Darth Vader

Darth Vader (41 BBY–4 ABY) is a fictional character in the Star Wars Universe. He is widely considered to be one of the most iconic movie villains of all time.

Expanded Universe

Ever since the very beginnings of the Expanded Universe, Vader has had his role in it. In the comic book Vader's Quest we see him hiring bounty hunters seeking for information about the author of the destruction of the Death Star. One captured rebel pilot, brought by one of the bounty hunters, informs him of the pilot's identity, and Vader sets up a plan for catching him, which eventually fails. It is in this comic book where Luke and his father meet for the very first time. Later on, according to the Alan Dean Foster novel Splinter of the Mind's Eye (which takes place shortly after the events in A New Hope), Vader meets Luke for a second time, and combats him on the planet Mimban. Luke puts up a valiant fight, but is no match for Vader, although he does manage to cut off the Dark Lord's mechanical arm. Vader's victory is near, but he trips over his own severed arm and falls into a well, though he soon escapes Mimban and recovers from his duel. It has been adapted as a comic book by Dark Horse Comics.

Related Topics:
Expanded Universe - Comic book - Vader's Quest - Alan Dean Foster - Splinter of the Mind's Eye - Mimban - Well - Dark Horse Comics

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The pre-corrupted Anakin Skywalker is the protagonist of The New Droid Army, a video game made for Game Boy Advance. In the game, Anakin is sent to investigate rumors of the Separatists making a new type of droid, superior to other droids and invulnerable to lightsabers. Anakin travels to Tatooine, but is hunted down by Aurra Sing and eventually held in the captivity of Jabba the Hutt. Anakin breaks out, and is called to Coruscant. There, Anakin chases and defeats a Dark Jedi named Trenox, and uncovers Count Dooku's plot to destroy the Jedi Archives. Anakin stops him, but Dooku escapes. Anakin is next sent to Metalorn, where he is to destroy the Cortosis Droid Factory and capture Wat Tambor, the leader of the Techno Union. Anakin completes both objectives, but has to face a clone of Count Dooku while leaving the factory. Anakin defeats this false Dooku, and moves on.

Related Topics:
Protagonist - The New Droid Army - Game Boy Advance - Aurra Sing - Jabba the Hutt - Jedi Archives - Metalorn - Wat Tambor

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In the young adult series The Last of The Jedi, Boba Fett, at the early age of fourteen, is hired by Imperial leader Inquisitor Malorum to investigate Padmé's death at Vader's request. Fett travels to Polis Massa (the small moon where Padmé gave birth shortly before her own death) and Naboo to gather this information. Fett fails to procure any information pertaining to Padmé's last moments. We can only assume that Vader was not satisfied with the Emperor's explanation of Padmé's demise. These events take place a year or two after Revenge of the Sith.

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Vader also has a prominent role in the 1996 novel/comic/video game ', which took place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He also makes occasional appearances in Dark Horse's Star Wars comic books set between the movies, especially Star Wars: Empire.

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In the Thrawn trilogy, it is explained that Darth Vader was the first representative of the Empire to find the Noghri, a race with exceptional combat skills whose planet had been devestated by a battle between orbitting space ships. They attacked Vader's party, and it was only through Vader's personal intervention that his soldiers survived. Vader pretended to help them restore their planet, and in exchange they served as his personal commandos, and came to revere him as their master. Later, Vader transferred their services to Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Related Topics:
Thrawn trilogy - Noghri - Grand Admiral Thrawn

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Leia Organa Solo named her youngest son Anakin in remembrance of her father's redemption.

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In the novel The Unifying Force of the New Jedi Order series, set 30 years after the Battle of Yavin in A New Hope, Anakin's voice would speak to his grandson, Jacen Solo, telling him to "Stand firm!" before Jacen eventually defeats Onimi, one of the main villains of the series.

Related Topics:
The Unifying Force - New Jedi Order - Battle of Yavin - A New Hope - Jacen Solo - Onimi

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