Warning: SPOILERS for Star Wars #1
The all-new Star Wars #1 has finally arrived, taking place immediately after the events of The Empire Strikes Back -- when Darth Vader reveals to Luke Skywalker that he is, in fact, his father. The first issue of the comic series shares how Luke deals with not only the shock about his true parentage, but also that the truth was kept from him. Causing him to react in a very similar fashion as his father famously did in the pages of Star Wars prior.
Written by Charles Soule with art by Jesús Saiz, the new comic story begins with Leia and Lando arguing on the Millenium Falcon mere minutes after Empire's end, weighing what the film's final scenes have truly cost them. Because of Leia's decision to go back for Luke, the fledgling Jedi was saved... but they were also unable to rescue Han, now frozen in carbonite and in the hands of Boba Fett on his way to Jabba the Hutt. But as they discuss the ramifications of this twist to the Rebellion, Luke has his own questions to ask in private.
Considering how his world has just been thrown into confusion, Luke is calling out to Ben and Yoda through the Force. But when his trusted masters refuse to respond, Luke gives in to anger, demanding to know why they won't answer him. In his rage, he channels enough of the Force to crack the Falcon's viewport.
The revelation that Vader is his father has him truly shaken, leaving him without his lightsaber or hand, and those he looked to for guidance won't respond. Furthermore, Luke determines that Ben and Yoda must have known about Vader, and withheld the truth from him and lied. Luke cracking the viewport in anger through the Force creates a wonderful connection of poetic symmetry with a moment immortalized by his own father.
Back when the first Death Star was destroyed in the first Star Wars movie, it triggered the spread of the Rebellion's reputation. Including the ace pilot who pulled off the impossible shot. In the films, it is implied that Darth Vader comes to realize the pilot's name is "Skywalker" through the events of Empire. But in the pages of 2015's Star Wars #6 and Darth Vader #6, it's revealed that Darth Vader hired Boba Fett to discover and capture the pilot responsible. While he was unable to capture him, Fett did find out his name: Skywalker.
After Fett leaves, Vader is left alone to accept his own version of the Empire twist. He has a son, and thanks to writer Keiron Gillen and artists Salvador Larroca and Edgar Delgado, fans witnessed the rage boiling up inside him, clenching his fist and cracking the viewport before him.
Both of these moments together serve as epic pieces of development for the Skywalker Saga, providing even more depth behind already strong characters. The final page of Star Wars #1 has Luke talking to R2-D2 about how confused, angry, and afraid he is. Learning that Vader is his father has Luke questioning his whole Jedi path. Having Luke ask what he will become, if not a Jedi, is depicted by Saiz with one window crack overlaid on his face -- resembling a scar over his eye, just as evocative of Anakin Skywalker before he became Darth Vader.
Here's hoping this new Star Wars series will continue to explore not just Luke, but also Vader, as this new period in the Skywalker Saga is explored. Star Wars #1 is available now in your local comic book shop.