Prejudice leads to the Dark Side in Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Luke Skywalker No. 1

In the latest issue of Star Wars: Age of Rebellion, the Emperor attempts to manipulate Luke Skywalker to join him and Darth Vader.

Luke Skywalker is the hero of the Star Wars franchise – the quintessential good guy who has bested every possible obstacle, personal or otherwise, imaginable. But when he set off on this adventure, he was a young man, trying to find his way in a galaxy full of evil. No evil was greater than The Emperor, who set his sights on the former farm boy following his confrontation with Darth Vader in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. As Luke continues to elude Vader in Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Luke Skywalker No. 1, the Emperor tries a new tactic to lure the aspiring Jedi to the Dark Side.

The latest issue in the series opens with Luke heroically rescuing a squad of Rebels in the Outer Rim. Luke’s colleagues are floored by his impressive lightsaber skills, but the Major in command can’t disassociate Luke’s prowess from that of Darth Vader’s. And this forms the basis of this installment – Luke must confront one of the most powerful forces working against him – prejudice.

Star Wars Age of Rebellion – Luke Skywalker (Credit: Marvel Comics)

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Luke’s characterization in this issue is unabashedly authentic. Luke is inexperienced, naïve and headstrong. He’s also been burned by recent revelations which makes him less trusting of those around him. But to give in would be taking the easy road to the Dark Side, and we know that’s not how Luke is wired.

The Major was a wonderful foil for Luke in this installment, and utilized to perfection by the creators. It’s a mark of a clever writer who can successfully subvert the expectations of readers who are well-versed in the mythos of Star Wars. The Major does just that, and adds to the dynamic layers of this story to set up a denouement that befits the legacy of the series.

These past several issues of Star Wars: Age of Rebellion have finally embraced a cornerstone of the franchise, which is the underlying political and social messages that makes Star Wars resonate with so many. Take a moment to savor the final few pages, especially the final panel of this comic because it so accurately encapsulates what a true hero is and how he should behave.