Six years after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker premiered in theaters, Marvel Comics has at last delivered its full comic adaptation of the final Skywalker Saga film. While arriving notably late—the series was initially announced in 2020 before being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic—Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation still manages to offer something fresh. This version incorporates scenes and dialogue not present in the original movie, including a key change that fans have long requested.
Continue reading to discover which pivotal moment unfolds differently in the final issue, and why this adjustment introduces some intriguing new questions.
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The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation's Biggest Change
Similar to the earlier novelization, Marvel’s adaptation doesn’t simply retell the film's plot—it adds new scenes and dialogue that enrich the story. Issue #5 alone brings several important alterations. Readers get to witness the message Lando transmits across the galaxy as he rallies a fleet to battle the Sith Eternal armada. Additionally, the issue depicts Rey and Ben Solo speaking psychically through the Force as their dyad bond grows stronger.
Yet the most significant change occurs during the climactic scene where a battle-weary but resolute Rey confronts a rejuvenated Emperor Palpatine in his Sith temple on Exegol. In the theatrical version, Rey draws strength from hearing the voices of past Jedi—ranging from Skywalkers like Anakin and Luke to celebrated figures from the Clone Wars era, such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luminara Unduli, and Mace Windu, to characters like Ahsoka Tano and Kanan Jarrus.
Although that moment honors the lasting legacy of the Jedi, many fans expressed disappointment that these appearances were limited to voiceovers. While the film’s shot of Rey visually suggested space for an assembly of Force Ghosts, none actually appeared. This is where the comic addresses that criticism, with Rey now physically joined by the spirits of the Jedi on Exegol:
This undoubtedly creates a more striking visual moment. It’s a pity the movie didn’t take this approach, though coordinating so many actors for a brief group shot would have been a major challenge.
Additionally, issue #5 inserts Force Ghosts in other scenes where they were absent in the film. For example, after the battle on Ajan Kloss, Luke and Leia appear to observe their friends with pride and share a lighthearted exchange.
Director J.J. Abrams faced limitations with Princess Leia due to the untimely passing of Carrie Fisher in 2016. Both the novelization and the comic, however, are free from such constraints, allowing them to expand Leia’s role in the Sequel Trilogy’s conclusion.
The Mystery of Ahsoka Tano
However welcome this Force Ghost moment may be, it also invites some tricky questions. For one, how can so many Jedi from the Prequel era manifest as Force Ghosts? The franchise has established that appearing as a Force Ghost isn’t an inherent ability—it requires specialized training, initially discovered by Qui-Gon Jinn and later passed to Yoda and Obi-Wan. Why, then, can figures like Mace Windu, Luminara Unduli, Aayla Secura, and Ki-Adi-Mundi appear now? Is the Force making an exception for this extraordinary occasion?
Another point of confusion is the varying ages of the ghosts depicted. Why do Anakin and Obi-Wan appear in their prime from the Clone Wars era, while Luke looks older and worn, as he did during his exile on Ahch-To? When has Obi-Wan’s spirit ever appeared as Ewan McGregor rather than Alec Guinness?
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Perhaps the most pressing question surrounds Ahsoka Tano, whose fate during the Sequel Trilogy era remains unknown. Ashley Eckstein, who voiced Ahsoka in The Clone Wars and Rebels, recorded a line for the film (before Rosario Dawson was cast in the live-action role)—yet it was unclear whether this indicated Ahsoka had died. Dave Filoni has since cast doubt on that interpretation.
Does Ahsoka’s appearance as a Force Ghost here confirm her death? Or could she be projecting herself through the Force, as Luke did during his final confrontation with Kylo Ren in The Last Jedi? Lucasfilm has yet to clarify the matter. Currently, Ahsoka’s story after Return of the Jedi is still evolving. Dawson will return as the character in the second season of Star Wars: Ahsoka, and she is expected to play a significant part in Filoni’s upcoming live-action Star Wars film.
What are your thoughts on the revisions in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation? Do they enhance the narrative? Share your opinion in the comments. And don’t forget to catch up on all the Star Wars movies and series currently in development.
