Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #4Prior to the events of The Rise of Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine, completely underestimating the Sith Lord he assumed was dead. Arrogantly assuming he was the best candidate to become the peak embodiment of the dark side and succeed his grandfather during the sequels, Kylo Ren went on a journey between films, seeking to learn more about Darth Vader's legacy. However, Marvel's ongoing Legacy of Vader series has also proven just how blind Ben Solo truly was.

Following the events of The Last Jedi and his murder of Snoke, Kylo Ren becomes the First Order's new Supreme Leader. Cementing his power over the galaxy while the Resistance is in retreat, Kylo encounters Vaneé on Mustafar, a former servant of Darth Vader. Promising to teach Kylo Ren about his grandfather's legacy and how to make Vader's power his own, the duo has been traveling the galaxy, and Legacy of Vader #4 by Charles Soule and Stefano Raffaele brings them to Naboo. However, Kylo Ren incorrectly assumes they are there as the world was Emperor Palpatine's homeworld:

In truth, Vaneé brought Kylo Ren to the ruins of Naboo's lake country to share with him about his grandmother, and how Anakin Skywalker's love and attachment to Pé became a core strength as Darth Vader. However, Kylo Ren's dismissive attitude toward Palpatine communicates volumes about his own naivety.

Kylo Ren Couldn't Care Less About Palpatine

Proving How Blind Kylo Was To The True Orchestration Of His Dark Side Path

Prior to Kylo Ren discovering the Sith Wayfinder and meeting with Palpatine on Exegol in The Rise of Skywalker, it makes sense that Kylo would assume the former Emperor was dead and buried. Naturally, Kylo Ren's adoration of his grandfather meant he simply assumed Palpatine was defeated by Darth Vader as yet another testament to his grandfather's power in the dark side (without fully understanding that Palpatine's defeat came from Vader's redemption as Anakin Skywalker). Caring very little for Palpatine's legacy and how his legacy affected Naboo, Kylo Ren's only interest is Vader.

However, this just goes to show how blind Kylo Ren is to the truth of his own dark side journey. From the very beginning, it was Palpatine operating through Snoke who guided Ben Solo to the dark side, gradually corrupting him and turning him away from his uncle and master, Luke Skywalker. While Palpatine remained in the shadows in his resurrected clone body, it was Kylo Ren whom he was manipulating to his own ends. As such, Kylo Ren being so dismissive is some stark evidence of that manipulation, and how he hardly had any real agency in his dark side path to begin with.

We Know Kylo Ren Is In For A Rude Awakening

"I Have Been Every Voice..."

Of course, we know that Kylo Ren eventually learns the truth in Rise of Skywalker that Palpatine has been a hidden presence in his life for years, the secret puppet master in the shadows. Despite this, the Supreme Leader still believed he could eventually gain the upper hand against Palpatine, intending to try and destroy the Emperor just as his grandfather did. However, one can imagine that Palpatine would have simply drained the life force out of Kylo Ren until he was dead, renewing his deteriorating body (as he nearly does at The Rise of Skywalker's end).

Thankfully, Ben Solo is eventually redeemed in Rise of Skywalker following the death of his mother, Leia Organa. Only then did he actually have a chance at defeating Palpatine, having ed Rey before giving his life after resisting the Emperor's power. In this way, Ben Solo really does become the successor to his grandfather's legacy, despite his several years being arrogantly misguided and manipulated in the Star Wars timeline.

Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #4 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.