Warning: Spoilers for Star Wars: Darth Vader #39After the events of The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader proves that he was actually a better Sith than the original movies made him out to be. How the Sith Lord most effectively demonstrates his reverence and awe of the Force in A New Hope actually conflicts with what the Sith are shown to truly prioritize and value in Star Wars lore. But that no longer seems to be the case.
Vader proves just how much like the Sith he actually is when he puts himself over the Force in Star Wars: Darth Vader #39 by writer Greg Pak, artist Raffaele, colorist Federico Blee and VC’s letterer Joe Caramagna. The issue sees Vader trapped on Mustafar with his droids, including one named Arex that Vader had originally rebuilt himself during a previous trip to Mustafar after Palpatine destroyed him. Though the Fermata Cage previously caused Vader’s hold on the Force to waver, he is suddenly able to regain control of his Force powers.
Arex comments to Vader that the Force is everything. But then Vader responds by saying, “No, droid. I am everything.“
Vader Demonstrates Why Sith Lords Can’t Become Force Ghosts
How a Sith perceives their own power in relation to the Force is critical when identifying just how much like them Vader actually is. Sith don’t just believe that fear, anger, and hate lead to power. They are so wrapped up in themselves and their own strength that they automatically put themselves above the Force. The reason why Sith never become Force Ghosts clearly demonstrates this. Becoming a Force Ghost requires the user to lose themselves completely within the Force, and the Sith clearly care more about their own identity than reaching that state of being. So a Sith Lord would naturally say something like Darth Vader does to Arex.
Darth Vader’s surprising response to Arex in the comics conflicts with many quotes that he makes in A New Hope, especially his iconic disagreement with Admiral Motti on the first Death Star. When Motti states that it’s the ultimate power in the universe, Vader warns him to not be too proud of his creation because its power to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force. That quote alone is something a Jedi would say, originally proving that Vader wasn’t actually a true Sith Lord. To be more like the Sith, Vader would’ve had to say that the Death Star’s ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to his power. Now Vader appears to be more aligned with his Sith brothers and sisters.
Return of the Jedi‘s Ending Is Now Even More Impressive
Darth Vader’s true opinion about the Force makes his eventual transformation into a Force Ghost at the end of Return of the Jedi even more incredible. While Vader obviously redeems himself by saving his son and returning to the light side, this doesn’t somehow magically make him capable or willing to become a Force Ghost. Vader would have to come to terms with the prospect of losing himself within the Force. And since the comics prove that Darth Vader was much like the Sith by attributing his strength to his own capabilities rather than the power of the Force, it has in turn made him a more remarkable hero.
Star Wars: Darth Vader #39 is available from Marvel Comics.
