Comic Review: Legacy of Vader #5 – Kylo vs The First Order!
Charles Soule continues to define a new era of Star Wars comics with the best look at Kylo Ren we’ve had outside of the films.
By
Jun 25, 2025
Marvel Comics/Youtini Illustration
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Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Stefano Raffaele
Colors: Nolan Woodard
Publisher summary:
TARGET: NABOO! KYLO REN and the FIRST ORDER begin the assault of NABOO! But what strange game is the young tyrant playing with the fates of the people there? What lesson has Kylo learned from DARTH VADER'S past?
Marvel Comics
Why it matters:
Charles Soule digs deeper into his exploration of Kylo Ren’s tenure as Supreme Leader. Legacy of Vader remains a thrilling look at one of the most emotionally unstable villains in Star Wars history.
Key moments:
Kylo Ren… Resistance Leader?: “Fun” is not a word you expect to use to describe a Kylo Ren comic, but his undercover ruse is exactly that. You’ll get a kick out of watching him expose the cracks in his own army using lessons he learned from his parents.
A villain we love to hate: Don’t let the disguise fool you - Kylo Ren is no hero. The series continues its display of the Supreme Leader’s total disregard for everyone other than himself.
Naboo under siege: One of the most beautiful planets in Star Wars is taking some damage, but it’s still a lovely sight. Stefano Raffaele perfectly captures why Naboo is such a fan favorite location, even during war.
Marvel Comics
The big picture:
Most Star Wars villains have two things in common: a red lightsaber and stoic composure in their actions. Kylo Ren has one of those. Unlike Vader or Palpatine, whose evil presence is amplified by how little they show the audience about their true selves, Kylo Ren wears his emotions on his sleeves. He’s impulsive, destructive, and completely unsure of himself.
Charles Soule reminds us that the new “Supreme Leader” moniker has not instantly changed Kylo from the tantrum-throwing grandson of Vader we met in The Force Awakens. The siege on Naboo makes for some thrilling action, but the real excitement comes from seeing just what ridiculous lengths Kylo will go to in order to hide from his emotional instability.
Our rating: Incredible
What’s next: Kylo’s quest continues in Legacy of Vader #6 in just two weeks. On sale July 9, 2025.
For a deeper discussion of this issue, be sure to check out this week’s episode of The Cosmic Force podcast!
Oz Davis is a Content Creator at Youtini and co-host of The Cosmic Force. He's kept up with every Canon release since 2014 and has a particular soft spot for lesser-known books like "Servants of the Empire." As part of Youtini's "Dad Batch," he's also developed an affinity for the multitude of Star Wars children's books, and he's always looking to expand his collection.
