Summary
The conclusion of Marvel’sDarth Vaderseries poses the ultimate “What if?” situation with a story showingPrincess Leiaturning to the dark side and joining her father. After revealing that Darth Vader was Luke’s father inStar Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, much ofReturn of the Jediconcerned itself with Vader and Palpatine’s efforts to tempt Luke to the dark side. Interestingly enough, his sister and Vader’s daughter, Leia, never had a similar storyline.
Marvelannounced thata backup story inDarth Vader#50 by Greg Pak and Luke Ross will feature Princess Leia’s shocking turn to the dark side. To reflect the upcoming backup story, a variant cover by Derrick Chew (which can be viewed directly below) depicts Princess Leia front and center, sporting a new armor and veil to reflect her villainous turn as her father stands behind her. The issue officially goes on sale starting September 18.
Now is the time to speculate about what could be the final straw to convince Leia to go dark.
New Armored Art Cover Symbolizes Princess Leia’s Turn to the Dark Side
DarthVader#50 by Greg Pak and Raffaele Ienco
Princess Leia first meets her father inStar Wars: A New Hopewhen Darth Vader captures the princess of Alderaan and holds her hostage. The Rebel Alliance leader finds herself in a similar predicament in the next movie when Lando Calrissian hands her and Han Solo over to Darth Vader inThe Empire Strikes Back. However, the father-daughter duo don’t share any scenes inReturn of the Jedi. As such, Leia never confronts Vader with the knowledge that he’s her father, butthis comic could put a new spin on their dynamic. Marvel’s solicitation reads as follows:
The final issue of the longest-running Darth Vader comic series ever, STAR WARS: DARTH VADER #50 will deliver the stunning conclusion to Vader’s tormented battle against the Emperor’s schemes and the Schism Imperial’s secret plot to topple the Empire. Together with STAR WARS #50, it’ll be the finale to the current era of Marvel’s STAR WARS line that takes place betweenThe Empire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedi.
Greg Pak and Raffaele Ienco’s run onStar Wars: Darth Vaderfirst began in 2020, and four years later, the duo is finally ready to bring the series to a thrilling conclusion.The main story will likely offer closure toVader’s attempted corruption of Luke Skywalkerleading intoReturn of the Jedi, while Luke tries to make sense of learning about his secret heritage (including information he’s learned about his mother). The promise of the backup story in which Leia joins the dark side raises many questions, namely, how and why?
Why Would Leia Turn Her Back on the Rebel Alliance?
For the Greater Good or Darker Intentions?
Leia has always been utterly passionate abouther role with the Rebels, so to imagine why she’d turn her back on them is difficult. It’s also worth noting that Darth Vaderdidn’t know he had a daughteruntil the climax ofReturn.Assuming that the backup story doesn’t dramatically shift away from the canon, this could mean this is a “What If?” where Vader actually defeats Luke, or convinces him to join him, before trying to convince Leia to join him next.That’s one theory, but all will be revealed inDarth Vader#50.
Star Wars: Darth Vader#50will be available September 18 from Marvel Comics.
Source:Marvel
Leia Organa
The daughter of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, Leia inherited her mother’s political skills and her father’s Force power. She was raised on Alderaan as a member of the royal family, and followed in her father’s footsteps by becoming a senator who secretly worked alongside the Rebel Alliance. Alderaan’s destruction changed everything, and Leia became a leader in both the Rebel Alliance and its successor government, the New Republic. She served there for decades, eventually leaving to found the First Order when she sensed its darkness growing. Leia gave much for her ideals, but eventually gave her life to redeem her son Ben.
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Conceived by the will of the Force itself, Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring the Force into balance. Anakin struggled to balance competing attachments to the Jedi Order and his wife Padmé Amidala, and ultimately fell to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. For years he served as Palpatine’s right hand man, but he was ultimately redeemed by the faith of his son, Luke Skywalker. Now a Force Ghost, Anakin continues to act as an agent of balance.
