Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant’s Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he’s Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC’s greatest hero.
With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney’s D23 convention.
Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.
Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #12
Kylo Ren is one of Star Wars’ most dynamic and complex villains, while easily being one of the most popular characters from the sequel trilogy. However, a recently concluded series starring the Supreme Leader arguably makes one big Kylo Ren question even bigger.
Marvel’s new and canonical Legacy of Vader series from Charles Soule and Luke Ross recently released its twelfth and final issue, covering Kylo Ren’s dark adventures between The Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker. However, Legacy of Vader’s ending avoids a long-standing Kylo Ren question about why the one person best suited to confront his corruption ultimately never did.
By The End of Legacy of Vader, Kylo Ren Never Faced His True Grandfather
On the whole, Legacy of Vader saw Supreme Leader Kylo Ren uncovering more about his grandfather’s past, seeking to learn how Darth Vader was able to claim such power within the dark side. As such, it seemed as though Legacy of Vader’s final issue was building toward an inevitable meeting between Kylo Ren and the spirit of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader himself.
Instead, the Force vision Kylo Ren has inside Vader’s secret Mustafar vault reveals something far more personal. Rather than facing Anakin’s Force ghost or even a corrupted echo of Vader’s spirit still tethered to his fortress, Kylo is confronting the light within himself, manifested as the Jedi Ben Solo once was.
Ultimately, this dynamic confrontation is quite good and incredibly well-written, reinforcing the idea that Kylo Ren can never truly kill his past, no matter how hard he tries. At the same time, Legacy of Vader ending without some sort of encounter with Anakin’s Force ghost may have left some fans feeling unsatisfied (even though a direct meeting was always going to be pretty unlikely).
Why Didn’t Anakin’s Force Ghost Ever Reach Out To Kylo Ren? (He Likely Couldn’t)
With Legacy of Vader complete, the absence of Anakin’s Force ghost may feel like an even bigger problem for some Star Wars fans, even though any kind of meeting before the events of Rise of Skywalker would have been very risky in terms of maintaining the canon.
Nevertheless, Luke’s Force ghost appeared to Kylo Ren earlier in the canonical series, and Anakin’s Force ghost has been shown guiding his former apprentice years after his death in Ahsoka’s first season (Anakin’s also confirmed to be returning in Ahsoka season 2). So why not reach out to his own grandson, whose corruption is very much centered around idolizing the worst and darkest parts of who Anakin was as Darth Vader?
Ultimately, the most logical and widely accepted explanations include the idea that Kylo blocked Anakin out, choosing to see only Darth Vader and ignoring everything else.
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It’s also possible that Kylo’s desire for the dark side, combined with Palpatine’s manipulations, actively prevented Anakin from intervening despite his best efforts. The will of the Force itself might have also kept Anakin at a distance, requiring Ben Solo’s ultimate redemption to happen when it did on Exegol to restore balance.
Whatever the exact reason, it would certainly be nice to specifically know one day why Anakin never reached out to his own grandson in the Star Wars canon, especially with his own dark path having played such a key role in leading Kylo Ren astray.
Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #12 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Ben Solo/Kylo Ren Created By J.J. Abrams, Michael Arndt, Lawrence Kasdan Franchise Star Wars Died Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise Of Skywalker Race Human Movies Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker TV Shows Star Wars: Resistance
The son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Ben was manipulated by Palpatine through the Force for most of his life, influenced toward the dark side of the Force. A misstep by Luke Skywalker ultimately left Ben feeling he had no choice but to embrace the dark side, and he became Kylo Ren, a key figure in the First Order. Kylo Ren’s heart remained deeply divided, however, even after he ascended to become Supreme Leader of the First Order. He was ultimately redeemed by Rey, with whom he shared a remarkable Force bond, and by the love of his parents.
Expand Collapse Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader Created By George Lucas Franchise Star Wars Died Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi Race Human Movies Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story TV Shows Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi, Ahsoka
Conceived by the will of the Force itself, Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring the Force into balance. Anakin struggled to balance competing attachments to the Jedi Order and his wife Padmé Amidala, and ultimately fell to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. For years he served as Palpatine’s right hand man, but he was ultimately redeemed by the faith of his son, Luke Skywalker. Now a Force Ghost, Anakin continues to act as an agent of balance.
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