In the original Star Wars trilogy, we saw Luke Skywalker pull off amazing shit. Destroying the Death Star. The cool-ass sequence where he stormed Jabba the Huttâs skiff. (That somersault!) We saw him struggle a lot, too. But, the newest issue of the Star Wars comic gives us a glimpse at how bad his self-doubt was.
Spoilers follow for Star Wars # 1- 4.
Thus far, Marvelâs new Star Wars comics by Jason Aaron and John Cassaday have plunged readers into a tense, roller-coaster adventure that happens right after A New Hope. Remember, this series comes in the midst of Disney-owned Lucasfilm deciding out what is still canon out of multiple decadesâ worth of Star Wars Expanded Universe lore. Itâs a whole new ballgame as far as what the franchiseâs characters did in between the movies. In issues #1-3 of the new comic, Princess Leia leads a strike team on a mission to destroy an Imperial weapons manufacturing base.
The opening arc shows Luke communicating with Obi-Wan Kenobi through the Force and trying his damnedest to channel his newfound abilities. Things go to hell once Darth Vader shows up and the Rebel team barely gets away with their lives.
When Luke comes face-to-face with Darth Vader in issue #2, he also has to confront how much he has to learn about using the Force.
One of the best parts of the Star Wars comic has been the way that Aaronâs been tickling what he knows that readers must already know. Folding in an encounter that sows the seeds of Episode Vâs big revelation is a good foreshadowing.
As issue #2 goes on, the mission gets even more chaotic, and Luke beats up on himself even moreâŚ
Just because heâs not a real Jedi yet doesnât mean he canât be a hero. Itâs the âfarm boyâ side of himâwhich spent time perfecting his marksmanship on boring olâ Tatooineâthat helps turn the tide and bail out Han and Leia.
When the rebels escape, you can see how this meeting with Lukeâwhose name he doesnât even know at this pointâhas affected Vader.
This subplot makes a great hooks for the series, because an audience already aware of the link between Skywalker father and son definitely wants to see how the characters themselves become aware of their connection.
Out today, the seriesâ fourth issue is a breather. Luke is struggling to find a sense of purpose despite another Rebel victory. One of the reasons that the Force works as a conceit is that it requires faith from both the readers and the characters. People like Han Solo donât believe in the Force and are shocked when confronted with it. Luke isnât dubious about the Force; itâs himself he has a lack of faith in.
All of this obviously happens before Luke goes to Dagobah and receives his training from Yoda. But the coolest part of Star Warsâ first four issues is that they show how far Luke has to go get even that far. They show a Luke Skywalker on the brink of quitting, a gloomy side of the character that only got a little bit of screen time.
Itâs interesting that issue #4 comes out right after the latest Force Awakens trailer, because the most tantalizing part of the latest teaser for the next Star Wars movie is that ponderous voiceover by Luke Skywalker. Its promise is that Luke will possibly be following in Ben Kenobiâs footsteps, mentoring a Jedi and helping rebuild the lost order of justice-seeking knights. Heâll presumably be more centered and calm than in New Hope or Empire, older and ready to be a mentor to younger characters. So itâs great to have a Star Wars comic coming out that shows just how far he will have come in his own heroâs journey.
