"It was not the love that gave Vader power. It was the loss. He was not afraid to grow attached, to allow one thing to become the center of his universe. There is strength in that. Focus. Vader's fear of losing Padmé made it possible for him to do anything--anything--to keep her safe. Do you not see how powerful that is? It meant he did not limit himself as other Jedi did. There were no rules for Darth Vader. If you find something similar which to center yourself, then you, too, would know no limits." Vaneé
"I have no limits now." Kylo Ren
"Is that true? You have everything you need, everything you desire? If that were so, I suspect you might not have come to me. But if I am wrong, take your saber and strike me down, and our travels together will cease." Vaneé
Issue 4 of Legacy of Vader is amazing, and the start of Kylo Ren's journey into learning how Naboo plays a major role in his grandfather's backstory. What I really like about this issue is that we get to see how while Vaneé has yet another good point about what made Vader strong in the Dark Side, we also get to see how Kylo Ren's "kill the past" beliefs have a point based on what he saw of Naboo's present day.
The opening wastes no time establishing a sense of dread when Kylo Ren asks Hux about their capabilities of destroying worlds without Starkiller Base and the Supremacy. After Hux confirms they can decimate a world through their navy rather than blowing them up, we're taken back to Naboo two days ago. Kylo Ren's potential target becomes clear.
I really love Naboo's fate post-GCW. It makes sense for the world to sharply decline with the accusation of Naboo's perceived collaboration with the Empire, and conflict arose over how some believe certain Naboo citizens who had profited from helping the Empire and being associated with the Emperor should be punished. It also explains why we don't see Naboo in the ST Era, given the state of the world.
The nod to Marlowe and Vellis San Tekka is a nice callback, especially since Soule created those characters.
I find it hilarious how Kylo Ren dismisses Palpatine as irrelevant because in one year in-universe, he'll become very relevant to him.
I really love how Vaneé summed up Anakin and Padme's love story and how it fueled Anakin's Dark Side, especially at the end of his recap. It was chilling when Vaneé mentioned how Anakin never let go of Padmé, with the image showing him choking her on Mustafar. Anakin never let her go indeed...
It's funny to see Kylo misinterpret Vaneé's words that he needs to fall in love to gain power. It continues to show how much he jumps to conclusions. But then Vaneé went back to haunting when he pretty much summarizes why Vader's attachment to Padmé gave him no limits to what he would do to protect her. The imagery of Vader standing over the skeletons and corpses is incredibly haunting.
I like Kylo flashing back to Rey and him fighting the Praetorian Guards. It really shows how much he desires companionship, a meaningful connection with someone who truly understands who he is. I'm no Reylo fan, but I like the platonic connection between the two.
"I suppose this was Palpatine's mansion? Destroyed by rioters after his death or plundered or wrecked in some pedestrian, fruitless attempt at symbolic revenge?" Kylo Ren
"Actually, my Prince, this home belongs to--" Vaneé
"I don't care. Palpatine is irrelevant to me. He's dead. I am interested in the one who killed him, Darth Vader. You told me this place was important to my grandfather's rise to power. I do not see it. You have wasted my time, Vaneé." Kylo Ren
"I have not, my Prince. Naboo was tangential to the Emperor's path. But for Vader's path, it was central. You saw his path on Tatooine...You felt it. But the pain and power that came from this place was so much greater. You see...Naboo is where Vader fell in love. Padmé Amidala, Queen of Naboo and then a Galactic Senator in her own right. Your grandmother. A powerful, brilliant woman, a worthy match for your grandfather. From a young age, Vader set his sights on her. He did not rest until they were joined forever--wedded on this very world. And if there is anything to be said about Darth Vader, it is this. Once he had Padmé...He never let go." Vaneé
It's a great idea to have Vader come to Naboo shortly after the Empire rises, essentially unleashing his grief on the planet and the people.
"A Spirit of Death came here. It did everything it could to destroy all memory of the beautiful Queen. It wrecked this place. It brought the waters in, flooded the whole building. But it didn't stop there. For a time, the spirit haunted Naboo, and it became clear that to speak of the Queen, to acknowledge that she ever lived at all...would mean death. Ever since then, good people avoid this spot, for fear they might bring back the demon." The story of the "Spirit of Death"
Kylo Ren's comment as he's absolutely destroying Storg Veruna and his guards really showcases how he got both his grandfather's and father's snark.
"Well, look at that. This place is cursed. But not for me." Kylo Ren
The return of the Verunas is a great touch. It signals how those citizens who collaborated with the Empire continued their corrupt ways through protection rackets and bought everything in the world. Naboo's obsession with lineage parallels Kylo Ren's obsession with Vader, and I definitely think it's not lost on him.
It's fascinating how Kylo Ren's opinion about killing the past is validated in his mind. As he sees Naboo, they're so obsessed with lineages and nobility, including events that took place decades ago, and as a result, they're unable to move on. He's definitely projecting his insecurities about his lineage onto them.
"You're wrong about Vader and Padmé, Vaneé. The story those insects just told us made it clear. Darth Vader realized that his past was not a strength...it was a weakness. Unworthy of the legacy he was trying to build. So he returned here and destroyed any memory of it. He understood what the people of this world do not. These fools are obsessed with their past. Maintaining it. Letting it control them. 'Lineage matters...' Pathetic. But I can help them." Kylo Ren.
I have a strong feeling Kylo Ren will destroy the throne Hux built just to troll him. I like the idea that the act would push Hux to be a spy.
Overall, this issue does a great job of exploring Vader's past with Padmé, and Kylo Ren took away that if anything, Naboo's current state validates his beliefs. Both Vaneé and Kylo Ren have a point regarding how Vader got his power. Vader's obsession and attachment to his wife made him do anything to protect her, and yet at the same time, he wanted to erase any trace of her from the people other than him. Except for himself, Vader wants to erase the past with Padmé from the galaxy. It represents how his obsession and attachment remain, especially as we see Vader's attempts to revive his wife. I cannot wait for what Issue 5 of Kylo Ren's journey holds and if he'll learn more during his assault on Naboo.
"People of Naboo. This is the Supreme Leader of the First Order. I have commandeered your communications network. I am unimpressed with you. Your focus on events that happened decades ago, your obsession with lineage and superstition…have caused your society to fester. Because you cannot let go…you hold yourself back. Now that will change. All that was will be swept away. Naboo will embrace the future. You have been ruled by Queens. You have been ruled by an Emperor. Now…I am your King." Kylo Ren
No shade to Charles Soule but I love how he’s just redoing Lego Star Wars: Terrifying Tales and the whole bit of someone younger and impressionable going to the ruins of Vader’s castle only to find Vanee, who recounts a bunch of stories. The setup for Vanee to backstab Kyle is unreal and he’s already in the damn mech:
Here's another concept that I never ended up implementing in-comic for Our New Hope. So many great ideas ended up on the cutting-room floor of the comic's script.
There's a part in LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales where Graballa mentions that Vaneé is creepy and he should just ignore him... while he is SNIFFING POE.
And let me just say, I've never related to a creepy lego character any more than I did at that moment.
