The galaxy-wide Jedi Purge that rippled through Star Wars lore, executed through Order 66, is a story often told through the eyes of those who fought and fled, or those who fell to the rising Empire. Those fallen Jedi went on to become Jedi-hunters themselves, or high ranking members of the Imperial government. Yet, a new comic reveals a survivor who chose a path of ingenuity rather than confrontation. In Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #7, written by Charles Soule with art by Luke Ross, an elder former Jedi named Grandea recounts a truly unique tale of survival; one that relies not on the blade of a lightsaber, but on the subtle power of the mind. This is a brand new take on a Jedi’s survival after decades of lore; one that leverages a core Jedi ability in a way that is both brilliant and perfectly suited to the shadowy post-Order 66 era.
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Grandea’s method offers a fresh perspective on a well-trod piece of Star Wars canon, showing that a Jedi’s greatest weapon is not always what you expect.
A Jedi’s Survival Hinged on an Tried and True Technique
The story of Grandea’s survival during Order 66 is unique because she chose to abandon the traditional tools of a Jedi in favor of a technique often considered low brow for a Jedi. Grandea recounts that she survived the initial assault by clonetroopers not with her lightsaber, but with a different weapon her enemies did not expect. The technique‒ the Jedi mind trick ‒was frequently dismissed within the Jedi Order as undignified and unworthy, but was something Grandea had always been fascinated by. She disagreed with the Order’s negative view of an important tool in a Jedi’s arsenal and, as a result, she lived while those who relied on their lightsabers did not.
Her use of the mental technique allowed her to escape the initial slaughter and avoid capture in the chaotic aftermath of the Purge. While the clones were instructed to hunt down and kill all Jedi, Grandea simply convinced them that she was not a Jedi. She knew that simply fighting back was a losing proposition against the sheer numbers of the Imperial army, especially as she watched her fellow Jedi die right in front of her. By using this “undignified” method, she was able to outsmart her opponents and survive the day that effectively ended the Jedi Order. Her story is a testament to the idea that a Jedi’s strength is not just in their physical abilities, but in their wisdom and ability to adapt.
Grandea’s survival was a result of her foresight and willingness to choose a different path than her peers. She recounts that after the initial purge, a message was sent from Coruscant telling the Jedi not to return to the temple but simply to trust in the Force to survive. This was a vague message from Obi-Wan Kenobi, as shown in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, that offered no further instructions or help. Grandea listened to the Force, and it told her she could no longer be a Jedi. She understood that living meant abandoning her identity as a Jedi, but that wasn’t enough, as bounties for Jedi were immediately implemented by Emperor Palpatine. In her words, “the danger did not end with Order 66” and she knew she was being hunted and would continue to be hunted her whole life. This realization led her to destroy her lightsaber and burn her robes.
Grandea’s Mind Tricks Became Her Best Defense Against Even the Strongest Foe
Grandea’s continued survival over decades was a direct result of her mastery of the mind trick, a skill that became her primary defense against the Empire. After destroying her Jedi identity, she left behind everything except her connection to the Force and her unique method of survival. She then focused exclusively on her mind-based technique, using it constantly and only becoming more of a master of the skill. This dedication transformed her from a Jedi who simply used the Force to a master of psychological manipulation. She even sought out individuals known to be resistant to mind tricks to test herself, like the Hutts and Toydarians, eventually learning to sway even their strong minds. This deliberate practice made her a virtually untraceable refugee from the Empire.
Her use of mind tricks was so effective that she was able to make people believe she was never present. Grandea even says herself: “everywhere I went, I never went.” This powerful statement reveals the extent of her abilities, suggesting that she was able to erase herself from people’s memories and perceptions. This is a far more sophisticated and effective form of concealment than simply hiding in a remote wasteland, as the Inquisitors could still sense hidden Jedi through the Force. It allowed her to live a life, to be a part of society, without being hunted.
Ultimately, this specialized skill is what allowed Grandea to survive the Empire’s most feared Jedi hunters, the Inquisitors. After a particularly brutal fight with two Inquistors, Grandea was able to convince both of them that they had killed her. Her mind trick was so effective that the two Inquisitors reported Grandea’s death back to Darth Vader with full certainty, ensuring the hunters would no longer search for her.
Grandea, now an old woman in present time of Legacy of Vader #7, reveals to Kylo Ren that she was a Jedi but is not one anymore. When Kylo Ren finds her in a tavern, he tries to read her mind to get information, but she is able to stop him with ease. Instead, she is able to read his mind and knows who he is because he is “screaming it to himself” in his mind. Grandea’s mind tricks were not just a means of escape, even from Kylo Ren decades after Order 66, but a way to permanently live in the open, even with the Empire’s most terrible hunters on the prowl. Her story provides a fascinating new detail about the Jedi Purge and shows that the greatest weapon a Jedi can possess is not always a lightsaber.
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