Even though Disney recently wrapped up the Skywalker Saga, fans still have a great many questions about the events connecting the sequels to the original trilogy. But thanks to Marvel’s new Star Wars series, one major mystery from The Force Awakens has finally been solved. The catch is that the book replaces that mystery with another.
How did Luke Skywalker’s blue lightsaber survive the events of The Empire Strikes Back? Read on to find out the answer and how it ties into a brand new Star Wars mystery, but beware of spoilers for Star Wars #2 and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ahead!
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When Luke’s blue saber is last seen in The Empire Strikes Back, it’s plummeting (along with Luke’s severed hand) to the depths of Cloud City. Fans rightfully assumed both saber and hand were lost forever, at least until the blue saber resurfaced in The Force Awakens and passed from Maz Kanata to Rey. Maz never explained how she came to be in possession of such a rare artifact, merely dismissing the question as a story for another time.
Why didn’t Luke’s saber become so much scrap metal at the very bottom of Cloud City? That’s one question Marvel’s relaunched Star Wars series (which is set just after the events of Episode V) seems intent on answering. As it turns out, it’s because someone caught the saber on the way down.
The identity of this saber savior is unknown, though their robes indicate they’re a Jedi of some sort. The idea that another Jedi was lurking in the shadows while Luke and Darth Vader had their fateful duel may seem strange, but this image is very likely showing us a Force Ghost rather than a living Jedi Knight.
We know from The Rise of Skywalker that Force Ghosts can interact with the physical world and even hold objects. Artist Jesus Saiz seems to be using the Cloud City environment to purposely mask the distinctive blue glow of a Force Ghost. If anything, this shot of the mystery Jedi could be an intentional callback to the moment where Luke’s ghost rescues the blue saber from being destroyed in Rey’s fire.
The new series has also established that Luke’s connection to the Force is weakened following his defeat. The realization of his true connection to Darth Vader has taken a huge psychological toll on Luke. Whether living or dead, this mystery Jedi seems intent on guiding Luke forward and helping him complete his journey toward becoming a full-fledged Jedi Knight. This issue sets Luke and Lando on the path to returning to Cloud City and recovering the lost saber, suggesting it won’t be long before Luke meets this mystery Jedi.
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The real question is what character is hiding behind those robes. We can only see one arm in this image, indicating a light-skinned human male. Obi-Wan Kenobi would be the most obvious candidate, though would the comic hide the face of such a familiar OT character? Is it possible Luke will have his first encounter with a prequel character like Qui-Gon Jinn? We could even see the series forming a connection to other recent Star Wars projects by revealing this mystery Jedi to be Star Wars Rebels’ Kanan Jarrus or Jedi Fallen Order’s Cal Kestis. Or is this a brand new Jedi character?
Let us know your theories in the comments below. And for more big developments in the Star Wars universe, check out the latest trailer for The Clone Wars: Season 7, find out when it takes place in relation to Episode III and learn how The Mandalorian revives ancient Star Wars history.
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Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
Source: IGN.com Marvel Solves the Mystery of Luke Skywalker's Lightsaber