Summary
Luke Skywalker’sDagobah training was more intense than what was shown inEmpire Strikes Backalone. In Episode V, much of Luke’s training consists of running, jumping, handstands, and failing to lift his X-Wing out of the swamp. However, the full extent of his training was far more hardcore, with Master Yoda pushing his apprentice to his very limits in theStar Warstimeline.
As seen in Legends’Star Wars Adventures: Luke Skywalker and the Treasure of the Dragonsnakesby Tom Taylor and Daxiong,Yoda and his apprentice venture forth into the depths of the swamp planet to retrieve a stolen egg from the King Dragonsnake, the very same creature that tried to eat R2-D2 upon Luke’s arrival to the remote world. As such, this 2010 issue serves as a major unseen chapter ofLuke’s Jedi training whichEmpire Strikes Backdidn’t show, one filled with all kinds of surprising dangers and threats.
Thanks to this issue,it quickly becomes clear that the young Skywalker had to face all kinds of deadly challenges that went far beyond Yoda simply riding on his back.
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Luke Skywalker’s Training Involved Much More Than Handstands and Visions
Learning From Yoda Wasn’t Easy
During their journey to face the mighty King Dragonsnake, Yoda certainly put Luke through his paces. Not only does he have to sleep inside the corpse of a giant spider, but he soon has to face all kinds of different creatures and predators native to the swamp world of Dagobah.As such, this issue helps prove Luke’s training was more demanding and extensive than pure exercise and using the Force while upside down.
That said,it is worth noting that the most important part of Luke’s training was the vision he received in the “Cave of Evil”. A dark side vergence in the Force, Luke fought a manifestation of Darth Vader within the cave, only for Luke’s own face to be revealed within the Sith’s dark helmet (some key foreshadowing of their familial connections). Likewise, it’s recently been confirmed in the official canon thatthe Cave of Evil could have killed Luke as one of Dagobah’s biggest dangers. However, it’s exciting to see the full extent of Luke’s training in this issue, even if it is part of the non-canon Legends.
Episode V Didn’t Show Half of What Luke’s Training Was Really Like
Including Luke’s Sparring Sessions With Yoda
All in all, it would have been fascinating to have seen more of Luke’s Jedi training inEmpire Strikes Back. However,one can imagine it might have been difficult in the late 70s to make Luke’s sparring sessions with Master Yoda look exciting rather than goofy. At any rate, it’s nice to have stories like this issue ofStar Wars Adventuresthat help flesh out major moments in the established canon, especially when there’s nothing in said canon to dispute the events despite their Legends status.
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
Cast
The Empire Strikes Back is the second installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, directed by Irvin Kershner. Released in 1980, it follows Luke Skywalker as he trains under Jedi Master Yoda, while Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the Rebel Alliance face ongoing threats from the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader.
