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Lord Vader

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Conceived entirely by midichlorians and once deemed "The Chosen One," the Jedi formerly known as Anakin Skywalker - Darth Vader - developed into one of the greatest lightsaber wielders in the Star Wars universe. Vader was able to slay Count Dooku in a lightsaber duel, taking his place, and becoming the Dark Lord of the Sith.

Darth Vader led the Jedi Purge leading to the deaths of presumably all but two of the Jedi from the Old Republic - Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi. As is told by the animated Clone Wars movie and television series and the video game The Force Unleashed, Vader advanced to the point that he was able to take and train multiple apprentices.

Far less is known about Darth Maul. Yet, we can safely assume that his list of accomplishments is short, thanks to his statement "at last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi," uttered only days before his death. He was able to defeat a Jedi Master - Qui-Gon Jinn - in a lightsaber duel, but only a few minutes later, he was bested by a young Obi-Wan Kenobi. Maul was young and unaccomplished, never even coming close to the point of being able to take a student.

They each have something in common: the only thing that allowed them to be defeated, each by Obi-Wan, was their arrogance. In their duel on Naboo, Maul was overconfident, feeling that he had Obi-Wan defeated after disarming him and leaving him hanging over a pit. Maul stepped over his prey, a weakness in a show of supposed superiority, and Kenobi took advantage of that weakness, leaping over his opponent, and slicing Maul in half with Qui-Gon's idle lightsaber.

During their battle on Mustafar, Vader was proud, underestimating Obi-Wan's advantage of the high ground. He let himself get into a game of "anything you can do I can do better," and left himself open for attack, hanging defenseless in the air over a ready Obi-Wan.

By the time Darth Vader was ultimately defeated, he was an aging half-man half-machine and facing the future Grand Master of the New Jedi Order, Luke Skywalker. Vader had been highly accomplished, becoming the second ranked leader of the entire galaxy at the Emperor's side.

Maul could not even survive what may have been his first true assignment. While Maul had great talent, tons of potential, and considerable appeal, he never truly became much more than a prospect with a high ceiling. If he were ever to be pitted in a lightsaber duel against Darth Vader, Maul would no doubt put on a good show, but he would similarly be overmatched.

Learn more about this author, Art Vandelay.
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