From Blank Slate to Badass: How Comics Revived a Prequel Star Wars Character

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The external content related to “Star Wars” Prequel Trilogy, such as animated shows like “Star Wars Clone Wars” and tie-in novels, have greatly enriched my cherished Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. These additional resources have helped flesh out the storyline, clarifying core themes and messages that the films may not have conveyed effectively. Though I’ve always had a soft spot for the trilogy (even if “Attack of the Clones” might be an exception), subsequent writers and creators have managed to develop and improve upon George Lucas’s original work. The Marvel comics and recent novels continue this pattern of refining aspects found in the prequels, particularly character development. For instance, Greg Pak’s “Darth Vader” comics took a rather one-dimensional character from the prequels and transformed her into one of the more intriguing figures within the series.

In the movie “The Phantom Menace”, Sabé was one of Queen Padmé Amidala’s handmaidens. During the film, she often stood in for Padmé as a decoy queen, with Keira Knightley portraying this role. The most notable aspect of Sabé’s character was that many viewers couldn’t tell her apart from Natalie Portman when they switched roles. However, this changed with E.K. Johnston’s “Queen” trilogy novels, which delved deeper into Padmé and her handmaidens, including Sabé. Later, Pak continued Sabé’s storyline in his comics, developing her into a more intricate character distinct from Padmé.

Sabe, The Queen’s Shadow

In The Phantom Menace, Sabe didn’t stand out with a strong personality, and it’s worth noting that this was true for many characters. Essentially, Sabe served as Padme’s decoy, disguising herself as the queen when Padme wanted to blend in with her handmaidens. Johnston developed Sabe’s character in his novels, portraying her as fiercely loyal to Padme throughout her career. This loyalty led to a unique dynamic between Sabe and Darth Vader, resulting in an atypical relationship.

The Darth Vader comic series set in Pak’s work unfolds during the time period spanning between Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, a significant number of years following Padme’s demise and the emergence of the Empire. In his quest to uncover individuals aware of Luke’s existence, Darth Vader encountered Padme. At first, Sabe suspected Vader of murdering Padme and swore vengeance against him. However, upon investigating Padme’s death, Sabe discovered a hologram of her final words and deduced that Vader was actually Anakin. Consequently, Sabe pledged to stand by Vader’s side in an effort to verify the truthfulness of Padme’s last words – that there remains goodness within Anakin.

Sabe Gives Vader a Second Chance With Padme

Sabe and Vader joined forces in a tense partnership. Sabe functioned as Vader’s moral compass, encouraging him to choose the right path. At the same time, Vader aimed to seduce her towards the dark side, hoping to gain a piece of Padme’s spirit by his side instead of rejection. His goal was to demonstrate that Sabe shared his ambitions, seeking power for the sake of maintaining order – an idea she persistently refused.

In Pak’s portrayal of Darth Vader, Sabe stands out as the most intriguing aspect. She is depicted as a multi-dimensional and conflicted figure, contrasting sharply with Padme. Unlike Padme, Sabe exhibits a more assertive and straightforward demeanor, yet she maintains much of the empathy that characterized Padme. Pak skillfully expands upon Johnston’s novels to create a deeper, more nuanced portrayal of Sabe, avoiding the trap of making her an exact replica of Padme as seen in The Phantom Menace.

Saber and Vader’s Dynamic Was Fascinating

Ansible and Darth Vader are driven to collaborate because of their deep affection for Padme. As Anakin is determined to validate Padme’s final words, believing she is worthy of extraordinary efforts, Darth Vader seeks to taint a piece of Padme that mirrors his own corruption. Through these emotional connections, Vader braved a sandstorm to rescue her, while Padme forsook her fellow handmaidens to reunite with him. Their relentless efforts to preserve their bond kept them together until they were forced to do so.

Ultimately, Sabé breaks away from Vader and abandons the Empire permanently, thus preventing her full descent into corruption. The Darth Vader comics lack the same level of excitement without her integral role in the narrative. Her story remains unfinished, with Darth Vader #50 (2024) suggesting that she is still out there, persistently upholding Padme’s values. Despite being a character introduced as early as 1999, it is only now that Sabé appears to have established her own independent identity and significance in the storyline.

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2025-04-27 20:44