Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Darth Vader #49
Summary
Star Warshas just revealed a key moment in the canon whereLuke Skywalkertruly first embodied the “Skywalker” spirit. Between the events ofThe Empire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker is determined to continue his path to becoming a Jedi, despite the knowledge that Darth Vader is his father. To that end, Luke’s clash with the Schism Imperial results in a wonderful moment Anakin Skywalker would have been very proud of.
In the recentDarth Vader #49by Greg Pak and Raffaele Ienco,the anti-Palpatine cabal known as the Schism Imperialacquires Luke Skywalker’s location and intends to kill him so he can’t be used by the Emperor, defying Darth Vader’s orders whom they’d been allied with up until this point. However,Luke proves to be quite evasive in this new issue, creating a decoy of himself using sticks and fog (and some help from R2-D2). This allows the young Jedi to get the drop on the Schism and their battle droids:
Combined with a well-timed quip as he enters the fray with his lightsaber drawn,Luke Skywalker’s new Imperial clash foreshadows the future and points to the past as he truly embodies the “Skywalker” spirit in this newStar Warsissue.
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Luke’s Decoy Strategy Foreshadows Return of the Jedi
Han Solo’s Rescue Mission
Luke’s use of a decoy in this issue is quite clever, pointing to his future tactics like those seen during Han Solo’s rescue inReturn of the Jedi. After all, Lando, Leia, Chewbacca, Artoo and Threepio were all inside Jabba’s palace under false pretenses before Luke himself arrived before the Hutt gangster. Likewise, Luke maintained his secret ace until the time was right, having concealed his lightsaber within R2-D2 before the astromech and C-3PO were offered as “gifts” to Jabba.
Featuring multiple layers to the infiltration, the rescue mission also required a healthy amount of in-the-moment improvisation as well. While unorthodox,the plan worked and Han Solo was ultimately saved from his carbonite prison. To that end,Luke’s knack for creating unique plans and bold diversions is an all-too-familiar Jedi trait, one his own father greatly possessed during the Clone Wars.
Luke’s Battle Tactics Echo His Father’s
Anakin Skywalker Would Be Proud
As seen in this new issue with the Schism Imperial,Luke is every bit the Skywalker his father was during the Clone Wars, creating diversions and plans on the fly as he fearlessly takes on a platoon of battle droids. With Artoo at his side offering support as he offers up a one-liner,one can argue that this new Luke moment in theStar Warscanon is one of the closest he’s ever been to being like Anakin in his prime. Keeping that in mind, it does make the issue’s ending even more impactful with Luke being saved by Darth Vader himself.
Darth Vader #49is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Luke Skywalker
The son of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, Luke was brought up on the desert planet Tatooine. Initially mentored by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke fired the fateful shot that destroyed the Death Star, and he became a rebel hero. Despite the fears of Obi-Wan and Yoda, Luke’s faith in his father was proved well-founded when Vader returned to the light. With the Emperor defeated, Luke dedicated himself to bringing back the Jedi; his first attempt ended in tragedy due to Palpatine’s manipulations, but Luke’s legacy lives on in Rey.
