Warning! This article contains spoilers for Star Wars: Revelations Upon his debut, was one of the more badass additions to canon, not just because he was played by Samuel L. Jackson, but because of the unique color of his lightsaber blade, which was eventually explained to be an indicator of a Jedi who can tap into both the light and dark sides of the Force. And now, his badass reputation is becoming even more pronounced, as Mace Windu is returning to in an -style prison break storyline (ahead of ).
In a preview shared by for , fans got a sneak peek at every storyline featured in this anthology book, including one titled Mace Windu: “Showdown At Ocean’s Deep” by Marc Bernardin and Chriscross.
This one-page preview gives very little away, but what it does show is incredibly telling.
Mace Windu has gone undercover as a guard to bust someone out of prison, with his one line of dialogue indicating that there is also conflict with the prison’s warden themself. While this setup may or may not lead to a prison-wide escape sequence like the one shown in , the setting alone is enough to draw a comparison.
Mace Windu made his debut in, and played an integral role throughout the entire prequel trilogy as well as in . Windu would meet his end in , when he was betrayed by Anakin Skywalker and ultimately killed by Sheev Palpatine, effectively becoming the final stage in Anakin’s fall to the dark side and his rise as Darth Vader.
Aside from his importance in Anakin Skywalker’s journey, Mace Windu has a long history in lore in his own right. For instance, his aforementioned purple-bladed lightsaber was earned through Mace’s mastery of a technique called Vaapad, which essentially redirects the dark side energy used by an opponent back at them.
Plus, Mace Windu had no shortage of Jedi missions across the galaxy during his youth - he was a Jedi Master, after all. And now, one of them is going to be featured in an all-new comic series that will mirror what is perhaps the most successful story in recent years: .
While almost nothing is known about the specifics of this new comic, it can be confidently asserted that it will take place before/during the prequel era in
canon (in other words, it won’t retcon Mace Windu’s death in ), and it has something to do with a prison break. The latter plot point in particular indicates this story will be similar to the ‘prison break’ arc in , not just because of the prison break itself, but because of the very nature of the prison Mace Windu is trying to break someone out of. Like in , this prison has very few guards, relying instead on the secure facility itself to keep inmates in-line. While this may seem terrifying, isolating, and inhumane, the lack of physical personnel will assuredly work to the advantage of a Jedi Master like Mace Windu.
Having Mace Windu’s first new story in decades mirror one of the most popular storylines in recent memory is a brilliant move by the creative minds behind this comic as well as by Marvel Comics as the publisher, as an -style prison break is the perfect way for a badass like Mace Windu to reenter canon.
by Marvel Comics is available December 20, 2023.
