Marvel Comics has revealed that the unknown steps of Luke Skywalker's path before Return of the Jedi will soon be detailed and shown within the pages of their Star Wars comic series. The second volume of the series takes place between the events of Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, showing the events that happened immediately after Vader revealed that he was Luke's father. That event sent Luke reeling with doubts, causing him to question whether or not he was meant to be a Jedi at all. However, when he receives a vision after the Rebels returned to Cloud City, Luke goes to follow his destiny which could include taking the traditional Jedi Trials.
The current Star Wars series from writer Charles Soule with art by Jesus Saiz is on its fourth issue, having been released in March. Thanks to the global pandemic, comics were halted and the fifth issue will finally be releasing next week and the sixth issue in September. These next two issues in particular seem to indicate a focus on Luke, and his determination to continue his Jedi path that began in A New Hope with his late master Obi-Wan Kenobi. According to the solicitation for the fifth issue, Luke will act on his vision and seek to find the mysterious woman who called on him to fulfill his destiny, believing her "to hold the key to his Jedi future"
However, the solicitation for the sixth issue of Star Wars coming in September is really interesting:
"THE PATH TO JEDI WISDOM…OR A DEADLY TRAP OF THE DARK SIDE? THE FORCE led LUKE SKYWALKER to someone who can provide him with great insight into the path to JEDI wisdom…But their meeting will change Skywalker FOREVER. Luke thought his duel against his father, Darth Vader, was the ultimate test. But Luke’s trials have only just begun. The galaxy needs Luke Skywalker. And a Jedi needs a weapon! Meanwhile, Vader continues his search for his long-lost son, and the REBEL ALLIANCE finds itself on the verge of a losing all hope."
It looks as though Luke's meeting with this woman will strengthen his resolve to become a Jedi. Something has to, as he considers himself to be a full-fledged Jedi Knight in Return of the Jedi (despite Han Solo thinking he merely has delusions of grandeur.) Furthermore, the preview reads that his duel with Vader wasn't his ultimate test, with his "trials" having only begun. This is potentially significant as this could be a tease to the traditional Jedi Trials taken by Padawans in order to become Jedi Knights during the days of the Republic and the Jedi Order.
Could the mysterious woman be a Jedi survivor who could aid and oversee Luke's trials, or least possess knowledge of them? This would be significant for fans, as the traditional trials conducted by the Jedi Order were never seen in the prequel films, even by Jedi on screen who were knighted during that time. Obi-Wan received an exemption from the Trials as he defeated Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace. He would then go on to be a Jedi Knight, fulfilling his promise to train Anakin Skywalker, who was himself knighted without the traditional Trials as well, thanks to his heroics conducted during the Clone Wars.
The Trials are are a collection of five tests known to be the Trials of Skill, Flesh, Courage, Spirit, and Insight. The Trial of Skill focused on physical prowess as well as lightsaber technique. The Trial of Flesh was meant to test a Jedi's ability to handle extreme pain or loss (Anakin passed his when Count Dooku cut off his arm). The Trial of Courage usually involved the Council sending the tested Padawan on a mission. In the older days, it involved the defeat of a Sith Lord (which Obi-Wan passed thanks to his duel with Maul). The Trial of Spirit was a journey of self-discovery where the Padawan had to confront their own darkness (Luke's cave vision in Empire Strikes Back with Yoda is a great example). Finally, the Trial of Insight tested a Jedi's ability of awareness and the ability to see beyond the surface level, using their senses and wisdom to uncover the truth. Some of tests could be completed as the same time, depending on the scenario.
Essentially, Luke has already gone through the Trial of Spirit on Dagobah with Master Yoda, and one could argue his duel with Vader could count as his Trial of Courage. Perhaps the mysterious woman can aid Luke in completing those remaining? However it plays out, it seems as though she'll help Luke continue in his Jedi path, and fans can look forward to seeing how it happens when the coming issues of Star Wars come to comic book store shelves soon.