Kylo Renhas always received a lot of flack from the Star Wars fanbase that he comes off as a bit of a crybaby. To be fair, he absolutely is. But of course, the self-appointed heir to Darth Vader’s legacy would never admit such a thing himself. An acolyte of the dark side would never show such signs of weakness. Although, Kylo Ren completely agrees with fans’ teasing mockery.
Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #1- by Charles Soule and Luke Ross - is set immediately followingThe Last Jedi. Kylo Ren is without Snoke’s guidance and reigns asSupreme Leader over the First Order. More conflicted than ever after being rejected by Rey and bested by Luke, Kylo Ren is desperate to crush his past and unshackle himself from the burden of legacy.
However, the Supreme Leader struggles to commit, recalling the pain of his lost family and the admiration of his grandfather’s authority. While suffering from a swell of emotional turmoil,even Kylo Ren admits he’s a crybaby.
Kylo Ren Admits He’s a Crybaby in New Canon Comic Book
Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #1- Written by Charles Soule; Art by Luke Ross; Color by Nolan Woodard; Lettering by VC’s Joe Caramagna; Cover Art by Derrick Chew
While Kylo Ren has always been mocked for this childish trait, it’s not like he hasn’t been aware of this fact. Even as early asThe Force Awakens, Kylo Ren chastises himself for this conflict. Ben has always admitted to wanting to free himself from his family’s legacy, but wasmanipulated by Palpatineto believe emulating Darth Vader was the correct path. Ben Solo isn’t inherently a hateful person. He wants connections with others, which iswhy embracing the dark side causes so much emotional turmoil.It’s not who he is, but Palpatine’s corruptive influence is a powerful force.
Sorry, Kylo Ren: You Aren’t the Only Relative of Luke Skywalker to Join the Dark Side
While Kylo Ren may believe he’s the heir to Darth Vader’s legacy, he’s only one of many in the Skywalker family to turn to the dark side of the Force.
Admittedly,Anakin Skywalker was never any better than Kylo Ren.Throughout his service as a Jedi, Anakin had already become the target of Palpatine’s ire. Just asPalpatine did to Kylo Renfrom within the shadows, the Sith Lord stoked the fires of Anakin’s emotional turmoil from the start. Anakin frequently lamented about his life’s tragedies and dwelled on the emotional conflict between his various allegiances. Even as Darth Vader, Anakin embraced his lifelong conflictions to fuel his rage. Let’s not forgetDarth Vader was christened in tears.Of course Kylo Ren is a crybaby, he’s still relatively new to Palpatine’s corruption.
Palpatine Prefers to Apprentice Crybabies
Emotional Turmoil Is Easy to Manipulate
Emperor Palpatine’s goalhas always been to achieve immortality. While Palpatine had many contingency plans for his death, one method was to take on a powerful apprentice, mold them with the dark side, destabilize their emotions, and supplant his soul into their body. The concept wasfirst introduced in the expanded universe comic seriesStar Wars: Dark Empireand was canonized in the modern continuity inRise of Skywalker.Both Anakin Skywalker and Ben Solo were chosen to become Palpatine’s apprentices, both due to their natural power and their emotional instability. Palpatine needed an apprentice he could manipulate.
Anakin was so torn between his allegiance to the Jedi, Padme, Palpatine, and his mother that he couldn’t help but break down at least once a movie.
Sith Lords like Count Dooku and Darth Maul were alwaystoo strong-willed to become Palpatine’s vessel.Both Sith apprentices had firm convictions and firm goals, somethingDarth Vader and Kylo Renlacked. Anakin was so torn between his allegiance to the Jedi, Padme, Palpatine, and his mother that he couldn’t help but break down at least once a movie. Kylo Ren doesn’t hate his family; he hates the burden of legacy, which Palpatine leverages against his apprentice’s emotions. Just like his grandfather,Kylo Renis an open crybaby; exactly how Palpatine prefers his apprentices.
Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #1is now available from Marvel Comics
