Warning: contains spoilers for Star Wars #35!Luke Skywalker used Force Projection - the technique he would later use to battle Kylo Ren and ensure the survival of the Resistance in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Force Projection allows a Force-wielder to broadcast their image across the galaxy, appearing in incredibly distant places as if they were physically present. In the movies, Luke only demonstrated this ability late in his life, but it turns out he began using it far, far earlier.
Charles Soule, Madibek Musabekov, Rachelle Rosenberg, and Clayton Cowles' Star Wars #35 sees Luke on a quest to construct his green lightsaber. On Christophsis, he requests the aid of the amoral Dr. Cuata - one of the last remaining experts in Kyber crystals following Palpatine's purge of the academic field. Cuata agrees to help, but also asks Luke to undertake a series of experiments, using the Force to interact with various Kyber crystals. It's during this process that Luke first harnesses Force Projection - though he doesn't actually realize what he's achieved.
Luke First Uses Force Projection While Creating His Green Lightsaber
While meditating with various Kyber crystals, Luke undergoes a series of visions - confronting a memory of the Sith Eternal, facing Darth Vader within the Force, and chastising Yoda for seemingly abandoning him. Luke calls out his Jedi Master for refusing to offer the help he needs, and - after a brief struggle due to an ongoing problem with the Force - awakens in Cuata's laboratory. However, later in the comic the story cuts back to Yoda, who reveals that Luke's appearance on Dagobah wasn't a vision - it was his first, unknowing use of Force Projection.
Luke Originally Used Force Projection to Call Out Yoda
It's a great moment, as Luke being forced to experiment with his Force connection by Cuata unlocks a new ability fans know will be pivotal to his later life. The process also sees him connect with a clear Kyber crystal, turning it green - likely the crystal he'll end up using to construct his lightsaber. This firmly connects his Force Projection ability to his past - it's something he first used between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, and an ability that helped him in the creation of his iconic weapon.
Luke's Force Projection Journey Has Only Just Begun
Many questions still remain - for example, when did Luke Skywalker actually learn his experience wasn't a vision, and when did he start training to deliberately use Force Projection? With Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi aware of what really transpired, it makes sense that eventually Luke's mentors will clue him in on what he's capable of. This may then be an ability Luke continues to nurture after Return of the Jedi, becoming confident in its use before his final showdown with Kylo Ren, or something he only draws on again a few times. The Star Wars comics continue to strengthen the connections of the franchise's lore, revealing essential chapters of Luke Skywalker's life.
Star Wars #35 is available now from Marvel Comics.
