A decades-old Star Wars comic has Darth Vader reveal the true danger of one iconic Force power that viewers often take for granted. Marvel’s classic Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s are one of the most underrated gems in the Star Wars franchise. These comics are among the oldest non-movie Star Wars properties, and they allowed viewers enamored by A New Hope to follow the continued adventures of the Rebel heroes in between and after the releases of the original trilogy films. The comics also include one use of the famous Jedi mind trick that I find chilling.
Jedi mind tricks are one of the first Force powers shown in the Star Wars movies, so they are naturally one of the franchise’s most iconic. Luke Skywalker and the viewers themselves were amazed by Obi-Wan Kenobi’s use of the power to escape a confrontation with Imperial Stormtroopers in Mos Eisley, and the power appears again in act one of Return of the Jedi, with Luke now using the ability – and showing us how far he has come since A New Hope. When used by a Sith Lord, however, we see the danger of a mind trick used unscrupulously.
Darth Vader Showed Just How Terrifying Mind Control Can Really Be
Darth Vader is infamous for executing Imperial military personnel on the spot if he deems them a liability, and his signature method of murder is a brutal Force choke. There are, of course, occasional exceptions, and one issue of Marvel’s Star Wars comics shows Vader using a Sith mind trick on Major Kuhru, compelling him to exit a Star Destroyer via the airlock without a space suit. To make the moment darker, Darth Vader dismisses the murder as the result of a “faulty mechanism,” which the terrified Naval Officers around him begrudgingly accept.
The original Legends continuity includes other examples of Sith mind tricks that demonstrate how utterly nightmarish the power is when unrestrained by morals. Palpatine planted a suggestion in Mara Jade’s mind to kill Luke Skywalker, though she managed to follow his last command without actually killing Luke. Palpatine is also alleged to have used mind tricks on countless beings on Coruscant to keep the existence of the Lusankya, a Super Star Destroyer hidden beneath the surface of Coruscant, a secret. Obviously, Jedi do not use mind tricks like this, but I have nevertheless found it an odd ability for them.
Palpatine might have used many mind tricks on non-Jedi to maintain his façade of a well-meaning Senator – and later Supreme Chancellor.
It’s Always Seemed Strange To Me That Mind Control Is A “Jedi” Force Power
Due to their use by Obi-Wan and Luke in the original trilogy and their seemingly nonviolent nature, mind tricks are associated more with the Jedi than the Sith. Yet, I have always found the ability to be ethically questionable at best. I understand that Obi-Wan had few options for evading the Stormtroopers in Mos Eisley that would not involve lethal force or end with him and Luke being pursued by the Empire, but mind control in and of itself seems antithetical to the Jedi code of honor. To suppress someone’s free will, even to avoid violence, is almost impossible to justify.
Related
The Jedi Mind Trick May Secretly Be A Dark Side Power
The Jedi could be dabbling in some dark arts if one of their tried and true Force techniques, the Jedi mind trick, is actually a dark side power.
When thinking about the implications of mind tricks and their use by the Jedi, I recall a passage from Ryder Windham’s Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force. The book includes a quote from Jedi Master Yarael Poof, who warns Jedi initiates of the potential dangers of affecting another’s mind, yet Poof considers mind tricks to ultimately be more ethical than killing an enemy. While I understand this perspective, I still think that tampering with another being’s mind should be as much of a last resort as using lethal force.
Star Wars Is Recognizing The Dangers Of Mind Control
Interestingly, my opinion is reflected in the modern Star Wars canon’s Star Wars: The High Republic multimedia project. In this era of relative peace following the apparent destruction of the Sith, the Jedi Order referred to mind tricks as “mind touch,” and felt that the power took its practitioners to a dark place and thus discouraged their use. Despite their iconic status within the Star Wars franchise, mind tricks have always been questionable as a Jedi power, so I feel this perspective truly aligns with the high ethical standards of the Jedi Order.
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Upcoming Star Wars Movies |
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The Mandalorian & Grogu |
May 22, 2026 |
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
- Cast
- Mark Hamill , James Earl Jones , David Prowse , Carrie Fisher , Harrison Ford , Daisy Ridley , Adam Driver , Ian McDiarmid , Ewan McGregor , Rosario Dawson , Lars Mikkelsen , Rupert Friend , Moses Ingram , Frank Oz , Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
- The Mandalorian , Andor , Obi-Wan Kenobi , The Book of Boba Fett , Ahsoka , The Acolyte , Star Wars: Skeleton Crew , Lando , Star Wars: The Clone Wars , Star Wars Rebels , Star Wars: The Bad Batch , Star Wars: Resistance , Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures , Star Wars: Visions
- Character(s)
- Luke Skywalker , Han Solo , Rey Skywalker , Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious , Obi-Wan Kenobi , Ahsoka Tano , Grand Admiral Thrawn , Grand Inquisitor , Reva (The Third Sister) , The Fifth Brother , The Seventh Sister , The Eighth Brother , Yoda , Din Djarin , Grogu , Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader , Leia Organa , Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
