Judging by his face at the end of Return of the Jedi, the burns have healed quite a bit in the 22 years since his fight with Obi-Wan Kenobi. Those burns were incredibly severe and covered most of Anakin Skywalker's face. Audiences got to see how the man got his burns in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. While the back of Darth Vader's head was first teased in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, the first full reveal was at the end of Return of the Jedi, when Luke Skywalker took off the mask. Here's a look at the overall function of the helmet and the face that it's hiding. What's more, given all the mechanized aspects of his suit, it's clear that Darth Vader's helmet serves a larger purpose than just striking fear into the hearts of his enemies. Since then, audiences have gotten a better look at the burns and damage Anakin Skywalker received in his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi in various Star Wars projects. At the end of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jed i, audiences finally got to see the man behind the mask and saw the damage he had received. When audiences first saw Darth Vader back in 1977, his true face remained a mystery, and over the course of the Original Trilogy, audiences wondered what the mask could be hiding. Updated May 14, 2023: If you love Star Wars, you'll be happy to know we've updated this article with additional info about Darth Vader. Dark and menacing, Darth Vader's helmet is the ultimate visual for evil.

Even more so recognizable as a piece of cinematic iconography is his helmet.

Whether or not you're a fan of, or have even seen, the Star Wars movies, Vader's deep voice, distinctive breathing, and memorable lines are instantly recognizable. Darth Vader most certainly comes to mind when it comes to iconic villains across cinematic history.

Darth vader charles soule