WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE LEGACY OF VADER #2!Born to Ben Solo was the last person anyone expected to fall to the dark side. His heritage makes his transformation into Kylo Ren all the more tragic. Now, a new comic offers a glimpse into his childhood, adding even more heartbreak to the Solo family’s collapse.

Released on March 12, 2025, Star Wars: The Legacy of Vader #2–written by Charles Soule with art by Luke Ross–follows Kylo Ren as he traces his grandfather’s footsteps to learn more about Vader’s rise to power. The first stop on Kylo Ren’s journey through the past is the place where it all began for Anakin: Tatooine.

Vader’s cyborg servant, Vaneé, paints a picture of Anakin living a pained existence on Tatooine, saying that Kylo Ren must be able to relate. Desperate to find a connection with his grandfather, Kylo adamantly agrees that he knows what pain is, but his memories tell another story.

Ben Solo's Childhood Was Full of Love and Warmth

Star Wars: The Legacy of Vader, Written by Charles Soule with Art by Luke Ross

At Vaneé’s subtle manipulation, Kylo Ren begins to recall memories from his own past, leading to Star Wars’ first depiction of the Solo family’s domestic life after Return of the Jedi. However, instead of the painful past Kylo Ren insists he endured, his childhood was filled with nothing but love and affection—not just from his parents and uncle, but from a full circle of found family who survived the Galactic Civil War together. Flashbacks show a young Ben Solo playing in nature while Han and Leia watch on adoringly.

Family meals are filled with life and laughter, with Ben and his parents ed by Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, and C-3PO. A young Ben grins in delight as he sits atop Chewbacca’s shoulders. Han smirks as Lando animatedly explains something to Ben—knowing Lando, it's likely a thrilling tale with more than a little embellishment. Luke looks on with pride as Ben attempts to use the Force. But the most touching memory is of Han and Ben in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, with Ben at the controls, learning to fly his father’s beloved ship.

Kylo Ren Refuses to Accept the Happiness of His Past

Kylo Believes Vader's Pain Was His Strength

The memories of a happy family could have continued well into Ben’s adulthood if not for Palpatine’s mental manipulation, which led to the slaughter of Luke’s fledgling Jedi academy. If Ben’s life had been so full of love and community, there’s no reason to believe that would have changed as he grew older, given how deeply his real and found family adored not only him but each other. Seeing Han as a doting and proud father, in particular, makes his murder at his son’s hands—framed as a way to “let the past die”—even more tragic.

After the flood of memories revealing his beautiful and loving childhood, Kylo Ren is still quick to agree with Vaneé’s claim that his past must have been filled with pain, just as Anakin’s was. He comes off as defensive, as if he has something to prove to Vaneé. In Kylo Ren's mind, he likely does—he wants to be worthy of his grandfather’s legacy and believes he cannot be if he hasn’t suffered the way Vaneé insists Darth Vader had.

Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #1 is available now from Marvel Comics!