Summary
Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Darth Vader #48!Luke Skywalker’s ‘Yellow Lightsaber Era’ takes place between the events ofStar WarsEpisodes VandVI, which is an era that is about to come to an end in Marvel Comics. However, before it does, it seemsSkywalker will be faced with his biggest test yet: harnessing the dark side of the Force. Will Luke begin his tenure as the galaxy’s greatest Jedi after meddling in power wielded by the Sith? One preview seems to indicate so.
In a preview forStar Wars: Darth Vader#48 by Greg Pak and Raffaele Ienco, Luke Skywalker is lured to a remote planet by a grifter he knows named Warba, who tells Luke that she has something he’d be interested in. Knowing that her message is probably a trap, Luke feels inclined to investigate anyway. Upon meeting Warba, the grifter gets kidnapped by Sabé, one of Padmé’s old Handmaidens, who wanted to see for herself the extent of Luke’s strength in the Force.
After Luke rescues Warba with relative ease, Sabé begins the real test she has for him. Sabé pulls out her blaster and starts firing live-rounds at Warba, forcing Luke to jump in between them to save her. Luke blocks blast after blast with his yellow lightsaber before one of Sabé’s shots actually hits its target, with Warba taking blaster fire to the shoulder. Upon seeing Warba injured for nothing more than some sick test conducted by someone he doesn’t even know, Luke becomes stern and severe, angrily telling Sabé, “Enough!”. To that, Sabé replies, “There it is…”.
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Sabé is Trying to Push Luke Skywalker to the Dark Side - But, Why?
Sabé is trying to push Luke Skywalker to tap into the dark side of the Force, but it’s not immediately clear why. It seems logical that Sabé is trying to prepare Luke for his eventual battle against Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine (both of whom Sabé has been trying to kill for some time), and she believes the only way he’ll have a real shot is by utilizing the dark side. Or, perhaps her motives are the complete opposite.
Leading up to the events of this preview, Sabé proved time and again that she is a good person. She failed Vader’s ‘box test’ inFree Comic Book Day 2024: Star Warsin order to help someone in need, and she had a seemingly genuine heart to heart with Warba, where they discussed Sabé’s intentions with Luke, and where Sabé all but assured her that she meant him no harm. So, why would she then conduct this twisted test to tempt him to the dark side? Well, perhaps she needs to know that Luke can resist it.
Sabé is Training Luke Skywalker for 1 Reason: Padmé
Sabé was Padmé’s Handmaiden, someone who was willing to give her life for Padmé at a moment’s notice. That’s a position one holds for life, even if the person they’re charged with protecting has died. Sabé is continuing her service to Padmé by protecting her son. That’s why Sabé is training Luke, and why she’s pushing him toward the dark side. Whether that’s to force him to claim that power for himself to defeat the Empire, or to prove he’s strong enough to resist it, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is Sabé’s duty to keep Luke safe and alive.
Whatever Sabé’s motivations or end goals may be, one thing about this preview is abundantly clear: Luke Skywalker will be pushed toward the dark side. Will Luke harness the power of the dark side at the tail-end of his Yellow Lightsaber Era? Or will he reject the dark side entirely, allowing his character to blend seamlessly into the events ofEpisode VI? As of now, that remains to be seen, and all fans know is thatLuke Skywalkerfaces the biggest test of his currentStar Warsera.
Star Wars: Darth Vader #48by Marvel Comics is available July 28, 2025.
Luke Skywalker
The son of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, Luke was brought up on the desert planet Tatooine. Initially mentored by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke fired the fateful shot that destroyed the Death Star, and he became a rebel hero. Despite the fears of Obi-Wan and Yoda, Luke’s faith in his father was proved well-founded when Vader returned to the light. With the Emperor defeated, Luke dedicated himself to bringing back the Jedi; his first attempt ended in tragedy due to Palpatine’s manipulations, but Luke’s legacy lives on in Rey.
