Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren No. 2 continues the story of how Ben Solo turned into First Order’s Supreme Leader. In this issue, he meets the Knights of Ren for the first time.
How did Ben Solo turn into Kylo Ren?
That’s the question many Star Wars have and one that The Rise of Kylo Ren comic miniseries is trying to answer. The first book was certainly a page turner, giving a glimpse into Ben’s backstory on that fateful night at Luke’s Jedi Academy.
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In The Rise of Kylo Ren No. 2, the story picks up with Ben on Snoke’s weird greenhouse planet. Snoke continues to reiterate Ben was right to go to him and is pushing him on what he needs to do next.
Ben says he needs to go find the Knights of Ren, but it wouldn’t be the first time he met them. Years earlier, Luke went on a mission with Lor San Tekka, who we know from The Force Awakens. Ben is with them.
The biggest takeaway is during the whole ride to Elphrona, Ben is hearing Snoke’s voice in his head, stoking Ben’s insecurities.
One particular line from Snoke reads:
“You master thinks of you as a child. Someday he will realize your true capabilities.”
Meanwhile, two panels later, Luke tells Ben he is happy he came along.
They arrive on Elphrona to find an old Jedi outpost. It includes countless Jedi artifacts, including holocrons. But they’re aren’t alone. The Knights of Ren are there too.
It’s likely Snoke sent them because Kylo told him through their mental connection he was headed to Elphrona. It would be too coincidental for Knights of Ren to happen upon this treasure by accident.
A fight breaks out between Luke and the seven Knights of Ren. Ben is tasked to protect Lor San Tekka, which is ironic given that he orders Lor San Tekka’s death in the future.
This is when we see Luke’s true power. He rather easily dispatches of the Knights with stellar fighting and perfect command of the Force. Ren decides to leave with his life and not face Luke but not before he gives him a warning about Ben saying he feels the darkness in Luke’s apprentice.
Ren leaves his mask behind for Ben and in the future Ben goes back to Elphrona to use it to get in touch with Ren in order meet up with him and the Knights.
There are so many choices, so many little moments that could have taken Ben off the path from becoming Kylo Ren such as choosing to go to his mother over Snoke or not going back for Ren’s helmet. Ben had his chances, but he kept pushing toward the dark side further and further.
The Rise of Kylo Ren No. 3 arrives on Feb 12.