Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Inquisitors #1! Darth Vader’s ultimate redemption in Star Wars canon was not only a major twist for his character, but it also turned the tide in the ongoing conflict between the Empire and Rebel Alliance in the Rebellion’s favor. Vader single-handedly delivered the Rebellion their victory, and he did so by pulling himself out of the darkness and into the light, guided by Luke’s faith in him. His is one of the most well-known redemption stories, but what fans may not know is that Darth Vader himself predicted it long before Return of the Jedi (albeit accidentally).

In Star Wars: Inquisitors #1 by Rodney Barnes and Ramon Rosanas, Darth Vader orders the Grand Inquisitor to find and kill a Jedi who survived Order 66: Tensu Run. Tensu Run is sparking hope across the galaxy that the Jedi will return, and he’s working with other Jedi survivors to stand against the Empire. Needless to say, Run is a major threat to the Empire, especially so early in the regime’s existence.

Darth Vader articulates how important it is to kill Tensu Run to the Grand Inquisitor, saying, “Their only hope is hope itself. That one can rise from the ashes, offering faith – a guiding light. Tensu Run possesses such qualities”. And while Vader is correct about his new opponent, the funny thing is, he is also unwittingly describing himself.

Darth Vader Becomes the Very Hope for a New Jedi Order He Sought to Destroy

When Darth Vader turned away from the dark side of the Force and killed Emperor Palpatine to save his son, he became the shining beacon of light for a new Jedi Order. While it was Luke who pushed him toward redemption, it was Vader who ‘rose from the ashes’, and eliminated the greatest darkness in the galaxy. Darth Vader is afraid that Tensu Run will reinvigorate those who stand against the Empire – mostly Jedi – when, in fact, it is he who would do that very thing some years later.

The direct result of Darth Vader turning back to the light side of the Force is exactly what he’s afraid Tensu Run will do in this series. As fans saw in The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and the sequel trilogy, Luke Skywalker got right to work establishing a new Jedi Order following the fall of the Empire. And, if not for Darth Vader, Luke would have died on the second Death Star by the Emperor’s hand, and there’d be no one to train new Jedi, meaning the true credit for Luke’s Jedi Academy lands at Vader’s own feet.

Star Wars’ Tensu Run Only Makes Darth Vader’s Story More Tragic

Since Tensu Run has never been mentioned before, and those trying to kill him have a more established history in Star Wars (including and especially Darth Vader himself), it’s a safe bet that Run won’t make it out of this series alive. That’s a major waste and an utter tragedy, and only serves to make Darth Vader’s story even more heartbreaking, as he’s going to kill this brave young Jedi only to do what Tensu Run tried to do a few years later, which will add even more guilt to Darth Vader’s already tortured spirit.

Of course, at this stage in Darth Vader’s career, he is ‘peak dark side’, which means he won’t care about Tensu Run’s death in the slightest when the young Jedi’s time inevitably comes. However, whether he cares or not, the irony of the entire situation remains, as Darth Vader accidentally predicted his redemption during his vicious hunt for Star Wars’ latest hero, Tensu Run.

Star Wars: Inquisitors #1 by Marvel Comics is available now.