Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Darth Vader #49

Summary

  • Vader canonically saved Luke from certain death before 'Return of the Jedi' for all the wrong reasons, hoping to turn him to the dark side.
  • This new encounter reaffirms Vader’s dark motives and hopes for Luke before Episode VI, though he does save Luke out of love and a desire for redemption in the end, as seen in Return of the Jedi.
  • Vader's early rescue attempt changes the dynamics between father and son based on how their final duel is now perceived, while also setting the stage for a new face-to-face confrontation before ROTJ.

Return of the Jedi significantly changes how we should view their final battle aboard the second Death Star. As Marvel's canonical Darth Vader series set between Episodes V and VI comes to a close, events have been building to a new encounter between the titular Dark Lord of the Sith and his son. To that end, the latest issue has put Vader on the same planet as Luke, while also saving the younger Skywalker's life.

In Darth Vader #49 by Greg Pak and Raffaele Ienco, the Schsim Imperial betrays Darth Vader in their desire to eliminate Luke Skywalker, wanting to remove the young Jedi as a potential source of power for Emperor Palpatine (whom they've been trying to overthrow). While Vader had been allied to their cause, he drew the line at destroying his son, hence the Schism's decision to incapacitate the Dark Lord and leave him to the Rebel cyborg MAR Corps who recently had their droid brain implants freed from Vader's control. However, Darth Vader convinces them to help him save Luke before it's too late:

Darth Vader Saves Luke Skywalker from Schsim Imperial

Just as the Schism Imperial was about to obliterate Luke Skywalker with a powerful kyber weapon, Darth Vader saves his son by creating a Force shield, arriving just in time thanks to his extremely temporary truce with these Rebel cyborgs who agreed that saving Luke was in all their interests.

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Why Darth Vader Saved Luke Before Return of the Jedi

It Was For The Wrong Reasons

Darth Vader Sensing Luke In Danger

With Luke's darkness and potential hatred having been tested by Sabé in the previous issue of Darth Vader, it was revealed that the Dark Lord could sense what was happening to his son despite being worlds away. Eagerly waiting to see whether his son would embrace and unleash his hatred, Vader was disappointed that Luke had resisted the dark side's pull. This is why Vader refused to go to his son even after he was given Luke's exact coordinates, believing Luke was not yet ready to be offered a second chance at ing him.

That said, the Schism Imperial seemingly forced Vader's hand with their attempt to kill Luke. Although it seems he would have preferred to have stayed away until Luke was potentially more susceptible to the dark side's power, Vader had to come and save his son from being killed. Naturally, his motivations behind keeping his son alive were still wrong at this point in the Star Wars timeline, as he still wanted to try and turn him to the dark side so that they could defeat Palpatine and rule the galaxy as father and son.

Darth Vader Didn't Get It Right Until The Second Death Star

Saving Luke Out of Genuine Love And A Desire For Redemption

Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Palpatine in Return of the Jedi.

Ultimately, Vader does end up saving his son for the right reasons as seen in Return of the Jedi, having found genuine love for Luke and a desire to return to what his son believed was still there within him. That said, the fact that Darth Vader canonically saved Luke just before Episode VI for all the wrong reasons is a huge deal for the Star Wars canon. One also has to wonder if the two will have a new face-to-face encounter in the final issue of Darth Vader that's soon to come from Marvel Comics.

Perhaps the titular Dark Lord of the Sith will get a second chance to offer his son the dark side's power in Darth Vader #50. Conversely, maybe Luke will get his first chance to try and bring his father back to the light. After all, his father did just save his life in this new Star Wars issue, a major moment that certainly tweaks how the events of Return of the Jedi are perceived in some pretty dynamic ways.

Darth Vader #49 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.

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Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
Release Date
May 25, 1983
Runtime
132 minutes
Director
Richard Marquand

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

Return of the Jedi concludes George Lucas's original Star Wars trilogy with Luke Skywalker and his allies seeking to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt and facing a renewed threat as the Emperor attempts to obliterate the Rebellion through a second Death Star, broadening the epic battle between good and evil.

Writers
George Lucas
Franchise(s)
Star Wars
Studio(s)
Lucasfilm
Distributor(s)
20th Century
Budget
$32.5-42.7 Million