I’ll it it: I never liked Darth Vader has made him as unlikable as possible, as he’s starting to taint everything that Anakin Skywalker - not Darth Vader - held dear.
In the newly released Star Wars: The Legacy of Vader #2, written by Charles Soule with art by Luke Ross, Kylo Ren finds himself on his grandfather’s home planet of Tatooine. Vader’s cyborg servant, Vaneé, seeks to Anakin’s greatest accomplishment and happiest moment: the Boonta Eve Classic.
With One Move, Kylo Ren Committed An Unforgivable Crime
Star Wars: The Legacy of Vader; Written by Charles Soule with Art by Luke Ross
When Vaneé takes Kylo Ren to the first location on their journey through Vader’s past, the duo wind up on Tatooine. Kylo Ren lacks any emotional connection with Tatooine or his grandfather’s past as Vaneé leads him to Mos Espa, calling it “the site of one of your grandfather’s earliest triumphs.” Vaneé shows Kylo the wall commemorating the winners of the Boonta Eve Classic race and notes that Anakin won when he was only a nine-years-old slave. Enraged by the discovery of Anakin’s past as a slave, Kylo Ren takes his lightsaber to the walk and incinerates Anakin’s name from the records.
On a personal level, Kylo’s actions feel like a betrayal. To those who connected with Anakin, especially during the prequel era, the blow is a deep wound. The Boonta Eve Classic wasn’t just a race for Anakin; It was a symbol of the idea that even in the darkest circumstances, a spark of hope could ignite.
"The petty act of destruction in a childish fit of rage reinforces the idea that Kylo Ren’s darkness isn't grand or powerful like Vader’s; It’s small, spiteful, and ultimately self-destructive."
As someone who grew up as the prequels were being released, The Phantom Menace is full of nostalgia, bringing back the experience of being a 10-year-old enthralled by the planet, the creatures, and podracing. I was already a huge Star Wars fan by the time The Phantom Menace premiered, making the excitement of seeing Anakin as a person - not Darth Vader - palpable. Watching Anakin zip through valleys and tight turns with enemies on his tail and the odds stacked against him was as adrenaline-fueled for me as a fan as it was for the characters on screen.
The Boonta Eve Classic Was A Turning Point For Anakin
Kylo Ren Refuses to Understand Anakin Skywalker
Anakin’s win at the Boonta Eve Classic with his homemade Podracer felt like a win for every underdog out there. Not only did Anakin earn his freedom, but he experienced what it felt like to be applauded for his talent. He was seen, not just by the Jedi, but by his slavers and neighbors. When Kylo Ren dragons his saber across Anakin’s name, I quite literally gasped. Why? Because it felt like an integral part of not only Anakin Skywalker, but Star Wars as a whole, had been defiled. Yet another fit of rage led to irreversible consequences.
Throughout the sequels, Kylo Ren comes across as a child throwing a temper tantrum rather than someone who actually believes in the power of the dark side of the Force like Vader did. The entire premise of The Legacy of Vader follows Vaneé attempting to prevent one of Kylo Ren’s meltdowns focused on destroying Fortress Vader by promising to teach him more about Vader’s past and power. Kylo Ren’s actions continue to contradict as he wants to forget the past but also know everything about Vader.
Star Wars Is Making It Clearer Than Ever: Kylo Ren Knows Nothing About Darth Vader
Star Wars: Legacy of Vader follows Kylo Ren on a mission to learn about Darth Vader’s past - and how he became so powerful in Star Wars lore.
The act itself highlights these contradictions in Kylo’s obsession. He claims to idolize Darth Vader, yet he displays a fundamental misunderstanding of Anakin Skywalker’s journey. Vader’s power stemmed from his pain, but also from the remnants of the good that once lived inside Anakin. By erasing Anakin’s name, Kylo is not avenging his grandfather - he is denying the very foundation upon which Vader’s legacy was built. This contradiction makes Kylo Ren a character who is not only unlikable, but also tragically misguided.
The emotional impact of that single moment in The Legacy of Vader #2 is one of profound desecration. By destroying that record, Kylo is not only attacking his grandfather’s past but also the very concept of overcoming adversity. The petty act of destruction in a childish fit of rage reinforces the idea that Kylo Ren’s darkness isn't grand or powerful like Vader’s; It’s small, spiteful, and ultimately self-destructive. It's a reminder that his obsession with Vader is truly about a deep-seated insecurity, and Kylo Ren's inability to reconcile with the choices he made actively seek to extinguish the embers his lineage once ignited.
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Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Conceived by the will of the Force itself, Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring the Force into balance. Anakin struggled to balance competing attachments to the Jedi Order and his wife Pé Amidala, and ultimately fell to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. For years he served as Palpatine's right hand man, but he was ultimately redeemed by the faith of his son, Luke Skywalker. Now a Force Ghost, Anakin continues to act as an agent of balance.
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Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
The son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Ben was manipulated by Palpatine through the Force for most of his life, influenced toward the dark side of the Force. A misstep by Luke Skywalker ultimately left Ben feeling he had no choice but to embrace the dark side, and he became Kylo Ren, a key figure in the First Order. Kylo Ren's heart remained deeply divided, however, even after he ascended to become Supreme Leader of the First Order. He was ultimately redeemed by Rey, with whom he shared a remarkable Force bond, and by the love of his parents.
