Crimson Reign 4 is the fourth issue of the canon comic book miniseries Star Wars: Crimson Reign. The issue was written by Charles Soule, illustrated by Steven Cummings, Victor Olazaba, and Guru-eFX, and published by Marvel Comics on April 27, 2022. The issue contains the story Part 4: "The Knights".
Publisher's summary[]
THE KNIGHTS! THE KNIGHTS OF REN have their role to play in QI'RA'S grand scheme to destabilize THE EMPIRE, and their task is arguably the most important…Something crucial is locked away in FORTRESS VADER, and the Knights must steal it. A heist on the SITH-controlled furnace world of MUSTAFAR…with the Galaxy as the prize!
Plot summary[]
The Knights of Ren
The Outer Rim. Varnak.
In the desolate wilds of Varnak, Lady Qi’ra meets the infamous Knights of Ren for the first time. Ren, intrigued by her reputation, removes his helmet with arrogant flair, hoping to charm her. Qi’ra plays along just long enough to make it clear she hasn’t come for pleasantries. She’s here for power—and for theirs.
Ren warns her that his name carries danger, that most who know it know better than to seek him out. But Qi’ra, guided by information from her trusted Archivist, knows who they are and what they once were. She offers them an alternative to their current life of scavenging, hiding, and wondering when a Sith might decide they’ve outlived their usefulness. In return for their loyalty and strength, she promises wealth, autonomy, and, most importantly, protection from the Sith. Ren, tempted by the offer, agrees to hear more.
Now. The Night Buzzard.
Hovering in orbit above Mustafar, the Knights of Ren receive their mission: infiltrate Fortress Vader and steal an artifact known only as the Screaming Key. Some of the Knights hesitate, knowing that drawing the attention of the Sith is suicide, but Ren dismisses their concerns. He reminds them that the Sith are not their allies, merely stronger predators. Qi’ra’s network has assured them that Vader is away investigating the death of several of Palpatine’s royal guards. This is their chance.
With plans in hand and confidence in their favor, they descend to the volcanic surface. The lava flows obscure sensor readings, allowing them a direct approach. Using the Force, they part a magma fall that conceals a secret entrance. Inside, the fortress reeks of the dark side. Sith remnants, corrupted machinery, and ancient traps litter the halls. One Knight fires on a severed head when it twitches to life—an omen of the place they’ve dared enter.
In the fortress's depths, they find a vast bacta pumping station and desecrate it as a message. But the real objective lies beyond a blast door. Guarded by Vaneé, Vader’s fanatical attendant, they are warned to leave. Ren opens fire, but the bolts glance off Vaneé’s personal shields. The alarm is triggered. Stormtroopers flood in. A brutal battle ensues.
Ren cuts through the door, entering what seems to be a Sith archive. He listens through the Force and hears the whispering wail of the Screaming Key. He finds it in a containment box and takes it. But something has changed. The troopers are no longer attacking. The silence is not a sign of victory.
Darth Vader has returned.
He enters without a word, suffocating one of the Knights with a gesture. Ren confronts him directly, engaging in a furious lightsaber duel. Vader mocks Ren’s red blade and his stolen name. Ren insists he earned the saber, taking it from the one who bore the title before him. He claims the name as a legacy of strength. Vader, unimpressed, calls them all pathetic.
Ren is slashed across the torso, bloodied but alive. His crew blasts open a hole in the wall, and he dives through it, using the Force to slow his fall. But the Screaming Key is ripped from his hand mid-flight, seized by Vader’s power. Hovering in midair, the relic seems lost—until the Knights regroup and open fire on Vader, briefly staggering him. Ren snatches the Key back and escapes into the night.
The Price of Defiance
One Knight lies dead, and the rest are now marked by the Empire. They’ve crossed the line from scavengers to enemies of the Sith. Whatever the Screaming Key unlocks, it had better be worth it—because the Knights of Ren just made themselves a target.
And Darth Vader never forgets.
Media[]
Cover gallery[]
Collected in[]
Appearances[]
| Characters | Organisms | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
|
Organisms
|
Droid models
|
Events
|
Locations
|
Organizations and titles
|
Sentient species
Vehicles and vessels
Weapons and technology
|
Miscellanea
Sources[]
The Knights of Ren Strike in Crimson Reign, and More in Marvel's April 2022 Star Wars Comics – Exclusive on StarWars.com (backup link)- The Knights of Ren Infiltrate Darth Vader's Castle in Marvel's Star Wars: Crimson Reign #4 – Exclusive Preview on StarWars.com (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Star Wars: Crimson Reign (2021) #4 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
- ↑ Crimson Reign 4 takes place after the Escape from Cloud City, which is dated to 3 ABY by Star Wars: Timelines. Additionally, Sliro Barsha dies during the events of Star Wars Outlaws, which Visit a Galaxy Far, Far Away with our Star Wars liveblog direct from San Diego Comic-Con 2024! on Popverse (backup link archived on August 5, 2024) dates to 3 ABY. As he is alive during Crimson Reign 5, and the events of Crimson Reign 4 precede the comic, it must also take place during that year.
External links[]
- Star Wars: Crimson Reign (2021) #4 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
- Introducing My New Project with Ryan Browne! (backup link)
- Crimson Reign 4 on the Aurebesh Wiki
