The mystery of Anakin Skywalker’s birth has finally been solved, confirming who was really responsible for his mother’s pregnancy – changing the Star Wars mythology forever.
The revelation has arrived in the pages of the canon Darth Vader comic book, proving one long-held fan theory mostly true in its claims that Anakin Skywalker was designed, or engineered – not conceived naturally – but with one major difference. Since the Star Wars movies have moved into the future of the Skywalker legacy, and taken Luke back into the Force, it seems the perfect time to learn how that same Force brought Anakin into being.
Anakin Had No Father According to His Mother
We’ll cover this bit of the story first, since it’s a part of Anakin Skywalker’s origins that are often forgotten even by fans of the Star Wars movies. An absurd idea, all things considered, considering just how pivotal it should be to the understanding of Anakin – the presumed ‘hero’ of the first six movies. Fans can ask George Lucas why this detail didn’t become the driving mystery of the Star Wars prequels, but when Qui-Gon Jinn sensed the greatest “vergence of the Force” he had ever encountered in a little slave boy on a backwoods world, he asked the obvious question: who is this boy’s father?
Assuming such a connection to the Force could only be explained through genetics (Luke would later refer to the “mighty Skywalker blood” in Ben Solo, too), Qui-Gon inquired as to the identity of Anakin’s father. His mother, Shmi Skywalker did confirm that Anakin’s link to the Force came from his father, but not the way Qui-Gon expected. According to Shmi, “There was no father. I carried him, I gave birth, I raised him, I can’t explain what happened.” Even in the world of Star Wars, a cosmic variation on a “virgin birth” is a major development, and Qui-Gon knew to bring the boy back to the cradle of the Jedi. The boy, he believed, whom the Jedi had been waiting for.
Qui-Gon Believed The Force Created Anakin
This step in the mystery of Anakin’s birth, or the identity of his ‘father’, is going to be controversial, even difficult for some Star Wars fans, since it relies upon the intervention of… the Midi-chlorians. In all honesty, these microscopic beings responsible for a creature’s sensitivity to the Force are only as much of a problem as they’re made. Whether the Force is an ‘energy field’ connecting all life forms, or the effect of microscopic beings connecting all life forms, the result is the same. And Qui-Gon judged that the only way Anakin Skywalker could possess his concentration of Midi-chlorians was if they created him themselves, inside Shmi Skywalker’s womb. Making Anakin the Chosen One, prophesied to one day emerge to bring balance to the Force.
That was Qui-Gon’s theory, at least, and it was left as the only explanation in the Star Wars movies (before, as we said above, the mystery was largely sidelined). Theories and potential explanations eventually arose in expanded universe novels, even linking Anakin’s conception to the Sith Lords, instead of the Midi-chlorians alone. Unfortunately, the truth of this mystery has been revealed in relatively straightforward terms. And we’re sad to say that Qui-Gon was as deceived as the rest of the Jedi Council. The Midi-chlorians may have been the tool used to create Anakin Skywalker, the greatest master of the Force that the galaxy had ever known, but it wasn’t the Midi-chlorians that came up with the idea. Anakin Skywalker was created by manipulating the Dark Side of the Force, as many fans have suspected, but the identity of his ‘father’ guarantees that fans will never see the Star Wars saga the same way again.
The Emperor is Officially Anakin’s ‘Father’
Yes, Star Wars fans, Darth Vader #25 confirms that Anakin Skywalker was the result of Dark Side/Midi-chlorian manipulation inside of Shmi Skywalker’s womb – performed personally by Emperor Palpatine. And for those who might wonder how Anakin would actually be able to learn such an Earth-shattering truth, without suspicion of it being further manipulation by his Sith Master, the circumstances of the story help explain.
Writer Charles Soule and artist Giuseppe Camuncoli have been rolling out one massive change to the Star Wars canon after another (and arguably, each better than the last). Explaining that Darth Vader built his castle to save Padmé Amidala, the latest issue shows Vader succeeded in his mission to tear a hole between the realm of life, and that of the living Force. Upon entering, Vader (shown in his Force form, as a roiling figure of dark energy) re-lived all the most pivotal moments of his life. None more startling than seeing his mother during her pregnancy, with Darth Sidious’ arms encircling her, hands curled in Sith sorcery, forming the swirl of energy inside of her that would one day emerge as Anakin. And believe us, this image has confirmed more about the Star Wars lore than will first appear.
The Sith Created Their Chosen One After All
Ever since Chancellor Palpatine informed Anakin about the tale of Darth Plagueis the Wise, and his mastery over life and death, fans have theorized and speculated that George Lucas was hinting at something far more than fairy tales. The story of the Sith Lord who learned how to manipulate Midi-chlorians to create life, and the Apprentice who killed him in his sleep was much more than it seemed. Anakin only heard that he could keep his wife alive through the Dark Side, but fans heard Darth Sidious confirming he had killed his master – after learning that same power to create life.
The knowing looks at Anakin were all the evidence fans needed, and in the Darth Plagueis novel by James Luceno, the story was laid out, but cloaked in vague details and presumed connections. That story suggested that Darth Plagueis and Darth Sidious reached out through the Force, to try to create a child that they could use as an ultimate weapon. But the Midi-chlorians, sensing their attempt, foiled their plans to create a child that would bring about the end of the Sith, instead. Of course, that was before Disney bought Lucasfilm and wiped Plagueis from canon, along with all other novels (until they can be worked into the new Star Wars canon).
The same attempt to bring the story of Darth Plagueis back into canon could be at work here, even if the comic book shows that Emperor Palpatine had a far more personal role in the manipulation of Midi-chlorians to create Anakin. In fact, the passage from Darth Plagueis in which Count Dooku informs Palpatine of Qui-Gon’s discovery reads completely different in this new context:
“Qui-Gon returned from Tatooine with a former slave boy. According to the boy’s mother, the boy had no father… Perhaps conceived by the Force. As Qui-Gon believes.”
Palpatine’s head snapped back… “Does this have something to do with the prophecy you spoke of?”
“Everything. Qui-Gon believes that the boy-Anakin is his name-stands at the center of a vergence in the Force, and believes further that his finding him was the will of the Force. Blood tests were apparently performed, and the boy’s concentration of midi-chlorians is unprecedented.”
“What is known about this Anakin?”
“Very little, except for the fact that he was born into slavery nine years ago and was, until recently, along with his mother, the property of Gardulla the Hutt, then a Toydarian junk dealer.” Dooku smirked. “Also that he won the Boonta Eve Classic Podrace.”
Palpatine had stopped listening.
Nine years old… Conceived by the Force… Is it possible…
Until now, it was still just rumor and fan theory that suggested Darth Sidious had been the closest thing to a father Anakin Skywalker had. And now that the comic has seemingly confirmed he did the job personally (perhaps the only attempt that worked?) fans will need to re-examine the entire Skywalker line, including the fact that Kylo Ren is actually Emperor Palpatine’s great-grandson.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
