WARNING! THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE LEGACY OF VADER #2
A new Attack of the Clones was the moment his dark alter ego was "born."
The preview for Star Wars: The Legacy of Vader #2 – written by Charles Soule, with art by Luke Ross – confirms that Anakin's murder of an entire tribe of Tusken Raiders following the death of his mother at their hands was the first time he called upon the Dark Side of the Force.
While this could be inferred previously, considering the hatred of the act, which was motivated by vengeance, yet many fans of the franchise tend to overlook this Attack of the Clones scene as the actual turning point in Anakin's story, something Legacy of Vader makes clear.
Anakin's Lethal Vengeance Against His Mother's Killers Was The First True Hint Of Who He Would Become
Star Wars: The Legacy of Vader #2 – Written By Charles Soule; Art By Luke Ross; Color By Nolan Woodard; Lettering By Joe Joe Caramagna
Darth Vader’s life and history. In Kylo Ren is guided by Vaneé, the cyborg servant at Fortress Vader, who makes it his personal mission to educate Kylo Ren about the man Darth Vader was and how the dark side made him stronger. The duo’s first destination is Tatooine--Anakin and Luke Skywalker’s homeworld. Though Kylo Ren brushes Tatooine off as a backwater Outer Rim planet that both his grandfather and uncle could not wait to escape from, Vaneé tells a more detailed story.
Star Wars Sets Up a Major Kylo Ren Retcon, Teasing His True Introduction to Darth Vader
If Kylo Ren gets to meet Anakin Skywalker, the family reunion would provide great context for Kylo Ren’s actions in The Rise of Skywalker.
Vaneé shockingly reveals that the first time Anakin Skywalker used the power of the dark side was on his very own home planet after Anakin’s mother died in his arms. When Anakin allowed his anger to flow through him in his grief as he killed an entire group of Tusken Raiders, it was the first moment Anakin felt the power of the Dark Side and actively channeled it. This revelation implies that the first fissure inside Anakin Skywalker’s connection to the Light Side paved the path for Darth Vader in that single instance at the very place he was born.
Anakin's Fall Wasn't Inevitable, But It Was Rooted In His Earliest Childhood Trauma
Legacy Of Vader Illuminates The Trajectory Of Skywalker's Fall
As seen in Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Anakin returns to Tatooine with Pé after a haunting vision of his mother. Once there, he discovers that she has been kidnapped by Tusken Raiders and is on the verge of death. When Anakin finds her, and she sees that her son is safe, Shmi Skywalker dies in his arms, leaving the Jedi Padawan with nothing but inner turmoil and intense grief. Unfortunately, Anakin drawing on the Dark Side in that instance of tragedy provided Palpatine with all he needed to effectively begin manipulating Anakin.
Anakin Skywalker...was never able to give up the ability to love those around him so deeply, thus leading to his downfall, and Star Wars' greatest tragedy.
Throughout the prequel series, Anakin consistently struggles with his ability to control his emotions, much to his master’s chagrin. A staple of the Jedi code is being able to stabilize their emotions so their minds can remain unclouded for proper decision-making. This is why the Jedi Council forbids personal attachments, as such attachments could lead to clouded judgment. Anakin Skywalker, however, was never able to give up the ability to love those around him so deeply, thus leading to his downfall, and Star Wars' greatest tragedy.
Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #2 will be available March 12, 2025 from Marvel Comics.
- Created By
- George Lucas
- Cast
- Bob Anderson, Sebastian Shaw
- First Appearance
- Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
- Died
- Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi
- Alliance
- Jedi, Sith
- Race
- Human
