Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Darth Vader #50!Star Warsfans are well aware of the fact thatDarth Vaderredeemed himself inReturn of the Jedi, reclaiming his lost identity as the Jedi Anakin Skywalker. However, what they may not know is that Vader allowed the mutilated piece of his corrupted spirit that was Anakin Skywalker to shine through before the events ofEpisode VI, influencing a key Darth Vader decision - the one that led to his ultimate redemption.
InStar Wars: Darth Vader#50 by Greg Pak, Raffaele Ienco, Luke Ross, Paul Fry, and Adam Gorham,Darth Vader is in the final stages of his plot to kill Emperor Palpatine. So far during this story arc, Vader has acquired allies that also want to see Palpatine dead (the Schism Imperial), and he’s used them to gain immensely powerful weapons: a kyber-powered Zaly Shield and electrostaff. With these weapons, Darth Vader stood a chance at matching Palpatine’s god-tier strength, something he proves when the two Sith Lords finally go toe-to-toe.
While the battle between Master and Apprentice is insanely epic, one of the more significant parts of this comic is also one of the most subtle. Right afterDarth Vader claims the Zaly Shieldand electrostaff (which are both fueled by planet-destroying power), he’s approached by someone who’s pointing their blaster right at him, someone he knows quite well: Sabé. Vader reminds Sabé that he told her he’d kill her the next time they met, but rather than following through on that promise, Vader simply leaves, solely focused on killing the Emperor.
Darth Vader Still Values Anakin Skywalker’s Past
Darth Vader Spares Sabé Out of the Love He Still Feels for Padmé
In the current era ofStar Wars’ comic book canon,Sabé has been working with Darth Vaderon a number of missions, all of which bring out just a little bit of his humanity, and even heroism. But before the comics, Sabé was one of Padmé’s handmaidens. She would act as a decoy when Padmé was Queen Amidala, she was highly trained to protect Padmé in any given life-threatening scenario, and she committed her life to serving Padmé, even after Padmé’s death.
Sabé’s strong link to Padmé (not to mention their resemblance) is why Darth Vader entertained any mission Sabé asked him to go on. However, there was a limit to Vader’s generosity, and the two reached that limit the last time they encountered one another before the events of this comic. But even after they had their falling out, Darth Vader still didn’t kill Sabé. He threatened to kill her, and he could have with little more than a thought, but he didn’t.
Some part of Darth Vader, the part of him that was still Anakin Skywalker, couldn’t bring himself to cut off one of the last remaining ties he still had to the woman he loved. And he couldn’t once more be responsible for something that even remotely resembled murdering Padmé again. To Vader, Sabé was something of an echo of Padmé, and even when he could no longer hold on to that piece of his lost love, he still couldn’t kill her, proving that Anakin Skywalker wasn’t fully ‘dead’ after all.
Darth Vader Sparing Sabé is a Reflection of His Ultimate Redemption
Darth Vader Chose to Attack the Emperor Rather than Killing Someone He Loved
Breaking down what happened inStar Wars: Darth Vader#50 between Vader and Sabé, the scene is actually something of a reflection of what later happens in Return of the Jedi. Darth Vader allows the piece of himself that’s still Anakin Skywalker to shine through just enough to keep himself from killing someone he loved who had direct ties to Padmé. And instead, Vader decides to go after the Emperor with the intention of killing him. InStar Wars: Darth Vader#50, that person is Sabé, and inReturn of the Jedi, it’s Luke Skywalker.
While Vader doesn’t accept the light once more untilEpisode VI, the fact that he spared Sabé to go after the Emperor perfectly sets up his ultimate redemption. It proves that Vader isn’t just inspired by hate, but also love. His love for Padmé is felt in the love he has for Sabé, as well as the love he has for his son. This also confirms that Darth Vader knows his real enemy is Palpatine, and so long as his Master lives, the last remnants of love Vader still feels are in danger of being snuffed out forever.
Darth Vader’s Final Tribute to Anakin Skywalker Explains Why Luke’s Father Was Never Fully ‘Dead’
In Darth Vader’s final story before the events of Return of the Jedi, he pays one last tribute to Anakin Skywalker, proving he deserves redemption.
Indeed, Vader’s choice to listen to the part of himself that was still Anakin Skywalker and spare Sabé directly influenced and foreshadowed his decision to save Luke inReturn of the Jedi, and it proved thatDarth Vaderwas worthy of his ultimate redemption inStar Wars.
Star Wars: Darth Vader#50by Marvel Comics is available now.
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Conceived by the will of the Force itself, Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring the Force into balance. Anakin struggled to balance competing attachments to the Jedi Order and his wife Padmé Amidala, and ultimately fell to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. For years he served as Palpatine’s right hand man, but he was ultimately redeemed by the faith of his son, Luke Skywalker. Now a Force Ghost, Anakin continues to act as an agent of balance.
