John Dodge is an MTV Writer for CBR who specializes in movies, television, comics, and pop culture. He has a deep knowledge of franchises like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, and DC Comics, along with a passion for indie and horror titles. An expert on obscure productions from the ’80s and ’90s, John is known for his encyclopedic recall of cult classics like Beetleborgs.
Star Wars fans just got a glimpse of the Jedi hero Kylo Ren could have been — and he is awesome.
Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #12 (by Charles Soule, Luke Ross, Nolan Woodard, and VC's Joe Caramagna) marks the end of Kylo Ren's journey to uncover the secrets of Darth Vader's power and become the strongest possible version of himself. Unfortunately, the only one waiting for him in Vader's vault is the Jedi he could have been.
The Star Wars sequel trilogy offered a completely different ending for Adam Driver's character, yet the comics do offer a more generous look at a possible alternative fate, and one that seems far more interesting than Ren's on-screen conclusion.
Jedi Ben Solo is Even More Impressive Than Kylo Ren
Image via Marvel ComicsThe official solicit synopsis for Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #12 from Marvel Comics reads, "KYLO REN REACHES THE DARKEST DEPTHS OF HIS JOURNEY! KYLO REN battles his way through the darkest corridors of VADER'S CASTLE! Visions of VADER bring Kylo to his knees! Will the young tyrant be able to move beyond the shadow of his grandfather? Or will he be imprisoned within the LEGACY OF VADER?"
Kylo Ren, formerly Ben Solo, was introduced in 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens as portrayed by franchise star Adam Driver. The son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Ben was trained by his uncle Luke Skywalker in the ways of the Force, only to be pulled to the Dark Side by the influence of Supreme Leader Snoke, taking up the mantle of Kylo Ren along the way.
Over the course of the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, Kylo Ren played the primary antagonist, as well as something of an unlikely hero during the final moments of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Since then, Kylo Ren has appeared across a host of Star Wars media, ranging from animated series such as Star Wars Resistance to video games such as Star Wars Battlefront II.
Set between the events of 2017's Star Wars: The Last Jedi and 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Star Wars: Legacy of Vader by writer Charles Soule and artist Luke Ross followed Kylo Ren in a quest to discover the truth behind Darth Vader's seemingly endless font of power. In the series' first issue, Kylo Ren made his way to the treacherous world of Mustafar, where he set about investigating an old Sith temple where Darth Vader once spent countless hours toiling away in secret.
As noted in the official series solicit for Star Wars: Legacy of Vader from Marvel Comics, "recent events including his murder of his father, defeat at the hands of Luke Skywalker, and a surprising connection with the mysterious Rey force him to reckon with what it truly means to be Vader's heir."
The solicit continues, "as he pursues his dark mission to bring order to the galaxy, Kylo's madness takes him down a deadly path to discover the truth about his grandfather's life. From Mustafar to Tattooine, these are the thrilling adventures that enabled Kylo to confront his inner turmoil and meet his destiny!"
Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #12 from Marvel Comics is on sale now.
Created by George Lucas
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