Star Wars Marked Luke Skywalker's Evolution into a Jedi Master With Help From His... Lightsaber?

Every Star Wars fan watched as Luke Skywalker defeated Darth Vader at the climax of Return of the Jedi. And as new canon stories have shown Luke develop his skills as a Jedi immediately after, we've watched him use new lightsaber forms, sport a new uniform, and grow more and more into the Jedi Master Skywalker audiences never got to see him become on screen.

Now Luke's post-Jedi adventures have even taken him face-to-face with an Inquisitor, making him more similar to the Jedi who survived Order 66 than he's ever been before. In Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising (2024) #4 by creative team Alex Segura, Luke Ross, Jethro Morales, Rachelle Rosenberg, and Joe Caramagna, Luke Skywalker puts all his most inspiring 'Jedi Master' evolutions into practice.Taking on an Inquisitor, an army of stormtroopers, and even his own Imperial supervillain Grand Moff Ubrik Adelhard, Luke demonstrates his Jedi ascension more potently than fans likely ever expected to see.

Luke Skywalker's Post-ROTJ Uniform Has A Republic-Era Jedi Connection

During the Fall of the Jedi era, members of the Jedi Order didn't have to follow a dress code, with many choosing to dress in traditional clothing from their homeworld. But the most common cloaks of the Jedi were loose fitting with wide sleeves that allowed freedom of movement, and a hood that helped disguise their identities. Jedi robes were made of a material that protected the wearer from harsh environments, while in combat, these loose-fitting cloaks could be used to distract an opponent with swirling motions. And as has often been seen in Star Wars media, many Jedi tended to remove their cloaks before engaging in a duel.

While shifting to a black costume from Empire to Jedi, Luke Skywalker reserved his fully traditional robes until after his final rite as a Jedi. Upon his victory over Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, Luke began to wear black traditional Jedi robes, resembling the most iconic wardrobe of his father Anakin Skywalker. Luke's cloak didn't have sleeves, but still resembled the style and functionality of Jedi robes as he uses the hood to disguise himself on multiple occasions. He even tosses his cloak to the ground on the way to confront Moff Adelhard, in traditional Jedi fashion, expecting an intense duel, which he gets.

Luke Skywalker Expands His Fighting Skills With New Lightsaber Form

Lightsaber combat was practiced in seven different lightsaber forms developed by the Jedi to focus on certain aspects of the discipline. Luke Skywalker was known to use Form V of lightsaber combat. Made up of two practices, Shien and Djem So, Form V was developed to add an offensive side to the previous defensive forms. Shien focused on deflecting lightsaber bolts back at the enemy, and Djem So focused on parrying melee attacks, immediately launching strong counterattacks before returning to solid defense when the momentum slowed.

Luke Skywalker uses the Djem So practice of form V of lightsaber combat on film, most evident in Return of the Jedi during his duel with Darth Vader. Luke keeps a firm two-handed grip on his lightsaber, keeping up a series of powerful blows that overwhelms Vader. But when staring down an army of stormtroopers In Insurgency Rising #4, Luke switches to the Shien practice of holding his lightsaber in a reverse grip, a style that focuses more on the deflection of long-range projectiles. Luke's broadened skills confirm his education in the pattern of those Jedi that came before him.

The Jedi Master Luke Skywalker vs His First Sith 'Inquisitor'

The Inquisitorius was a program formed after the execution of Order 66. Most inquisitors were former Jedi led and trained by Darth Vader, with the purpose of hunting down Jedi during the Great Jedi Purge. During the Reign of the Empire era, any Jedi who survived Order 66 was immediately on the run from Inquitor forces, with Cal Kestis, Kanan Jarrus, and Obi-Wan Kenobi the most iconic examples.

Luke Skywalker never had to deal with the Inquisitors since he was born after Order 66, and Obi-Wan made sure Luke was well hidden from Vader and the Empire. By the time Luke destroyed the Death Star and began operating as a Jedi, the Inquisitors had been entirely phased out. That all changes with history rewritten in Insurgency Rising #4, as Luke finally faces an Inquisitor. Sure, she turns out to be an imposter, but he is still facing more lightsaber-wielding threats beyond Vader to test his skills as an official Jedi Master.

Ever since Luke Skywalker blew up the first Death Star, he has traveled the galaxy learning about the force as many ways as he possibly could. He is taught by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda as masters, discovers Jedi holocrons and ancient texts that depict teachings of the Jedi ways, and even finds the memory of a Jedi of The High Republic in the Living Sea of Gazian. As Luke officially becomes a Jedi master, he mimics the ways of the Jedi of old with his robes and lightsaber style, and experiences the same trials which solidifies his evolution.

See Luke Skywalker evolve into a Jedi master in Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising, available now from Marvel Comics.