"Star Wars: Legacy of Vader Explores Kylo Ren's Missing Year"

Marvel's Star Wars line is undergoing a significant transformation, moving beyond its previous focus on the year between *The Empire Strikes Back* and *Return of the Jedi*. With the conclusion of series like *Star Wars*, *Darth Vader*, and *Doctor Aphra*, Marvel is now exploring new territories within the Star Wars universe. *Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku* delves into the final major confrontation between the Rebel Alliance and the crumbling Empire. The forthcoming *Star Wars: Jedi Knights* offers a glimpse into the Jedi Order's life before *The Phantom Menace*. Most excitingly, *Star Wars: Legacy of Vader* is set to provide a deeper look into Adam Driver's portrayal of Kylo Ren.

IGN had the opportunity to discuss *Legacy of Vader* with its writer, Charles Soule, who provided insights into the series and how it enriches the story of Ben Solo. Before diving into the details, take a moment to explore an exclusive preview of the series in the gallery below.

Star Wars: Legacy of Vader - Preview Art Gallery

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Returning to the Story of Kylo Ren

Charles Soule played a key role in Marvel's depiction of the post-Empire Strikes Back era, writing the main Star Wars series and major crossovers like War of the Bounty Hunters and Dark Droids. His interest in revisiting Kylo Ren, a character he previously explored in The Rise of Kylo Ren in 2020, prompted him to shift his focus to a later period in the timeline.

"I’ve wanted to get back to Kylo Ren for ages," Soule shared with IGN. "It’s amazing to me that it’s been over four years since The Rise of Kylo Ren, the miniseries I created with Will Sliney that chronicled Ben Solo’s transformation into Kylo Ren. That one was set before Episode VII, and I’ve always thought there was so much more story to tell with Kylo. Just like Darth Vader, the films only give us so much – a great deal of Kylo’s story is either implied or just not really addressed at all."

Soule elaborated, "I think setting this book directly after Episode VIII gives me a chance to deal with a character who’s gone through an extreme amount of change in a very short amount of time – his life has changed in drastic ways. I do think it’s a huge opportunity. You want to write characters with emotion to them – and at this point, Kylo’s about as emotional as a character can get."

The appeal of Legacy of Vader for Soule also lies in collaborating again with Luke Ross, a prominent Star Wars artist with whom he has worked on several projects.

"I’ll work with Luke any chance I get!" Soule enthused. "He and I have done three big pieces of work in the Star Wars universe at this point – War of the Bounty Hunters, Dark Droids, and now this story. I think his work has leveled up with each project, and this one… wow. He’s captured the turmoil and unpredictable cold rage of Kylo Ren perfectly. You’ll see – Luke, and our colorist Nolan Woodard, are doing top-notch work here."

Art by Derrick Chew. (Image Credit: Marvel/Lucasfilm)

Ben Solo After The Last Jedi

Legacy of Vader is set during a critical time in Ben Solo's life, immediately following Star Wars: The Last Jedi. At this juncture, Ben has failed to turn Rey to the Dark Side, faced his uncle Luke Skywalker in battle, nearly killed his mother Leia, and taken command of the galaxy's most formidable military force. The series delves into the profound emotional and psychological turmoil that engulfs Kylo Ren as he struggles to sever ties with his past.

"Poor Ben. We know he’s still in there somewhere because of the things we see in both Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker, but at this particular moment he’s been shoved down into some dark corner of Kylo Ren’s psyche," Soule explained. "In a very short amount of time, Kylo’s faced down one of his great mentors in Luke Skywalker, killed another in Snoke, killed his father, almost killed his mother, met someone with whom he’s felt a unique, powerful connection in Rey, and assumed total control of one of, if not the most powerful military organization in the galaxy. All that in what seems to be just a matter of weeks! Kylo wants to move forward, but all of that trauma and intensity is very fresh – not easy to get past."

The series begins with Ben traveling to Mustafar to visit the fortress once occupied by his grandfather, Darth Vader. This journey represents Ben's attempt to eradicate his past while seeking guidance from the ghost of the man who profoundly influenced him.

"One of the key things to understand about Kylo is that he’s not particularly honest with himself," Soule noted. "As I see his character, he’s big on grand pronouncements, big on posturing, big on trying to convince himself he feels a certain way, e.g. untouchable and all-powerful. In reality, though, he’s pretty lost. So while he’s telling himself he wants to kill his own past, part of him is also looking for any sort of guidance he can get. That sums up his feelings about his grandfather at this point – he’s conflicted."

"While he’s telling himself he wants to kill his own past, part of him is also looking for any sort of guidance he can get."

The narrative also delves into the inner workings of the First Order. The Sequel Trilogy highlighted General Hux's disdain for Kylo Ren and the covert plotting of officers like Allegiant General Pryde. Legacy of Vader will explore these political dynamics as Kylo Ren consolidates his control over the military.

"I would be bummed if I were writing a series set at this time period and not get to play with the First Order and its internal political shenanigans," Soule remarked. "Hux is certainly in the book, and Pryde was around as well during this time period. Kylo’s journey is the book’s focus, but the way he uses and develops the First Order is certainly part of the story too."

The ultimate aim of Star Wars: Legacy of Vader is to enhance our understanding of Kylo Ren/Ben Solo, adding depth to the complex villain of the Sequel Trilogy. While we may know how his story concludes, this book will offer insights into Ben Solo's psyche and the reasons behind his choices in The Rise of Skywalker.

"I’ve been doing this job (telling Star Wars stories) for a while now – a decade," Soule said. "I try to make sure every one can be appreciated as a tale on its own, while also having elements that can be appreciated by readers who know exactly where the story fits into the overarching mega-story that is all of the Star Wars canon."

Soule continued, "This book is about Kylo Ren’s struggle to define himself, and it is not easy for him. It feels like every moment of his life is accompanied by turmoil and pain. Some fans would say that’s because he is not himself as Kylo – part of him knows he’s truly Ben – and the story can be viewed through that perspective. But I think it also works if you know nothing about Kylo Ren other than what you see in these beautifully-drawn pages – that he’s searching for himself, like many younger people do. Of course, he’s also a dark space wizard with a laser sword he loves to use to deadly effect whenever he feels like it. There’s plenty of angst and drama, but we don’t stint on the action, either. I think fans will love it."

Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #1 is set to be released on February 5, 2025.

For more on what's coming up in the Star Wars franchise, check out our comprehensive guide to every Star Wars movie and series in development.