Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #3
Star Warshas revealed that someone was pullingKylo Ren’sstrings betweenThe Last JediandRise of Skywalker, before Palpatine and after Snoke. As seen in the new and canonicalLegacy of Vaderseries, Kylo Ren has been exploring the past and history of his grandfather, seeking to achieve the same kind of power Darth Vader once wielded in the dark side. However, this is easier said than done, and someone has been working behind the scenes to motivate a dark evolution for the new Supreme Leader.
As was seen inLegacy of Vader #2by Charles Soule and Luke Ross, Kylo agreed to visit Tatooine at the request ofDarth Vader’s old servant Vaneéand the caretaker of the Dark Lord’s fortress on Mustafar. Learning about Vader’s history and the crucible of his past, Kylo Ren eventually determines to kill Gardulla, the Hutt crime lord who once owned Anakin and his mother as slaves.However, the newLegacy of Vader #3confirms that this was all a master manipulation to break Kylo Ren and teach him a dark truth about Vader’s power:
Having been captured and chained in Gardulla’s dungeons at the end ofLegacy of Vader #2,this new issue confirms Gardulla made a deal to break the Supreme Leader, supporting earlier teases that Vaneé himselfwantedKylo Ren to be captured and tortured on Tatooine.
Vaneé Has Been Secretly Manipulating Kylo Ren
Showing The Supreme Leader How To Wield Darth Vader’s Power
InLegacy of Vader #2,it was Vaneé who pointed Kylo in the direction of Gardulla and got him riled up about her connection to his grandfather’s past. Likewise, Vaneé also called ahead to warn that Kylo Ren was coming and angry, withLegacy of Vader #3confirming thatGardulla was ready for Kylo’s arrival, using her own powerfully Force-sensitive henchman to overpower the Supreme Leader and take his lightsaber.That being said, it seems as though Vaneé’s secret manipulations are genuinely well-intentioned, seeking to teach Kylo Ren.
Thanks to Vaneé’s deal with Gardulla, Kylo Ren was broken and subjected to hallucinogens,resulting in a vision where Kylo Ren spoke with Darth Vader himself. As such, it’s apparent that Vaneé wanted Kylo Ren to reach within himself to tap into new levels of power and rage, allowing him to free himself without aid or support.Learning that there was purity in the power of being alone, the result was Kylo Ren becoming that much more like Darth Vader, whose power also came from no one but himself.
Will Kylo Ren Discover The Truth About Vaneé?
The End Of Their Journey May Not Be Pleasant…
Despite Vaneé’s well-intentioned desire to teach Kylo Ren and help him grow in his dark side power, he still cut a secret deal to have the Supreme Leader captured and tortured by a Hutt crime lord.To that end, there could very well be some dark consequences when and if Kylo Ren ever learns the truth about Vaneé’s secret manipulations behind the scenes, effectively becoming a de facto new master to Kylo Ren using Vader’s legacy to help him evolve. Regardless, it’s going to be fascinating to learn what Vaneé has planned next for Kylo Ren on his grandmother’s homeworld of Naboo.
Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #3is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
The son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Ben was manipulated by Palpatine through the Force for most of his life, influenced toward the dark side of the Force. A misstep by Luke Skywalker ultimately left Ben feeling he had no choice but to embrace the dark side, and he became Kylo Ren, a key figure in the First Order. Kylo Ren’s heart remained deeply divided, however, even after he ascended to become Supreme Leader of the First Order. He was ultimately redeemed by Rey, with whom he shared a remarkable Force bond, and by the love of his parents.
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Conceived by the will of the Force itself, Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring the Force into balance. Anakin struggled to balance competing attachments to the Jedi Order and his wife Padmé Amidala, and ultimately fell to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. For years he served as Palpatine’s right hand man, but he was ultimately redeemed by the faith of his son, Luke Skywalker. Now a Force Ghost, Anakin continues to act as an agent of balance.
