In an epic battle between two of the most popular Siths in the Star Wars Universe, Darth Vader and Darth Maul fought it out with a winner being declared between the evil villains. In a non-canon story from the pages of Star Wars Tales #9, Darth Maul was resurrected to fight Darth Vader to the death. Ultimately, Darth Vader was named the victor for a pitch-black reason: He hates himself more.
In the main Star Wars canon, Darth Vader and Darth Maul never met, let alone fought. When Obi-Wan Kenobi defeated Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace, Anakin was still a kid and just joined the recently crowned Jedi Knight as his apprentice. While Darth Maul would be brought back in later canon, including leading Crimson Dawn in Solo: A Star Wars Story, he would meet his end at the hands of Obi-Wan in Star Wars: Rebels after finally letting go of the hatred inside him. However, the non-canon Star Wars Tales got creative to bring the villain back to fight Darth Vader.
In the non-canon Star Wars Tales #9 by Ron Marz, Rick Leonardi, Terry Austin, Raul Trevino, and Steve Dutro, Darth Vader is thrown a new challenge as his search for the plans for the Death Star lead him right to a resurrected Darth Maul on the moon, Kalakar Six. A group of darksider cultists explained they resurrected him to give “a proper apprentice for the master, rather than tolerate one who is tainted.” Darth Maul challenges Vader to a duel, as the resurrected villain tells his opponent he still has light within him, while his darkness and hatred is “unending.” After a back-and-forth fight, Maul gets Vader on his knees, but proving his hatred for himself, Vader stabs himself in the chest as Maul lunges at him, killing the resurrected villain.
In one of the most badass Darth Vader moments, he responds to Darth Maul’s last words, “what could you hate enough to destroy me?” with “myself” as he kills his opponent with his lightsaber. In the end, Vader reigns supreme against the reborn villain as his hatred drives him to be named the winner of the fight.
In the end, Darth Vader’s inner hatred and darkness made him the winner of the epic battle against Darth Maul. But, of course, the comic isn’t canon, and the meeting never happened in the actual Star Wars Universe. But, seeing Star Wars answer the Darth Vader vs. Darth Maul villain fight debate with such a clear-cut answer shows how mighty Darth Vader was.
