Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Last Stand #4Star Wars canon makes me even more annoyed with his actions in The Last Jedi. As seen in Episode VIII, the Jedi Master notoriously confirmed that he briefly considered killing his own nephew who was at risk of being corrupted to the dark side of the Force, a thought that guaranteed Ben Solo's fall to the dark side and the start of his origins as Kylo Ren. However, Star Wars seems determined to show moments in Luke's past that make the Jedi even more of an apparent hypocrite with such an uncharacteristic moment.

As seen in Marvel's new and canonical Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Last Stand #4 by Alex Segura, Jethro Morales, and Jim Campbell, the Battle of Jakku reaches its conclusion as Luke Skywalker engages Grand Moff Adelhard, a rogue former Imperial determined to destroy both the Empire and the New Republic with a coalition of loyalists and allied spice runners. Having convinced the spice runners to turn on Adelhard in this final issue of Battle of Jakku, Luke surprisingly tries to save Adelhard as his Star Destroyer is on the verge of exploding, offering him a path out of the darkness:

Adelhard refuses Luke's help and is subsequently shot by Luke's ally Rynn Zenant. That said, Luke Skywalker's attempt to save someone so corrupted by darkness and hate annoys me (though I really wish it didn't).

Luke Skywalker Wanted To Save Adlelhard During The Battle of Jakku

Even When He Was So Far Gone...

Refusing Luke's help in his belief that he was beyond salvation, Adelhard proves just how unhinged he'd become ever since the Battle of Endor a year prior. Ultimately, Luke's desire to help and offer a path of redemption to such an unhinged villain should be irable, mirroring his unwavering belief that his father could walk away from the dark side in Return of the Jedi. Even if that path isn't taken, Luke proves himself as a true Jedi by believing that Adelhard still deserves the opportunity to turn away from the dark and embrace the light.

This is not unlike when Luke was training to become a Jedi between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. In the canonical Star Wars #43, Luke learns how to purify a piece of red kyber crystal corrupted by an ancient Sith Lord. Experiencing a vision in the Force, Luke determines that he can save his father with the belief that "no one is beyond help". This is a core character trait Luke comes to embody, bringing his father back to the light and now in this new Star Wars issue, by offering the same chance to Adelhard.

Star Wars Keeps itting Just How Hypocritical Luke Was In The Last Jedi

Luke Should Never Have Thought About Killing Ben...

However, both moments are significantly undercut by the knowledge that the time will eventually come in The Last Jedi when Luke does not offer the same chance of redemption to his own nephew. Even if it was just for a moment, Luke still had a lightsaber raised as he considered killing Ben, who was simply at risk of falling to the dark side. As such, this single moment is so uncharacteristic for Luke considering everything that's been seen from his Jedi past.

If "no one is beyond help" and Luke was willing to try and redeem beings as ruthless and corrupt as Vader and Adelhard, doing the same for Ben shouldn't have ever been a question. Star Wars seems determined to keep highlighting just how hypocritical Luke was in The Last Jedi by revealing these moments where Luke was the heroic Jedi offering the light he always should have been (without a shred of hesitation). As much as I'd love to just enjoy Luke Skywalker in his prime, I can't help but be annoyed as it makes his future even more frustrating.

Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Last Stand #4 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.