Finally, Star Wars Admits It: Kylo Ren Really Is a Bit of a Crybaby

Kylo Ren has always received a lot of flack from the Star Wars fanbase that he comes off as a bit of a crybaby. To be fair, he absolutely is. But of course, the self-appointed heir to Darth Vader’s legacy would never admit such a thing himself. An acolyte of the dark side would never show such signs of weakness. Although, Kylo Ren completely agrees with fans’ teasing mockery.

Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #1 - by Charles Soule and Luke Ross - is set immediately following The Last Jedi. Kylo Ren is without Snoke’s guidance and reigns as Supreme Leader over the First Order. More conflicted than ever after being rejected by Rey and bested by Luke, Kylo Ren is desperate to crush his past and unshackle himself from the burden of legacy.

Kylo Ren threatens to kill Vader's past.

However, the Supreme Leader struggles to commit, recalling the pain of his lost family and the admiration of his grandfather’s authority. While suffering from a swell of emotional turmoil, even Kylo Ren admits he’s a crybaby.

Kylo Ren Admits He’s a Crybaby in New Canon Comic Book

Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #1 - Written by Charles Soule; Art by Luke Ross; Color by Nolan Woodard; Lettering by VC’s Joe Caramagna; Cover Art by Derrick Chew

While Kylo Ren has always been mocked for this childish trait, it’s not like he hasn’t been aware of this fact. Even as early as The Force Awakens, Kylo Ren chastises himself for this conflict. Ben has always admitted to wanting to free himself from his family’s legacy, but was manipulated by Palpatine to believe emulating Darth Vader was the correct path. Ben Solo isn’t inherently a hateful person. He wants connections with others, which is why embracing the dark side causes so much emotional turmoil. It’s not who he is, but Palpatine’s corruptive influence is a powerful force.

Admittedly, Anakin Skywalker was never any better than Kylo Ren. Throughout his service as a Jedi, Anakin had already become the target of Palpatine’s ire. Just as Palpatine did to Kylo Ren from within the shadows, the Sith Lord stoked the fires of Anakin’s emotional turmoil from the start. Anakin frequently lamented about his life’s tragedies and dwelled on the emotional conflict between his various allegiances. Even as Darth Vader, Anakin embraced his lifelong conflictions to fuel his rage. Let’s not forget Darth Vader was christened in tears. Of course Kylo Ren is a crybaby, he’s still relatively new to Palpatine’s corruption.

Palpatine Prefers to Apprentice Crybabies

Emotional Turmoil Is Easy to Manipulate

Emperor Palpatine’s goal has always been to achieve immortality. While Palpatine had many contingency plans for his death, one method was to take on a powerful apprentice, mold them with the dark side, destabilize their emotions, and supplant his soul into their body. The concept was first introduced in the expanded universe comic series Star Wars: Dark Empire and was canonized in the modern continuity in Rise of Skywalker. Both Anakin Skywalker and Ben Solo were chosen to become Palpatine’s apprentices, both due to their natural power and their emotional instability. Palpatine needed an apprentice he could manipulate.

Anakin was so torn between his allegiance to the Jedi, Padme, Palpatine, and his mother that he couldn’t help but break down at least once a movie.

Sith Lords like Count Dooku and Darth Maul were always too strong-willed to become Palpatine’s vessel. Both Sith apprentices had firm convictions and firm goals, something Darth Vader and Kylo Ren lacked. Anakin was so torn between his allegiance to the Jedi, Padme, Palpatine, and his mother that he couldn’t help but break down at least once a movie. Kylo Ren doesn’t hate his family; he hates the burden of legacy, which Palpatine leverages against his apprentice’s emotions. Just like his grandfather, Kylo Ren is an open crybaby; exactly how Palpatine prefers his apprentices.

Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #1 is now available from Marvel Comics