The Acolyte - Kelnacca 1 is a canon one-shot comic starring Jedi Master Kelnacca from the Disney+ television series Star Wars: The Acolyte. The issue was written by Cavan Scott, illustrated by Marika Cresta and Jim Campbell, and published by Marvel Comics on September 4, 2024.
Publisher's summary
KELNACCA FROM THE HIT DISNEY+ SERIES DEBUTS! CAVAN SCOTT and MARIKA CRESTA bring the action as Wookiee Jedi Kelnacca steps into the pages of his own issue! Delve deep into the history of Kelnacca and the world of the High Republic in this bombastic one-shot! Includes an exclusive interview with Kelnacca actor Joonas Suotamo.
Plot summary
- "'The Force will provide,' Master Elzar had said, and it did. It provided me with a master who was brave. Powerful. Silent."
- ―Master Yarzion describing Kelnacca
On the planet Tozil, Jedi Master Yarzion Vell lays in his deathbed, accompanied by his current Padawan, Ordea. She is conscious of her master's declining health, resulting in her training being incomplete. Master Yarzion soothes her worries, who reveals to his padawan that he faced a similar situation when his master passed. A century before Yarzion would lay in his deathbed, on the planet Eiram at the wreckage of Starlight Beacon, Yarzion runs to Jedi Master Elzar Mann, informing him of the loss of his Master, Lulad. Elzar comforts the padawan that his master has now joined The Force and is at peace. However, Yarzion is concerned about who will now complete his training, Elzar comforts him again, telling him that the Force always provides. Elzar introduces the padawan to Jedi Master Kelnacca, who travelled to Eiram as apart of the relief effort from Coruscant. Yarzion is thankful for Kelnacca taking up the rest of his training, but the Wookiee says nothing in response and returns to helping with the wreckage.
One year after the destruction of Starlight Beacon, Master Kelnacca and Padawan Yarzion are diploid on Vianax inside the Nihil Occlusion Zone. While aiding civilians, a group of children marvels over the powerful wookiee, finding him to be strong. One of the children asks Yarzion about the markings on his head, and what they mean, which he says they don't mean anything and returns back to the task at hand. Two years later, in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, Yarzion looks at a Hologram of his old master, Lulad. Unknown to him, Kelnacca oversees this and notices that Yarzion and his old master have the same head tattoos as each other. Yarzion explains to Ordea that the markings spelt Lulad's name in the language of his ancestors to show who their greatest teacher was. Yarzion chose to have the markings after a mission with his master, which Lulad walked in on. Yarzion was worried that she would be upset with this decision, but she reciprocated this tradition by having his name tattooed on her head. He explained to Kelnacca that Lulad believed that a master never stops learning, and their greatest lessons come from those they teach. Kelnacca stayed silent, and walked away from his padawan.
During Yarzion's last year of training, the two Jedi are assisting with a fire on the planet Veek. The two are sheltering a father and son from the flames, allowing them to escape. Kelnacca allows for Yarzion to escape the blaze before escaping himself. Outside the burning hut, the child Yesula is upset about leaving their droid Zeekay inside. The child explains that the droid has holos of his mother, and that the loss of the droid would feel like losing his mother again. Yarzion returns to the burning building and retrieves the droid for the family. Yarzion apologises to Kelnacca for making that decision, but he ignites his lightsaber and cuts off Yarzion's Padawan braid, making Yarzion a Jedi Knight.
Back in the present, Yarzion also mentions that Kelnacca wanted him to do something for the Wookiee. Ordea asks what that was, but Yarzion grows weaker, telling her to ask Kelnacca herself. The Wookiee Jedi appears to the two Jedi, appearing to see his old padawan one last time. Finally, after seeing Kelnacca again, Yarzion passes away. Kelnacca picks up Yarzion's body and carries him to a funeral pyre outside, cremating his old padawan's body. Ordea looks closely at the Jedi Master, seeing Kelnacca received markings similar to what Yarzion and Lulad had as well. Ordea asks Kelnacca if he would continue to train her, but feels it was an inappropriate request to make, when Kelnacca had come to pay respects. While walking away, Kelnacca ignites his lightsaber accepting Ordea as his padawan to finish her training.
Media
Cover gallery
Collected in
- Star Wars: The High Republic Phase III Vol. 2 – The Hunted
- Star Wars: The High Republic Phase III – Trials of the Jedi Omnibus
Appearances
| Characters | Organisms | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
|
Organisms
Events
|
Locations
|
Organizations and titles
|
Sentient species
|
Vehicles and vessels
|
Weapons and technology
|
Miscellanea
|
Sources
SDCC 2024: The Acolyte Publishing Program and Other Reveals from the Lucasfilm Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)- This Week! in Star Wars Dispatch: Outlaws, High Republic, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 227
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 228
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 STAR WARS: THE ACOLYTE – KELNACCA (2024) #1 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: The Acolyte: The Visual Guide establishes that Kelnacca was 149 years old at the time of the destruction of Starlight Beacon, which Star Wars: The High Republic Character Encyclopedia dates to 230 BBY. Star Wars: The Acolyte: The Visual Guide also establishes Kelnacca was 230 years old during the present day events of The Acolyte - Kelnacca 1, meaning the comic's events must occur around 149 BBY.
- ↑ The Acolyte - Kelnacca 1
