tetan Royal Space Yacht Krath Enchanter through the Republic ships. When Aleema questions whether he is endangering them, Satal replies that he will not allow the Republic to reach the Sith magicians before they do.