Star Wars Confirms Poe Dameron is Force Sensitive

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Marvel Comics’ Star Wars: Poe Dameron #27, by Charles Soule and Angel Unzueta, on sale now.

Last month, Marvel Comics’ Poe Dameron #26 gave us details on how, after being assumed dead following a spaceship crash, the hotshot pilot came back in The Force Awakens to rescue Finn, Rey and BB-8 from the First Order at Maz Kanata's castle.

However, this issue didn't just act as deleted scenes from J.J. Abrams' movie; it also shared insight into what happened after the finale of Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi. Now, in Issue #27, as Poe continues to regale his comrades with how he got back to his X-Fighters and saved the day, we get confirmation he is indeed Force-sensitive, and has been unknowingly channeling the mystical energy all this time in battle.

Many fans suspected this, especially after the Star Wars: Shattered Empire comics from Greg Rucka and Marco Checchetto in 2015, a prelude to The Force Awakens. Here, we learnt after Emperor Palpatine purged the Jedi Order from the galaxy, he decommissioned the Jedi temple in Coruscant, advocating the removal of The Great Tree, one of nature's conduits for the Force.

Luke gave some of its remnants to rebel loyalists and Poe's parents, Kes Dameron and pilot Shara Bey, who then used the twigs to grow their own tree on Yavin 4. Growing up, Poe often played around the tree, but after blowing exhaust on it from a makeshift podracer, his father had him nursing it back to health for a year. As his mother's death played on his emotions, the tree acted as therapy, with fans theorizing it fine-tuned Poe's connections with the Force, albeit subtly.

This current issue now indicates it's not as subtle as first assumed. As Poe fleshes out his escapades, he admits the odds were stacked against his Black Squadron, as they were out in the open, out-gunned and out-manned. However, he confesses their daunting mission to save lives inspired them: "It gave us all this energy, I think. This... oomph."

He reveals this "energy" drove him to take down more and more of the enemy, both in the air and on the ground; something impossible under ordinary circumstances due to the sheer numbers of the First Order. However, Poe persevered, undeterred; further admitting: "It felt amazing. Like I was really tapping into something."

Rey cuts in and tells Poe he may have been harnessing the Force, similar to how she did when she defeated Kylo Ren. Leia interjects as well, explaining everyone can channel this ethereal power, information which leaves Finn, well, confused. But later on, as Poe documents how he survived mental probing at the hands of Kylo Ren, Rey points out this too mirrored her run-in when she was tortured by the fallen Jedi; which it seems both survived thanks to something greater than mere willpower.

There are other comparisons outside of Rey which actually cement Poe as Force sensitive. Luke Skywalker exhibited similar qualities when we first saw him as a rebel pilot in A New Hope. There, he was urged by Obi-Wan Kenobi's ghost to "feel and become one with the Force," thus providing him the confidence needed to take the one-in-a-million shot and blow up the Death Star. Poe has clearly displayed similar abilities, feeling the presence of those around him, and being able to anticipate what moves he should make with his ship as if he were one with it.

We also saw the non-Jedi Chirrut Îmwe, a blind warrior and former Guardian of the Whills, harnessing the Force like this in Rogue One. In The Last Jedi, Luke did affirm anyone, once they believed in the Force, could use its mystical energy for good, something we saw in the final shot of the film with a young kid moving a broom with his mind. Now, Poe may not be a full-fledged Jedi or as powerful as Rey, but it's obvious he has this gift, albeit one he's subconsciously embraced, and which we hope to see more of in the future.

CBR

In-Canon Star Wars Comics Prove Poe Dameron Is Indeed Force Sensitive