Comic Review: Star Wars (2020) #43

Last issue saw the start of a new arc, and what a brilliant start it was. Charles Soule treated readers to an in depth look into how kyber crystals work, a look that promises to go even deeper as this arc carries on. We got to meet Auntie Fee, a wonderfully new written character who knows plenty on the lore of crystals. The pace was beautifully set but I imagine it’s going to accelerate in this issue as Luke Skywalker explores the depths of the crystal itself. Joining Soule is Steven Cummings and Jethro Morales, bringing this exciting story to life.

The story begins with the Sith user within the crystal explaining pain. That pain is a lesson that we continually learn from, that it shapes us and becomes our history. You can see the truth to what is been said, even Luke can, yet Luke can see beyond this narrow view. He can see the negativity in such a view, that one can become stuck in this same cycle and are forever condemned by the pain. Luke brings his viewpoint, and a debate starts to happen with these two characters. Soule can use the Sith user to show us exactly what we know of the Sith, quick to make judgements, quick to act, narrow-viewed, not seeing the greater picture that limits them. It brings to life the lessons that we have watched in the movies. The Sith user I must keep referring to as the Sith user, as Soule doesn’t name them, and in this I think he has pulled off a master stroke. The name of the Sith is not important. It lets us know as the reader that their history, who they are is not relevant to this story. It’s not what Luke is here for and it’s not what we need to be taking notice of. It helps us focus (as it does Luke) on the real lesson that we need to learn from this.

The thing I have always enjoyed so much about this series is when it focuses on Luke. The main hero of the Original Trilogy, filling in the crucial gaps between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. This issue is no exception, possibly filling in some of the most crucial gaps. Luke is returned to his prison cell. This isn’t a Luke that panics, who starts getting angry; he remains calm and trusts to the force. When the cell blows open with nothing more than a hand gesture, you can’t help but feel this is Jedi Luke, the Luke we see entering Jabba’s palace. The transition from rushing head-strong into danger Luke is gone. It’s a beautiful moment to witness, but it is only the tip of the iceberg.

Soule comes back to a common theme in Star Wars. The dark side doesn’t like to be alone. It always wants more. Vader wanted Luke to join him, Dooku wanted Obi-Wan to join him, Palpatine wanted Anakin. Here we see the Sith user wanting Luke, wanting to join together. Soule takes Luke on a flashback scene of the Sith’s life, where Luke is there, telling them they are not alone, giving the support they so crave. However, it is then rejected as it is seen as weakness. It’s interesting to see that if Luke had decided to join Vader, if Obi-Wan had decided to join Dooku, would the partnerships not have worked because ultimately, they would have been seen as weak for trying to do things their way? I think this is Soule making a bit of a commentary on this, that joining a dark side user isn’t necessarily going to work out in terms of the partnership, let alone what they hope to achieve in the galaxy.

Soule then takes us into the iceberg: Vader appears. It’s at this point that I need to mention the beautiful artwork from Cummings and Morales. They capture this whole issue just right. The flashbacks, the confidence Luke has, the… well… will get to the latter part in a moment! When Vader appears, that close up on his helmet, surrounded by the red glow – it’s a real wow moment for this issue.

With Vader appearing, we see how The Empire Strikes Back might have ended, if Luke had completed his training. The pause in fighting, the lack of need to confront. We see Luke going through his own pain, the history that it has brought along, but that Luke is able to rise above it, that it is a part of him, but it doesn’t control him. The confrontation with Vader then makes Luke realise that we are all like this, that in every one of us that there is a struggle between good and bad. This realisation – as a huge Original Trilogy fan – was something truly special. We are seeing why Luke believes that there is still good in his father, that he has learnt about himself and about Vader is simply astounding. I mean, it’s the whole essence of Luke’s actions in the finale. But it doesn’t stop there, Luke sees the man who Vader was. The outline of Anakin, that Luke realises Anakin was before Vader, to put simply, it’s a breathtaking moment that Soule, Cummings and Morales capture so perfectly. The look Luke gives to the outline, the way it brings the realisation of Luke to the good in him. It feels like the perfect story, perhaps the story to bring The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi together. It’s not full of action, it’s an emotional (very emotional) ending to this arc, that for fans will really hit home. It shows just how far Luke has come but also how special Luke is as a Jedi. These are lessons that even Obi-Wan can’t understand, even though he knew Anakin. He can’t see past the machine that Anakin has become. Luke has been able to outgrow his teachers and it is that simple fact that shows that Luke is now a Jedi, that he is ready to face Darth Vader again. If you need any other indication just how special Luke is, we can see that with the healing of the crystal. Turning from red to green is no surprise, but the knowledge that the crystal he uses in Return of the Jedi, that he battles Vader with, is the same crystal that allowed Luke to see Vader as Anakin, makes it even more incredible.

This issue, this arc, was supposed to be Luke finding out more about the ways of the Jedi. As readers, we were learning more about kyber crystals, we were learning about the lore. It was great! Soule was not content to just have something great, he wanted to give us something pivotal. That’s exactly what we got. As I said near the beginning of my review, the name of the Sith is never known because that’s not what Soule wants us to draw our focus to. This issue is so much bigger than that. This is about Luke. It’s about Luke growing, showing us how much he has grown, how he has been able to move past his master’s and become the Jedi he truly is. It’s also about showing us why Luke knows without a shadow of a doubt, that there is good in his father, how he knows that Vader can be saved (even when Yoda and Obi-Wan think that isn’t possible). This is a Luke who has grown, matured, and become a light in the dark. Soule presents us an issue that will be essential reading to fans of the Original Trilogy. Throw in the visuals that Cummings and Morales provide us, capturing those key moments so perfectly, and you have not only a great issue within this series, but a pivotal issue in the whole of the Star Wars universe. Soule has only just finished writing one of the greatest crossover events I have read and then writes one of the greatest issues… I mean… expectations Mr. Soule are at an all-time high! Bring on the trial of Lando! I have said this series is essential reading for fans of the Original Trilogy, if you want to see why, this is the issue to read.