There are few Sith in Star Wars canon as iconic as Darth Vader, though upon taking a closer look at his history, fans may question if this Dark Lord of the Sith was ever really a proper Sith at all, especially when considering his long-forgotten nickname: “The Dark Dog of the Sith”. While one could argue either side, Darth Vader’s nickname is a fascinating addition to a debate that calls his Sith Lord status into question.
In Dark Horse Comics’ Star Wars: Purge – The Tyrant’s Fist by Alexander Freed, Marco Castiello, and Andrea Chella (which takes place in Star Wars Legends continuity), Darth Vader is working to eradicate a Jedi-led insurgency on a planet that mines resources vital to the Empire. Vader successfully kills two of the three Jedi leading this small rebellion, and when he finally catches up to the third, the Jedi – Cho’na Bene – Vader is faced with a barrage of insults as well as attacks, including the aforementioned nickname, “Dark Dog of the Sith”.
Cho’na Bene tries to implant doubt within Darth Vader’s mind by exposing him as nothing more than an attack dog that’s being used by the Sith in order to achieve a greater goal that Vader himself has no real say in. Rather than being seen as a Sith Lord who surges with untold strength and influence, Cho’na Bene sees Vader as little more than a Stormtrooper without any power or agency of his own. A Sith assassin, perhaps, but Cho’na Bene clearly does not see Darth Vader as an all-powerful Sith Lord – and he may have a point.
Anakin Skywalker fell to the dark side in Revenge of the Sith, which is when he officially became Darth Vader. However, the further expansion of Star Wars lore reveals that Skywalker’s corruption was an ongoing process, even through the original trilogy. Right after Order 66, Vader was obsessed with hunting Jedi, as his anger and newfound acceptance of the dark side fueled him through countless atrocities. However, there was a moment after The Empire Strikes Back (as revealed in Marvel Comics’ Star Wars: Darth Vader) where Vader visited Padmé’s grave, and longed for the life they could have had.
When Palpatine learned of Vader’s wavering loyalty, he put his apprentice through a number of trials to reaffirm his commitment to the dark side. However, as fans are well aware, Darth Vader’s corruption never really stuck, as he eventually turned back to the light to save his son and single-handedly bring down the Empire. So, was this an example of Darth Vader’s redemption, or the failed corruption of Anakin Skywalker? That’s the question Star Wars fans have pondered over for years, as there’s never really been a definitive answer.
Darth Vader was obsessed with killing Jedi, as he blamed the Order for Padmé’s death. He embraced the dark side for personal vengeance, just as he fell for personal desires. That made him a powerful weapon in Palpatine’s arsenal, but that also means Darth Vader didn’t want to be a Sith for its own sake. Being a Sith seemed to simply be the bi-product of Darth Vader’s own agenda, which is why Palpatine kept Vader on a tight leash throughout the Imperial Age – two points that are brought to the forefront of fans’ collective attention with his ‘Dark Dog’ nickname.
So, was Darth Vader ever a true Sith? His evil actions and commitment to the dark side would suggest so. However, his lack of actual power in regard to the structure of the Empire and his conditional loyalty to the Sith (including and especially at the moment of his ultimate redemption) would suggest otherwise. Darth Vader’s ‘Dark Dog’ nickname calls into question his status as a Sith Lord, but that’s just one part of the larger debate that’s been raging in the Star Wars fandom for years – one that has no clear answer.