Darth Vader: Encyclopedia - Darth Vader

Darth Vader

Darth Vader (41 BBY - 4 ABY), born Anakin Skywalker, is a fictional character and tragic hero in the Star Wars films, and ultimately a central character of the series. Through his role as the chief protagonist of the prequels and secondary antagonist (second to Palpatine) of the original three films, Vader has become an iconic villain, and was ranked third on American Film Institute's top 50 villains of all time list.^[2]

In the first two films released in the series, Vader is portrayed as the epitome of pure evil — a mass murderer and war criminal who holds an entire galaxy under the sway of an evil empire. However, in later films, his redemption, as well as his initial fall from grace, are both explored in greater depth. Indeed, Star Wars creator George Lucas has explained that he considers Vader a victim of the saga's true villain, Palpatine. Throughout the original trilogy, it is discovered that Anakin Skywalker is the father of twins Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa.

In the prequel trilogy, Anakin is believed to be the Chosen One of an unfulfilled Jedi prophecy, destined to bring balance to the Force by destroying the Sith. He is taken as a young boy in 32 BBY and trained as a Jedi. Anakin becomes a highly talented Jedi Knight; a distinguished pilot and swordsman with an unprecedented level of Force power. He is a legend of the Clone Wars, in which he fights for the Galactic Republic and is instrumental in several important battles. Despite his nearly unmatchable skills as a Jedi, however, Anakin's tragic flaw — fear of loss — ultimately leads him to the dark side of the Force, transforming him into Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, in 19 BBY. However, at the end of Return of the Jedi, Vader returns to the light side of the Force and throws the Emperor into the reactor of the second Death Star, killing him, thus destroying the Sith and fulfilling the prophecy.

Darth Vader - Biography

Darth Vader - Overview

Son of Shmi Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker is born in 41 BBY. Shmi claims that there was no father and that her pregnancy with Anakin resulted from a virgin conception. Some viewers have drawn narrative parallels between Anakin's origin and the New Testament stories of Jesus' conception and birth, as well as classic mythological stories. Qui-Gon Jinn suggests that Anakin might have been conceived by the midi-chlorians — the implication being that Anakin is a creation of the Force itself. (According to Palpatine in Revenge of the Sith, the Sith Lord Darth Plagueis learned to provoke midi-chlorians into producing life—some have viewed this as a clue to Anakin's origins.) Another theory is that a Sith impregnated Shmi and then used the Force to wipe the memory of the encounter from her mind. Alternatively, the statement of 'no father' can be interpreted as inferring that Anakin's father was simply not present during the boy's childhood, and so there was no strong, paternal role for the child. This is further reinforced by Shmi saying she raised Anakin alone. Lucas has said that all these issues were left deliberately ambiguous, and that it has been left for the audience to decide how Anakin was created. Still, controversy rages over Anakin's origins, and producer Rick McCallum's recent DVD commentary has added fuel to the fire.

After his fall, Vader is viewed as a cruel and frightening figure, frequently utilising his ability to choke people using the Force, and his victims often die in extreme fear while gasping for air. This may echo Vader's own frustration at his injuries. ^[3] In A New Hope, Vader's aggressive instincts are somewhat restrained by orders to serve under Grand Moff Tarkin for that time; when Admiral Motti challenges Vader's "sad devotion" to the Force, Tarkin does not allow Vader to choke Motti to death, only long enough to make his point. The death of Tarkin aboard the Death Star removes any apparent check on Vader's power; after this point, Vader appears to be subordinate only to the Emperor himself. Throughout the rest of the trilogy, Imperial officers universally react with fear and dread at Vader's presence. This fear is not unwarranted, as both Admiral Ozzel and Captain Needa die by Vader's hand in The Empire Strikes Back. Curiously, Admiral Piett survives Vader's wrath when he loses the Millennium Falcon in an asteroid field; Lucas characterizes this uncharacteristic mercy as a result of Vader's ambivalence about his son, Luke.

Darth Vader - Childhood and discovery

Anakin Skywalker first appears as a kind, selfless nine-year-old boy (played by Jake Lloyd) and a slave along with his mother. A child prodigy, Anakin excels at engineering. Even at this young age, he can build or repair most things, evidenced by the creation of his own protocol droid, C-3PO, and podracer, each from salvaged parts. He is also a remarkable pilot with quick reflexes.

Anakin is found on Tatooine by Qui-Gon Jinn, who is convinced that he is the Chosen One foretold by prophecy to bring balance to the Force. Some of his incredible abilities may be attributed to this unique Force-adeptness; for instance, Qui-Gon attributes Anakin's piloting talent to the Force, which allows Anakin to "see things before they happen." Anakin forms a strong bond with Queen Padmé Amidala, whom Qui-Gon and his padawan apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, are guarding.

After winning Anakin's freedom, Qui-Gon brings the boy to Coruscant and requests that the Jedi Council allow him to train Anakin. This request is denied, as the Council thinks that Anakin's future is clouded by the fear and anger he exhibits from his days as a slave and his separation from his mother. Ultimately, Anakin helps to win the final battle over the Trade Federation in the Battle of Naboo. Later, a dying Qui-Gon, slain by Darth Maul, urges Obi-Wan to train Anakin, and the Council reluctantly approves. Palpatine, newly-elected as the Republic's Supreme Chancellor, befriends the boy, promising to "watch his career with great interest."

Darth Vader - The Clone Wars

Anakin, now played by Hayden Christensen, is now a young adult and Obi-Wan's apprentice. Because his natural abilities place him leaps and bounds above his peers, he has developed into an arrogant and socially awkward loner in his years of Jedi training. His relationship with his master is complicated; although he says Obi-Wan is like a father to him, he chafes against his authority and believes he is holding him back. Frustrated, he turns to another teacher for advice: Palpatine, who feeds the young padawan's fragile ego with assurances that he will one day be the greatest Jedi in the galaxy.

Anakin is assigned to guard Padmé, who is now a senator of her home planet Naboo. His childhood fascination with her has now become a powerful infatuation, and the two ultimately fall in love, despite her many reservations. In conversation, he reveals his affection for her, as well as his distrust of the political process and the need he perceives for there to be one strong leader. While guarding Padmé, Anakin senses that his mother is in danger. He finds her in a camp of Tusken Raiders, but is too late; battered beyond recognition, she dies in his arms. Seized by a blind rage, he slaughters the entire tribe of Tuskens, including the women and children. Yoda and the deceased Qui-Gon feel Anakin's Force presence turn "dark," and fear that this marks the beginning of the end for Obi-Wan's young apprentice. Padmé is clearly troubled by what he has done, but, being in love with him, she is not truly repulsed, and instead tries to soothe him with sympathy.

Anakin and Padmé learn that Obi-Wan has been taken hostage by the Geonosian-engineered Separatist droid forces, and rush to his rescue — where they are also captured. Faced with their impending demise in a gladiatorial-execution arena, they profess their undying love to one another. Escaping the fray with the help of the Jedi and the clone army, Anakin engages Separatist leader (and fallen Jedi) Count Dooku in a lightsaber battle, but is easily defeated by the older, more experienced warrior, who wounds him in battle, severing his lower right arm. He is fitted with a cybernetic replacement, and then marries Padmé in a secret ceremony, with C-3PO and his counterpart, R2-D2, as witnesses.

Darth Vader - Transformation into Vader

After having gone off to fight in the Clone Wars, Anakin and Obi-Wan return to Coruscant and board the Separatist flagship The Invisible Hand on a mission to rescue Palpatine from Count Dooku. In the ensuing brutal battle, Dooku uses the Force to choke and then fling Obi-Wan aside, forcing Anakin to face the Sith Lord alone. It is a short duel, and one which Anakin wins relatively easily. Dooku is continuously pushed back, taken off guard by the force behind each blow, and Anakin neatly sears off both of the Sith apprentice's hands. Palpatine then commands Anakin to behead the stunned Count. Anakin complies, but instantly regrets it; to kill a defenseless prisoner is not the Jedi way. Palpatine, though, reassures Anakin that "He [Dooku] was too dangerous to be kept alive." After rescuing the Chancellor, Anakin finds that the flagship is in critical condition, and with some help from Obi-Wan, barely manages to safely land it on an airstrip.

Back on Coruscant, Padmé tells him she is pregnant. He is initially overjoyed, but he is plagued by prophetic visions of her death in childbirth (hence maternal death) — much like the one he had of his mother just before she died.

Palpatine, who continues to be a close friend and mentor, makes Anakin his representative on the Jedi Council. The suspicious Council accepts him, but denies him the rank of Jedi Master, and orders him to spy on Palpatine. Angered by the perceived snub and instructions to commit treason, Anakin loses all faith in the Council. Ultimately, the Chancellor offers him the chance to learn the dark side of the Force, which he claims holds the power to prevent death. Anakin realizes that Palpatine is the Sith Lord Darth Sidious that the Council had been hunting for since the beginning of the war, and reports Palpatine's secret to Mace Windu. As Windu goes to confront Palpatine, Anakin broods over an inescapable thought: without Palpatine, he will lose the chance to save his wife.

Anakin arrives to find Windu holding his lightsaber, on a disarmed and seemingly helpless Palpatine. Windu then declares the Dark Lord under arrest, but Palpatine unleashes a torrent of Force lightning at Windu, which the Jedi Master is barely able to deflect with his lightsaber, causing Palpatine's face to become ravaged. The attack continues unabated until Palpatine suddenly tires, giving Windu a chance to strike a deathblow. Palpatine cowers, begging Anakin to save him. Anakin pleads with Windu to spare Palpatine's life, mirroring his own guilt for killing the helpless Dooku; Windu refuses, saying that Palpatine, who controls the Senate and the Republic's courts, is "too dangerous to be kept alive," mirroring Palpatine's earlier reassurance about Dooku. Panicked, Anakin ignites his blade and severs Windu's saber hand just as the elder Master is about to end Palpatine's life. As Windu screams in agony, Palpatine springs to life and hurls another torrent of lightning at the Jedi Master, hurling him out the window to the Coruscant cityscape far below. Upon realizing the enormity of what he has done, Anakin is stricken with guilt, but he is too emotionally drained to resist Palpatine's repeated offer to teach him the power of the dark side and save Padmé's life. Without hesitation, he pledges himself to the dark side and is endowed with the name Darth Vader.

Vader's first task as a Sith Lord is to assault the Jedi Temple and to kill everyone inside, even the youngling children. He is then sent to Mustafar to assassinate the Separatist leaders. Once there, he is met by Padmé, who pleads with him to flee Palpatine's grasp with her. He refuses, saying that the two of them can overthrow Palpatine and rule the galaxy together. Obi-Wan, who had hidden himself on Padmé's ship, suddenly emerges and confronts Vader. Suspecting betrayal, Vader angrily uses the Force to choke Padmé, leaving her unconscious on the landing platform. After the two argue over Anakin's actions, Anakin declares that if Obi-Wan is not with him, then he is his enemy. It's obvious that there is only one way to settle this. Their two blue lightsabers ignite, and a ferocious lightsaber duel begins. The battle occurs all over the Mustafar complex, with the Jedi and Sith fighting over a dangerous lava flow. Eventually, Obi-Wan jumps onto solid ground, gaining the advantage. Vader refuses to admit defeat, and tries to engage his master with a Force jump. Obi-Wan is prepared, however, and severs Vader's remaining limbs in midair, leaving him for dead on the hot sands. As Vader tries to drag himself up the bank and away from the lava river, he suffers nearly fatal third-degree burns and extensive lung damage from inhaling superheated air in close proximity to the lava flow and volcanic sand. Miraculously, however, Vader survives; as he manages to crawl up the bank away from the lava river and through sheer will and his connection to the Force, he lingers on until he is rescued.

Why Obi-Wan did not kill Anakin/Vader when he had the chance is a mystery, ignoring the obvious reason that the saga could not continue. Some have argued the logical fact that Obi-Wan could not bring himself to kill a man he once regarded as his brother, and left him to the lava instead. Others maintain that Obi-Wan knew killing Anakin would be a mercy, since Anakin was suffering from the severe burning, and he was not feeling merciful at the time. Yet another reason is the fact that killing an unarmed opponent (Vader was unarmed and essentially helpless at this point) would have gone against the Jedi code, a fact alluded to earlier in the film.

Palpatine finds Vader and revives him with extensive cybernetic enhancements, including a respirator and a fearsome breath mask. He then tells him that the Force-choke killed Padmé and the child she carried (she had in fact died in childbirth on Polis Massa, after delivering healthy twins). Vader shakes the room with the Force, breaks his bindings on the operating table and struggles to walk under the sheer weight of his new legs. Overwhelmed with grief by the belief that he has killed his wife and unborn child, the only thing that remains in his life is his service to his master, the new Emperor of the galaxy.

Although Vader remains a formidable warrior (second only to Palpatine in his dark side potential), the grave injuries he sustains during the duel with Obi-Wan greatly reduce his power with the Force; as Vader, he is a mere shadow of his former Jedi self.

The events of Revenge of the Sith also had a significant effect on Anakin's identity. The armored Dark Lord of the Sith seen at the end of the film is radically different from the Jedi Knight seen at the beginning physically, psychologically, and even spiritually. Yoda and Obi-Wan both asserted at various times that Anakin Skywalker was destroyed and consumed by Vader when he turned to the dark side. The novelization of Revenge of the Sith, on the other hand, clearly makes the point that Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker. ^[4] While Lucas justified his replacement of Sebastian Shaw with Christensen in the finale of the 2004 DVD release of Return of the Jedi with an explanation that upon his redemption Anakin reverted to his inner, uncorrupted self, Star Wars seems to also approach the question with the implication that there is no simple answer to it; as Obi-Wan tells Luke during his explanation of Vader's identity, "Many of the truths we cling to depend greatly upon our own point of view."

Darth Vader - Fighting the rebellion

Nineteen years later, Vader is sent on a mission to retrieve the stolen plans of the Death Star and locate the hidden base of the Rebel Alliance. He boards the Tantive IV, capturing Princess Leia and bringing her to the Death Star. An elderly Obi-Wan, along with Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, attempt to rescue Leia during their escape from the Death Star. Vader stops Obi-Wan on his way out and engages him in a lightsaber duel. As Obi-Wan sees that if he escapes with Luke and company it would be too late, he sacrifices himself by leaving himself open to Vader's attack and becomes a spirit in the Force (as taught by the spirit of Qui-Gon Jinn) in order to guide Luke.

By putting a homing beacon on the Millennium Falcon, Vader traces Luke, Han and Leia to the rebel base at Yavin IV. During the Rebel attack on the Death Star, Vader pilots a distinctive TIE/Advanced fighter in pursuit of the Rebel X-Wing starfighters. Vader gets a lock on Luke's X-wing, noting that "the Force is strong with this one", but is distracted by Han Solo who is piloting the Millennium Falcon just in time to save Luke. The Death Star is destroyed afterwards, but Vader is still in his fighter and survives.

Darth Vader - Battling his son

Vader is now at the forefront of the continuing attempt to suppress the Rebellion. He has already known about Luke Skywalker, and is desperate to find him. He leads the imperial troops on a full military assault on the rebel base hidden at the ice world of Hoth, and then pursues the escaping Millennium Falcon through an asteroid field. After hiding in the blind spot of a Star Destroyer, the Falcon sets course to Cloud City, followed by Boba Fett, a bounty hunter hired by Vader. While on this pursuit, the Emperor contacts Vader via hologram, giving him a new mission to capture Luke Skywalker.

Darth Vader uses his influence to make a deal with Lando Calrissian to kidnap Han, Leia, and the droids, creating a trap for Luke at Cloud City. Luke, who by now has been trained by Yoda, arrives and finds his way to the carbonite freezing facility, where Vader is planning to freeze him for transport to the Emperor. The two duel and Luke attempts an escape from Cloud City. Vader corners and defeats Luke, cutting off his hand. He then reveals his true identity of being Luke's father, trying to persuade Luke to join him so that they can destroy the Emperor and rule the galaxy as father and son. Luke, although shaken by this stunning claim, refuses to join Vader and escapes.

Darth Vader - The redemption of Anakin Skywalker

In the final installment of the series, Vader is charged with overseeing the completion of the second Death Star. He meets with Palpatine onboard the half-constructed station to plan Luke's turn to the dark side.

By this time, Luke has nearly completed his Jedi training, and has learned from a dying Yoda that Vader is indeed his father and that Leia is his sister. On a mission to the forest moon of Endor, he surrenders to Imperial troops and is brought to Vader.(This could be a form of the Jewish biblical story of Abaraham with just a few difference they are "Take your child your favorite child and sacrifice him before me however in the end the child is not sacrificed the Death Star plays the part of the Ram) Aboard the Death Star, Luke resists the Emperor's appeals to his anger and fear for his friends, but snaps when Vader telepathically probes his mind, learns of Leia's existence, and threatens to turn her instead. Enraged, Luke nearly kills Vader, finally severing his father's mechanical hand. He controls his anger at the last minute, however, as he looks at Vader's cybernetic hand and then at his own; he realizes that he is perilously close to suffering his father's fate. As the Emperor approaches, encouraging Luke to finish Vader and take his place, Luke throws down his lightsaber, refusing to perform the killing blow. Seeing that the young Jedi is a lost cause, the Emperor attacks Luke with Force lightning. Luke writhes in agony under the Emperor's torture, begging his father for help. Unable to bear the sight of his son in pain, Vader turns on his master and throws him into a deep shaft, where he explodes in a fury of dark energies. Darth Vader ceases to be, and Anakin Skywalker is once more. By destroying the Emperor, Anakin fulfills the prophecy that claimed he would bring balance to the Force, but he is mortally wounded by the Emperor's lightning in the process.

Moments from death, Anakin begs his son to take off his breath-mask so they see each other face-to-face. Luke complies and, for the first time, father and son look into each other's eyes. Freed from the mask that had caged his head for half his life, Anakin is a sad, withered man in his mid-forties, his skin ghostly pale from not having seen natural light for more than two decades. Through sunken eyes, he looks up at his son and back at a lifetime of regret. In his dying breaths, it is clear that Anakin Skywalker is redeemed, finally admitting to Luke in his dying breaths that the good within him was not destroyed after all. Luke escapes with his father's body as the Death Star explodes, destroyed by the Rebel Alliance.

That night, Luke burns his father's Sith armor (and whatever remains inside^[5]) in the manner of a Jedi's funeral. During the victory celebration on the forest moon of Endor, Luke is able to see the redeemed spirit of Anakin Skywalker, standing once again with Obi-Wan and Yoda.

Both Obi-Wan and Yoda trained and learned how to preserve their souls after their deaths in the form of a "force ghost." It is unknown how Anakin was able to accomplish the same task without such training. It has been speculated that he either learned how to do so from the emperor, or that he was powerful enough to learn such abilities on his own. Another possibility is simply that by being the "son of the Force" Anakin was always destined to rejoin the Force upon his death. Some believe that after the "will of the Force" put so much effort into creating a savior-like being that it would be foolish to believe that the Force would not reclaim Anakin's spirit.

Darth Vader - Vader in the Expanded Universe

In the animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker goes through many battles in the war, earning him the moniker "The Hero With No Fear." One of such major events in it is his battle with Asajj Ventress on Yavin IV. He is later made a full-fledged Jedi Knight. During a mission to save the Nelvaanian Braves, Anakin goes through a cave that reveals what would become of him in the future. Despite Anakin's periods of separation from his wife, the twins Luke and Leia are conceived during the Clone Wars. The New Droid Army, a video game made for Game Boy Advance, also details some of Anakin's adventures during the war.

In the young adult series The Last of The Jedi, Boba Fett, at the age of fourteen, is hired by Imperial leader Inquisitor Malorum to investigate Padmé's death at Vader's request. The book Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader, a sequel to Revenge of the Sith, focuses on Vader's mission to hunt down the remaining Jedi who were not killed in the Great Jedi Purge. Vader is expected to at least make cameo appearances in the upcoming Star Wars live-action TV series, which is slated for either a 2007 or 2008 release, and will run 100 episodes.

In the comic book Vader's Quest, he hires bounty hunters to bring him information about the author of the destruction of the Death Star, ultimately meeting his son Luke for the very first time. Later on, according to the Alan Dean Foster novel Splinter of the Mind's Eye (which takes place shortly after the events in A New Hope), Vader meets Luke for a second time, and combats him in a lightsaber duel for the first time on the planet Mimban. On Mimban, Vader suffers massive injuries when he falls into a pit. The extent as to which these new injuries may have worsened his condition (if at all) is somewhat disputed, as the book was written and published before The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi were released, and the book contains numerous plot and technical inconsistencies with official canon storyline established in the later Star Wars films and expanded universe productions.

In The Star Wars Holiday Special, Vader searches for the Rebels responsible for the destruction of the Death Star, almost thwarting Han and Chewbacca's goal of reaching Kashyyyk in order for Chewie to reach his family for Life Day.

Vader also has a prominent role in the 1996 novel/comic/video game Shadows of the Empire, which takes place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. In the story, Prince Xizor, leader of the crime organization Black Sun, plots to overthrow Vader as the Emperor's second in command.

Vader also makes occasional appearances in Dark Horse's Star Wars comic books set between the movies, especially Star Wars: Empire.

In the Thrawn trilogy, it is explained that Darth Vader was the first representative of the Empire to find the Noghri, a race with exceptional combat skills, whom he manipulated into serving as his personal commandos and revering him as their master. Later, Vader transferred their services to Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Leia Organa Solo, who was initially horrified to learn that Vader was her father, eventually forgave him after learning her family's full history, and named her youngest son Anakin in remembrance of her father's redemption.

In the novel The Unifying Force of the New Jedi Order series, set 30 years after the Battle of Yavin in A New Hope, Anakin's voice would speak to his grandson, Jacen Solo, telling him to "Stand firm!" in his battle with the Supreme Overlord of the Yuuzhan Vong.

Darth Vader - Possible interpretations of the Jedi prophecy

The Jedi Prophecy is a frequent source of debate among fans. In particular, Anakin's status as the Chosen One is regularly disputed, possibly due in large part to how he is overshadowed by Palpatine, whose political machinations successfully bring about the new ascendance of the Sith. Anakin's role in this scheme is an ancillary one, and much of the plan is already underway long before Anakin's fall-- indeed, it began with the invasion of Naboo and continued through the Clone Wars and included the execution of Order 66, which was carried out by Clonetroopers across the galaxy. Still, Anakin's pivotal role in many key scenes is undisputable, ranging from his intervention in Windu and Sidious' duel in the Chancellor's office, to the enormous influence that his progeny wield in the original trilogy as well as the Expanded Universe.

Even for those who believe Anakin is the Chosen One, the way he achieved his destiny is in dispute. Many fans argue that Anakin fulfilled the Jedi Prophecy by bringing a new "balance" to the Force by nearly eliminating the Jedi. In this viewpoint, the Jedi and the Sith metaphorically represent two opposing weights on a scale, with an excess of either disrupting the balance of the Force. Adherents of this view find it particularly noteworthy that by the end of Episode III there is a precisely equal number of Jedi and Sith, Obi-Wan and Yoda (Then Luke and Yoda once Obi-Wan dies and Luke begins training), and Sidious and Vader. Frequently cited as evidence for this interpretation is Yoda's warning to Obi-Wan that the prophecy "misread, could have been." Other fans argue that the "balance" referred to in the Jedi Prophecy was never meant to be interpreted this way, and that "balance" refers only to the destruction of the Sith and nothing else. Adherents of this view emphasize that Yoda was only referring to a possibility and that Lucas himself seems to endorse "balance" to mean only the destruction of the Sith. In the Episode III DVD featurette "The Chosen One," Lucas summarizes as follows: "The Prophecy is that Anakin will bring balance to the Force and destroy the Sith. He becomes Darth Vader; Darth Vader does become the hero, Darth Vader does destroy the Sith--meaning himself and the Emperor. He does it because he is redeemed by his son." Lucas gave a similar explanation in the final VHS release of the original trilogy in November of 2000: "[In] Episodes IV, V and VI,...Anakin's offspring redeem him, and allow him to fulfill the Prophecy, and bring balance to the Force by doing away with the Sith, and getting rid of evil in the universe."

A common claim by some fans is that Luke was actually the Chosen One, but many regard this as dubious because he does not directly destroy the Sith or bring balance in any other way. It is presumed also that the Chosen One of the Jedi Prophecy must be born of a virgin mother (as Anakin was), since Yoda for instance, despite his historical number of midi-chlorians, is never regarded as a candidate for the prophecy. However, the exact text of the prophecy is never revealed in the films, so it may not be possible to conclude that the Chosen One must be born of a virgin. One possible piece of evidence supporting this theory comes from an early draft of the original Star Wars film. A quote was originally to precede the "A Long Time Ago" text:

Indeed, at the conclusion of Episode I and Episode VI, a voice in the cheering crowd can be heard to cry out "The Son of Suns!", thus giving weight to this being a possible portion of the prophecy.

Yet another view held by only a small amount of fans claims that the idea of "balance" in the Force has nothing to do with either there being an equal number of Jedi and Sith or neccessarily just the destruction of the Sith. Instead adherents to this particular view believe that the "balance" in the Force is the balance between positive and negative energy throughout the universe. They claim that the average sentient being contributes a sizable amount of negative energy to the universe throughout their lifetime by means of what we would call normal and natural emotions like anger, jealousy, etc. Multiplied by the trillions of beings in the Star Wars universe this amounts to a massive Dark Side shift in the cosmic balance. Theoretically a relatively small number of beings dedicated to pure goodness and service of the Light Side of the Force are able to balance against all the negative energy contributed by everyone else and maintain relative balance in the universe. The presence of the Sith, it is believed, serves to once again tip the cosmic scale in favor of the Dark Side. Therefore the claim that in order to have "balance" in the Force that there should be no Sith is relatively justified based on this particular viewpoint.

Darth Vader - Lightsaber training

Anakin Skywalker was trained by the Order's most promising Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Through Kenobi, Anakin would inherit a rich tradition of lightsaber pedigree. From Master Yoda, Master Dooku, Master Qui-Gon Jinn, and Obi-Wan; Anakin's style featured elements of all the masters that made him outstandingly talented at a very young age.

Mostly trained in Form IV Ataru just like his master, Anakin found himself the test-bed for Kenobi's new-found belief that Form III Soresu was the best philosophy. Though Anakin took to Ataru well as it reflected his passion for speed and style, he showed less patience for the strictly defensive form of Soresu. Though he duly became quite proficient at it, he subtly self-instructed himself in Form V training so as to become a more offensive fighter. Form V takes the defensive principles of Soresu and converts them to offensive moves. But without first mastering Soresu, Anakin was wandering into ambitious and un-disciplined territory. Though as a padawan he was already considered one of the greatest swordsmen in the order, when compared to the absolute greats like Yoda, Dooku, Windu and Kenobi; Anakin's skill's could come off a little muddled. Lacking a specific discipline, Anakin's wild use of Forms IV and V could be both a strength and a weakness.

Ultimately he would learn his lesson against Dooku at the Battle of Geonosis. No match for the seasoned focus and skills of Dooku's Form II swordplay, Anakin lost his right forearm. Appreciative at last of how much he had to learn, Anakin spent the next three years of the Clone Wars honing his Form V skills and calling upon Obi-Wan's defensive teachings. By first mastering Soresu (as he should have been from day one) he became an impregnable fighter. He would need this defensive perfection if he were to fight Dooku again. And by going one further than his master and learning to convert this defense into the Form V offensive style at a more patient pace, Anakin would improve to a level that would rival Yoda himself.

In his rematch with Dooku at the Battle of Coruscant, Anakin employed his more deliberate approach. But he would find himself calling upon the unfamiliar powers of the Dark Side to help him overpower the old Sith lord. By defeating Dooku when Kenobi failed, Anakin seemed to have proven his mastery of the force and his place as the Greatest Jedi in the order next to Yoda himself.

Darth Vader - On His Loss To Obi-Wan

If Anakin had a fatal flaw, it was his temper. Though younger, more athletic, and gifted with more raw Force power than Obi-Wan Kenobi, he also lacked the experience, calmness, and focus which his master was all graced with. Kenobi held a psychological edge since it was he who traditionally would win in their sparring days. Though Anakin could call on the Dark Side to overpower his opponents, his mounting emotions could also distract him from executing as well as his master. Whereas Anakin's strength lay in his offensive barrage, Kenobi's resided in his defense. Obi-Wan was hands down the greatest defensive master in the Order and his absolute dedication to Soresu would prove vital to his win. Frustrated by his inability to break this defense, Anakin would make mistakes that he wouldn't have made had he been able to remain focused and patient. Like his duel with Grievous, Kenobi would rely on his "wait them out" philosophy. That is to rely on Soresu entirely until their is a hole in the opponent's offensive barrage, and to immediately slash away with some broad Ataru strokes. In both cases this resulted in the detachment of his opponent's limbs.

Darth Vader - Swordplay As Darth Vader

In his mechanical life-support suit, Anakin/Darth Vader could no longer engage in the energetic acrobatics of Ataru. For the rest of his days he would maintain his mastery of form V. Evidently, he would experiment in some of Dooku's Form II training, as evidence by his formal one-handed duel against Luke Skywalker on Cloud City. Learning from his loss to Kenobi, he would apparently learned how to control his emotions when in combat, finding a way to call upon the power of the Dark Side while not being blinded by emotions run amuck. Had he possessed this control in his duel with his former master, he quite possibly would have been the victor.

Darth Vader - Talents

Darth Vader is a brilliant strategist and one of the greatest pilots in the galaxy. Vader still possesses his former persona's amazing engineering skills, having overseen the design of the TIE/Advanced fighter and the construction of the second Death Star. His talent with the lightsaber is legendary. All of these skills, however, are secondary to his incredible mastery of the Force. He was born with the highest known midichlorian count (a measure of Force-aptitude) in the history of the galaxy, surpassing that of both Yoda and the Emperor. However, Lucas states that his injuries on Mustafar cost Vader much of his Force potential. Lucas claims that, as a masked and suited Darth Vader, Anakin has roughly 80% of the power of the Emperor. Had he sustained none of his injuries on Mustafar, he would have been about twice as powerful. Vader's lack of organic hands is the direct reason he cannot create Force lightning, as Dooku and Palpatine could. ^[6]

In The Empire Strikes Back, Vader was able to block Han Solo's blaster bolts with his hand. One explanation is that Vader used the Force, while an Expanded Universe novel states that Vader's right glove was indestructible.

Vader also has great physical strength, which he demonstrates in his first and last appearances in the original trilogy: lifting a Rebel captain by the throat with one hand in A New Hope, and picking up the Emperor and hurling him to his death in Return of the Jedi. The Expanded Universe has shown him punching through the skull of savage predators and bludgeoning opposing Jedi onto their knees with one blow.

In battle, Darth Vader lacked the mobility and ease he once had, but his bionic suit gave him sheer strength. His blows were forceful even when using only one arm to fight. He was calm when fighting, rarely using acrobatics. He struck to kill and used psychology and his appearance to intimidate his foes. When striking with both hands on the grip of his lightsaber, he was able to pound his enemies with an onslaught of strong but somewhat slow strikes. This fighting style contrasted with Anakin's style before his disfigurement, which utilized more speed and acrobatics. This a fairly accepted explanation for the less-elaborate saber fighting in the original trilogy as compared to the prequel trilogy. Luke's less-developed saber skills were ostensibly a result of his minimal training. While most padawans were trained from early ages for at least a good 15 years, Luke started very late. However, the most widely accepted explanation for the slower combat of the original trilogy is the lack of "film magic" in the 70's, considering Obi-Wan also fought slowly in A New Hope at age 57 despite Count Dooku fighting with intense speed in the prequels at age 80+. A possible explanation could be that he was doing so on purpose. Obi-Wan may have recognized that it was the fate of Vader/Anakin to kill Palpatine, as per the prophecy. Obi-Wan expressed that his purpose was to distract Vader and the Imperial forces to allow Luke and the others to escape the Death Star. Another explanation for Obi-Wan's decreased lightsaber skills could simply be that he was out of practice and in poor physical condition, having lived in the harsh desert setting of Tatooine for twenty years, and not being able to use the Force for fear of attracting Palpatine's attention.

Darth Vader - Armor and cybernetic enhancements

Even before his transformation into Vader, Anakin was a cyborg: he had a prosthetic installed after his natural right forearm was severed while duelling with Count Dooku on Geonosis in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. As a result of his later disfigurement on Mustafar, Vader was substantially augmented with cybernetic implants: he must wear his armor at all times when he is not meditating in his pressurized containment-chamber. A towering figure, the suited Darth Vader is nearly 6 feet 8 inches (2.02 metres) tall.

Vader's armor is built around a plastoid girdle that protects his organic and synthetic internal organs. More visible durasteel plates cover his shoulders, upper body and shins. He wears a suit of quilted, flexible, blast-dampening, multi-ply padding, and a cloak of armor weave. His gloves and hands are made with a unique micronized iron that can deflect anything short of a lightsaber blow. His famous mask and helmet, resembling the head of an ancient Sith droid, contain various vision- and auditory-enhancing equipment, as well as the respirator that causes the Dark Lord's ominous breathing sound.

Vader's life support system includes a chest-worn, computerized control panel unit that regulates his respiratory functions. Three slot-like dataports offered diagnostic checks of his pulmonary, respiratory and neural systems. Upon closer examination, the chestplate has Hebrew lettering which has been translated as, "His deeds will not be forgiven, until he merits."^[7]. On his belt, Vader wears two small system function boxes. The one on his right featured a temperature regulation system. On his left, he wears a respiratory sensor matrix. The center buckle features an audio enhancement unit built into the electromagnetic clasp. The armor also enables him to breathe in vacuum while protecting him from the coldness of space.

Besides the life support it provides his ravaged body, Vader's armor may also offer some moderate degree of protection against lightsabers. In the climactic duel of The Empire Strikes Back, a blow from Luke's lightsaber appears to bounce off Vader's armor, eliciting a yell of pain from the Sith Lord. However, perhaps in a show of foresight by Palpatine, the system is vulnerable to Force lightning, contributing to Vader's death in Return of the Jedi.

Darth Vader - Portrayers

Throughout the six Star Wars films, Lucas employed five different actors to portray the character.

Darth Vader - Anakin Skywalker

• Jake Lloyd - Age 9 (The Phantom Menace)
• Hayden Christensen - Ages 19, 22 (Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, Return of the Jedi)
• Sebastian Shaw - Age 45 (Return of the Jedi)

Mat Lucas supplied the voice for Anakin in the popular animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars, as well as for the various Star Wars video games that Anakin has appeared in.

Darth Vader - Darth Vader

• Hayden Christensen - Age 22 (Revenge of the Sith)
• David Prowse - Ages 41, 44, 45 (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi)
• James Earl Jones - Ages 22, 41, 44, 45 (voice) (Revenge of the Sith, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi)

The character of Darth Vader also involved several stunt doubles, most notably fencing instructor Bob Anderson, who handled all of Vader's fight sequences in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.^[8] Industrial Light & Magic employee C. Andrew Nelson has also portrayed Vader at a number of events for Lucasfilm, as well as the videogame Rebel Assault II, and in new footage filmed for the Special Edition releases of the original three Star Wars films in 1997. In 1978, Prowse and Jones returned as Vader in The Star Wars Holiday Special, as well as to shoot new footage that was released with the Star Wars: The Interactive Video Board Game, when it was released in 1996.

Darth Vader - Behind the scenes

The character of Darth Vader was not originally planned to be a suited cyborg. The current image of Vader was created when concept artist Ralph McQuarrie drew the opening scene where the Rebel ship Tantive IV was being boarded. It was initially imagined that Darth Vader would fly through space to enter the ship, necessitating a suit and breathing mask. This was later made permanent and incorporated in the story. Vader's head gear resembles a Japanese kabuto (兜), which is consistent with the samurai-like order of the Jedi and kendo-like lightsaber duels. It also resembles a German World War II-era Stahlhelm. Vader's leitmotif is The Imperial March. The iconic breathing sound of his respirator was created by sound designer Ben Burtt, who created the sound by simply recording himself breathing into an old Dacor scuba regulator.

It is interesting to note that "Vader" is the Dutch word for "father" and that the German word for "father" (Vater) is similar. Thus, it may be tempting to read the character name "Darth Vader" as "Dark Father". However, in the original scripts for Star Wars, the name "Darth Vader" was given to a normal Imperial general. Judging by the origin of the other Sith names, Vader may also possibly be a derivative of the word "invader." In the movie's novelization Darth Sidious conjures the name from the Dark Side—"Darth Vader" is supposed to mean him, supposedly a nod to his status as the Chosen One.

Lucas took the name "Anakin" from his friend and fellow film director, Ken Annakin.

As Vader fits the classic stock character of the Black Knight, some have noted that Vader bears more than a passing resemblance to other villains. One is the classic Marvel Universe supervillain Doctor Doom. (This is further alluded in Stephen King's Dark Tower novels in which so-called "Doombots" appear that wear green hoods and iron wolf masks, much like Doom, and carry lightsabers.) Similarities have also been noted with the evil brother Hakaider, from the manga and tokusatsu series Kikaider, and the Mule, a villain in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy. A resemblance has also been noted to the Lord of the Nazgûl, also called the Witch-King of Angmar, from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings; both Vader and the Witch-King dress in black, have a supernaturally fearsome presence and a hidden, pale form, are kept alive unnaturally, and serve at the hands of Dark Lords.

The scene in which Vader is reborn as a cyborg is compared to the the creation of the monster in the 1931 film Frankenstein—like Frankenstein, Vader lies on a table to be rebuilt, and when the task is complete, his master (like Dr. Frankenstein) brings him to life still in the restraints, which Vader breaks out of.

Darth Vader - Cultural figure

Due to his central role, Vader has entered the public consciousness as the quintessential villain. His powerful, baritone voice, coupled with his heavy breathing, is easily recognizable, and the American Film Institute's list of the greatest movie villains placed him third, after Hannibal Lecter and Norman Bates. He has been parodied by such figures as "Dark Helmet" from Spaceballs, "Duck Vader" from Tiny Toon Adventures, "Darth Koopa" from The Super Mario Bros. Super Show and country singer Darth Brooks in Late Night With Conan O'Brien. Another kind of tribute to Darth Vader comes from Stargate SG-1, in which there are similarities between Anubis and Vader, played for both dramatic and serious effect.

Vader's name has become a synonym for evil; for example, political strategist Lee Atwater was known as "the Darth Vader of the Republican Party." George Lucas has pointed to Vader's iconic status as a reason he made the prequel movies, since he felt the icon overshadowed the fact that Vader was intended to be a tragic character.

Vader's revelation to Luke that he is his father is one of the most famous movie plot twists of all time. An IMDb poll on 10 November 2003[9] asked users to choose which one of a set of movie spoilers was too infamous to be considered a spoiler anymore; Vader's true identity was a clear winner, by a forty-percent margin.

During a major renovation, Washington National Cathedral held a competition for children to design new gargoyles for the west towers. One winner was a design featuring Darth Vader. [10]

With the release of Revenge of the Sith, Vader's popularity has seen an increase. His exaggerated and mournful howl of "NOOO!" also achieved notoriety.

Darth Vader - Notes and references

1. ^ ^{^a} Hayden Christensen only appears in the 2004 DVD release of Return of the Jedi, in which he replaces actor Sebastian Shaw in the final scene of the movie. This version is considered the canonical version by Lucasfilm. Some fans were upset by the change and criticized it for being disrespectful to Sebastian Shaw, even undermining the film's cinematic historical value. Further fan criticism includes issues some have with the general performance and appearance of Christensen in the scene, with some holding the claim that Luke would not have recognized his father as a young man. They claim this would create a continuity issue, rather than solve one. On the other hand, Lucas has justified the change, explaining that Anakin died psychologically when he was a young man, and with him, his physical image died. Lucas was apparently pleased with the performance by Christensen.
2. ^ "AFI's 100 Years…100 Heroes and Villains", American Film Institute, last accessed October 20, 2005.
3. ^  In its appraisal of Vader's injuries, the Star Wars Technical Commentaries states: "Was the physically oppressive nature of Vader's breathing difficulties great enough to affect his disposition or add to his aggression? Perhaps it is significant that he used telekinetic strangulation more often then [sic] any other method of intimidating or killing those who frustrated him." [11]
4. ^  "This is how it feels to be Anakin Skywalker, forever…You remember the dragon that you brought Vader forth from your heart to slay…And there is one blazing moment in which you finally understand that there was no dragon. That there was no Vader. That there was only you. Only Anakin Skywalker. That it was all you. Is you. Only you." —Stover, Revenge of the Sith novelization
5. ^  According to Steve Sansweet of Lucasfilm, the Star Wars Databank entry for Vader [12], and the script for Return of the Jedi Special Edition, Anakin's body disappears at death in the same way as Obi-Wan's and Yoda's had, though some argue that the movie would have shown his disappearance explicitly if that were the case. The Special Edition script reference that supposedly establishes the disappearance of his body is in text of the scene where Luke cremates his father's armor. The Special Edition script refers to it as empty armor, while the original script refers to it as his father's body.
6. ^ The Visual Dictionary of Star Wars, Episode III (ISBN 0756611288)
7. ^  "Lord Vader's Injuries", Star Wars Technical Commentaries. [13]
8. ^  "Lord Vader's Chestplate", Star Wars Technical Commentaries. [14]
9. ^  Mark Hamill (who portrayed Luke in the original trilogy) noted in a 1983 interview in Starlog #72: "Bob Anderson was the man who actually did Vader’s fighting. It was always supposed to be a secret, but I finally told George I didn’t think it was fair any more. Bob worked so hard that he deserves some recognition. It’s ridiculous to preserve the myth that it’s all done by one man." [15]

Darth Vader - Sources

• Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Novelization, 1st edition paperback, 1999. Terry Brooks, George Lucas, ISBN 0-345-43411-0
• Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones Novelization, 2003. R. A. Salvatore, ISBN 0-345-42882-X
• Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Novelization, 1st edition hardcover, 2005. Matthew Woodring Stover, George Lucas, ISBN 0-7126-8427-1
• The New Essential Guide to Characters, 1st edition, 2002. Daniel Wallace, Michael Sutfin, ISBN 0-345-44900-2
• The Dark Side Sourcebook, Wizards of the Coast, 1st printing, 2001. Bill Slavicsek, J. D. Wiker, ISBN 0-786-91849-7
• Vader: The Ultimate Guide, 2005.
• Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary, hardcover, 1998. Dr. David West Reynolds, ISBN 0-789-43481-4
• Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary, hardcover, 2002. Dr. David West Reynolds, ISBN 0-789-48588-5
• Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary, hardcover, 2005. James Luceno, ISBN 0-756-61128-8
• Shooting script of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi as available at Internet Movie Script Database
• Shooting script of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith as available at Internet Movie Script Database
• Star Wars Technical Commentaries, Dr. Curtis Saxton, 1995-2005. Available at TheForce.net
• Star Wars Databank. Skywalker, Anakin, Vader, Darth

See also

• The Imperial March
• Skywalker family
• Naberrie family
• Hasbro Darth Vader Voice Changer

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Darth Vader", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki