In a shocking burst of power,Luke Skywalkerhas finally unleashed Force Lightning inStar Warscanon. For decades, the crackling energy has been associated with the intense evil of the Sith. However, in adventures taking place in the immediate aftermath ofReturn of the Jedi, a new artifact has sent Luke’s power surging to new levels.
Luke Skywalker’s Force Lighting corresponds with what fans know of Force surges and how they intensify Jedi and Sith power.
Iconically wielded by Dark Side adepts including Emperor Palpatine and Darth Tyranus,Force Lightning is considered the"ultimate physical manifestation of the Force"by many Jedi, including Luke Skywalker himself (according to Marc Sumerak’sStar Wars: The Secrets of the Jedi.) The lethal ability unleashes a barrage of electrical energy that can kill in moments. However, despite its fearsome lineage, the abilityisavailable to Jedi like Luke.
The energy blast comes in today’sStar Wars: Doctor Aphra – Chaos Agent #1, from Cherish Chen, Gabriel Guzman, Mike Atiyeh and Joe Caramagna. When Aphra and Luke pursue a Luovian Gauntlet that’s been charged with unusual energy. Of course,the gauntlet ends up on Luke’s hand, causing a massive Force surge.
Luke’s Lightning Explodes, But Is This Really the Force?
The Jedi Master Refuses to Accept It, Despite Evidence to the Contrary
In the issue, Aphra and Luke reach out to smuggler Baff Baksheen, who is looking to sell a rare Luovian Gauntlet. Used to harness energy, this Gauntlet has been modified to harness the Force itself, at least according to Baff. When Luke gets too close, the gauntlet leaps onto Luke’s hand, causing powerful Force Lightning to pour out in response. Luke struggles to control the new ability until Aphra is thankfully able to disable the gauntlet.
While Luke refuses to accept that the Gauntlet is genuinely channeling the Force, the concept of Force surges has been a major fixation for Marvel’sStar Warscomics recently. After the opening of the Dark Side artifact known as the Fermata Cage, the Force was thrown into upheaval, with Force-users including Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine seeing their Force abilities fluctuate. For Palpatine, this included ahuge upgrade to his Force Lightning, meaning thatLuke’s experience is very much in line with howStar Warshas depicted Force surges so far.
Star Warshas often explored the idea ofLuke contending with his darker impulses, and gaining access to an iconic Sith ability will surely test him yet again, especially with Force Lighting’s near-unparalleled effectiveness as a weapon.
Has Luke Skywalker Ever Used Force Lightning Before?
The Jedi’s Electric Judgment Has an Unclear Relationship to the Sith Equivalent
This is the first time Luke Skywalker has ever unleashed Force Lightning in current continuity, however things get more complex in the now non-canon Legends stories. There, Luketechnicallyhasn’t used Force Lighting, however he has wielded asimilar ability referred to as Electric Judgment. At one point forbidden by the Jedi Order, this ability was used by select Jedi including Luke, Plo Koon and Jacen Solo. The main differences are the color of the lightning, the emotions used to achieve it, and the fact that the Jedi generally used far less intense energy, knocking their targets unconscious rather than killing them.
Luke used Electric Judgement while battling Shimrra Jamaane and during the Swarm War, most memorably depicted in Cliff Nielsen’s cover art toDark Nest III: The Swarm War, by Troy Denning. Luke also demonstrated the ability to create powerful force fields out of his lightning. However, in most depictions,the Jedi’s Electric Judgement is green or gold, representing their purer sense of justicewhen unleashing so much power and their restraint while doing so.
As Marvel embarks on a new era ofLuke Skywalker’s Jedi adventures, it remindsStar Warsfans that there are still plenty of new experiences and notable firsts waiting in the young Jedi’s golden era.
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra – Chaos Agent #1is available now from Marvel Comics.
Luke Skywalker
The son of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, Luke was brought up on the desert planet Tatooine. Initially mentored by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke fired the fateful shot that destroyed the Death Star, and he became a rebel hero. Despite the fears of Obi-Wan and Yoda, Luke’s faith in his father was proved well-founded when Vader returned to the light. With the Emperor defeated, Luke dedicated himself to bringing back the Jedi; his first attempt ended in tragedy due to Palpatine’s manipulations, but Luke’s legacy lives on in Rey.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
