The kids and I do a lot of “versus” challenges. For example, who would win – Yosemite Sam or Marvin the Martian? I say Marvin. After all, he has a Illudium Q-36 Space Modulator.

Some of these are easy. Buck from Ice Age 3, for example, can beat just about anybody, as long as the battle takes place on his home turf.

Others are practically impossible. Roku  (from the Last Airbender) vs Darth Vader? One is master of all the elements, and the bridge to the spirit world. The other controls the Force, and has an army of clone troopers at his command…

It is a source of constant conversation.

The other day, my youngest had the answer.

“Anyone can beat Darth Vader,” he announced.

“What?” My oldest answered. “No way.” He held up his fingers in the classic Darth Vader choking maneuver. “All he has to do is this!”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “He’s pretty tough.”

“Na-ah! All you have to do is turn him off!”

“You can’t do that,” I said.

“Yes, you can! He’s part-robot, right? And he has buttons on his chest. All you have to do is press ’em!”

“He has buttons on his chest?” I didn’t remember any buttons on his chest, so we pulled out one of their Star Wars books. Sure enough, he has buttons on his chest.

“See? There’s even a red one!”

It’s true. There is. Why the heck does Darth Vader have buttons on his chest?