The ninth and conclusive one-shot installment, titled Age of Resistance - Kylo Ren 1, in the canon comic book anthology series known as Star Wars: Age of Resistance was released. Tom Taylor penned the story, Leonard Kirk provided the illustrations, and Marvel Comics published it on September 25, 2019. This issue showcases the tale "Out of the Shadow," accompanied by an essay from Bryan Young.
Aboard an Upsilon-class command shuttle, Imperial veteran Captain Ruthford is seen wearing his old Imperial stormtrooper armor. While in conversation with a subordinate First Order stormtrooper, Ruthford explains that he prefers the "familiar" comfort of the old armor, as befitting an old soldier. He journeys alongside Kylo Ren and an admiral to a Wild Space planet besieged by the Benathy, a belligerent alien race encroaching upon First Order territory.
The First Order hopes to come to terms with the aliens, but is ready for battle if diplomacy fails. Ren has brought Captain Ruthford along because he is a veteran of the last battle that the Empire had fought against the Benathy. When Ren inquires about his survival, Ruthford attributes it to sheer luck. Ren refutes this and declares that Ruthford will accompany and advise him.
As the grandson of Darth Vader, Kylo Ren pledges to triumph where Vader had not. Ruthford objects to the idea that Vader failed, pointing out that Vader subdued the Benathy. Ren, however, believes that there is glory to be found on the battlefield, given that they are walking in Vader's shadow. Surveying the mass graves of fallen Imperials, Ruthford counters that there are only wasted lives here. As they approach the tent, Ren asks Ruthford for his insights into the Benathy. Ruthford characterizes them as a proud, obstinate race that values size and strength above all else. He cautions Ren that there are forces greater than him.
Kylo Ren and Captain Ruthford encounter King Kristoff, a towering figure adorned with a necklace of fallen Imperial stormtrooper helmets. King Kristoff offers Ren and Ruthford seats, but Ren chooses to remain standing. The Benathy have extinguished all life on four neighboring planets, and Ren demands that they halt their expansion.
King Kristoff recalls that Lord Vader issued similar demands and killed their previous King, but even Vader could not withstand their "god." Ren retorts that Vader subdued them, but Kristoff replies that his people rose again. Ren repeats his demand that the Benathy cease their expansion and submit to the First Order. Extending his hand, Ren attempts a mind trick, but the King resists. Kristoff stands firm, asserting that speaking slowly does not make his argument more convincing.
Ruthford attempts to warn the King against provoking Kylo Ren. Kristoff sees no reason to comply. Ren impales Kristoff's head with his crossblade lightsaber, resulting in his death. Ruthford remarks that Ren can be a bit "touchy." The King's commanders attempt to avenge their leader, but Kylo Ren beheads one and severs the legs of the other, taunting the wounded Benathy that he is not so tall without his legs.
Ruthford reminds Kylo Ren that they were supposed to be negotiating and that it is difficult to negotiate with the dead. Ren responds that he heard no objections to his demands. As a consequence of the failed negotiations, the Benathy prepare for war against the Empire, donning armor and deploying walkers and droids.
Faced with the overwhelming numbers of the Benathy, Captain Ruthford advises Ren to order a retreat. When Ren questions whether Vader ever retreated, Ruthford recounts that Vader fought until the Benathy's god appeared, resulting in thousands of casualties on both sides. He tries to caution Kylo Ren that this is not a competition, but Ren is resolved to succeed where Vader failed.
As Ren leads the First Order into battle, Ruthford experiences flashbacks of Vader leading stormtroopers in years past. The Benathy's god, revealed to be a Zillo Beast, soon arrives. Kylo Ren commands the First Order's gunship to open fire on the colossal creature. Ruthford warns that Zillo Beasts are indestructible, but Ren dismisses this, declaring that nothing is unbreakable.
The Zillo Beast wraps its serpentine body around the gunship and begins to devour it. Ren then boards the First Order shuttle. Believing Ren is acting recklessly, Ruthford tries to warn him that he cannot prove anything to a dead man, but Ren ignores him. Ren pilots the shuttle toward the Zillo Beast, which is still consuming the gunship.
Kylo Ren leaps into the mouth of the Zillo Beast with his lightsaber. Observing Ren's reckless move, Ruthford believes Ren is wasting his life. He remarks that it is a nice way to get eaten and quips that Ren's grandfather would have been impressed. Ruthford suggests that the Admiral withdraw his forces. However, Kylo Ren uses his lightsaber to cut through the insides of the massive Zillo Beast, killing it and causing it to collapse to the ground.
Emerging from the corpse of the Zillo Beast, Kylo Ren addresses the Benathy army, proclaiming that their god is dead and that they will now only worship the First Order. In the aftermath of the battle, an impressed Ruthford speaks with Ren, stating that it was not a competition because he won. Kylo Ren smiles.
- UPC 759606092048; September 25 , 2019 ; Marvel Comics [1] 00111; Cover A; Phil Noto 00121; Cover B; Mike McKone & Guru-eFX 00131; Cover C; Ron Frenz, Tom Palmer & Antonio Fabela