Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars #28In the latest issue of Marvel's Star Wars comic series, Luke Skywalker unknowingly foreshadows the coming future, in which he will draw his lightsaber on Ben Solo in a moment of weakness, driving him into the arms of Snoke and creating a fearsome warrior for the dark side.
Marvel's Star Wars comic series is set after the events of Empire Strikes Back and details the Rebellion's struggles with the Empire before Return of the Jedi. It was always a mystery how Luke Skywalker grew in power so much between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, but these comics are filling in those gaps and providing much-needed backstory on Luke's journey towards becoming a full-fledged Jedi Knight.
In Star Wars #28 from Charles Soule and Andrés Genolet, Luke Skywalker goes undercover as an Imperial Officer to infiltrate Coruscant, the Emperor's home and a stronghold for all things Imperial. Luke decides to forego his lightsaber, stating that "If I have my lightsaber, I'm going to be tempted to use it." Luke predicts that if he's put under pressure, he'll turn to his lightsaber even if he doesn't strictly need to use it, and makes the sensible decision to go without it in a situation where it would do more harm than good. Unfortunately, Luke didn't employ the same judgment years later when he drew his lightsaber on Ben Solo, as shown in The Last Jedi.
Luke Knew Being Armed Was A Temptation
As a young Jedi with much to still learn, Luke had the foresight to remove an option he didn't want to use ahead of the time when he'd be most tempted. If only Luke had heeded his own warning years later, his relationship with Ben Solo may have never fallen apart. One moment of poor judgment that changed the entire fate of the galaxy could have been avoided entirely if Luke listened to his past self. What's telling isn't that Luke realizes that any Jedi is liable to draw their blade in a desperate moment, but that he understands the answer is to disarm himself in certain situations. While Luke Skywalker's blame in momentarily igniting his blade after sensing Ben Solo's darkness is debatable, this moment shows he knows he should never have had it so close to hand in that moment. Indeed, it's surprising that he didn't make this principle part of the training he offered Padawans later in life, given how wise the decision is at this point in his life, and how clearly it observes and avoids the worst in human nature.
Even in his old age with years of Jedi training and experience under his belt, Luke Skywalker was prone to mistakes. Ironically, a younger Luke with less life experience was safer and stricter with his lightsaber and the discretion at which he uses it. There is still a lot of time between this Marvel Star Wars series and Luke taking on the task of training Ben, and not even the great Luke Skywalker is immune to the horrors of Imperial war. The man he is now with immense restraint and self-control is not the same man he will grow to become. Luke Skywalker raising his lightsaber against Ben Solo will forever remain a great "what if" in Star Wars history, because fans now know that Luke Skywalker predicted even he would be tempted to use his lightsaber in the wrong situation, but forgot that lesson in the moment when it was most vital to remember.
Star Wars #28 is available now from Marvel Comics!