Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== Palpatine (Darth Sidious) ====== ===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary ===== * **Core Identity:** **Sheev Palpatine, publicly a charismatic senator and later Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, was secretly the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious—a master manipulator and the architect of the Clone Wars, the Great Jedi Purge, and the tyrannical Galactic Empire.**((While Palpatine is a cornerstone of the Star Wars galaxy, he is **not** a native character of Marvel's Earth-616 or the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). His inclusion in a Marvel encyclopedia stems from Marvel Comics' status as the current primary publisher of Star Wars comic books since 2015, making him a prominent figure within their licensed publishing line.)) * **Key Takeaways:** * **Role in the Universe:** Palpatine is the ultimate villain of the Skywalker Saga, serving as the embodiment of deception, lust for power, and the corrupting influence of the dark side of the Force. He orchestrated galactic-scale conflicts from the shadows for decades, manipulating both the [[jedi_order|Jedi Order]] and the Republic to establish his own authoritarian rule. * **Primary Impact:** His most significant impact was the systematic destruction of the Jedi Order and the transformation of a democratic republic into the oppressive [[galactic_empire|Galactic Empire]]. This act fundamentally reshaped the galaxy's political and spiritual landscape for decades, creating the central conflict that heroes like [[luke_skywalker|Luke Skywalker]] and the [[rebel_alliance|Rebel Alliance]] would fight against. * **Key Incarnations:** The primary distinction in his comic book portrayals lies between the modern **Star Wars Canon** (as defined by Disney/Lucasfilm and published by Marvel since 2015) and the **Star Wars Legends** continuity (encompassing the original Marvel comics from 1977-1986 and the Dark Horse Comics era from 1991-2014). Canon Palpatine's return in a clone body on Exegol is a core part of the sequel trilogy, whereas Legends Palpatine returned multiple times in powerful clone bodies on Byss, as detailed in the //Dark Empire// comic series. ===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution ===== ==== Publication History and Creation ==== Sheev Palpatine, initially known simply as "The Emperor," first appeared in a non-speaking hologram cameo in the 1980 film //The Empire Strikes Back//. His first full, on-screen appearance was in 1983's //Return of the Jedi//. However, his presence in Marvel Comics predates his cinematic debut. He was first mentioned in Marvel's //Star Wars #1// (July 1977), the comic adaptation of //A New Hope//, which was released before the film. His first visual appearance in a comic was in the Marvel Comics adaptation of //The Empire Strikes Back//, specifically in //Star Wars #42// (December 1980). The character was created by George Lucas as the ultimate personification of evil and political corruption for his Star Wars saga. For decades, the vast majority of his backstory and character expansion occurred in novels and comics published by Dark Horse Comics, which held the Star Wars license from 1991 to 2014. These stories, now categorized as "Legends," built an elaborate history for him. In 2015, following Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm, the publishing rights for Star Wars comics returned to Marvel Comics. This marked a new era. All previously published material was rebranded as "Legends," and Marvel began publishing a new line of comics that, along with the films and new television series, form the official "Canon." Marvel's modern comics have since extensively explored Palpatine's reign, his relationship with [[darth_vader|Darth Vader]], and his hidden machinations during the original trilogy era. ==== In-Universe Origin Story ==== //A critical distinction must be made: Palpatine has no origin or presence within the prime Marvel Universe (Earth-616) or the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). He exists solely within the Star Wars galaxy. The following origins are based on the two primary comic book continuities.// === Star Wars Canon (Marvel Comics Era, 2015-Present) === In the current canon, much of Palpatine's early life remains deliberately shrouded in mystery, preserving his enigmatic nature. What is known is that he was born Sheev Palpatine on the wealthy and influential world of Naboo. From a young age, he was exceptionally strong with the dark side of the Force. He was discovered by the Muun Sith Lord, Darth Plagueis the Wise, a master of midi-chlorian manipulation who sought the secret to creating life and achieving immortality. Under Plagueis's tutelage, Palpatine adopted the Sith name **Darth Sidious**. He mastered the ways of the Sith, embracing their philosophy of using passion, fear, and hatred to achieve ultimate power. As detailed in canon reference books and alluded to in Marvel's comics, Sidious grew to be an even more powerful and cunning Sith than his master. Adhering to the Sith's "Rule of Two," Sidious eventually murdered Plagueis in his sleep to claim the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith for himself. While secretly building his power in the dark side, Palpatine cultivated a brilliant public career as a politician. He served as the Senator for Naboo, presenting himself as a trustworthy and dedicated public servant. This facade allowed him to operate in plain sight, manipulating the Galactic Senate from within. His grand plan began to unfold with the invasion of his own homeworld, Naboo—an event he secretly orchestrated through his new apprentice, [[darth_maul|Darth Maul]], and the Trade Federation. The resulting political crisis allowed him to be elected Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. From this position, he masterminded the Clone Wars, playing both sides—the Republic and the Separatist Alliance—to amass emergency powers, decimate the Jedi, and create the political climate necessary for his final power grab: the declaration of the first Galactic Empire. === Star Wars Legends (Classic Marvel & Dark Horse Era) === The Legends continuity provides a far more detailed, though now non-canonical, origin for Palpatine. Born on Naboo to a noble but minor house, he felt a profound disdain for his family and a burning ambition for power. His Force-sensitivity manifested early, and he was drawn to Sith artifacts and lore. He rejected his family name, killing them with the Force before being fully apprenticed to Darth Plagueis. His training under Plagueis was extensive. Plagueis taught him not only the traditional arts of the Sith but also esoteric knowledge of the Force, including Plagueis's own research into immortality. As in canon, Palpatine eventually killed his master to become the sole Dark Lord. The Legends version of his political ascent is similar, but the details of his machinations are more elaborately chronicled. He used his immense wealth, dark side influence, and political genius to climb the ranks of the Republic. The novel //Darth Plagueis// by James Luceno (now a Legends story) provides the definitive account of this era, detailing his dual life with incredible granularity. He took on multiple apprentices before Anakin Skywalker, including Darth Maul and [[count_dooku|Darth Tyranus]] (Count Dooku), using each as a pawn in his galaxy-spanning game of "dejarik" (holochess). His ultimate goal was not just political power but also the complete subjugation of the Force itself, seeking to remake the galaxy in the image of the dark side. This version of Palpatine was obsessed with cheating death, leading directly to his return in the //Dark Empire// comic series. ===== Part 3: Abilities, Equipment & Personality ===== Palpatine's power is not merely in his command of the Force, but in his perfect synthesis of supernatural ability, political genius, and a personality defined by pure malevolence. === Star Wars Canon (Marvel Comics Era) === The canon portrayal, particularly in Marvel comics like //Darth Vader// (2017) and //The Rise of Kylo Ren//, emphasizes Palpatine's role as the ultimate puppet master and a terrifyingly powerful dark side user. * **Powers and Abilities:** * **Force Lightning:** This is his signature ability. Canon depicts it as one of the most powerful and raw expressions of the dark side. He can use it to torture, incapacitate, or kill. In its most potent form, as seen in //The Rise of Skywalker// and its comic adaptations, he could unleash galaxy-spanning storms of Force lightning from his throne on Exegol, capable of disabling an entire fleet of starships. * **Precognition and Foresight:** Palpatine's ability to see the future is legendary. He foresaw the Clone Wars, the fall of the Jedi, and the potential of Anakin Skywalker. However, his foresight was not infallible; it was often clouded by his own arrogance, leading him to underestimate the love between Vader and his son, and later, the dyad between Rey and Ben Solo. * **Master Manipulator:** Palpatine's greatest weapon is his intellect. He orchestrated a galactic war for over a decade, convincing the Jedi they were fighting for the Republic while he controlled their enemy. He twisted Anakin Skywalker's love and fear into hatred, turning the Chosen One into his greatest weapon. * **Sith Sorcery and Alchemy:** The canon continuity establishes that Palpatine delved deep into the most forbidden aspects of the Force. He used Sith rituals on the planet Exegol to create Snoke as his proxy and to build the Sith Eternal cult, which worked for decades to prepare for his return and construct the Final Order's fleet of planet-killing Star Destroyers. * **Essence Transfer:** Palpatine mastered the Sith ability to transfer his consciousness into a new vessel upon death. This is how he survived his destruction aboard the second Death Star, his spirit traveling across the galaxy to a prepared clone body on Exegol. The process was imperfect, resulting in a decaying, monstrous form that required immense life support. * **Equipment:** * **Lightsaber:** While he often relies on the Force alone, Palpatine is an incredibly skilled lightsaber duelist. He wields a red-bladed lightsaber, its hilt plated in elegant electrum. He demonstrated his lethal skill by effortlessly cutting down three Jedi Masters (Agen Kolar, Saesee Tiin, and Kit Fisto) in seconds. * **The Death Star:** While not personal equipment, the two Death Stars were the ultimate symbols of his Imperial doctrine: rule through fear. They were physical manifestations of his power and his philosophy of absolute control. === Star Wars Legends === The Legends continuity took Palpatine's powers to an even more extreme level, solidifying him as arguably the most powerful Sith Lord in history. * **Powers and Abilities:** * **Force Storm:** In the //Dark Empire// comic series, Palpatine displayed the ability to create vast, destructive wormholes in hyperspace using the dark side. These Force Storms could consume entire fleets and ravage the surfaces of planets, making it one of the most devastating Force powers ever depicted. * **Mastery of Essence Transfer:** Legends Palpatine had perfected Essence Transfer to a far greater degree than his canon counterpart. He maintained a secret storehouse of youthful, powerful clone bodies on the planet Byss. When one body was killed or began to decay from the corrupting influence of his dark side spirit, he could simply transfer his consciousness to a fresh one, making him effectively immortal. * **Domination of Will (Mind Control):** He could dominate the minds of millions at once. The entire population of his secret throne world, Byss, was enthralled to his will, their life energy slowly being drained to feed his own power and the planet's dark side nexus. * **Unrivaled Lightsaber Prowess:** Legends material details his mastery of all seven forms of lightsaber combat. He was considered one of the greatest duelists in galactic history, capable of fighting Jedi Masters like Mace Windu and Yoda to a standstill or outright defeating them. * **Dark Side Prophecies and Rituals:** Palpatine was a scholar of the most ancient and obscure Sith secrets. He possessed countless Sith holocrons and artifacts, using their knowledge to manipulate events and enhance his power far beyond what most Jedi or Sith believed possible. * **Personality (Consistent Across Both Continuities):** Palpatine's personality is a chilling blend of superficial charm and bottomless evil. Publicly, he is patient, avuncular, and reassuring. Privately, he is arrogant, sadistic, and utterly without empathy. He views every living being, including his own apprentices, as a disposable tool. His only true desire is power—absolute and eternal. He revels in the suffering of others, seeing it as a testament to his own strength. His greatest weakness is his hubris; he is so convinced of his own superiority and the power of the dark side that he consistently fails to comprehend the power of self-sacrifice, love, and hope. ===== Part 4: Key Relationships & Network ===== ==== Core Allies ==== Palpatine had no true allies, only pawns and instruments of his will. * **[[darth_vader|Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker)]]:** Vader was Palpatine's greatest creation and his most powerful tool. He coveted Anakin's potential as the Chosen One and spent over a decade grooming him, preying on his fears and insecurities. As Vader, he served as the Emperor's enforcer, the iron fist of the Empire, and a symbol of Jedi failure. Palpatine constantly tested Vader's loyalty, as shown in Marvel's //Darth Vader// (2015) series, pitting him against rivals to ensure he remained sharp and subservient. Their relationship was one of master and slave, built on fear and a twisted form of dependence. * **Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin:** Tarkin was one of the few individuals Palpatine seemed to genuinely respect, albeit in a limited capacity. Tarkin's cold, ruthless efficiency and his belief in ruling through absolute fear (the "Tarkin Doctrine") perfectly mirrored Palpatine's own philosophy. He entrusted Tarkin with command of the first Death Star, a responsibility he would give to no other. * **Mas Amedda:** The Chagrian politician was one of Palpatine's earliest political allies. As Vice Chair and later Grand Vizier, Amedda was the Emperor's voice in the Senate and the Imperial Ruling Council. He was a sycophant who facilitated Palpatine's every political maneuver, fully aware of his master's tyranny but too cowardly and power-hungry to oppose him. ==== Arch-Enemies ==== * **[[yoda|Yoda]]:** As the Grand Master of the Jedi Order, Yoda was the philosophical and spiritual antithesis of Palpatine. Their duel in the Senate chamber was a battle for the soul of the galaxy—the light against the dark, selflessness against ambition. While Palpatine won the political war, their Force battle was a stalemate, forcing Yoda into exile and representing the near-extinction of the Jedi's light. * **[[luke_skywalker|Luke Skywalker]]:** Luke represented everything Palpatine could not comprehend or control. Where Palpatine saw Anakin's potential as a weapon, Luke saw the good man still inside his father. Palpatine's attempts to turn Luke to the dark side in //Return of the Jedi// were his ultimate miscalculation. He believed he could break Luke with fear and anger, but instead, Luke's compassion and love for his father redeemed Anakin and led directly to Palpatine's downfall. * **The Jedi Order:** Palpatine viewed the entire Jedi Order as his ultimate obstacle. Their philosophy of peace, selflessness, and service to the Republic stood in direct opposition to the Sith creed of power through passion and personal gain. His life's work culminated in Order 66, the masterful stroke that used the Jedi's own clone army to virtually annihilate them in a single, galaxy-wide betrayal. ==== Affiliations ==== * **The Sith:** Palpatine was the culmination of a thousand years of the Rule of Two, a Sith lineage stretching back to Darth Bane. He was the Sith'ari, the prophesied perfect being who would destroy the Jedi and bring the Sith to rule the galaxy. He embodied every aspect of their creed, achieving their ultimate goal. * **Galactic Republic:** Palpatine infiltrated the Republic, using its democratic processes against it. He served as its final Supreme Chancellor, expertly manipulating the institution until he could dissolve it from within and replace it with his own Empire. * **Galactic Empire:** The Empire was Palpatine's creation, the ultimate expression of his will. It was an authoritarian regime built on military might, xenophobia, and absolute obedience to his command. Every Star Destroyer, every stormtrooper, and every Imperial law was an extension of his power. * **Sith Eternal:** A secret cult of Sith loyalists based on the hidden world of Exegol. As revealed in the sequel trilogy era, this cult worked for decades to facilitate the Emperor's return, engaging in dark science and cloning to ensure the survival of the Sith. ===== Part 5: Iconic Events & Storylines ===== === The Clone Wars === While primarily depicted on television, the context and consequences of the Clone Wars are central to Palpatine's story in Marvel's comics. As Chancellor Palpatine, he directed the Republic's war effort. As Darth Sidious, he directed the Separatist army through his apprentice, Count Dooku. This manufactured conflict allowed him to gain unprecedented political power, normalize a massive military presence throughout the galaxy, and slowly bleed the Jedi Order of its strength and moral clarity. Every victory and defeat was a victory for him. === Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith (Marvel, 2017) === This comic series, set immediately after //Revenge of the Sith//, is a masterclass in Palpatine's methods of indoctrination. The story details Vader's first agonizing days in his new armor and Palpatine's cruel, calculated tests to shatter the last vestiges of Anakin Skywalker. He forces Vader to bleed his new lightsaber crystal, hunt down surviving Jedi, and establish his terrifying reputation. Palpatine is portrayed as a patient but demanding master, molding his broken apprentice into the perfect weapon of the dark side. === War of the Bounty Hunters (Marvel, 2021) === In this major crossover event set between //The Empire Strikes Back// and //Return of the Jedi//, Palpatine's role is more distant but no less menacing. The story revolves around the theft of Han Solo's carbonite-frozen body. Palpatine sees the chaos this causes among the galaxy's underworld and even within the Rebellion and the Empire itself. He uses the event to test Vader's focus and loyalty, observing how his apprentice navigates the crisis. It showcases his tendency to allow chaos to fester among his subordinates, believing it weeds out the weak and strengthens the strong. === Dark Empire (Dark Horse, 1991 - Legends) === This is arguably the most famous Palpatine-centric comic storyline. Set years after //Return of the Jedi//, it revealed that Palpatine had survived his death by transferring his consciousness into a clone body. From his throne world of Byss, he unleashed a new wave of superweapons, including World Devastators and the massive Eclipse-class Super Star Destroyers. He briefly succeeded in turning Luke Skywalker to the dark side, seeking a more powerful and worthy apprentice than Vader. This series cemented the idea of Palpatine's immortality and his ultimate threat to the galaxy, themes that would later be echoed in the canon sequel trilogy. ===== Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions ===== * **The Resurrected Emperor (Legends - //Dark Empire//):** This is the most significant alternate version. Having cheated death, this Palpatine was arguably more powerful than ever, no longer constrained by a political facade. He commanded Force Storms and wielded the full, untamed power of the dark side. His goal was to possess one of the Skywalker children, specifically Leia's youngest son Anakin Solo, to have a permanent, powerful host body free from the decay that plagued his clones. * **The Exegol Abomination (Canon - //The Rise of Skywalker//):** The canon version of Palpatine's return is a darker, more ghoulish take. His clone body on Exegol was imperfect and decaying, requiring a massive life-support apparatus to function. He was a shadow of his former physical self, but his spirit and command of the Force remained immense. This version was less a galactic conqueror and more a dark god of a Sith cult, plotting a final, apocalyptic return with his hidden Final Order fleet. * **//Star Wars: Infinities// (Dark Horse - Legends):** This "what if" series explored alternate outcomes for the original trilogy. In the //Return of the Jedi// version, Luke's rescue of Han goes wrong, and he is captured and brought before the Emperor early. A despondent Vader, believing Luke is dead, slays the Emperor himself, only to take his place on the throne as the new, grim ruler of the Empire, fulfilling a different aspect of Palpatine's original vision for his apprentice. ===== See Also ===== * [[darth_vader]] * [[luke_skywalker]] * [[sith]] * [[jedi_order]] * [[galactic_empire]] * [[star_wars_canon_comics]] ===== Notes and Trivia ===== ((Palpatine's first name, Sheev, was not revealed until the 2014 novel //Tarkin//, written by James Luceno. For decades prior, he was known only as Palpatine or The Emperor.)) ((The original actor for the Emperor's hologram in //The Empire Strikes Back// was Elaine Baker, the wife of makeup artist Rick Baker, wearing prosthetics. Her voice was dubbed by actor Clive Revill. For the 2004 DVD release, this was replaced with Ian McDiarmid, who has played the character in all other live-action appearances, to maintain continuity.)) ((In early drafts of the Star Wars story, the character of the Emperor was a separate entity from the corrupt politician, Palpatine. George Lucas later decided to merge them into a single character, creating the brilliant narrative of a villain who orchestrates his own rise to power from within the system he aims to destroy.)) ((Marvel's //Darth Vader// (2017) #25 comic implies that Palpatine may have used the Force to influence the midi-chlorians in Shmi Skywalker's womb to conceive Anakin. This is a direct reference to his "unnatural abilities" speech in //Revenge of the Sith// and the legend of his master, Darth Plagueis. However, this has been left deliberately ambiguous and is a subject of intense fan debate.)) ((The name of Palpatine's Sith Master, Darth Plagueis, was first mentioned in the film //Revenge of the Sith// (2005). His full story was told in the 2012 novel //Darth Plagueis//, which is now considered a "Legends" story but remains a fan-favorite resource for Palpatine's background.))