Star Wars Confirmed How Close Luke Came To The Dark Side (Thanks To Darth Vader)

«Darth Vader» #45 also references the other famous Vader-Luke scene from the movies — the climactic «Return of the Jedi» scene where Vader finally breaks free from the emperor’s influence and saves his son from the evil ruler’s Force lightning, thus reclaiming his identity as Anakin Skywalker during his last moments. In the comic, Vader’s first response to seeing the Force vision of Luke is just about as violent as you’d expect from a Sith lord. However, when he finds out Luke has genuinely entertained the idea of joining him, Vader mellows and even says, «Luke … I’m coming.» 

When Vader tells Luke the truth in «The Empire Strikes Back,» he’s still in full Sith mode and doesn’t mind cutting off Luke’s hand or attempting to strike him down on multiple occasions. However, «Darth Vader» #45 seems to imply that Vader’s true fatherly instincts — which ultimately kill his Sith persona and bring back Anakin — start returning far earlier than the movies have shown. This is an interesting parallel to the issue’s revelation that Luke considers joining the dark side in «The Empire Strikes Back.» 

In one fell swoop, «Darth Vader» #45 reveals Luke’s dark side close call and a glimmer of light inside Vader’s Sith heart — thus bringing a hint of darkness to the younger Skywalker while simultaneously revealing that Anakin’s eventual redemption shines through well before the throne room confrontation in «Return of the Jedi.»