[Mad Rabbit]

OK, I was watching ROTS the other day because I saw some special about the mythology of Star Wars, which actually gave me a new found but limited respect for ROTS. As I was watching the duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin I started thinking back to my childhood days. Even before the OT was completed I remember hearing about how Obi-Wan defeated Vader when they were younger and with vader falling into lava. Being a military brat I moved around quite a bit and whenever Star Wars would come up with my new friends the duel between Vader and Obi-Wan would eventually materialize, and everytime it did Vader always fell into the lava. There may have been variations about the duel itself but lava was always mentioned.

So where did this myth come from, before it became canon in ROTS? I've haven't read many of the Star Wars novels that were around during the time of the original movies. I am assuming one of the novels around that time is the inspiration for the duel. Was it mentioned in the original Star Wars script? This has just been bugging me because a source has never been quoted when I was a kid, and yet everyone knew or believed that Vader got knocked into lava (or at least got burned by being to close to it) some 25 years before it even made it onto the screen in ROTS.

After messing with his own continuity or contradicting origins stated in the EU (I know that it's not canon unless it's the films) such as C-3P0's origin (Vader made him? give me a freakin' break) I find it interesting that Lucas would stay so close to popular belief of a an OBi-Wan/Vader duel near lava.

[diligent_d]

I think I remember reading it in a "Bantha Tracks" once, which was a monthly (?) newsletter that came out when I was a kid. You had to subscribe to the fan club to get it.

Also, it was mentioned in the ROTJ novelization as well - the scene between Luke and Ben was expanded where it was explained how Vader fell into lava.

This post has been edited by diligent_d: 19 June 2007 - 12:33 AM

[Toru-chan]

I think I remember reading it in a "Bantha Tracks" once, which was a monthly (?) newsletter that came out when I was a kid. You had to subscribe to the fan club to get it.

I first heard it maybe 1980? Friend told me "Obi-won and Vader had a fight and Vader fell into the Volcano. That's why he wears that breathing suit." Being a kid, I said "Cool!"

My friend was really into Star Wars and collected everything. Best thing I ever saw was a Variety special (as in, the magazine) dedicated to Star Wars. Contained a long interview with Lucas. Was an excellent read back then. It *may* have mentioned this. Anyone have it or know if it's online?

[abelan]

I first heard it maybe 1980? Friend told me "Obi-won and Vader had a fight and Vader fell into the Volcano. That's why he wears that breathing suit." Being a kid, I said "Cool!"

My friend was really into Star Wars and collected everything. Best thing I ever saw was a Variety special (as in, the magazine) dedicated to Star Wars. Contained a long interview with Lucas. Was an excellent read back then. It *may* have mentioned this. Anyone have it or know if it's online?

There is a piece of info you may want to read up on about the history of the Star wars films. It introduces the idea of the lava fight. There are footnotes as well that will reveal sources.

http://secrethistoryofstarwars.com/

The book really rips the notion that the films are about the "Tragedy of Darth Vader". Lucas is shown to have made stuff up as he goes along and introduce deviations from his original intent. It's the main reason why the prequels roughly fit the details from the original films.

Good luck with finding the original article online.

[diligent_d]

There is a piece of info you may want to read up on about the history of the Star wars films. It introduces the idea of the lava fight. There are footnotes as well that will reveal sources.

http://secrethistoryofstarwars.com/

The book really rips the notion that the films are about the "Tragedy of Darth Vader". Lucas is shown to have made stuff up as he goes along and introduce deviations from his original intent. It's the main reason why the prequels roughly fit the details from the original films.

Good luck with finding the original article online.

That was such an amazing book. Lots of insight.

[Mad Rabbit]

Amazing pieces of information. Thanks a lot guys! Reading these articles and old books really brings me back to my childhood days. Kind of funny thinking back on it now, how large Star Wars was a part of my youth. I don't think people who weren't around during the seventies could understand just how huge Star Wars actually was. The marketing for Star Wars was unbeleivable back in that day! Hell there isn't a franchise today that could dare rival what Star Wars had in product placement. Star Wars seeped into everyday life adding phrases which we still use today in causual converstaion and even Presidential speeches.

I never really thought about it until just now, but Kevin Smith had said he felt an amazing sense of closure after seeing Return of the Jedi... like he could die now after having seen the end of the story. And although I'm older now, I had the exact same sentiment after the ending of Jedi. Laugh all you want! I was 11 at the time so cut me some slack!

[Bond]

You know, I had the same feeling after reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; it was a great sensation, it really was...

This post has been edited by Bond: 05 August 2007 - 08:14 PM

[julie123]

It is in the novel of "Return of the Jedi" that we first learn that Anakin fought a duel with Obi Wan, that resulted with Anakin falling into lava.

This is where we also learn that Owen Lars and Obi-Wan Kenobi are half-brothers which is why Owen agrees to take in Luke.

Interesting isn't it? That Lucas, went along with the novel re the lava incident because it was "canon", but had no problem overturning "canon" in ATOC when he made Anakin the step-brother of Owen Lars. Why, it's as if he doesn't read those books or believe his own bull shit.

OK, I was watching ROTS the other day because I saw some special about the mythology of Star Wars, which actually gave me a new found but limited respect for ROTS. As I was watching the duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin I started thinking back to my childhood days. Even before the OT was completed I remember hearing about how Obi-Wan defeated Vader when they were younger and with vader falling into lava. Being a military brat I moved around quite a bit and whenever Star Wars would come up with my new friends the duel between Vader and Obi-Wan would eventually materialize, and everytime it did Vader always fell into the lava. There may have been variations about the duel itself but lava was always mentioned.

So where did this myth come from, before it became canon in ROTS? I've haven't read many of the Star Wars novels that were around during the time of the original movies. I am assuming one of the novels around that time is the inspiration for the duel. Was it mentioned in the original Star Wars script? This has just been bugging me because a source has never been quoted when I was a kid, and yet everyone knew or believed that Vader got knocked into lava (or at least got burned by being to close to it) some 25 years before it even made it onto the screen in ROTS.

After messing with his own continuity or contradicting origins stated in the EU (I know that it's not canon unless it's the films) such as C-3P0's origin (Vader made him? give me a freakin' break) I find it interesting that Lucas would stay so close to popular belief of a an OBi-Wan/Vader duel near lava.