We all know how Darth Vader found redemption by destroying the Emperor and ultimately returning to the light as Anakin Skywalker, taking his final breath on the Death Star.
But what if things had gone differently? What if Vader had survived?
Surprisingly, Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi gives us exactly that—a story where Vader not only lives but takes on a new role in shaping the galaxy after the destruction of the second Death Star. In this alternate timeline, he doesn’t just return to the light side of the Force—he does so alongside his children, Luke and Leia, changing the fate of the galaxy in ways we never saw in the main saga.
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The Beginning of Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi
As I mentioned earlier, we can explore this alternate ending through the Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi comic series, which consists of four issues in total.
In the first issue, events unfold differently from the Return of the Jedi we know. Leia’s attempt to negotiate with Jabba goes wrong due to a miscommunication—C-3PO is damaged, leaving her without a proper translator. This forces her to reveal her identity sooner than planned, sparking an all-out battle inside Jabba’s palace.
As chaos erupts, Boba Fett escapes with Han Solo, still frozen in carbonite, taking him away before Leia and the others can reach him. When Han is finally retrieved and unfrozen, he is left temporarily blind.
Meanwhile, Luke travels to Dagobah, but unlike in the original timeline, he arrives too late—Yoda has already passed away. Before fading, Yoda’s spirit and Obi-Wan’s ghost confirm the truth about Luke’s lineage, revealing that Leia is his sister. With no more time for training, Luke must move forward with only the knowledge he has gained, carrying the weight of this revelation as he prepares to face Vader and the Emperor.
Luke Being Captured by Darth Vader
After learning about Leia and his mission from Yoda and Obi-Wan—to face Darth Vader—Luke immediately sets off. However, shortly after leaving Dagobah, he is captured by Darth Vader’s Star Destroyer.
Inside the cruiser, Vader once again urges Luke to join him and rule the galaxy together. But Luke refuses. He remains steadfast in his belief that there is still good in his father and that the dark side can be rejected.
Vader, still bound by his loyalty to the Emperor, brings Luke before Palpatine in the Death Star’s throne room. The confrontation unfolds similarly to the original film, with Palpatine trying to manipulate Luke into embracing the dark side. He taunts him, pushing him toward anger and aggression. The Emperor knows that if Luke gives in to his rage, he will fall—just as Anakin once did.
But there is a key difference in this alternate timeline. While Palpatine’s goading still pushes Luke toward the edge, Leia’s presence on the Death Star adds a new layer to the conflict. The Emperor orders Vader to kill Leia, seeing it as a final test of Luke’s resolve.
Darth Vader’s Redemption and Return to the Light
This is the moment I know you’ve been waiting for—how Darth Vader returns to the light side and doesn’t die like in the movie.
After receiving Emperor Palpatine’s order, Vader ignites his lightsaber and strikes down at Leia. But before the blade can reach her, Luke immediately blocks the attack with his green lightsaber. The duel between father and son begins once again, but this time, the stakes are even higher—Leia’s life hangs in the balance.
During the fight, Luke reveals to Vader that Leia is his daughter, a fact that catches Vader off guard. This moment of hesitation gives Luke the upper hand, and just like in the movie, he overpowers Vader and disarms him. But instead of standing over him in rage, something different happens—Vader, for the first time, is truly shaken by the realization of his lost family.
Luke ultimately defeats Vader, but instead of executing him, he chooses mercy, refusing to fall to the dark side. At this moment, the Rebel fleet breaches the Death Star’s defenses, and Palpatine sees that the station’s core is on the verge of being destroyed. Realizing that his ultimate weapon is about to be obliterated, the Emperor attempts to escape, abandoning both Vader and his plan to turn Luke.
With the Death Star seconds away from destruction, Leia pleads with Luke to save their father. Luke, despite all that Vader has done, refuses to leave him behind. Moved by their actions, Vader—or rather, Anakin Skywalker once more—finally lets go of his past and fully embraces the light. With Luke and Leia’s help, he escapes the Death Star just before it explodes, surviving where he originally perished in the movie.
In the aftermath, Anakin takes on a new identity, wearing white armor as a symbol of his redemption. No longer a Sith Lord, he chooses to fight for the Rebellion, working alongside his children to bring balance to the galaxy in a way he never could before.
