Darth Vader’s First Red Lightsaber Ignition Unveiled in Star Wars: Master of Evil Exclusive
Few characters are more iconic than Darth Vader. Everyone remembers his menacing black armor, his mechanical breathing, and of course, his red lightsaber. However, there’s an interesting detail involving that lightsaber. The prequel trilogy never shows Vader getting his red lightsaber. Even towards the very end of “Revenge of the Sith,” when Anakin Skywalker has fully transformed into Darth Vader, he still uses his old blue lightsaber in the Mustafar duel. Well, the new Disney-canon novel, Star Wars: Master of Evil, shows Vader igniting that red blade for the very first time.
Darth Vader’s Quest for Power
Fans will remember that at the end of “Revenge of the Sith,” Obi-Wan sliced off Anakin’s legs and his remaining arm, leaving him helpless as he burned in the lava. After the battle, Obi-Wan took Anakin’s lightsaber – which, of course, he would later give to Anakin’s son Luke in “A New Hope.” This left Darth Vader without a weapon, even when he was fully reconstructed at the movie’s close. So how did he get that red lightsaber he sports in the original trilogy?
Well, the new “Star Wars” novel, Star Wars: Master of Evil, chronicles the new Sith’s quest for a greater power after the events of “Revenge of the Sith.” The novel, written by Adam Christopher, is due out on November 11, 2025. According to the book’s official description, Vader still remains obsessed with discovering the forbidden powers of life and death. He sets off on a quest to discover the secret to reviving the dead, thinking that he could bring back his beloved Padme Amidala.
Cool, But How Does He Get That Lightsaber?
An excerpt posted at EW.com describes how Vader returns to Mustafar, having obtained a kyber crystal, which powers the energy in a lightsaber’s blade. He attempts to insert the crystal into an empty lightsaber hilt with the Force, but the crystal seems to resist his efforts, “almost like it is fighting back.” He imposes his will on the crystal, only to be hit with a torrent of visions. He sees his mother, Shmi Skywalker, he sees his former master Obi-Wan Kenobi, and of course, he sees Padme. The visions trigger Vader’s rage, which he pours into the crystal.
The crystal turns red, “the red of the Sith, the red of Vader’s vision, the red of the scars that sear his body beneath the armor, the red of the blood that boils in his veins. It is the red of his hate and the red of his anger.” Vader reassembles the lightsaber hilt around the crystal and ignites the red blade for the first time, but as he does so, he senses a dark presence around him that he can’t figure out.
Final Thoughts
Star Wars: Master of Evil looks like it will be a great read. It absolutely makes sense that Vader would still be obsessed with the dark secrets of life and death even after Padme dies, which makes for some great potential for a highly tragic, emotional journey. The excerpt illustrates both his pain and his hatred, bringing his dual nature to life. I will probably be checking it out from the library when it comes out. Of course, seeing how he got his lightsaber adds an extra layer of appeal.
