Darth Vader (2020) #41
MORE MACHINE THAN MAN
In an attempt to end Darth Vader once and for all, Mas Amedda ordered the ”Executor” destroyed under the ruse of containing the droid scourge overtaking the ship.
However, Vader and his droids escaped. The Sith Lord then made his way to the Imperial palace to confront his master, Emperor Palpatine, and test him the way that Vader himself had been tested.
Having been bested by the Emperor, Vader made a surprising turn: allowing himself to become a part of the Scourge….
Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Raffaele Ienco
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Federico Blee
Cover artist: Leinil Francis Yu
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Release Date: December 20, 2023
We’re racing towards the conclusion of the Dark Droids storyline, and the scourge are at their apex, having taken control of all the droids and cyborgs they desire, but one prize eludes them; Darth Vader, and we see the Tydirium Shuttle of Vader swoop through the stars as he snaps the small disc droid that’s infected him, droids everywhere including C-3PO now aware that Vader has used a signal disruptor to separate part of him from the wider scourge. Without the collective power of the scourge their power is neglible, but we see Vader (clearly channelling his inner Anakin) making his own disc droids and taking back control of nearby droids. The scourge claims it knows what Vader wants, to destroy his master and we see a squad of Imperials surround Vader, ordering him to surrender or face the consequences. Vader chooses the consequences, and we see the now Vader-controlled droids using the Force, and learn that if Vader can see what they see, then he can channel the Force through them.
The scourge is impressed, but warns Vader that ultimately he won’t be able to stay in control of them all, reminding him of how alike they are and how when they want something they take it, explaining the difference between sharing ones mind with dozens as opposed to billions. Vaders mind is flesh – he needs to let go of the flesh, and we see a cadre of droids land and approach Vader, who ignites his red blade and goes into battle, taking to the skies in a dropship and destroying the rest of the droids as more scourge controlled ships swing in on the attack. The scourge has control of Vaders ship, dropping the shields and cutting out the engines, and as the ship smashes into the ground and Vader begins to retreat, more droids fire as the scourge urges Vader to once again give up his flesh and join the scourge so together they can ruie the galaxy as….well, you get the picture.
Of course, Vader has a back up plan, and with his own disc droids taking over the attacking droids he has them under his control when suddenly he is overwhelmed by all the voices now in his thrall. Again, the offer to leave behind his remaining humanity and fulfill his destiny to be all machine and no man, to strip away the doubt and fear and be a machine on his own terms free of the Emperors control but Vader refuses, hurling them away in an eruption of fire proclaiming “I am Vader. That is all“.
The final two pages, and the tease for our next major storyline Schism Imperial, as three shadowy characters watch screens of Vader and Palpatine, and make clear their intent: the Schism Imperial will rule the Empire, but will it recruit Vader, or destroy him?
We’re not messing around here, Greg Pak once again hurling the big bombs into the storyline as we race towards Return of the Jedi (still surprised that destination is still ahead of us in 2024, given there’s only storyline 12 months between Empire and Jedi and three years between A New Hope and Empire). The emnity between Vader and Palpatine being seen by their minions, leading to a potential coup in the Schism Imperial makes all the sense, given the decades between the Empire and the First Order are without dark siders and Sith at the helm. It may be a tool for Palpatine’s evil ends but the Imperial military is an army, so this new storyline not only promises some fascinating conflicts, but also seeds what will follow Episode VI. Beautiful art from the team of Raffaele Ienco and Federico Blee, wrapped in a striking cover by Leinil Francis Yu, this is another top drawer, satisfying read.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Pak, Greg (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 22 Pages - 01/03/2024 (Publication Date) - Marvel (Publisher)
