"Darth Vader Is Weak": Official Star Wars Theory Exposes Darth Vader's Most Important Lie

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Darth Vader #45

Summary Some Imperials doubt Darth Vader's true strength despite his claims of seeking order.

Vader is amassing new power to overthrow Emperor Palpatine, though some of his allies have doubts among those with unwavering loyalty.

Vader's purpose may be renewed after discovering Luke's past confession on Tython, and he's potentially seeking Luke to try and turn him once more before RoTJ.

Star Wars has confirmed that certain Imperials believed Darth Vader was actually weak. Although the Dark Lord of the Sith claimed he sought order for the galaxy, Darth Vader was actually in a state of major imbalance in the period between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. To that end, some of his own allies believed that Vader lacked the strength needed to accomplish his goals.

As seen in Marvel Comics' new Darth Vader #45 by Greg Pak, Adam Gorham and Paul Fry, the titular Sith Lord is amassing all kinds of new power in a bid to overthrow his master, Emperor Palpatine. Joined by the Schism Imperial whose members also want to see Palpatine's chaos removed from the Empire, Vader and his allies have come to the ancient Jedi world of Tython to claim a source of Force-amplifying kyberite. Climbing to the top of a mountain that houses the rare mineral, members of the Schism discuss Darth Vader, and a range of perspectives are shared from unwavering loyalty to very strong doubt in the Dark Lord's true strength:

While a younger Enric Pryde is determined to loyally serve Lord Vader in any way he can, former Governor Tauntaza feels like helping Vader may prove to be a futile endeavor. After all, her own experiences with Darth Vader have been far from stable or anything resembling the concept of order.

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Members of the Schism Imperial Believe Vader Has No Purpose

This Was Largely True Between Episodes V-VI

Tauntaza is certainly in a unique position to see just how unbalanced Darth Vader has become. Having been in charge of an experimental energy-draining planet killer, Tauntaza lost her rank and power after Darth Vader dismantled the device and its operations in previous issues, citing her oppression of the planet's colonists and her alleged connections to Crimson Dawn as cause to take her down. However, Vader recently claimed the very same weapon for himself now that he's decided to try and overthrow his master (again). As such, it's not hard to see why Tauntaza has concluded that Darth Vader himself doesn't know what he truly wants.

Outside of Tauntaza's experience, a loss of purpose and direction for Darth Vader is certainly true during this period. Following his son Luke rejecting his offer to join him as seen in Empire Strikes Back, Vader has gone back and forth between serving and seeking to defy Palpatine. Likewise, the resurfacing of Sabé certainly didn't help Vader either, his late wife's primary handmaid and decoy who eventually discovered the truth about Vader's past (and his son).

As seen in previous issues, Sabé went so far as to try and redeem Vader, seeking to honor Padmé's dying belief that there was still good in her husband. As such, to say that Vader is currently lacking a true purpose even as he seeks to overthrow Palpatine is more than justified. However, things may have changed for Vader following this new issue after seeing an echo of Luke's surprising visit to Tython at an earlier date in the Star Wars timeline.

Has Darth Vader Finally Found His Purpose?

A New Chance To Turn His Son Before Return of the Jedi

Witnessing his son's past confession in Tython's Force confessional, Vader has seemingly found his purpose, having learned that Luke once questioned whether he should have rejected his father in The Empire Strikes Back. To that end, Vader is now searching for Luke, and it's implied that he might try and turn Luke to the dark side once more ahead of Return of the Jedi. To that end, it seems as though Darth Vader is heading for even more tragedy and yet another rejection, even though his purpose has seemingly been renewed at the end of this canonical Star Wars issue.

Darth Vader #45 is available now from Marvel Comics