Warning! Spoilers ahead for Star Wars #6!
Star Wars hints at the possibility of Luke Skywalker going dark in Marvel’s new canon post-Return of the Jedi comics. Luke infamously fell to the Dark Side for a brief but pivotal period in the original “Legends” continuity, and fans are eager to find out if this controversial storyline will have its modern parallel.
Star Wars #6 is written by Alex Segura, with art by Phil Noto. In the midst of fighting Prequel-era battle droids, Luke reflects on “the traps and temptations” that his father succumbed to, and whether he can stop himself from repeating history.
Luke resolves to try, but some readers suspect this is a portent of looming dark times.
Star Wars Teases Luke Skywalker’s Struggle To Resist The Dark Side, Evoking His “Legends”-Era Fall
Star Wars #6, Written By Alex Segura; Art And Main Cover By Phil Noto
By the end of the original Star Wars movie, audiences realized they’d been watching the origin story of a great hero. That’s why it was an especially impactful twist in Empire Strikes Back, when it was revealed that Luke Skywalker was the son of the series’ predominant up to that point. That relationship, and that dynamic, have defined the franchise ever since.
That is very much the case for Star Wars #6. For all the spectacle of Han and Luke putting on Clone Trooper armor and fighting battle droids, the story boils down to one moment: Luke Skywalker feeling a direct link to his father, Anakin. In just a few panels, it distills the central question of Star Wars: can Luke succeed where Anakin failed?
The original Expanded Universe told fans the answer was ultimately yes, but not before Luke felt the full power of the Dark Side at least once. Now, as the franchise’s new canon re-charts the three decades between ROTJ and The Force Awakens, fans are on edge thinking Star Wars #6 might be teasing a reprise of Sith Luke.
“Legends” Storyline “Dark Empire” Changed Luke Skywalker Forever; History Might Repeat Itself In The Franchise’s New Canon
There’s A Good Chance Marvel Does Its Own “Dark Luke” Storyline
Luke’s brief Dark Side tenure occurred in the “Legends”-era Dark Empire storyline, which was controversial at the time of its release, but ultimately came to be accepted as a core part of Luke’s post-Return of the Jedi ascendancy to Jedi Master status. Dark Empire is also notable for introducing Palpatine’s clones to canon, which was later lifted for Rise of Skywalker.
In other words, Dark Empire won’t play out in full, the same way the “Legends” story did, but the idea of Luke going dark could be adapted into the current continuity. It is still very much a possibility, as Marvel’s post-Return of the Jedi comics continue to lay the foundation for a long-term arc.
Star Wars fans already know that Luke’s story ends in much bleaker fashion than his “Legends” counterpart, but there are still 30 years worth of triumphs, and tragedies, to detail in between. Dark Luke Skywalker may very well be part of that, as Star Wars continues to push its greatest hero to the limit.
Star Wars #6 is available now from Marvel Comics.
- Cast
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Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
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The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Movie(s)
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Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, 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 VII – The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
- Character(s)
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Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren