Marvel's Star Wars comic line is entering a new era of storytelling, moving beyond the familiar one-year gap between *The Empire Strikes Back* and *Return of the Jedi*. Previously, series like *Star Wars*, *Darth Vader*, and *Doctor Aphra* explored this period in depth. Now, Marvel is expanding its horizons with new narratives. *Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku* delves into the final showdown between the Rebel Alliance and the crumbling Empire. *Star Wars: Jedi Knights* illuminates the lives of the Jedi Order before *The Phantom Menace*. Most excitingly, *Star Wars: Legacy of Vader* promises to enrich the backstory of Kylo Ren, portrayed by Adam Driver in the films.
IGN had the opportunity to discuss *Legacy of Vader* with its writer, Charles Soule, who shed light on the series' focus on Ben Solo's transformation into Kylo Ren. Below, you can find an exclusive preview of the series in our gallery.
Star Wars: Legacy of Vader - Preview Art Gallery
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Returning to the Story of Kylo Ren
Charles Soule, a pivotal figure in Marvel's Star Wars universe, has previously crafted narratives in the post-*Empire Strikes Back* era, including the flagship *Star Wars* series and major crossovers like *War of the Bounty Hunters* and *Dark Droids*. Now, he's eager to explore a different time period—several decades ahead—to revisit Kylo Ren, a character he explored in 2020's *The Rise of Kylo Ren*.
"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 explains that setting *Legacy of Vader* directly after *The Last Jedi* allows him to delve into Kylo Ren's psyche at a time of extreme change. "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."
Moreover, Soule is thrilled to collaborate once again with Luke Ross, a renowned Star Wars artist. "I’ll work with Luke any chance I get!" Soule exclaimed. "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 immediately after the events of *The Last Jedi*, a tumultuous time for Ben Solo. After failing to turn Rey to the Dark Side, facing his uncle Luke Skywalker in battle, nearly killing his mother Leia, and assuming control of the First Order, Ben is at a crossroads. The series aims to explore the intense turmoil Kylo Ren faces as he strives 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 remarked. "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 Darth Vader's fortress, seeking guidance while grappling with his connection to his grandfather, Anakin Skywalker. "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."
The internal politics of the First Order will also play a significant role in the series. "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 said. "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."
Ultimately, *Star Wars: Legacy of Vader* aims to deepen our understanding of Kylo Ren/Ben Solo and add new dimensions to the Sequel Trilogy's central antagonist. Though the end of his story is known, this series promises to illuminate the motivations behind Ben Solo's choices in *The Rise of Skywalker*.
"I’ve been doing this job (telling Star Wars stories) for a while now – a decade," Soule stated. "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 added, "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.
