Can We All Agree That This Darth Vader Legends Second Deserves To Be Canon?

There is a actually heartbreaking Darth Vader second from Star Wars Legends that I’ve determined must be thought of canon. As sinister because the Darkish Lord is, the story of Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker is certainly one of nice loss and tragedy. To that finish, certainly one of my favourite Darth Vader tales of all time has to do with a key second in The Empire Strikes Again when the Sith Lord was pressured to grapple together with his previous.

Earlier than Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, there have been numerous novels, video games, comics, and extra that have been a part of the “Expanded Universe”. Nonetheless, they have been all rendered non-canonical “Legends” when Disney rebooted the continuity to solely embody the flicks, reveals, and no matter they made going ahead. Whereas Darkish Horse Comics’ Star Wars Tales was an anthology of largely non-canonical tales already, I firmly consider one story that includes a secret arc between Darth Vader and C-3PO throughout The Empire Strikes Again must be thought of a part of the official Star Wars canon.

“Thank The Maker” Is One in every of The Finest Star Wars Comedian Tales

Darth Vader’s “Reunion” With C-3PO

“Thank the Maker” was printed in 2000’s Star Wars Tales #6, written by Ryder Windham with artwork by Kilian Plunkett. A brief story happening through the occasions of The Empire Strikes Again, Imperial officers report back to Darth Vader on Cloud Metropolis with the stays of C-3PO after the protocol droid fell behind and was shot by stormtroopers. Tragically, Darth Vader acknowledges the droid because the one he constructed as a baby, recalling his reminiscences as a slave on Tatooine when Anakin Skywalker first found the protocol droid in a junk pile, resolving to repair him as much as assist his mom.

Nonetheless, Vader initially rejects this main echo of his previous and orders that the droid be destroyed. As seen in Episode V, Chewbacca saves Threepio from being smelted, ensuing within the Imperial officers bringing the components again to Darth Vader after the Rebels have been captured and imprisoned as bait for Luke Skywalker. Confronted together with his outdated protocol droid as soon as extra, Vader remembers his mom, who allowed him to maintain Threepio and proceed engaged on him.

Remarkably, it is Shmi Skywalker’s reminiscence that motivates Vader to have Threepio’s components despatched to Chewbacca’s cell, a lot to the officers’ confusion. It is a great story that really pulls on the heartstrings, particularly when the Darkish Lord brings Threepio’s head as much as his masks. Likewise, it is clear that the story printed in 2000 was straight impressed by the latest launch of The Phantom Menace the yr prior in 1999, a key piece of genius connective tissue following younger Anakin’s debut within the first prequel film (and Threepio, who was nonetheless a piece in progress).

Darth Vader Is The Finest Clarification For Chewbacca Getting C-3PO Again

“I am Giving The Wookiee What He Deserves”

So far as I can inform, there is no motive why “Thank the Maker” could not be a part of the official Star Wars canon. In any case, it isn’t as if Darth Vader and Threepio ever meaningfully work together within the Skywalker saga. Vader additionally by no means acknowledges he made Threepio both (or has connections to R2-D2 for that matter).

Likewise, this story arguably improves The Empire Strikes Again, as Darth Vader being the one who sends Threepio’s components to Chewbacca makes probably the most sense. Whereas Lando Calrissian may have had the droid despatched to Chewie, he would doubtless have had a tougher time getting it executed, contemplating how a lot energy and authority Vader and the Empire had over him, particularly whereas they have been ready for Luke Skywalker’s arrival. Till I see in any other case to contradict it, I’ll proceed to think about “Thank The Maker” part of the official Star Wars canon.