WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Star Wars: Darth Vader #22 by Greg Pak, Raffaele Ienco, Alex Sinclair and VC's Joe Caramagna, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
In the Star Wars universe, only a select few knew that Darth Vader was actually Anakin Skywalker -- and Marvel Comics' Star Wars: Darth Vader series just confirmed another canon member of this exclusive club.
As revealed in the final pages of Darth Vader #22, one person who knew Vader's true identity was none other than Sabé, the one-time handmaiden, bodyguard and decoy of Padmé Amidala, Anakin's deceased wife. Notably, the issue ties into the Crimson Reign event, meaning that it takes place between 1980's The Empire Strikes Back and 1983's Return of the Jedi.
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While Star Wars fans certainly know that Anakin and Vader are one and the same, that fact is not widely known in the Star Wars universe itself. One person who knew and, in fact, witnessed Anakin's transformation first-hand was Obi-Wan Kenobi, who famously lied and claimed that Vader had killed Anakin.
Others who knew the truth included Emperor Palpatine, Yoda, Bail Organa, Ahsoka Tano, Darth Maul, Grand Moff Tarkin, Grand Admiral Thrawn, R2-D2, C-3PO (after his memory was restored), Jocasta Nu, Ferren Barr, Verla and, of course, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa and Han Solo. Some speculate that Owen and Beru Lars knew as well, though this is unlikely, given the fact that their primary source on the matter would have been Obi-Wan. At any rate, one person we can now safely say did know was Sabé.
Once known as Tsabin, Sabé made her one and only movie appearance in 1999's Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, in which she was played by Keira Knightley. That said, the character went on to become a major player in Marvel's current Darth Vader title. Sabé bowed out of the series after issue #5, though made her return in issue #20. While Vader became aware of Sabé's ties to Padmé, Sabé did not seem to know that Vader was actually Anakin -- until now.
Written by Greg Pak, illustrated by Raffaele Ienco, colored by Alex Sinclair and lettered by VC's Joe Caramagna, Star Wars: Darth Vader #22 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Source: Marvel Comics