20 years afterStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith,Star Warsis finally about to reveal what happened when Darth Vader turned the kyber crystal at the heart of his lightsaber red. As satisfying asRevenge of the Sithmay have been, one thing was missing; a shot of Anakin using ared Sith lightsaber. In canon,a Sith turns the kyber crystal within their lightsaber red by “bleeding” it, pouring their own anger and hatred into it, and Anakin didn’t manage to do that before he was defeated by Obi-Wan.
Star Warswriter Adam Christopher has celebratedRevenge of the Sith’s 20th anniversary by revealing the synopsis for his upcoming novel,Master of Evil. Starring Darth Vader himself, this promises to reveal the truth about Vader’s red lightsaber at last. Here’s the synopsis:
AfterRevenge of the Sith,a newly forged Darth Vader hunts for the secrets of life and death under the watchful eye of Emperor Palpatine.
In the wake of Emperor Palpatine’s rise to power, the true nature of his most sinister enforcer remains a mystery. Darth Vader is a dominant yet illusive figure: the shadow cast by a malignant Imperial regime, unknowable to even its top officials. But even as his humanity gives way to myth, Vader remains haunted by the promises of the dark side, seeking the ultimate power that his master has hinted at but withheld—the power to conquer death itself.
On the volcanic world of Mustafar, Vader undertakes a dark ritual, bleeding a kyber crystal to forge his lightsaber. This act unleashes a power far greater than he anticipated, giving him a glimpse into the limitless potential of the Force.
Vader is determined to follow this vision, even if it means defying his master’s orders. Yet he finds the Emperor suspiciously supportive of his mission, even sending Vader to the Diso system to investigate rumors of a Force-wielding shaman able to raise the dead. At his side are a cadre of the Emperor’s scarlet-robed Royal Guard, led by Colonel Halland Goth—a decorated soldier with a very personal interest in Vader’s mission.
Even as the Emperor’s true motivations reveal themselves, Vader falls deeper into obsession. His journey takes him far across the galaxy, chasing rumors and phantoms. But no matter how far he travels, he cannot escape the shadows within his own soul. Haunted by the echoes of his past, Vader circles the true resolution to his quest: only once all weakness is purged can he become a master of evil.
What Is Darth Vader’s Quest?
Adam Christopher has established himself as a skillful writer well capable of exploring the dark side; he previously wroteShadow of the Sith, an essential bridge between the original trilogy and the sequels. This promises to be even more exciting, though, simply because he’s about to show the beginning of Darth Vader’s own quest for immortality. We often tend to forget thatVader, like his master, sought to conquer death.
Palpatine sought immortality for himself. Vader, in contrast, hoped to resurrect his beloved Padmé. It makes sense that the Emperor would use Palpatine’s obsession, encouraging him to research ways to raise the dead. Palpatine had his own agenda, and he viewed his fellowSith Lordas nothing more than a tool.
Our Take On Darth Vader’s Sith Story
Adam Christopher is undoubtedly one of the bestStar Warsauthors at work today, and that makes him the perfect writer for this story. Oddly enough, he’ll actually be navigating a difficult part of canon here; aspects of this story were told in Charles Soule and Giuseppe Camuncoli’s phenomenalDarth Vaderrun. Amusingly, this newStar Warsstory looks to be set between two panels in that run - a smart retcon indeed, shortly after the events ofStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
