Summary
TheStar Warsfranchise’s very first image of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala together was created in 1993, six years before both would appear in the prequel trilogy.Return of the Jediended theStar Warsoriginal trilogy with a succinct explanation of Darth Vader’s tragic backstory, a mention of Padmé Amidala, and a glimpse at the good man that Anakin Skywalker once was, via hisForce ghost. While the live-action movies would not delve into the histories of Anakin and Padmé until 1999, non-movie materials would provide early looks at the two pivotal characters.
Anakin Skywalker’s Force ghost would return in the 92nd issue of Marvel’s classicStar Warscomics, guiding Luke to find and redeem Flint, a young man who had become one of the first of a new generation of Sith, thanks to Darth Vader’s machinations. Before the release ofStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, the fifth issue ofThe Last Command’scomic adaptation would include a painting of Padmé Amidala, using the likeness of the recently-casted Natalie Portman. While these materials are canonical tothe Legends continuity, they were nearly preceded by an illustration of Anakin and Padmé.
Star Wars: How Old Padmé Is Compared To Anakin In The Prequels
Padmé is older than Anakin Skywalker throughout the Star Wars prequels, but here’s how old they both are in comparison to one another in each film.
The First Padme & Anakin Image Explained
Fascinatingly,artist Brian Ashmore created what could have been the first image of Anakin and Padmé in 1993. The artwork – which was intended for a card in theTopps Star Wars Galaxy 2set – depicts Padmé cradling an infant Luke Skywalker as a dark-robed Anakin looms in the background, his shadow ominously taking the shape of his armored form as Darth Vader. George Lucas himself requested that the art be omitted from the set, which is unsurprising, given his usual stance on then-Expanded Universe materials covering the prequel era at the time.
Why George Lucas Pulled This Image
In the 1990s,Star Warsnon-movie materials were as canonical as the films themselves, andGeorge Lucas wanted to avoid discrepancies between his planned prequel movies andStar Warsmaterials from other creators. For this reason, properties rarely depicted events like the Clone Wars or Anakin Skywalker (before he became Darth Vader). As it turned out, Ashmore’s artwork would not fit with the prequel movies, as Anakin never got to see either of his children before Padmé’s death and his extensive cybernetic resuscitation.
Brian Ashmore noted in a 2008 interview that his depiction of Padmé vaguely resembles Natalie Portman and Anakin’s Vader-like shadow would be used by a famousPhantom Menaceteaser poster. Ashmore even wonders in the interview (with a hefty amount of doubt) if his artwork inspired Portman’s casting or thePhantom Menaceposter. In any case, Ashmore’s artwork is a beautiful, melancholic, and ominous look at whatStar Warsviewers might have imagined when thinking of the parents of Luke and Leia.
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.
