July 19, 2026:
Comic book stores invariably have racks and racks of backstock — and every once in a while, you find something so intriguing you have to buy it immediately. So it was when I came across a large-format magazine entitled Star Quest Comix, which featured a 21-page spread called “Star Wars Revisited.” Since the magazine was dated October 1978 — a mere year and a half after the first movie premiered — I was curious what the authors were revisiting.
Since I was not familiar with this magazine, my first step upon getting home was to research the publisher. To my surprise, this one had a bit of a pedigree.
Comic book stores invariably have racks and racks of backstock — and every once in a while, you find something so intriguing you have to buy it immediately. So it was when I came across a large-format magazine entitled Star Quest Comix, which featured a 21-page spread called “Star Wars Revisited.” Since the magazine was dated October 1978 — a mere year and a half after the first movie premiered — I was curious what the authors were revisiting.
Since I was not familiar with this magazine, my first step upon getting home was to research the publisher. To my surprise, this one had a bit of a pedigree.
Star Quest Comix was published by Warren Publishing, an American magazine company founded in 1957, which offered a variety of horror, fantasy, and science fiction titles. Its founder, James Warren, was a virtual force of nature who revolutionized horror and specialty comics, including Famous Monsters of Filmland, Creepy, Eerie, and Vampirella, and ultimately set the stage for other graphic story magazines like Heavy Metal.
As near as I can tell, Star Quest Comix was a one-off title that featured several illustrated science fiction stories and several articles about Star Wars, the most intriguing of which was titled “Dark Sith Lord Darth Vader: Badnik or Merely Misunderstood?” by Ann Wilson.
Misunderstood? Really?
As near as I can tell, Star Quest Comix was a one-off title that featured several illustrated science fiction stories and several articles about Star Wars, the most intriguing of which was titled “Dark Sith Lord Darth Vader: Badnik or Merely Misunderstood?” by Ann Wilson.
Misunderstood? Really?
From the title alone, I could guess that Ann Wilson was — what? — a Darth Vader apologist? But speculating about Vader’s motivations and temperament in 1978 was to swim in a vacuum, as Ann herself acknowledged in the article . The original film didn’t offer much about Vader, as he was only on-screen for 8 minutes in total. Most of his backstory came from what Obi-Wan Kenobi told Luke Skywalker — which we would discover years later was largely a lie told: “from a certain point of view…”
And beyond the film and its novelization, there were few canonical resources to pull from at the time. Marvel had begun to publish original Star Wars comics the previous March, and Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, the first sequel novel, had been published that same month. Vader appeared in both, but neither revealed much about his background or personality — by design.
But okay, I wanted to see where Ann went with this… so I sat down to read as she addressed Vader’s actions point-by-point.
It got very dark very quickly.
For the sake of brevity, I have pulled a few of the more choice arguments Ann makes for “someone whose greatest fault, if it can be so described, would appear to be his unswerving loyalty to his Emperor.
And beyond the film and its novelization, there were few canonical resources to pull from at the time. Marvel had begun to publish original Star Wars comics the previous March, and Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, the first sequel novel, had been published that same month. Vader appeared in both, but neither revealed much about his background or personality — by design.
But okay, I wanted to see where Ann went with this… so I sat down to read as she addressed Vader’s actions point-by-point.
It got very dark very quickly.
For the sake of brevity, I have pulled a few of the more choice arguments Ann makes for “someone whose greatest fault, if it can be so described, would appear to be his unswerving loyalty to his Emperor.
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Strangling Captain AntillesWhat Ann wrote: “This is harsh, certainly, but Lord Vader’s reasoning & feelings are understandable. It is his duty to smash the rebellion, and while it would be stupid to expect willing cooperation from traitors, perhaps this example will make the other rebels more willing to co-operate?”
My thoughts: Ah, the old example of ‘making examples’ out of victims. In the end, this will help save lives, right? How perfectly fascist. |
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Force Choking Admiral MottiWhat Ann wrote: “As the war council, Lord Vader’s response to Gen. Tagge’s [misnamed in the original article] scoffing at the power of the Force is positively mild considering what he would for were he to exert his full powers; he merely cuts off Tagge’s wind for a few seconds, saying, “I found your lack of faith disturbing,” then releases [him] when Gov. Tarkin requests it. This shows admirable restraint & self-control in spite of provocation…”
My thoughts: Vader disengaged because Tarkin commanded it. This wasn’t a sympathetic act; it was Vader following an order. I don’t doubt for a moment he would’ve gleefully killed Motti otherwise. |
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Torturing Princess LeiaWhat Ann wrote: “His use of torture, tho alleged by one source, cannot be substantiated; his method is psycho-technological in nature and includes an apparently-telepathic machine used in conjunction with some kind of drug, since he reports to Tarkin that her resistance to the “mind probe” is strong.
My thoughts: This scene is clearly about torture. Just because the actual torture process isn’t shown in a PG-rated movie doesn't negate that fact. |
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"Saving" Princess Leia What Ann wrote: “…even after Tarkin had signed the order to terminate the Princess’s life, Lord Vader took immediate advantage of the opportunity offered by the capture of the Millennium Falcon to suggest that she might still be of some use alive. Altho she is a rebel & a traitor, he is evidently reluctant to kill her in cold blood…”
My thoughts: Okay, now you’re just being obtuse, Ann. Vader was calculating, not kind. He was willing to let Leia go temporarily so he could track her to the rebel base and kill her — and thousands of others — in the near future. |
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The Final Battle Over the Death StarWhat Ann wrote: “Vader’s courage & honor become most obvious during the space battle… especially in such close quarters as the Trench, is no place for a coward. Lard Vader leads several runs down the extremely hazardous Trench, demonstrating both piloting skill & daring sufficient to easily gain him “Ace” status, yet he allows Luke’s stricken wingman to make his escape.
My thoughts: Again, this is Vader being practical. Wedge’s ship was disabled and no longer a threat. His order to “let him go, stay on the pilot” was simply tactical. While I would certainly agree Vader was no coward, I can’t give him any props for some kind of imagined compassion. |
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Vader's Attitude Toward ViolenceWhat Ann wrote: “Lord Vader is clearly reluctant to kill unless it is necessary and even then preferably in battle. The rebel officer he strangled and the 6 fighter pilots he shot down were killed under combat conditions and died quickly and with no unnecessary suffering…”
My thoughts: Well, if you’re gonna murder someone, kudos for considering their comfort first, I guess. |
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Final ThoughtsAnn's final thoughts: “In summary… Lord Darth Vader [is] a person to be admired. He is not at all the horrible monster as which he is usually described, trailing miasmatic clouds of evil along with his cloak… On the contrary, he has been shown to be loyal, courageous, highly intelligent & honorable… This evaluation differs from the generally-accepted description of Lord Vader. However, an impartial observer can only be glad that such a man as Darth Vader lives.”
My final thoughts: Putting aside the fact that Darth Vader is a fictional character, Ann’s anguished defense of him is hard to read — especially in our current era. Excusing cruelty for strength, torture as necessary, and murder as some kind of preemptive (and even considerate) self-defense had its spiritual roots in some very ugly parts of human history. In the decades to come, Darth Vader emerged as one of the most complex characters in the Star Wars pantheon, but I never felt like the franchise ever made excuses for his horribleness. It was true when the first film was also the only film, and it’s true now. Sorry, Ann Wilson, but Darth Vader was a monster — and we should never excuse the behavior of monsters. Not even the fictional ones. |
The Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader Story
A collection of some of the greatest Darth Vader stories, both before and after his fall to the Dark Side.
Star Wars: Darth Vader by Greg Pak Vol. 1 - Dark Heart of the Sith by Greg Pak
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Star Wars: Darth Vader by Greg Pak Vol. 2 - Into the Fire by Greg Pak
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Star Wars: Darth Vader by Greg Pak Vol. 3 - War of the Bounty Hunters
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Star Wars: Darth Vader by Greg Pak Vol. 4 - Crimson Reign by Greg Pak
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Star Wars: Darth Vader by Greg Pak Vol. 5 - The Shadow's Shadow. by Greg Pak
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Star Wars: Darth Vader by Greg Pak Vol. 6 - Return of the Handmaidens by Greg Pak
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Star Wars: Darth Vader by Greg Pak Vol. 7 - Unbound Force by Greg Pak
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Star Wars: Darth Vader by Greg Pak Vol. 8 - Dark Droids by Greg Pak
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Star Wars: Darth Vader by Greg Pak Vol. 9 - Rise of the Schism Imperial by Greg Pak
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Star Wars: Darth Vader by Greg Pak Vol. 10 - Phantoms by Greg Pak
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Star Wars: Darth Vader - Black, White & Red Treasury Edition by Jason Aaron
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Star Wars: Darth Vader Modern Era Epic Collection: Shadows and Secrets by Kieron Gillen
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Dark Lord: Star Wars Legends by James Luceno
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The Dark Lord Trilogy: Star Wars Legends: Labyrinth of Evil Revenge of the Sith Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader by James Luceno and Matthew Stover
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Star Wars: Brotherhood by Mike Chen
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Star Wars Insider Presents The Original Trilogy Box Set by Titan
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Star Wars: Legacy of Vader Vol. 1 - The Reign of Kylo Ren by Charles Soule and Luke Ross
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Star Wars: Legacy of Vader - The Reign of Kylo Ren Vol. 2by Charles Soule and Luke Ross
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Splinter of the Mind's Eye by Alan Dean Foster
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Star Wars: Darth Vader Modern Era Epic Collection: The Chosen One by Charles Soule
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Star Wars: Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith Vol. 1 - Imperial Machine by Charles Soule
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Star Wars: Darth Vader Modern Era Epic Collection: Vader Down by Kieron Gillen
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Siege: Star Wars Legends (Clone Wars Gambit) by Karen Miller
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Stealth: Star Wars Legends (Clone Wars Gambit) by Karen Miller
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Labyrinth of Evil: Star Wars Legends by James Luceno
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