Warning: SPOILERS for Star Wars #32One of the most iconic scenes in the sequel trilogy comes when Luke Skywalker and Yoda finally reunite following Rey's departure from Ahch-To. In one memorable moment, Yoda pretends to burn the sacred Jedi texts in front of Luke's eyes, much to the dismay of his former pupil. While Luke doesn't know that Rey actually recovered the texts before they were burned, the newest issue of Star Wars adds another layer to the Jedi's initial reaction.
Star Wars #32 by Charles Soule and Madibek Musabekov picks up on Luke and his friends stranded in No-Space with their ship surrounded by Killdroids. As the rest of the team aims to recover a Path Engine that may mean their way out of No-Space, Luke goes with a mission of his own: recovering a Jedi text. While the others try to quickly get in and out, Luke risks his life to go back for the sacred book he left behind.
Luke Skywalker Nearly Dies for the Jedi Texts
Luke has spent much of Soule's Star Wars run expanding his knowledge as a Jedi, recovering from his tragic loss in The Empire Strikes Back and overcoming his past failures and trauma. On this journey, Luke encounters a number of High Republic artifacts and locations, including his new yellow lightsaber and a holocron of Master Yoda. Luke eventually encounters the Living Sea of Gazian, a location powerful in the Force and visited by a number of Jedi, in Star Wars #20. It is here that he discovers the first of his Jedi texts.
Luke's insistence in recovering the Jedi text in Star Wars #32 completely explains his later reaction to what he thinks is Yoda casually burning them. Unaware that Rey took the books, Luke believes he is witnessing the destruction of an essential tool in the remaking of the Jedi Order. In Star Wars #32, Luke risks his life for one of these books, a tome that marks an important step in an incredible personal journey of his. The issue ends with a Killdroid dangling Luke over the edge of No-Space, crushing his hand and appearing to destroy his lightsaber in the process. Knowing how much he risked and lost to recover only one of these texts makes the witnessed destruction of a collection of them understandably heartbreaking.
The Last Jedi's Best Scene Just Got Even More Emotional
This additional insight into Luke's relationship with the sacred Jedi texts underscores how big of an emotional journey he takes with Rey in The Last Jedi. At the beginning of the film, Luke claims the Jedi Order needs to die, at first refusing to train Rey. When Rey leaves Ahch-To to go after Kylo Ren, Luke feels that he's failed yet again, going as far as to almost destroy the Jedi texts himself. Once he believes he sees them burning, however, he rushes in to save them, furious with Yoda for his destructive act. It's an instinctive declaration of his belief, with Luke reestablishing his faith in the Jedi and their purpose in the galaxy. This is the moment Luke knows he has to be a Jedi once again, and he can't be the last.
Soule's added history between Luke and the texts makes this moment all the more impactful, as readers now have a sense of what the literature means to Luke on a personal level. When Rey stole the sacred Jedi texts before Yoda could destroy them, she didn't just save a collection of books; she saved knowledge Luke Skywalker was once willing to die for.
Star Wars #32 is available from Marvel Comics now.
