Anakin Skywalker’s choices paved his path to becoming Darth Vader, but one comic reveals the exact moment - and choice - that led to his downfall. Though Anakin’s decisions were made out of fear of losing his family, they still led to him becoming Darth Vader. But even Vader knew that a single choice was the defining moment in his life and determined the future of the galaxy.

In Revenge of the Sith, Anakin becomes plagued with nightmares of Pé dying in childbirth. The visions are so realistic that Anakin comes to believe that they are a premonition of the future. In his desperate attempts to prevent Pé and his child’s death, Anakin made himself susceptible to the Dark Side and Palpatine’s influence.

Though many often view Anakin’s massacre of Youngling Jedi upon becoming Palpatine’s apprentice as the point of no return, Darth Vader and the Lost Command #1 by W. Haden Blackman and Rick Leonardi reveals that another earlier moment was more pivotal and dictated the outcome for Anakin, Pé, and the entire galaxy as a whole.

Anakin's Choice Between Palptaine and Mace Windu Was a Defining Moment in His Life

Darth Vader and the Lost Command #1 by W. Haden Blackman, Rick Leonardi, Dan Green, Wes Dzioba, and Michael Heisler

In the five-issue 2011 comic miniseries Darth Vader and the Lost Command, Anakin Skywalker is once again plagued by visions of his beloved late wife, Pé Amidala. Now styling himself as Darth Vader a few years after the rise of the Empire, Vader has dreams of an alternate and peacefully happy path that his life could have taken with Pé, their child, and the whole Jedi Order, if only he had made one different decision: saving Mace Windu from Palpatine.

Darth Vader and the Lost Command explores the future that Anakin would have ensured if he had chosen the Jedi over the Sith, as Vader dreams of an alternate path.

In Revenge of the Sith, Anakin is present when Mace Windu attempts to arrest Palpatine for his crimes after discovering that Palpatine is Darth Sidious: the Sith Lord who has been working to destroy the Jedi and the Republic. At that moment, Anakin’s future forks in two very different directions, only determined by the decision at hand. Anakin’s ultimate choice to save Palpatine leads to Mace Windu’s death and the metaphorical death of the Republic and Jedi. However, Darth Vader and the Lost Command shows that Anakin could have saved the entire galaxy if he had chosen to save Mace Windu.

Darth Vader and the Lost Command explores the future that Anakin would have ensured if he had chosen the Jedi over the Sith, as Vader dreams of an alternate path. Anakin would not only have prevented Pé's death, but would have become the youngest leader of the Jedi Council, finally achieving his dream of becoming a Jedi Master. Pé and Anakin’s son - named Jinn in this series - would have followed his father and become a Jedi padawan. The image of Anakin beside his young son in matching Jedi robes is both touching and tragic.

If Anakin Had Saved Mace Windu, the Entire Galaxy Would Have Been Saved From the Empire

Pé Would Have Also Been Saved

By making the choice to save Mace Windu instead of Palpatine, Anakin also would have guaranteed a future of peace across the galaxy. As Vader has his visions - or nightmares - of the alternate life, he sees that Pé would have become the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. As Anakin stands beside his imagined son, with the two of them iring Pé and her accomplishments before the Senate, Jinn notes that if his mother does her job, the Jedi Order would no longer be needed. As protectors of peace in the galaxy, the Jedi would essentially be rendered moot under Pé's reign.

Anakin’s actual actions and decisions were severe and misguided, as his attempt to end the Jedi Order started with him slaying innocent and defenseless Jedi Younglings. Order 66, while effective, was ultimately unsuccessful, as many important Jedi survived, including Anakin’s master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and his apprentice, Ahsoka Tano. Ahsoka alone would prove to be pivotal in the Rebellion and bringing down the Empire that Anakin’s actions helped build. The decision to save Mace Windu would eventually have led to the peaceful collapse of the Jedi Order.

Anakin truly wanted a world where his family could flourish without the threat of war or Sith. His decisions, while ultimately proving to be the wrong ones, were made out of his fear of losing Pé in childbirth. Palpatine preyed on that fear and convinced Anakin that he was the only one who could help Anakin ensure that his nightmares would not come to . Though Darth Vader and the Lost Command is considered part of “Star Wars Legends,” and therefore not canon in the main franchise, the series shows that Anakin’s choice to save Palpatine over Mace Windu was Anakin Skywalker’s personal crossroads.

Darth Vader and the Lost Command #1 is available now from Dark Horse Comics.