Darth Vader Comic May Reveal Why Luke Skywalker Went Into Exile

06/21/2017 08:22 pm EDT

Later this year, Star Wars fans will have one of their burning questions about Luke Skywalker answered. When The Force Awakens hit theaters, fans learned the Jedi was missing-in-action as he had dropped off the galaxy's radar. The film followed the Resistance as they tried to track down Luke whilst trying to keep the First Order off their trail, but many wondered why Luke exiled himself in the first place. However, it looks like the most recent issue of Marvel's new Darth Vader comic may hint at the Jedi's reasoning.

In Darth Vader #2, readers were treated to a panel which saw the Sith Lord explain why Jedi outside of the Great Jedi Purge did nothing to help those in danger. The genocide is a well-known bit of Star Wars canon, and fans will remember the prequel films introduced Order 66 which catalyzed the purge. Revenge of the Sith fully explained why the Jedi Order was all but decimated by the time Return of the Jedi came around, the Darth Vader comic reveals surviving Jedi did not fight against the Purge thanks to the Barash Vow.

"Any Jedi pursuing Barash has sworn to refrain from activities related to the order. Complete disengagement from anything but the Force. It is a type of penance. While a Barash-take would have felt the Purge, they would have not have allowed themselves to respond to it, or take action of any kind," Darth Vader explained.

Judging by the Sith's explanation, the Barash Vow appears to be a test the Jedi put themselves through. Luke was eager to reestablish the order by the end of the original Star Wars film, but fans have since learned the attempt failed. Luke's training of Ben Solo did not go as planned as the boy turned to the dark side, adopting the name Kylo Ren and killing his fellow Padawans. The ordeal itself could be explanation enough for why Luke would want to run away, but the Jedi make have left with the direct intent to undertake the Barash Vow. The exile would serve as penance for Luke and the guilt he carried about his failed Jedi Order. And, by choosing the Force-sensitive planet Ahch-To, Luke would be able to key back into the Force without any peripheral concerns.

For now, fans will have to wait and see whether the Darth Vader issue does point fans towards an explanation. The Last Jedi is slated to premiere later this year, making it all the more likely that writer Charles Soule would tie in his comic to the feature. So, if you hear the phrase Barash Vow in the Star Wars film, then you will know just why Luke Skywalker chose to leave his former life behind for one of solitude.

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Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the second film in the new Star Wars sequel trilogy that began with Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015. The film will deal with Luke training Rey to become a, and possibly the last, Jedi. Meanwhile, the Resistance, including Poe Dameron and First Order defector Finn, continues to fight against the First Order, led by General Hux, while Supreme Leader Snoke and his Dark Side follower Kylo Ren continue their mysterious plot.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson and stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Andy Serkis, Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern, and Kelly Marie Tran.

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