Star Wars Is Ready to Prove That Darth Vader's True Legacy Is Kylo Ren With an All-New Series

Marvel Comics’ newest Star Wars series finally seeks to prove that Kylo Ren was always Darth Vader’s legacy. Set in between The Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker, this new comic follows Kylo Ren as he attempts to define his future using his grandfather’s past. Unfortunately for the newly appointed Supreme Leader, Vader’s legacy is only one of suffering.

Star Wars: Legacy of Vader is an upcoming comic book series that focuses on the few months during which Kylo Ren assumes leadership of the First Order, and the aftermath of his failure to bring Rey to the Dark Side of the Force.

Star Wars: Legacy of Vader (2025)

Release Date:	February 5, 2025
Writer:	Charles Soule
Artist:	Luke Ross
Colorist:	Nolan Woodard
Cover Artist:	Derrick Chew
Variant Covers:	Annie Wu, Erik Gist, Karen Darboe, John Giang, & Ramon Rosanas
DARTH VADER’S SHADOW EXTENDS INTO... THE RISE OF THE FIRST ORDER! The reign of SUPREME LEADER KYLO REN begins! Kylo’s dark obsession leads him to MUSTAFAR! What secrets does FORTRESS VADER hold for the young tyrant? And what face from the past will guide him on his quest?

While Kylo Ren seemed to struggle to prove his Sith worthiness on the screen in Star Wars' Sequel Trilogy, this new series promises an action-packed drama that will further flesh out the troubled Force-wielder and his complicated path toward power.

A New Marvel Comics Star Wars Series Explores How Darth Vader Was Defined By Victimization, Not Power

Kylo Ren Truly Inherited the Legacy Of Vader

When looking back at the entirety of the Skywalker Saga, one thing is made painfully clear: Anakin was groomed by Sheev Palpatine since childhood. Anakin’s transformation into Darth Vader wasn’t some evolution of power, it was the calculated machinations of a man who wished to defy death. Both in Legends and in canon, it has been Emperor Palpatine who has feared death more than any other. Palpatine’s investments into cloning technology echo his Legends counterpart, making it clear that he had intended to assume Anakin’s body had it not been so disfigured.

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While Darth Vader’s failing body requires frequent healing, his cybernetic limbs require even more frequent and excruciating maintenance.

Of course, the Sith Lord used Vader as a tool and, when given the opportunity, leveraged his apprentice to conscript a new host body, Luke Skywalker. Naturally, Luke prevailed and Palpatine was left with fewer options. That is until a new Skywalker descendant was born. From his conception, Ben Solo became Palpatine’s new target. After frequent failures to clone a Force-sensitive body, the birth of a new Skywalker proved to be Palpatine’s next path toward immortality. Darth Vader’s legacy is defined by the purpose of his being: to be nothing more than a puppet for Palpatine to one day possess.

"Legacy Of Vader" Emphasizes How Kylo Ren's Journey Through The Dark Side Differed From His Infamous Grandfather's

Ben Solo Is Not Anakin Skywalker

The tragedy of Ben Solo is that he is not his grandfather. Anakin was a power-hungry menace who instinctually embraced the Dark Side and his brutal ambitions. Kylo Ren, however, needed heavier persuasion. Ben is naturally kinder and more empathetic than his grandfather, hence his consistent struggle to embrace the Dark Side. Anakin kills and slaughters because he believes it is just. Kylo Ren kills because he believes it will make him whole. Palpatine, from beyond the known galaxy, pulled on Ren’s emotions, manipulating the boy just as he had Anakin before.

By this series, Kylo Ren is at his breaking point. As Star Wars fans know, Ben Solo has endured a lot of suffering in a short amount of time, all according to Palpatine’s plan. Buried deep within Kylo Ren’s psyche, Ben faintly persists until his call to the Light in Rise of Skywalker. Hopefully, this series will better express the cruel truth of Darth Vader’s legacy, affirming that it is one of victimization and not raw power. Fortunately, this Star Wars series promises a tragically dramatic story, along with the brutal action that the Skywalkers are known for.

Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #1 will be available February 5, 2025 from Marvel Comics.

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Star Wars

Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.