Warning: SPOILERS for The Rise of Kylo Ren #3 below
In the new Star Wars trilogy, there aren't many more frightening looks than Kylo Ren's helmet. The look homages Darth Vader while spinning a new sinister appearance for the man formerly known as Ben Solo. But, why does Kylo wear the helmet? A new Star Wars comic implies its all an act to intimidate his enemies.
In Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren #3 by Charles Soule and Will Sliney, Solo is trying to prove himself to the Knights of Ren. On Varnak, Ren confronts Solo about his intentions to join the Knights. Solo seems intimidated by the masked Ren, who takes off his helmet in order to kill the tension in the room. He tells Solo "Here. Relax. The mask's kind of intense -- that's the point -- but you and me, maybe we're gonna be friends. Snoke thinks so anyway."
It's a simple line from Ren that explains a lot about Ben adapting the new look later when he becomes Kylo Ren. The helmet is intimidating. Darth Vader is one of the most frightening characters in the Star Wars universe and his helmet is a big part of it. Plus, for Ben, a mask allows him to shield his emotions and expressions. Wearing a helmet was a natural move for Ben's transition to the dark side.
Kylo Ren's helmet would play a huge part in the Skywalker trilogy. He's first introduced in the films with the helmet with it becoming a clear metaphor for his struggle with identity. Emperor Snoke would later order Kylo to remove his helmet to show his scar suffered in his fight with Rey, calling him out by telling him to "take that ridiculous thing off." Kylo's rage would overcome him and he would destroy his helmet after letting down his master.
That wouldn't be the last we see Kylo wearing the helmet. It made a return in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as he embraced the dark side as the new Supreme Leader. As inexplicable as the helmet returning seemed, it remained a key part of Kylo Ren across his Star Wars journey. Sure, the mask was intimidating and made him look like a badass, but it also represented his struggles with coming to the dark side and suppressing his former Jedi ways. When Ren turns back to the good side, he abandons the mask and shows his real face for good. While it was all about intimidation as Ren tells Kylo, ultimately, the mask didn't define Ben Solo in the end. Still, it's neat to see why he wore one in the first place.
Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren #3 is available now in your local comic book shop.