The latest issue of Star Wars depicts an early encounter between Luke Skywalker and a respected character, in which Luke shows his power.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers from Star Wars #6 by Charles Soule, Jesus Saiz, Arif Prianto, and VC’s Clayton Cowles, on sale now.
Star Wars has always been of the notion that death is not the end. Death did not stop Obi-Wan from advising Luke from beyond the grave and in a more negative example, it did not prevent Palpatine from returning to terrorize the galaxy again. Unfortunately for Luke Skywalker, death would not limit an old foe’s ability to endanger any Jedi potentials.
In Star Wars #6, after his duel with Darth Vader and the subsequent revelation of his status as Vader’s son, Luke goes in search of a new lightsaber to replace the one he lost in Cloud City. On the advice of a disillusioned former Padawan named Verla, Luke travels to the planet Tempes, an appropriately storm covered planet that houses an old Jedi outpost from the days of the High Republic, bringing more hints of the future Star Wars project.
However, Verla warned Luke that there was a dark presence within the outpost that scared her off and would undoubtedly try to harm Luke should he venture there. Undeterred, Luke entered the outpost, finding a surprisingly intact building with a Jedi temple guard’s armor, a holocron, and the very thing Luke sought: a lightsaber, one wielded by a former temple guard. Upon claiming the lightsaber though, the dark presence Luke was warned about struck. And it was certainly a surprise.
Luke is ambushed by the burning spectral form of the Grand Inquisitor, the first major antagonist from the Star Wars Rebels TV show and former leader of the Imperial Inquisitors. Having been left there as a trap for any force wielder hoping to become a Jedi, the Grand Inquisitor made it clear that for failing in life, he would forever serve in death. Engaging Luke in a duel, the Grand Inquisitor began taunting Luke, telling him the fallen Jedi once wielded a lightsaber similar to the one Luke used against him now. He ridiculed Luke for believing in an Order that had failed due to weakness and hypocrisy.
Luke however, took inspiration from the remains of the building in which they fought. Claiming that it reminded him that the Jedi Order was worth fighting for, Luke pushed the Grand Inquisitor back before chopping off his hand, leaving an opening for Luke to finish the specter off.
The inclusion of the Grand Inquisitor, as well as the use of a High Republic outpost, signifies that moving forward, Star Wars is attempting to connect the past, present, and future, weaving a more coherent story as a plan takes shape. This was something that the Sequel Trilogy was criticized for not having, but now it seems that Star Wars content creators are promising fans that they will not forget the past as they bring Star Wars into its future.