Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #6
REIGN OF KYLO REN PART 6
Even after killing Snoke and taking the mantle of Supreme Leader, Kylo Ren still struggles with forging his own path in the shadow of his family’s legacy.
Kylo’s quest to kill the past led him to Darth Vader’s former home, where the young tyrant met the erstwhile aide of the Dark Lord, a man by the name of Vaneé.
After harrowing excursions on Tatooine and Naboo, Vaneé confronted Kylo, hoping to focus the young tyrant’s vision and provide a true challenge to Darth Vader’s heir….
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Luke Ross
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Nolan Woodward
Cover artist: Derrick Chew
Editor: Mark Pannicia
Publication date: July 9 2025
We open on the world of Corellia, and find it very much not as we left it as the murderous forces of the First Order led by General Hux are pummelling the city, chaos reigning as First Order fighters and troops overwhelm Corellian defences as Hux’s plan is executed. He gives a stirring speech to his underlings, and just as his words reaches their crescendo, a fighter pings on the radar. It’s Supreme Leader Kylo Ren in his TIE Silencer, and on his command the First Order fighters follow his lead as he aims for the Command Center, while Ren and his commanders watch on, hoping for his safety as the first attack run begins. We see the panicked Corellian forces realise their doom is at hand, and without witnessing their end we cut to Ren and his adoring troops chanting his name as he reminds Hux that though his late arrival may have made Hux seem small, it’s not the generals place to feel large, and commending Hux on the throne that he has had built for Ren, the Supreme Leader departs for his chambers, where Hux follows.
Once there he informs Ren of the status of the Corellian invasion, a mission that so far has gone exceedingly well, but as he is dismissed he pauses and addresses Ren once again, explaining how his battle plan had been perfectly planned and carried out, and how in future he would appreciate the courtesy of bieng informed of his masters actions, especially when they cause as much surprise to him as the enemies actions. Ren warns him of chastising his superiour and allows him to leave when Vaneé contacts him with welcome news – he has found Ren a Jedi.
We cut to Lah-tee in the Mid Rim, a snow-covered scene as Rens shuttle lands while he speaks to Vaneé about his doubts of there being another Jedi other than ‘the last one‘. Vaneé reminds Ren that the Jedi, in his estimation, are like Roach-rats, and we see a flashback to Anakin Skywalkers time as Vader while Vaneé explains to Kylo how Vader hunted down the last vestiges of the Jedi Order after Order 66 and the Jedi Purge. As they walk the snowy path to the settlement, Vaneé explains about this lost Jedi, how Vader’s attention was fully focused on Luke and how this Jedi slipped thorugh the net, and as they draw near Vaneé stops, unwilling to walk any further. He explains to Kylo how Vader relished the hunt as much as the kill, and understanding this logic he promises to bring Vaneé the head of the Jedi.
He walks on, through snow and ice until he arrives in the township and enters a cantina, where he orders a glass of stwewine and asks if there’s anyone unusual in the town. The bartender deflects with a joke, but it falls on deaf ears as Ren’s short fuse rapidly burns out and suddenly the barkeep and the patrons of the cantina are all held in a Force grip as he painfully dredges their minds for knowledge. He tells them he’s there for the Jedi, and as he raises his hand to wield his power, his crossguard lightsaber flies from his hip and into the waiting hand of an elderly creature who first asks about Kylo’s cracked kyber crystal, and then offers him a seat to chat.
One of the great elements of this series is that not only does it shine more light on the First Orders actions between episodes 8 and 9 but it also gives us more insight into Kylo Rens mind. Certainly he is powerful, as strong in the Force as any who have come before him, but he is so conflicted and so short-tempered he is often his own biggest obstacle. Here, his anger gets the better of him, while on Corellia his arrogance and skills get him through the mission, but in turn reveals his inadequacy as a commander by not informing General Hux – as Vader would certainly have done – of his own actions. Ren showboats because he can, and because he doesn’t understand the power of command. We know Hux is a rebel spy – a Lonnie Yung decades after the actions of that great rebel – and the exchange between the two former equals layers on just why Hux doesn’t want the Resistance to win, but does want Kylo Ren to lose.
Beautiful artwork from Luke Ross, another evocative story with quality scripting by Charles Soule and with two issues to go all the curiosity in the world to see how this ultimately plays out.
