Star Wars officially debuts the darkest version of Princess Leia

Warning! This post contains spoilers for Darth Vader #50Star Wars has revealed a dark alternate future for the original trilogy, one where Princess Leia Become the apprentice of Darth Vader himself. in Return of the JediDarth Vader believed that Leia could perhaps be turned to the dark side if Luke continued to reject the Emperor. Along the way, it’s now revealed how Leia might actually look like Vader’s new Sith disciple.

In the epilogue of Marvel’s canonical Darth Vader #50 By Greg Pak and Luke Ross, Padmé Amidala’s former maid Sabé temporarily kidnaps none other than Leia Organa between Empire strikes back And Return of the Jedi. Sabé reveals to the Rebellion leaders her own experiences with Darth Vader, and how she is not strong enough to give into the darkness required to bring about galactic peace in the name of the Empire. however, Sabé believes that Leia may be strong enough to stand by Vader’s sideAnd may even become a new galactic empress:

Naturally, Leia claims that joining Darth Vader is something she would never want (which gives Sabe great hope for the future). Regardless, It is no less fascinating to see how dark Leia Organa can look as an alternate Star Wars Timeline where she agrees to become Vader’s apprentice.

Sabé fears that Leia may inherit Darth Vader’s darkness

Beautiful Empress Organa

As seen in the rest of the 2020s Darth Vader Before the final issue, Sabé eventually comes to learn that Darth Vader was once Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi who loved the former queen and senator she once served. Likewise, Sabé also learned from a partial recording that Padmé gave birth before her death. This led to her confirmed knowledge of Luke (whom she had already met and interacted with in the series).

That said, the main implication of this short epilogue is that Sabé also learned about Leia’s birth and true parentage as the daughter of Darth Vader. At least Sabé has strong enough suspicions to justify the brief kidnapping before she eventually leaves an unconscious Leia for the Rebellion to retrieve. Either way, it seems as if Sabe fears that Leia has inherited the same darkness carried by her father.Just like Sabé was afraid of Luke Skywalker before she got to meet and see the young Jedi Knight in action.

Leia proved that she would take after Padmé Amidala

Like mother, like daughter

At the end of Sabé’s interaction with Leia, the former maid of Organa’s birth mother is more than satisfied that Leia will bring a galaxy to peace by remaining in the light. To that end, readers also get to see a new vision Sabé has of Leia. Rather than being sourced in the dark as a new apprentice for Darth Vader, This new image of Princess Leia sees her truly embody her mother as a major force for positive change in the galaxy far, far awaySomething that she feels very much in the canonical Star Wars Timeline.

Darth Vader #50 is now on sale from Marvel Comics