Star Wars Rebels Servants of the Empire: Rebel in the Ranks

Welcome to the Imperial Academy, where soldiers emerge from a crucible designed to weed out the weak and forge the future of the Empire. But new cadet Zare Leonis is there for another reason: to find out what happened to his missing sister. As Zare and his girlfriend attack the system from different sides, Zare crosses paths with a fellow cadet that could endanger his mission—and much, much more.

Rebel in the Ranks accomplishes a lot in its relatively few pages, introducing an entire academy of characters and a new generation of tough kids fighting the Empire in their own ways. Zare is an immensely likable protagonist, making his undercover mission far more interesting and compelling than other characters might.

As part of an ongoing series—with ties to a greater TV-and-literature universe—Rebel in the Ranks manages to feel like its own, self-contained story, not just random puzzle pieces tied by a lackluster narrative. Even as better-known names emerge later, Zare remains our centerpiece, stealing the show and adding another notable hero to a franchise with no shortage of great characters.