A powerful new figure has emerged to lead the Knights of Ren, and she answers to no one, not even Kylo Ren. The newly revealed leader, Tava Ren, is introduced in Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #8, written by Charles Soule with art by Stefano Raffaele. This issue delves into the Knights of Ren’s past and their history with Kylo, showing them to be a group of thieves who were once too afraid to stand up to his mental instability. Now, with Tava Ren at the helm, the Knights have a leader who is not only a force to be reckoned with, but is also ready to go head-to-head with Kylo Ren. The comic sets up a massive confrontation between the two, suggesting a showdown that will test Kylo’s strength and determine the future of the Knights of Ren.
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Tava Ren’s introduction signals a major shift in the balance of power, and it’s clear that Kylo’s reign is far from secure
The Knights of Ren’s Past Reveals a Surprising History With Kylo Ren
Legacy of Vader #8 delves into the history of the Knights of Ren, showing that they were not an organized militia-like group, but rather a group of thugs who plundered the galaxy under the command of one leader. The Knights of Ren’s beliefs are in the shadow and the power it gives them, as well as the Ren and the freedom it reveals. Tava Ren, their current leader, finds herself leading a mission to open a vault on Vandor, a planet in the Mid-Rim, when her Knights abandon her at the first glimpse of trouble, leaving her behind. Tava, infuriated by their cowardice, questions their disloyal behavior. In response, one of the Knights explains that they didn’t want to die because of her bad intelligence, claiming she was wrong when she said it would be easy to get to the vault. Adding onto the blame, another Knight says her ambition will get them all killed.
Unable to understand why her crew operates with fear when they are supposed to be fearsome raiders, Tava presses them for an answer. Reluctantly, the crew recounts the trauma they suffered at their previous leader’s— Kylo Ren’s— hands. At first, Kylo joined the Knights of Ren as Ben Solo; a young man with extraordinary power and skill. After a short amount of time, Ben murdered the leader of the Knights and changed his name to Kylo Ren, leading the Knights in a new and unwanted direction. Kylo became more and more of a recluse among his crew, often talking to himself or acting out irrationally, until he revealed his master plan and brought the Knights to Snoke. When the Knights refused to join Kylo, Snoke, and what would become the First Order, they were met with a barrage of bullets and had to run for their lives.
Tava Ren is Not Easily Intimidated
After learning the truth after her predecessor, Tava concots a plan that we, as the reader, are not privvy to, but involves pledging her allegiance to Kylo. Though this pledge appears to be less-than-genuine, as the comic foreshadows a confrontation between the two, Tava’s bravery and confidence to directly confront Kylo already sets her apart from his tenure as leader. Tava Ren is a strong and ruthless leader, in contrast to the cowardly Knights who abandoned her and their mentally untable previous leader.
A preview for Legacy of Vader #9, shows that Tava Ren will attempt to overthrow Kylo Ren, posing the question of whether Kylo Ren will be able to withstand his clever and clear-minded new enemy. This sets the stage for a major battle that will reveal the true power of both characters and the fate of the Knights of Ren.
Kylo Ren, even after killing Snoke and becoming Supreme Leader, still struggles with forging his own path outside of his family’s legacy. He is still living in the shadow of his family’s legacy as a wildly unstable leader. Legacy of Vader #8 sets up a fascinating conflict between a new, fearsome leader and a former one who is still struggling with his own identity.
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