Marvel's new Star Wars comic series has given the Force a fresh set of names, and the change is drawing attention from fans worldwide. According to ScreenRant, the Knights of Ren officially call the dark side “the Shadow” and the light side “the Shine” in Star Wars: The Fall of Kylo Ren, the new series from writer Charles Soule and artist Will Sliney.
The third issue of the series, published in October 2026 by Marvel Comics, confirmed the terminology as canon. The story is set between the events of The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, and follows Supreme Leader Kylo Ren as he resumes command of the First Order and rejoins the Knights of Ren under their new leader, Tava Ren.
What the New Names Mean in Star Wars Canon
Since the first Star Wars film in 1977, the two sides of the Force have been known simply as the light side, used by the Jedi Knights, and the dark side, claimed by the Sith Lords. Those plain names carried the saga through nearly fifty years of films, and they remain among the most recognized terms in popular culture. The franchise, created by George Lucas, grew into one of the most successful multimedia enterprises in entertainment history, as Britannica documents.
The Knights of Ren, first introduced in the sequel trilogy that began with The Force Awakens in 2015, have always stood apart from the Sith. ScreenRant reports that they are limited Force wielders who have survived for centuries in the galaxy, and their vocabulary reflects that separate tradition. Charles Soule's earlier Kylo Ren stories had already established that the Knights call the dark side “the Shadow,” though their ability to “touch the shadow” is weaker than their leader's.
The new series rounds out the picture. In recent issues, Tava Ren refers to the light side as “the Shine” while explaining how the Knights travel the galaxy collecting and selling Force-related artifacts connected to both aspects. Fall of Kylo Ren #3 goes a step further, with Tava wondering whether a collector the Knights fought, along with his daughter, was “radiant,” which appears to be the Knights' word for Force-sensitive.
Why the Terminology Fits Established Lore
There is a certain discipline in the new names that suits the material. Yoda's teaching in The Empire Strikes Back, that beings are “luminous beings” beyond the crude matter of the flesh, sits comfortably alongside a faction that speaks of the “Shine.” The words are grounded in what the films have already shown us, rather than inventing something foreign to the story.
The galaxy has held other names for the Force's two aspects before. Ancient orders spoke of the Ashla and the Bogan. The Fallanassi called the light the “White Current” and the dark the “Dark Tide,” while the Sorcerers of Tund referred to both together as “The Unity.” The Knights of Ren's Shadow and Shine join that long tradition, and ScreenRant argues the new pair resonates more deeply than most, fitting the established lore better than the plain labels Jedi and Sith have used for decades.
A Story Rooted in Order and Succession
What makes the Fall of Kylo Ren series notable beyond its vocabulary is its focus on hierarchy. Kylo Ren returns to the First Order as Supreme Leader and must deal with Tava Ren, the new leader of the Knights, at a moment when major threats face them all. It is a story about command, inheritance, and the obligations that come with power. That is the kind of storytelling that built this franchise in the first place.
The official Star Wars website continues to expand the franchise's universe across streaming and comics, and the Knights of Ren now occupy a firmer place in it. Their centuries-old order, with its own customs, its own words, and its own trade in Force artifacts, gives the sequel era a depth it previously lacked on screen.
Does This Change the Jedi and Sith?
Not at all. The light side and the dark side remain the iconic terms, and no fan should expect the films to abandon them. What Shadow and Shine offer is perspective: a reminder that the galaxy is large, that different peoples name the same truths in their own way, and that a story nearly fifty years old still has room to grow without discarding what came before.
That is the conservative heart of good franchise building. You honor the foundation, you add to it carefully, and you let the new material prove itself on its own merits. Soule and Sliney have done that here. Star Wars: The Fall of Kylo Ren #3 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
FAQ
What are the new names for the Force in Star Wars?
The Knights of Ren call the dark side “the Shadow” and the light side “the Shine,” as confirmed in Marvel's Star Wars: The Fall of Kylo Ren series by Charles Soule and Will Sliney.
Who uses the terms Shadow and Shine?
The Knights of Ren, the Force-wielding order led by Tava Ren in the new series. Kylo Ren, their former master, engages with them after resuming command of the First Order.
What does “radiant” mean in Fall of Kylo Ren?
In Fall of Kylo Ren #3, “radiant” appears to be the Knights of Ren's term for someone who is Force-sensitive, used by Tava Ren when discussing a collector and his daughter.
Do the Jedi still call it the light side?
Yes. The light side and dark side remain the standard terms used by the Jedi and the Sith, while Shadow and Shine are specific to the Knights of Ren's tradition.