Anakin Skywalker’s facial scar is a major part of his journey from young Jedi to future Sith – but the movies don’t actually explain how he got it.

Anakin Skywalker’s scar is one of the biggest mysteries in the Star Wars franchise. One of the biggest changes Anakin undergoes between Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is the appearance of a brand-new scar over his right eye. While Anakin is one of the fundamental characters of the saga, this is an element of his journey that has received very little to no explanation in any Star Wars movies or TV shows.

Some viewers may be curious as to how Anakin Skywalker received such a scar over his eye. The only true and canonical thing that’s known about Anakin’s scar is that he got it at some point during the Clone Wars. There is, however, an older story from Dark Horse Comics that provides the best explanation thus far.

How Anakin Got His Scar Is Never Explained In Films Or TV

Strangely enough, despite the existence of both a canonical and an older non-canonical animated series that go into great detail over Anakin and Obi-Wan’s role in the Clone Wars, neither provide an explanation for Anakin’s scar. The first 2D animated series from Genndy Tartakovsky in the early 2000s revealed Anakin’s scar midway through its series, just after Anakin became a Jedi Knight. However, this is done during a montage featuring Anakin’s heroic efforts during the conflict, and the shot simply featured his wife Padmé Amidala’s reaction to first seeing his scar. No details were given.

Regardless, the series is now considered non-canonical and not part of the official Star Wars continuity. Even so, the Star Wars: The Clone Wars series that is part of canon released in 2008 is no help either, as the Clone Wars movie that launched the series features Anakin having already been given his scar (with no explanation). These two shows, then, are dead ends in terms of finding out more about Anakin’s scar.

When Star Wars creator George Lucas himself was asked about the scar, he replied that he had never really thought about the specific instance of how Anakin got it, as it was merely meant to be symbolic of Anakin’s growth as a Jedi Knight. He even once joked that Anakin got his scar by slipping in the tub. All things considered, the closest reason for the scar can be found Dark Horse Comics’ Star Wars: Republic #71, when Anakin crosses lightsaber blades with Asajj Ventress.

Anakin Got His Scar From Dooku’s Apprentice, Asajj Ventress

The origin of Anakin’s scar is explained in Star Wars: Republic #71, where Ventress travels to Coruscant, the Republic’s capital world, to hunt down and eliminate Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos. Vos had infiltrated Separatist leader Count Dooku’s inner circle, posing as a dark Jedi in order to gain information for the Jedi Order. However, Vos’ true goals were discovered and he was forced to flee. Ventress, one of Dooku’s deadliest assassins, seeks to kill Vos for his actions; however, she is unable to get to him. Instead, she settles for a Jedi she can find: Anakin Skywalker.

Gaining the scar also symbolizes his first steps towards the dark side of the Force, as Anakin immediately desires revenge, a trait of the Sith.

Anakin had left the Jedi Temple in order to view a message from his secret wife Padmé, making him the perfect isolated target for Ventress. She baits him to engage in battle with her, threatening to go after Padmé, which enrages Anakin, making him initially unbalanced. This allows Ventress to play with Skywalker, leading to Anakin’s scar.

Despite Ventress being the one responsible for Skywalker’s scar, her victory is short-lived. This issue from Dark Horse takes the scar’s symbolism further than Lucas’s original intentions beyond just showing his growth. Rather, gaining the scar also symbolizes his first steps towards the dark side of the Force, as Anakin immediately desires revenge, a trait of the Sith. Using the Force, Anakin wraps Ventress in electrified cables, putting her in excruciating pain and throwing her into the dark abyss of Coruscant’s lower levels, believing that he had just killed her (though she would be revealed to have lived issues later).

Will Star Wars Ever Show How Anakin Got His Scar in Canon?

The mystery of Anakin’s scar could easily be solved, but as with the first Clone Wars animated series, the comic series from Dark Horse are now non-canonical. However, there has yet to be any confirmed reason for the scar in the media that is canon thus far… and few mysteries in Star Wars can be left unanswered. With Anakin’s return in Ahsoka, the door has been opened to finally show this story in live action. In the meantime, Republic #71 offers the closest explanation, and it fits well within the tumultuous path of Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars universe.