Summary
Darth Vaderhas had a number of incredible stories over the years, but these 10 are absolutely essential to understanding his largerStar Warsarc. Darth Vader is one ofStar Wars’most powerful Sithand easily one of the franchise’s most compelling characters. In fact, even in movies and shows in which Vader is absent, such asStar Wars: The Force Awakens, his legacy is ever-present.
While many of Darth Vader’s most pivotal moments take place inStar Warsmovies and TV shows, Vader’s story has also been developed wonderfully inStar Warsbooks and comics. Indeed, Darth Vader has been given multiple comic book series, which have consisted of some of Vader’s most powerful, shocking, and profound moments.Of all theStar Warsmedia in which Darth Vader appears, these 10 stories from movies, shows, and comics are the most critical.
Hayden Christensen’s 10 Best Lines As Anakin Skywalker And Darth Vader
Of all Hayden Christensen’s incredible lines as Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader throughout his Star Wars appearances, these 10 are the very best.
While Darth Vader’s iconic hallway scene inRogue One: A Star Wars Storyis undoubtedly one of his most memorable in the movie (and in all ofStar Wars), there’s so much else to Vader’s story in this movie.Rogue Oneis set during a particularly interesting time intheStar Warstimeline. WithA New Hoperight on its heels,Rogue Onesets the stage for the destruction of the Empire.
Because of that,the Imperials—Vader included—seem more anxious about maintaining control than they do throughout the shows that come before it, such asStar Wars Rebels. While the Empire was always fighting to maintain control,Rogue Oneshows how aware they are that the Rebel threats are growing more legitimate all the time. Not only did this contribute to the Darth Vader hallway scene, but it can also explain the odd change to Vader’s typical aloofness in the controversial line"Be careful not to choke on your aspirations."
Darth Vader’s appearance in theAhsokashow is complicated because, although he engages with Ahsoka inthe World Between Worlds, that isn’t really Vader. In fact, it remains a mystery what precisely that was, as the version of Anakin Ahsoka meets during that episode seems quite distinct from Anakin’s Force ghost intheAhsokafinale. If anything, he feels more like a memory or a vision than truly Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader.
Even so, this is an important story in Darth Vader’s larger arc, for one key reason.Darth Vader’s interactions with Ahsoka in the World Between Worldsreveal an interesting sensitivity. When Ahsoka references his fall to the dark side, Anakin/Vader asks her,“Is that what this is about?“He is clearly offended, and that sends him into attack mode. This is compelling and significant, as it means that Darth Vader may have struggled to face what he’d done even when he’d risen to such great power.
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Star Wars: Darth Vader #10 (2017), written by Charles Soule, is one of the most fascinating Darth Vader comics, as it throws him directly into his past as Anakin Skywalker and raises interesting questions about his allegiances. The focus of the comic is Vader’s mission to collect Jocasta Nu, the previous archivist of the Jedi Temple, who is revealed to be one ofthe survivors of Order 66. However, Darth Vader is shocked when Jocasta Nu figures out who he is and tells the troopers who are with him.
Purchase Star Wars: Darth Vader #10 (2017)
In addition to killing Jocasta Nu, despite Emperor Palpatine telling him to bring her in alive, Vader kills every trooper who has been informed of his old identity. This suggests that Vader is still wary of a pull to the light, as he cannot handle hearing about or having others discover his past as a Jedi. However, an equally fascinating part of the story is Vader’s decision to destroy Jocasta Nu’s list of Force-sensitive children rather than give the list to Palpatine, which is a confusing decision suggesting his uncertain allegiance to the Emperor.
Padmé Amidala
Star Wars: Darth Vader #5 (2020), written by Greg Pak, shockingly opens with Darth Vader standing at the tomb of Padmé Amidala. While this visit seems like a long time coming, it is nevertheless a surprise to see, asStar Wars’movies and shows have never shown Darth Vader returning to Naboo. This is especially interesting, ashe visits her because he has discovered that Luke Skywalker is his son, and he wants answers.
Purchase Star Wars: Darth Vader #5 (2020)
During the comic, Darth Vader also encounters Sabé, Padmé’s handmaiden and closest friend. This was no doubt shocking and disquieting for Vader, as Sabé was known for sharing a striking resemblance to Padmé herself. It is also revealed, through Sabé, that a group called the Amidalans has been acting opposite the Empire in Padmé’s name.
In addition to this fascinating broader context, thoughDarth Vader #5 (2020)is also profound for Vader specifically. Vader spends the comic tracking down information about the secret birth of his son and, in the process, discovers that Obi-Wan was present for the birth and Padmé’s death, despite him trying to save her life. The comic then shockingly cuts to images of Vader, then Anakin with a Padawan braid, then Anakin as a child falling down a reactor shaft. Truly, this story, for all its elements, is essential to understand Vader’s arc.
One of the most devastating Darth Vader stories in all ofStar Warsis his encounter with his former Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, inRebels. Both Vader and Ahsoka are shocked to discover the other is alive, and Ahsoka is so stunned to discover Vader’s real identity that she faints. The two then have an epic battle with one another, although, arguably, the dialogue is even more important than the fight.
Despite Anakin always telling Ahsoka that he couldn’t let her die and wouldn’t let anything happen to her, Darth Vader chillingly says,“Then you will die"when Ahsoka says she won’t leave him again. This is also perhaps the closest Darth Vader comes to being like Anakin Skywalker before his return to the light side of the Force. When Vader’s mask is cracked during his fight with Ahsoka, he says,“Ahsoka"in a way that almost sounds like a lamentation.
This is also perhaps the closest Darth Vader comes to being like Anakin Skywalker before his return to the light side of the Force.
Sadly, while Ahsoka briefly believes she has gotten through to the true Anakin underneath, that isn’t the case. Rather, he seems to snap out of his brief moment of humanity and prepares to destroy her. Even so, this story is massively important to Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker’s larger arc.
Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious
Star Wars: Darth Vader #5 (2017), written by Charles Soule, is yet another pivotal comic in Darth Vader’sStar Warsarc. In fact,this is one of several stories where Darth Vader’s lingering internal conflict is revealed. In this story, Emperor Palpatine charges his Sith apprentice with finally bleeding a Kyber crystal and creating a classic Sith red lightsaber of his own.
Purchase Star Wars: Darth Vader #5 (2017)
However, this process is not so straightforward. Rather, when Vader attempts to bleed the green Kyber crystal he won in a fight against a Jedi, he begins to have visions of himself choosing the light side, returning to kill Emperor Palpatine, and even reconnecting with Obi-Wan. Devastatingly, he ultimately turns away from this future, insisting that it’s too late for him. However, this reveals how genuinely conflicted he remained and how much his past continued to haunt him.
Devastatingly, he ultimately turns away from this future, insisting that it’s too late for him.
TheObi-Wan Kenobishow was a thrill forStar Warsaudiences, as it saw the return of Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Ewan McGregor and Anakin Skywalker actor Hayden Christensen. In fact, in addition to bringing the two characters back, the show saw them come together,with Vader and Obi-Wan having one final face-off before they meet for the last time inA New Hope. This story was crucial not only for Obi-Wan and his path to healing from the events ofStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sithbut also for Vader, who was still consumed with thoughts of revenge.
While Obi-Wan had no idea Anakin had survived their battle on Mustafar and became Darth Vader, Vader seemingly never doubted that Obi-Wan had somehow survived Order 66. He had clearly long sought this encounter with Obi-Wan, stressing tothe Imperial Inquisitorsthat tracking the Jedi down was of the utmost importance. Although Vader lost the fight to Obi-Wan, this confrontation between the former master and apprentice solidified for Darth Vader that Anakin Skywalker was truly dead and, in an odd way, even absolved Obi-Wan of fault.
This confrontation between the former master and apprentice solidified for Darth Vader that Anakin Skywalker was truly dead.
3Vader Down Is A Fan-Favorite Darth Vader Story
One Of Vader’s Most Iconic Lines Comes In A Pivotal Story
Star Wars: Vader Down #1 (2015), written by Jason Aaron, is easily best known for its iconic scene in which a swarm of Rebel fighters warn Vader to surrender because he is surrounded. Chillingly, Vader simply tells them,“All I am surrounded by is fear. And dead men.“This is inarguably one of Darth Vader’s most incredible lines, and it continues to be referenced frequently byStar Warsaudiences. However,Vader Downhas a larger significance, too.
Purchase Star Wars: Vader Down #1 (2015)
Alongside this epic quote,this comic is the story in which Vader begins to take a special interest in Luke Skywalker. Although he does not yet know Luke is his son, he can sense that there is something quite special about him. In fact, in the story, Vader even says,“Wait… I sense….“It isn’t clear precisely what Vader means by this; however, because he follows it up with a reference to Luke possibly being strong in the Force, it’s safe to assume he senses Luke’s Force sensitivity, not his identity.
Revenge of the Sithis easily one of Darth Vader’s most important storiesin all ofStar Wars. After all, this is when Anakin Skywalker turns to the dark side and becomes Darth Vader.Revenge of the Sithalso sets so much else in motion, from the fall of the Jedi to the formation of the Empire. However, it’s also fascinating to recognize how much Anakin changes in just one movie alone.
Yes, Anakin was always flawed and toed the line when it came to the light and dark side, but at the beginning ofRevenge of the Sith, he seems to be on the right path. Aside from killing Count Dooku (which the Jedi had interestingly already sanctioned), Anakin seems loyal to the Republic, pleased to discover Padmé is pregnant, and is even getting on so well with Obi-Wan that he apologizes for his previous arrogance. Sadly, all of that crumbles, and this story is the one in which Anakin is finally consumed by his fear, anger, and hate.
This story is the one in which Anakin is finally consumed by his fear, anger, and hate.
Of all Darth Vader’s stories, his arc inReturn of the Jediis the single most important. In some ways,Return of the Jediis the inverse ofRevenge of the Sith, and, happily, it ends on a positive note for Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. Despite all he’d done and the damage he’d caused, when Vader was truly faced with the possible death of his son, he made the right decision. In the end, he chose the love he had for Luke over power, anger, and the dark side.
This story of Darth Vader’s redemption is arguably not only the core of the Skywalker Saga but also, in some sense, the message ofStar Warsin its entirety. Darth Vader’s story inReturn of the Jediproves that no matter what someone has done and how far they have fallen, they can always decide to turn back to the light. Although each of these 10 stories is essential to understandingDarth Vader’sStar Warsarc, truly,Return of the Jedistands out as the single most critical for what it represents.
