Spoilers forStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker #5!Star Wars’ latest trilogy capper,Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, was a divisive experience that frustrated many but also satisfied some, making it one of the more controversial entries in this fan-favorite sci-fi franchise. Luckily,Rise of Skywalker’s comic book adaptation has ended on a high note by honoring a Star Wars promisemade way back in its prequel era.
Released in 2019,Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerwas mostly criticized for its nonsensical storytelling and underwhelming end to Star Wars’ first new trilogy in decades, with the film’s climax showing Rey, after being empowered by all of the Jedi before her, finally killing Palpatine and officially ending the Sith threat once and for all.
A scene that was originally supposed to feature the disembodied voices of Jedi ghosts from Star Wars’ past and their incorporeal forms standing behind Rey,theRise of Skywalkercomicdelivers on this unrealized Force ghost promise while keeping another incredibly important one as well:keeping Mace Windu as theonlyonscreen Jedi to have a purple lightsaber.
Mace Windu Remains the Only Jedi in Star Wars’ Film Canon With a Purple Lightsaber
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker #5 - 2025 (Jody Houser and Will Sliney)
Acting as the concluding chapter inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’s story, this issue sees Rey and Ben Solo in their final battle against a resurrected Emperor Palpatine as the remaining forces of the Resistance fight until their last breath to beat back Palpatine’s Final Order fleet of Star Destroyers.
Losing ground to Palpatine in their climactic duel, Rey calls upon past Jedi for one final push, manifesting over a dozen ghosts equipped with their respective lightsabers at the ready. Standing as the only purple-bladed warrior, this adaptation keeps in line withGeorge Lucas making Samuel L. Jackson thesole Jedi to wield that color inStar Wars film lore.
Keeping a promise that saw Lucas honor Jackson’s request to add a purple tint to his lightsaber so he could stand out in the large fight sequence on Geonosis inStar Wars: Attack of the Clones, with the second reason being because Jackson rightfully considered himself to be “like the second baddest Jedi in the universe next to Yoda.”
Mace Windu was kiled by Palpatine inStar Wars: Revenge of the Sith.
What’s more, considering this moment’s purpose is to symbolically show “…all the Jedi,” the fact thatMace Windu isstillthe only one with a purple saber after all these yearsis wild to see, with even the shadowy unidentified Jedi standing further behind Rey brandishing different colors and saber hilts that aren’t anywhere close to a shade of indigo.
Mace Windu’s Lightsaber Color Is So Rare It Only Appears Otherwise in Star Wars’ High Republic Era
Multiple Characters in Non-Canon Star Wars Projects Have Purple Lightsabers, However
ThoughotherStar Wars charactershavewielded a purple lightsaberbefore outside the live-action space, these instances really only come from the recent High Republic initiative, with all other confirmed purple sabers originating in non-canon projects, like Star Wars video games or Legends content, explaining why no violet hues — other than Mace Windu’s lightsaber — are seen in this comic adaptation.
From the High Republic’s Vernestra Rwoh and Savina Besatrix “Sav” Malagán toStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic’s Darth Revanto Ki-Adi-Mundi in Legends lore and more, the purple lightsaber will always be synonymous with Mace Windu, and until some new hero or villain appears holding a purple blade to challenge that claim, it’ll stay that way.
Say what you will aboutThe Rise of Skywalkerand its lasting impact onStar Wars’ future moving forward, but at least where this comic adaptation is concerned, it got a few things right that the movie simply didn’t, especially where Mace Windu and his iconic purple lightsaber are concerned.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker #5is available from Marvel Comics.
