Publisher's summary[]

A DYNASTY OF DOOM! ANAKIN SKYWALKER casts a long shadow. Can KYLO REN ever escape his infamous grandfather's reputation? Or will he succeed where DARTH VADER failed?

Plot summary[]

The son of smuggler Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa, Ben Solo was once one of the
most promising of the new generation of Jedi. That is, until his uncle, Jedi Master Luke
Skywalker, sensed the dark side in Ben. Since then Ben has abandoned the ways of the
Jedi. As Kylo Ren of the villainous First Order he now walks a dark path....

Advising Vader's heir[]

Imperial veteran Captain Ruthford dons old Imperial stormtrooper armor aboard an Upsilon-class command shuttle. While conversing with a subordinate First Order stormtrooper. Ruthford insists on wearing the old armor because he is an old soldier who prefers something "familiar" and comfortable. He and Kylo Ren travel with an admiral to a Wild Space planet which is under attack from the Benathy, a warlike alien species that have been encroaching on First Order space.

The First Order hopes to negotiate with the aliens but is prepared for war if negotiations fail. Since Captain Ruthford is a veteran of the last battle that the Empire had fought against the Benathy, Ren has brought him along. When Ren asks how he survived, Ruthford replies that he survived through dumb luck. Ren disagrees and tells Ruthford that he will accompany him and advise.

As the grandson of Darth Vader, Kylo Ren vows to succeed where Vader failed. Ruthford disagrees that Vader failed and says that Vader managed to subdue the Benathy. Since they are walking in Vader's shadow, Ren believes that there is glory in the battlefield. Surveying the mass graves of fallen Imperials, Ruthford disagrees and says that there are only wasted lives here. Approaching the tent, Ren asks Ruthford what he knows about the Benathy. Ruthford describes them as a proud and stubborn race who value size and strength above all else. Ruthford warns Ren that there are things bigger than him.

"Touchy" negotiations[]

Kylo Ren and Captain Ruthford meet with King Kristoff, who towers over them and wears the helmets of fallen Imperial stormtroopers as a necklace. King Kristoff invites Ren and Ruthford to take a seat but Ren insists on standing. The Benathy have wiped out all life on four nearby planets. Ren demands that they cease expanding.

King Kristoff recalls that Lord Vader made similar demands and killed their last King but that even Vader could not withstand their "god." Ren replies that Vader put them down but Kristoff replies that his people got up. Ren reiterates his demand that the Benathy cease expansion and submit to the First Order. Stretching out his hand, Ren attempts a mind trick but the King is resistant. Kristoff is defiant and tells Ren that saying the same thing slower doesn't make him more persuasive.

Ruthford tries to warn the King not to annoy Kylo Ren. Kristoff doesn't see why he should stop. Ren impales Kristoff's head with his crossblade lightsaber, killing him. Ruthford adds that Ren can be a little "touchy." The King's commanders try to avenge their leader but Kylo Ren beheads one and slices the legs off the other. He tells the wounded Benathy that he is not so tall without his legs.

Ruthford tells Kylo Ren that they were supposed to be negotiation and that it is hard to negotiate with dead people. Ren replies that he did not hear anyone objecting to his demands. Due to the failed negotiations, the Benathy prepare for war against the Empire, donning armor and deploying walkers and droids.

War with the Benathy[]

Due to the vast numbers of Benathy, Captain Ruthford advises Ren to call a retreat. When Ren asks if Vader retreated, Ruthford replies that Vader fought until the Benathy's god arrived and that thousands died on both sides. He tries to warn Kylo Ren that this is not a competition but Ren is determined to succeed where Vader failed.

As Ren leads the First Order into battle, Ruthford experiences flashbacks of Vader leading stormtroopers years earlier. The Benathy's god, which turns out to be a Zillo Beast, soon arrives. Kylo Ren orders the First Order's gunship to open fire on the giant creature. Ruthford warns that Zillo Beasts are unbreakable, but Ren disagrees, saying that nothing is unbreakable.

The Zillo Beast wraps its serpentine body around the gunship and proceeds to devour it. Ren proceeds to board the First Order shuttle. Thinking Ren is being reckless, Ruthford tries to warn him that he cannot prove anything to a dead man but Ren ignores him. Ren flies the shuttle towards the Zillo Beast, which is still devouring the gunship.

Kylo Ren jumps into the mouth of the Zillo Beast with his lightsaber. Watching Ren's reckless action, Ruthford thinks that Ren is wasting his life. He remarks that it is a nice way to get eaten and quips that Ren's grandfather would have been impressed. Ruthford suggests that the Admiral withdraw his forces. However, Kylo Ren uses his lightsaber to slice through the insides of the massive Zillo Beast, killing it and causing it to crash on the ground.

Emerging from the corpse of the Zillo Beast, Kylo Ren addresses the Benathy army, telling them that their god is dead and that they now only worship the First Order. Following the battle, an impressed Ruthford speaks with Ren, saying that it wasn't a competition because he won. Kylo Ren smiles.

Media[]

Editions[]

• UPC 759606092048; September 25, 2019; Marvel Comics^[1]
  • 00111; Cover A; Phil Noto
  • 00121; Cover B; Mike McKone & Guru-eFX
  • 00131; Cover C; Ron Frenz, Tom Palmer & Antonio Fabela

Cover gallery[]

Cover A

Cover A, not final

Cover B

Cover C

Appearances[]

Collections[]

• Star Wars: Age of Resistance — Villains
• Star Wars: Age of Resistance HC

Sources[]

• Snoke, Kylo Ren, Rey, and Rose to Star in Marvel's Age of Resistance – First Look on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Darth Vader Looms Over Marvel's Age of Resistance — Kylo Ren #1 — Exclusive on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Zillo Beast 101 on StarWars.com (backup link)

Notes and references[]

Explore all of Wookieepedia's images for this article subject.

External links[]

• Star Wars: Age Of Resistance - Kylo Ren (2019) #1 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)

Heroes: Finn · Poe Dameron · Rose Tico · Rey Villains: Captain Phasma · General Hux · Supreme Leader Snoke · Kylo Ren Special: "Maz's Scoundrels" · "The Bridge" · "Robot Resistance" Collections Heroes · Villains · Hardcover Related media Age of Star Wars: Star Wars: Age of Republic · Star Wars: Age of Rebellion
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