Summary
While it’s no secret thatStar Wars’Kylo Renwas inspired byDarth Vader, Ben Solo’s admiration for his grandfather went well beyond reverence and imitation. Indeed, in perhaps his most flattering move, Ren emulatesone of Darth Vader’s most iconic Force powers.
WithStar Wars: The Force Awakensoccurring - literally and figuratively - so many years afterThe Return of the Jedi, there was an expectation within fandom that there would be more than a few new wrinkles added to a franchise that had – at the time ofThe Force Awakens’debut – existed for nearly 40 years.
So, it’s no surprise that when Kylo Ren, in the opening moments ofForce Awakens, stops a blaster shot from Poe Dameron during the attack on Tuanul, fandom thought it had just witnessed a “new” Force power.But the reality is that the ability is a massive hat-tip back to Kylo’s grandfather.
Venom, Kylo Ren & the Dinosaur Fantastic Four Star in Free Halloween Comics from Marvel
Marvel’s “Trick-or-Read” incentive program returns this fall, as the publisher will offer free reprints of five instant-classic issues for Halloween.
Force Stasis Is A Versatile Ability That Vader Used Effectively
This Little-Known But Practical Ability Might Have Been Vader’s Best Move
As it turned out, the power –which is known as Force Stasis- was not something new, but rather an ability that some users of the Force have exhibited since at least the Clone Wars. Darth Vader demonstrates his mastery of the technique in 2017’sDarth Vader#2 by Charles Soule and Giuseppe Camuncoli, when Vader uses the ability to “freeze” the combustion of a grenade in the process of exploding until he can move out of the area of danger. He uses the ability again inDarth Vader#20 when he stops the slashes of two rouge Inquisitors' attempt to assassinate him in mid-motion.
Force Stasis has both defensive and offensive functionality. As illustrated inForce AwakensandDarth Vader#2, it can be used to staunch an opponent’s attack in real-time. From a blaster shot to a grenade explosion, Force Statis can stop an attack completely or allow its wielder to move away from the attack’s impact. Offensively, as demonstrated inDarth Vader#20,Force Statis can also be used to turn an opponent’s attack against them. Here, Vader uses the ability to stop a sword slash meant for him and redirect it to attack another opponent.
Kylo Ren Was Deeply Influenced By His Idolization Of Darth Vader
Ren Honors His Grandfather In a Powerfully Poignant Way
Han Solo and Leia Organa might be Ben Solo’s biological parents, butVader is his true inspirationand the figure he seeks to emulate. Despite the wealth of experiences, advice, and examples of his father, mother, and uncle he could use as a basis from which to build out his own life, Ren instead chooses the example of his grandfather. Moreover, Ren’s reverence of Vader isn’t just “skin deep” - it’s obsessive. Not only does Ren mimic Vader’s menacing look and presence, he adopts elements of his mindset. He hopes to carry out his grandfather’s legacy of bringing order and control over the galaxy through power and domination.
Having such a deep devotion to his grandfather,it’s only natural that Ren would also incorporate some of Vader’s powers into his own repertoire. Knowing Vader so well, Ren certainly knows of his Force Stasis abilities. While it may not be one of the most dominant Force powers, the fact that Vader is one of the few Force users shown using the technique, and the only Sith - and using it so effectively - means thatKyloRen’s adoption of it binds him more intimately toDarth Vader’sStar Warslegacy, creating a sincere and personal link to the grandfather he never knew.
Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
The son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Ben was manipulated by Palpatine through the Force for most of his life, influenced toward the dark side of the Force. A misstep by Luke Skywalker ultimately left Ben feeling he had no choice but to embrace the dark side, and he became Kylo Ren, a key figure in the First Order. Kylo Ren’s heart remained deeply divided, however, even after he ascended to become Supreme Leader of the First Order. He was ultimately redeemed by Rey, with whom he shared a remarkable Force bond, and by the love of his parents.
