Star Wars Fixes Its Prequel Trilogy With a Phantom Menace Retcon

Few Star Wars movies were as divisive upon release as the first prequel trilogy movie, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. While there were plenty of reasons for that, nothing symbolized the controversy more than Jar Jar Binks. This is why it’s so surprising that, 27 years after the movie’s release, Jar Jar is getting a bit of redemption.

Jar Jar’s redemption comes courtesy of the new Jar Jar Binks #1 courtesy of Marc Guggenheim, Kieran McKeown, Laura Braga, and Jar Jar Binks’ original actor Ahmed Best. The new comic takes place between episodes II and III, and features Jar Jar as a senator trying to atone.

While fans might balk at the concept of a Jar Jar solo story, or may think it’s a joke, the book is giving Jar Jar the rehabilitation he’s always needed.

Jar Jar Binks Ranks Among Star Wars’ Most Controversial Characters

Originally debuting in Episode I, Jar Jar Binks was largely played as comic relief. Whether it be due to fan backlash or possibly the character just outliving his usefulness, he was barely featured at all in episodes II and III. Unfortunately, when he was shown, it was committing a mistake that may have doomed the galaxy.

Notably, it’s shown in Episode II that Jar Jar is the deciding vote on making Palpatine the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. This single action essentially sets up Palpatine’s reign of terror as he becomes a dictator who is quick to quash opposition.

Jar Jar’s instrumental role in giving Palpatine power has not helped the character’s reputation. Fans were so baffled by this decision that it spawned the popular Darth Jar Jar theory, which suggested that Jar Jar was actually another secret apprentice of Palpatine’s, and that Jar Jar’s critical vote was made with the full knowledge of its vast consequences.

Jar Jar Is Finally Making His Comeback

Jar Jar Binks speaking to the galactic senate in Star Wars.

Possibly due to his infamy, Jar Jar has had a rough go of it even outside of Star Wars’ prequel trilogy movies.

Most infamously, Jar Jar Binks’ father, George R. Binks, was the main subject of a short story appearing in Star Wars Tales #20, which was published in 2004. That (now non-canon) comic showed that Jar Jar was such a disappointment to his father that the elder Gungan was almost driven to suicide.

Fortunately, after years of disrespect, Jar Jar is finally getting a bit more respect. Notably, Jar Jar actor Ahmed Best portrayed the Jedi Kelleran Beq in Star Wars: Jedi Challenge and later in The Mandalorian, finally giving the actor a bigger role in Star Wars. Now, however, Best’s two characters are finally getting a chance to meet.

Star Wars’ Jar Jar Finally Gets His Time To Shine

In 2026’s Star Wars: Jar Jar Binks #1, Jar Jar finally gets a chance at redemption.

The new Star Wars comic sees Jar Jar meet up with Beq on the mining planet Urubai, pivotal to Palpatine’s plans for military dominance. The miners are being worked to death, and the threat of over-mining could have disastrous consequences for Urubai and its people.

Even here, however, the seeds of resistance are growing. Beq requests Jar Jar’s help in essentially building a secure communication network that Palpatine and his forces can’t intercept.

After Palpatine puts Jar Jar in charge of Urubai, the Gungan Senator is finally put in a position to undo some of the damage he’s inflicted upon the Galaxy. While Jar Jar might not have started the rebellion himself, it’s clear from this issue that he and Beq are two of the many sparks that eventually ignite the true rebellion.

Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars The Phantom Menace

While some might balk at the idea of giving Jar Jar any depth, that’s exactly what Jar Jar #1 does.

Despite his comedic nature and his simple personality, Jar Jar is absolutely key to Star Wars’ history both on a thematic and plot level. His vote to empower Palpatine exposes just how easy it is for even the purest individuals to fall for the lies of fascism.

Now, in Jar Jar #1, fans of the franchise finally get to see the Gungan Senator reckon with his choice. Jar Jar isn’t exactly a character built for heavy emotional stories, but it’s still clear throughout the comic that Jar Jar recognizes his mistake and is eager to do something to help.

Star Wars has featured a few starts for the rebellion throughout its lengthy history. Notably, Andor shows the state of the rebellion right before A New Hope, while Solo shows that the Rebels actually predate the Empire.

It takes all kinds of people from all walks of life to truly make a rebellion successful

Taking all this together with everything shown in Star Wars: Rebels, it’s clear that the franchise is saying something fairly consistent about fighting oppression. It takes all kinds of people from all walks of life to truly make a rebellion successful.

Jar Jar helping establish the infrastructure needed to create the Rebellion might not undo his past mistake, but it is still a necessary step when it comes to setting things right and achieving balance. Somehow, Jar Jar Binks just became the face of resistance in Star Wars, and it’s proof that Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace shouldn’t be discarded out of hand.