Annlyel James 
The identity of Anakin Skywalker’s father has finally been revealed…
If you’ve ever heard of Star Wars you know the legend. The iconic moment that will go down in history as one of the greatest plot twists of all time. The words that shocked viewers around the world.
Darth Vader to Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back: “No, I am your father.”
That simple sentence changed Star Wars as we know it. It’s still heralded as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, moments in Star Wars history and while other Star Wars films have tried to surpass its greatness with surprising twists of their own they have never come close to the shock factor that that moment managed to produce. And so, imagine my legitimate surprise when the greatest reveal in decades was released via the current Darth Vader comic series. Apparently, the series’ latest issue, issue #25, holds some tantalizing content and it seems it has revealed who Darth Vader’s official father is.
Yes, it’s not a joke. The reveal of Vader’s father’s identity is legitimately part of the current canon. Breathe. Just breathe. Here we go. Vader’s true father is…
*drumroll*
Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious.
Now before you say, “WHAT???!!!!!” this is why this makes all the sense in the world. For years we have known that Anakin was the spawn of a super strange (and disliked) conception of the Force. The midichlorians created baby Anakin in Shmi and she birthed a child who would be the fabled chosen one. Palpatine, in Revenge of the Sith, spoke to Anakin about Plagueis (Sidious’s master) being able to use the midichlorians to create life. So, for years, Palpatine had secretly revealed how Anakin came to be without realizing it. That is an AMAZING twist!!!
Now the strangely intimate connection between Anakin and Palpatine is totally understandable because while Anakin didn’t even know it Palpatine was his father. Of course, he wasn’t his father in the traditional sense but he still brought Anakin to life through the twisted ways of the Force. This also brings so many things into an even greater context. Like a popular theory that involves Rey. Before I get to the theory, isn’t it a bit strange how this revelation was brought forth nearly a year before Episode IX which is supposed to conclude the Skywalker again? Am I supposed to believe this is mere coincidence?
Well, why I mention the Rey theory is because it involves her potential in being related to Palpatine. If she is indeed somehow connected to Palpatine in some way or another then that means she is related to Kylo Ren after all. That would make her and Kylo…cousins? I don’t know. It’s a bit strange but the implications are exciting nonetheless.
With this revelation arriving during the Christmas period, it looks like Lucasfilm is setting us up for quite the exciting year. So, for all of you (like me) who despised every time Shmi told Qui-Gon Anakin didn’t have a father this Palpatine-is-Vader’s-father-bombshell-gift is for you.
The Future of the Force. The future of pop culture writing.
Annlyel James is a Senior Correspondent of The Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter where she channels the Force frequently!
That is freakin awesome!!