Published: March 12, 2025
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Rated: T
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Luke Ross
Colour Artist: Nolan Woodard
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover: Derrick Chew
The synopsis;
A RETURN TO TATOOINE!
• KYLO REN seeks out the home planet of his grandfather, ANAKIN SKYWALKER!
• The young tyrant must go up against GARDULLA THE HUTT and her guards…and a RANCOR!
• What secrets of the past blow in the harsh sands of MOS ESPA?
The review;
After finding Vaneé lurking the halls of Vader’s Castle, the former servant of Darth Vader offers to tell Kylo Ren all about his past. It’s a sore subject for the young Knight of Ren. From the events in Bloodline by Claudia Gray we know that Han and Leia hid a lot from Ben. He grew up without truly knowing his own identity and certainly not knowing about his connection to the Empire. It backfired spectacularly though and it’s one of the main contributing factors that led Ben down the path to becoming Kylo Ren.
What’s interesting is that Soule is suggesting an inherent classism in Ren in Legacy of Vader. He’s grown up in the upper echelons of society with Leia as a prominent senator, as well as both his parents being war heroes, so he’s used to mingling with people of a similar social status. He has no issue with Vaneé calling him ‘young prince’ throughout this story yet bristles at the mention that Anakin was a slave – another thing that Leia hid from him. Even though Ren has set out on a mission to let the past die, this family history of slavery angers him disproportionately. Possibly because it conflicts so much with his mental image of a family who’s wealthy and successful.
Vaneé acts as the galaxy’s weirdest tour guide in Legacy of Vader #2. During his time alone at Vader’s Castle he’s read Palpatine’s files on his apprentice and has learned a lot about Vader’s past. It’s information he gladly gives to Ren in bits and pieces. But is Vaneé doing this out of the goodness of his heart? Absolutely not. He’s feeding Kylo Ren information in a way that’s designed to confuse or enrage the young Supreme Leader. There’s an ulterior motive to Vaneé’s plan to bring him to Tatooine and it seems like the next issue will reveal what Vaneé gains from it all.
But Vaneé and Ren stand out as tourists on Tatooine. While visiting the ruins of the Mos Espa podracing track, the two are set upon by bandits. They plan to cut and run with whatever valuables the pair have. This is where Ren’s true personality, that of Ben Solo, shines through. When he’s away from the First Order, he’s a lot more arrogant and carefree. So, when the bandits tell them to put their hands up, Ren does and says, “These hands are weapons”, easily using the Force to get out of the situation. It’s brilliant writing by Soule because it connects Ren to his lineage – he’s got Han’s cockiness and Leia’s confidence.
Another connection to Ren’s past is his costume. As usual the artwork is utterly fantastic, and Ross has re-used a costume from The Rise of Kylo Ren when Ben initially joins the Knights of Ren. It’s reminiscent of Han’s style of practical clothing but with a holster for Ren’s lightsaber rather than a blaster. Soule is showing that no matter how much Ren wants to destroy his past, he can never escape his true identity. If anything, the more time he spends away from the First Order, the less he seems to be like a Knight of Ren.
When Ren then goes after Gardulla the Hutt to take revenge on the infamous slaver, he first has to get through her rancor guards. He fights the pair easily unlike Luke in Return of the Jedi – though he’s armed with a lightsaber – and grins out a ‘Hello’ when backflipping over one of the guards. It’s a far cry from the personality he wears as a shield within the confines of the First Order. Soule is capturing a dichotomous personality and that Ren’s mask is a façade for a personality he wields in order to hide his true self.
However, all that confidence then lands Ren in more trouble than he was expecting. Walking into the stronghold of a Hutt is a reckless move. That’s without even considering that Leia is known as Huttslayer on Tatooine for how she destroyed Jabba, though according to Bloodline by Claudia Gray it’s not common knowledge. Ren pays for his overconfidence and is subdued by some super weird creature that can nullify even his strength in the Force.
Legacy of Vader #2 is like the weirdest exploration of family lineage with an alien tour guide narrating the painful moments as if they were beautiful. It’s unexpected and unpredictable. Soule is writing the dichotomy of Ren’s identity with such skill, weaving in elements of family history and the idea that we are shaped by our past. Next issue sees Kylo Ren as a prisoner of Gardulla the Hutt and whether he can escape the sands of Tatooine.
Availability;
Star Wars: Legacy of Vader is an ongoing series published by Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $4.99 and is available online from Amazon (comiXology) and your local comic book store.
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