Editing Darth Vader (section)

== Cultural impact ==
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2024|talk=Assertion of notability}}
In 2003, the [[American Film Institute]] listed Vader as the third greatest movie villain in cinema history on [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains]], behind [[Hannibal Lecter]] and [[Norman Bates]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/handv100.pdf?docID=246 |title=AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains |work=afi.com|publisher=[[American Film Institute]]|location=Los Angeles, California|access-date=May 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807135547/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/handv100.pdf?docID=246 |archive-date=August 7, 2011 }}</ref> In 2010, ''[[IGN]]'' ranked Darth Vader 25th in the "Top 100 Videogame Villains".<ref>{{cite web|title=Darth Vader is number 25|url=https://ign.com/videogame-villains/25.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203060448/http://www.ign.com/videogame-villains/25.html|archive-date=December 3, 2010|access-date=December 6, 2010|website=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[j2 Global]]|location=Los Angeles, California}}</ref> His role as a [[tragic hero]] in the saga has also met with positive reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmsmarts.com/movies/returnofthejedi/tragic-hero-anakin.html|title=Tragic hero: Anakin Skywalker from Return of the Jedi (1983)|website=Filmsmarts.com|access-date=November 10, 2017|archive-date=October 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019081753/http://www.filmsmarts.com/movies/returnofthejedi/tragic-hero-anakin.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Brian A.|last=Kinnaird|url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-hero-in-you/201511/darth-vader-the-value-redemptive-sacrifice|title=Darth Vader: The Value of Redemptive Sacrifice|magazine=[[Psychology Today]]|publisher=Sussex Publishers|location=New York City|date=November 15, 2015|access-date=May 31, 2018|archive-date=January 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115165211/https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-hero-in-you/201511/darth-vader-the-value-of-redemptive-sacrifice|url-status=live}}</ref> Contrarily, in 1977, a ''[[New Journal and Guide]]'' writer criticized the lack of racial diversity in the original ''Star Wars'' film, pointing out that "the force of evil ... is dressed in all black and has the voice of a black man."<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bremond|first1=Walter|date=October 1, 1977|title=Star Wars and Blacks|journal=[[New Journal and Guide]]}}</ref> George Lucas felt hurt at such accusations.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jones|first=Brian Jay|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8rAmDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT228|title=George Lucas: A Life|date=2016|publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]]|isbn=9780316257459|location=New York City|page=249|access-date=November 30, 2020|archive-date=January 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115165218/https://books.google.com/books?id=8rAmDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT228|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Darth vader grotesque.jpg|thumb|[[Darth Vader grotesque]] on the northwest tower of the [[Washington National Cathedral]] ([[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church]]) in [[Washington, D.C.]]]]

Vader is parodied as "Dark Helmet" ([[Rick Moranis]]) in the ''Star Wars'' parody ''[[Spaceballs]]'' (1987).<ref name="George Lucas opinion of Star Wars parody">{{cite news |last1=Trzcinski |first1=Matthew |title=How George Lucas Reacted to the 'Star Wars' Parody 'Spaceballs' |url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/how-george-lucas-reacted-to-the-star-wars-parody-spaceballs.html/ |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=Showbiz CheatSheet |date=17 June 2020}}</ref> One of the primary antagonists of ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'' (1991), [[Golbez]], was stated by game creator [[Takashi Tokita]] to be based on Vader.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Conversation With the Creator of Final Fantasy IV|url=http://www.1up.com/features/final-fantasy-iv-creator-conversation|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404131218/http://www.1up.com/features/final-fantasy-iv-creator-conversation|archive-date=April 4, 2015|access-date=May 25, 2016|website=1UP.com}}</ref> A Mexican church advised Christians against seeing ''The Phantom Menace'' because it portrays Anakin as a [[Christ figure]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Bowen|2005|p=97}}</ref>

[[File:Parasite150059-fig1 - Chewing lice of genus Ricinus.tif|thumb|left|Chewing lice; the one on the right, with a Vader-esque head, is ''[[Ricinus vaderi]].'']]

The slime-mold beetle ''[[Agathidium vaderi]]'' is named after Vader,<ref>{{cite web|last=Lang|first=Susan S.|date=April 5, 2005|title=Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld are now species of slime-mold beetles – but strictly in homage|url=http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/April05/slime-mold.Bush.Cheney.ssl.html|access-date=April 27, 2008|work=Cornell News|publisher=[[Cornell University]]|location=Ithaca, New York|archive-date=May 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503213625/http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/April05/slime-mold.Bush.Cheney.ssl.html|url-status=live}}</ref> as is the louse ''[[Ricinus vaderi]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Valan|first1=Miroslav|last2=Sychra|first2=Oldrich|last3=Literak|first3=Ivan|date=2016|title=Chewing lice of genus Ricinus (Phthiraptera, Ricinidae) deposited at the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia, with description of a new species|url= |journal=Parasite|language=en|volume=23|pages=7|doi=10.1051/parasite/2016007|pmid=26902646|pmc=4763114|issn=1776-1042|doi-access=free}}</ref> In 2022 researchers at the [[Vietnam National University, Hanoi|University of Hanoi]] thought they identified a new species of [[giant isopod]], seeking confirmation they sent specimens to the [[Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum]] in [[Singapore]] who confirmed it was a previously unidentified species and named it ''[[Bathynomus vaderi]]'' as they found its head resembled Darth Vader's helmet.<ref name="New species of giant sea bug named after Darth Vader">{{cite news |last1=Ortiz |first1=Christina |title=New species of giant sea bug named for Darth Vader |url=https://earthsky.org/earth/giant-sea-bug-darth-vader/?mc_cid=4ec10473c8&mc_eid=ba0661b2e9 |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=EarthSky News |publisher=Earth & Sky Communications, Inc |date=18 January 2025}}</ref> A [[grotesque (architecture)|grotesque]] of Darth Vader looms over the east face of the [[Washington National Cathedral]]'s northwest tower.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Darth Vader|url=http://www.nationalcathedral.org/about/darthVader.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055524/http://www.nationalcathedral.org/about/darthVader.shtml|archive-date=September 21, 2013|access-date=April 27, 2008|publisher=[[Washington National Cathedral]]}}</ref>

Many commentators and comedians have also evoked Vader's visage to [[political satire|satirize]] politicians and other public figures, and several American political figures have been unflatteringly compared to the character. In response to [[Ronald Reagan]]'s proposed [[Strategic Defense Initiative]] (dubbed "Star Wars" by his political opponents), German news magazine ''[[Der Spiegel]]'' portrayed the president wearing Vader's helmet on its cover in 1984.<ref>{{cite magazine |editor-last=Woods|editor-first=Bob|year=1997|title=It Took the World by Force|magazine=Star Wars: Official 20th Anniversary Commemorative Magazine|location=New York City|publisher=[[Topps]]|page=57}}</ref> In 2005, [[Al Gore]] referred to [[Tele-Communications Inc.]]'s [[John C. Malone]] as the "Darth Vader of cable",<ref>{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/08/22/8270018/index.htm|title=Al Gore Battles Old Cable Demons|first=Marc|last=Gunther|date=August 22, 2005|website=[[CNN]]|publisher=[[Turner Broadcasting Systems]]|location=Atlanta, Georgia|access-date=April 27, 2008|archive-date=May 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524084458/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/08/22/8270018/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and political strategist [[Lee Atwater]] was known by his political enemies as "the Darth Vader of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politics.netscape.com/story/2006/11/07/harvey-leroy-lee-atwater-was-a-republican-political-consultant|title=Harvey Leroy "Lee" Atwater, was a Republican political consultant|website=[[Netscape]]|date=November 7, 2006|access-date=April 27, 2008|archive-date=January 6, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106221449/http://politics.netscape.com/story/2006/11/07/harvey-leroy-lee-atwater-was-a-republican-political-consultant/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Native American artist [[Bunky Echohawk]] portrayed General [[George Armstrong Custer]] as Vader in his painting ''Darth Custer''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bunky Echo-Hawk takes the stage with live painting |work=[[The Brown Daily Herald]] |publisher=[[Brown University]] |location=Providence, Rhode Island |date=October 5, 2007 |access-date=November 5, 2015 |url=http://www.browndailyherald.com/2007/10/05/bunky-echohawk-takes-the-stage-with-live-painting/ |first=Robin |last=Steele |archive-date=June 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622035734/http://www.browndailyherald.com/2007/10/05/bunky-echohawk-takes-the-stage-with-live-painting/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2015, a statue of [[Vladimir Lenin]] in [[Odesa, Ukraine]], was converted into one of Vader due to a law on [[Decommunization in Ukraine|decommunization]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Worland|first1=Justin|date=October 25, 2015|title=Ukrainian Lenin Statue Turned into Darth Vader|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|publisher=[[Meredith Corporation]]|location=New York City|url=http://time.com/4086228/ukraine-lenin-darth-vader/|access-date=October 25, 2015|archive-date=October 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025144438/http://time.com/4086228/ukraine-lenin-darth-vader/|url-status=live}}</ref> Former [[Vice President of the United States]] [[Dick Cheney]] has been compared to Darth Vader after he was quoted during a discussion on the [[war on terror]] saying, "I suppose, sometimes, people look at my demeanor and say, 'Well, he's the Darth Vader of [[Presidency of George W. Bush|the administration]].'"<ref>{{cite interview |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/22/sitroom.03.html |subject=Dick Cheney |interviewer=John King |work=The Situation Room |publisher=[[CNN]] |title=Interview With Dick Cheney |date=June 22, 2006 |access-date=April 27, 2008 |archive-date=April 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403055213/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/22/sitroom.03.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This led to him being referred to as "Darth Cheney" by [[Jon Stewart]] and [[Stephen Colbert]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cc.com/video/4d9qt7/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-cheney-camera-3|publisher=[[Comedy Central]]|title=The Daily Show: Cheney Camera 3|date=January 25, 2007|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204163256/https://www.cc.com/video/4d9qt7/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-cheney-camera-3|url-status=live}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} This comparison was followed by George Lucas stating that Cheney is more akin to Palpatine, and that a better stand-in for Vader would be [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/opinion/19dowd.html |title=The Aura of Arugulance |access-date=April 19, 2009 |work=[[The New York Times]] |first=Maureen |last=Dowd |author-link=Maureen Dowd |date=April 19, 2009 |archive-date=June 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615063221/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/opinion/19dowd.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In Ukraine, the [[Internet Party of Ukraine]] has had multiple people run for election under the name Darth Vader.<ref name=NewsweeDVU>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/darth-vader-runs-prime-minister-ukraine-vowing-take-back-crimea-putin-279629|title=Darth Vader Is Running for Prime Minister of Ukraine, Vowing to Take on Putin|work=[[Newsweek]]|date=October 24, 2014|access-date=October 24, 2014|archive-date=October 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024234234/http://www.newsweek.com/darth-vader-runs-prime-minister-ukraine-vowing-take-back-crimea-putin-279629|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|Two men named Darth Vader were candidates at the [[2014 Kyiv local election|2014 Kyiv mayoral election]] and the [[Odesa]] [[2014 Ukrainian local elections|mayoral election]] of the same day.<ref name=DVAM1514>{{cite news|url=http://un.ua/eng/article/507502.html|title=Kyiv Election Commission Registers Darth Vader As Candidate For Kyiv Mayor|agency=[[Ukrainian News Agency]]|date=May 1, 2014|access-date=May 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502013412/http://un.ua/eng/article/507502.html|archive-date=May 2, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://espreso.tv/news/2014/05/01/dart_veyder_krim_stolyci_kandyduye_i_v_mery_odesy|title=Darth Vader candidate for mayor of Odesa|publisher=[[Espreso TV]]|date=May 1, 2014|language=ru|access-date=May 1, 2014|archive-date=May 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502001406/http://espreso.tv/news/2014/05/01/dart_veyder_krim_stolyci_kandyduye_i_v_mery_odesy|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/198450.html|title=Tsushko to compete for post of Odesa mayor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403000854/http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/198450.html|archive-date=April 3, 2014|website=[[Interfax-Ukraine]]|date=March 29, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euronews.com/nocomment/2014/04/04/ukraines-darth-vader-presidency-bid-rejected/|title=Ukraine's Darth Vader presidency bid rejected|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080619/http://www.euronews.com/nocomment/2014/04/04/ukraines-darth-vader-presidency-bid-rejected/|date=March 4, 2016|website=[[Euronews]]|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/pro-western-parties-darth-vader-set-win-ukrainian/story?id=26469069|title=Pro-Western Parties, Not Darth Vader, Set to Win Ukrainian Elections|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|location=New York City|first1=Rym|last1=Momtaz|first2=Dragana|last2=Jovanovic|date=October 26, 2014|access-date=September 24, 2015|archive-date=September 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925121933/http://abcnews.go.com/International/pro-western-parties-darth-vader-set-win-ukrainian/story?id=26469069|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/11188609/Ukraines-Darth-Vader-candidate-denied-vote-after-refusing-to-remove-mask.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027160854/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/11188609/Ukraines-Darth-Vader-candidate-denied-vote-after-refusing-to-remove-mask.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 27, 2014|title=Ukraine's Darth Vader candidate denied vote after refusing to remove mask|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|publisher=[[Telegraph Media Group]]|location=London, England|quote= Darth Alekseyevich Vader, an official candidate in Ukraine's parliamentary elections, is turned away from a Kiev polling station after refusing to remove his mask|first=Geraldine|last=Cooper|date=October 26, 2014|access-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref><ref name=NewsweeDVU /><ref>{{cite news|title=Putin headed for victory in Odesa as Darth Vader clouds farcical election|url=http://uatoday.tv/politics/darth-vader-clouds-farcical-ukrainian-election-519586.html|work=[[Ukraine Today]]|date=October 23, 2015|access-date=October 24, 2015|archive-date=October 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024163530/http://uatoday.tv/politics/darth-vader-clouds-farcical-ukrainian-election-519586.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

[[File:Fedayeen Saddam helmet.JPG|thumb|right|An Iraqi [[Fedayeen Saddam]] helmet in the [[Army Flying Museum]]]]
The [[Fedayeen Saddam]], an Iraqi paramilitary organisation, was issued with [[fiber glass]] Darth Vader-style helmets from 1995, apparently at the instigation of their commander, [[Uday Hussein]], who was said to have been an avid ''Star Wars'' fan. A number of them were brought to the United States and the United Kingdom as souvenirs following the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://royalarmouries.org/collection/object/object-54774 |title=Helmet (1995) for Fedayeen Saddam |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=royalarmouries.org |publisher=Royal Armouries |access-date=22 August 2022 }}</ref>

In 2019, an original Vader helmet from ''The Empire Strikes Back'' was sold for $900,000 in an online auction.<ref>{{cite web |title=Darth Vader's Actual 'The Empire Strikes Back' Helmet Sold for $900K at Auction |url=https://manofmany.com/entertainment/movies-tv/darth-vaders-actual-the-empire-strikes-back-helmet-sold-for-900k-at-auction |website=Man of Many |access-date=October 1, 2019 |date=September 29, 2019 |archive-date=October 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023053655/https://manofmany.com/entertainment/movies-tv/darth-vaders-actual-the-empire-strikes-back-helmet-sold-for-900k-at-auction |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2014, [[Hot Wheels]] created a full-size Darth Vader-inspired car (dubbed as the 'Darth Car') to coincide their partnership with Star Wars franchise. Built by Action Vehicle Engineering and designed by Bryan Benedict, the car was built on the [[Chevrolet Corvette C5]] chassis and sporting a small-block [[General Motors LS-based small-block engine|LS3]] V8 engine. The car was made its public debut at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] that year and currently as part of the Garage of Legends car collection.