Hall of Fame: Darth Vader
He’s not only one of the most iconic villains in movie history but quite simply one of the most iconic characters, period. Since that first moment he stormed through the sparks and smoke of the Tantiv IV his presence and command have captivated generations. He single handedly made bad guys cool and while we loved to see his redemption we all secretly kinda dug his dark side. It’s my pleasure to induct the legendary Darth Vader into the Bulletproof Action Hall of Fame.
When I was approached to take on this task I was of course pleased to do so but then a few days later the original actor to fill those black boots passed away. David Prowse never quite got the credit for the role that James Earl Jones received but without David’s impressive frame and presence the character just doesn’t quite mean as much. Whether he is using the force to choke some fools or his bare hands very quickly we knew he was not to be trifled with. I wanted to honor David and do this right. Then came THAT DAY. You know the one Disney decided to plan out the rest of my life for the next few years and announced 10 new shows/movies. In that presentation we learned not only is Vader returning for the Obi-wan series but will be played by Hayden Christiansen himself. Again the stars aligned and Vader is as relevant now as he ever has been.
It’s hard to imagine that time back in 77 when that black helmet came through that door for the first time. Now genre movies are big bucks, they dictate much of pop culture and control the cultural zeitgeist. In 1977 that was not the case. Very few believed in George Lucas’s space opera and for it all to work he needed the perfect foil. Yes the emperor and the Sith are not even mentioned in A New Hope. Other than Grand Moff Tarkin Vader carries the flag for the dark side alone. That’s a lot of weight on that charred cyborg’s shoulders. Here we are decades later and still everyone is chasing after that flowing back cape.
The greatness of Vader as a character exists on so many levels. To the novice who may have only seen the original three movies and simply knows Vader as a figment in pop culture he still holds this sense of Badass Big Bad. But if you’re willing to dive deeper there is so much more. Take the movies where we learn of the existential dread and lofty expectations of the chosen one. The obsession with protecting those he feared to lose that would then drive a promising young Anakin Skywalker to the dark side. Go even further into series like The Clone Wars and Rebels and we see someone who had so much to lose and while is still drawn to the light has seen and done too much to be redeemed. Go even further into the books and comics and we find a calculated strategist who understands the Emperor can only be trusted so much and who jostles for power and influence in his own ways. Whether you want to watch some film or dive into the deep waters of fandom the character keeps giving you more.
But what would all that talk and sap be without some truly badass action. Yes Vader’s fight with Obi-wan may not quite hold up but luckily over the years Vader has delivered in some amazing moments. From chopping off his own son’s hand after soonning him all over Bespin, to the hallway scene to end all hallway scenes in Rogue One that may be the defining moment of Disney’s Star Wars Era. He’s forced choked subordinates from across space and had an epic encounter with his own former Padawan at a Sith Temple. Oh and like I mentioned the Vader Marvel Comic is certainly worth checking out for some awesome moments where he buries thousands in lava, takes out a battalion of rebels all by himself and cracks a starship nearly in half when he learns the name of that pilot who blew up the Death Star.
You could argue across three eras Star Wars is Vader’s story: his birth, his redemption and his legacy. The thirst to know more about him, to hear more stories and examine what makes Frankenstein’s monster tick is a testament to the characters ageless relevance and design. Seriously, 43 years later and we can’t get enough of what made the chosen one fall and just what kept him there for so long. Vader made bad guys cool, he made us all want to embrace our dark side just a tad and once we’ve had enough to throw our boss down a reactor shaft. It is my joy and pleasure to welcome the one and only Darth Vader to the illustrious halls of the Bulletproof Action Hall of Fame. This will be a day long remembered.
