What Scares Darth Vader? Lucasfilm's New Kids' Book Attempts to Find Out

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Lucasfilm / Lucasfilm
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Since the first Star Wars film premiered in 1977, Darth Vader has been a recurring player in many viewers' nightmares. But is there anything that can strike fear in the legendary villain himself? That's what author and illustrator Adam Rex investigates in his new children's book Are You Scared, Darth Vader?

According to io9, the new title is the first official Star Wars picture book from Lucasfilm that's not tied to a specific film in the franchise. The book isn't concerned with Star Wars canon: Instead of delving into his backstory as Anakin Skywalker or exploring his evolution into Darth Vader, it uses the character to teach kids about fear.

Throughout the story, different creatures test Darth Vader to see what he's afraid of. He's not scared of most things, including ghosts, spiders, and wolfmen, but in the end it's revealed that even he's not totally immune to fear.

While teaching kids it's ok to get scared, the book also turns one of the most intimidating antagonists in the Star Wars universe into something cute and funny. For kids who cover their eyes whenever Vader appears on screen in the films, Are You Scared, Darth Vader? is essential reading.

You can buy the book today for $18.

[h/t io9]