Darth Vader (2020) #45
THE MARTYRIUM OF FROZEN TEARS
Sly Moore’s Schism Imperial, a covert group of Imperials determined to overthrow the Emperor, has continued to grow. Darth Vader has now joined the ranks, returning to an Outer Rim planet where Kitster’s team continued to assist the Rebel Alliance with the Death Machine confiscated from Governor Tauntaza.
Fabarian then led the team to a factory building a new type of battle droid, which Darth Vader can use for his plans against the Emperor’s forces….
Writer: Greg Pak
Artists: Adam Gorham, Paul Fry
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Federico Blee
Cover artist: Leinil Francis Yu
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publication date: April 10 2024
We open issue 45 on the world of Tython, deep in the Core as the members of the Schism Imperial crash at the foot of a mountain, their shuttle hammered into the rocks by a heavy storm as they disembark and watch the TIE X1 of Darth Vader roar over in the storm, Enric Pryde watching in admiration as his comrades make clear their hate for the dark lord. Lightning strikes nearby and they continue to move as Pryde continues his wide-eyed appreciation for Vader, remembering when he saw Vader in battle on Zee-Nine City Seven as he took on M.A.R Corps and brought them under his control. Fabarian describes that control as evil, confusing Pryde even more, and we hear each of the group talk about Vader; how his actions infected Corleque’s Star Destroyer (during Dark Droids) leaving his crew dead and himself injured. Tauntaza remembers how he took mercy on the world her planet killing machine was meant to drain, but then razed a different planet in search for the power he needed.
Pryde is genuinely shocked at their lack of loyalty and deference to Vader, and it’s at this moment Vader appears, telling Pryde how he will lead them into the Martyrium of Frozen Tears, and Vaders droid explains that the site they’re at used to be the home of a Rebel base, and while they aim to mine the kyberite within they should anticipate booby traps left behind by the Rebels. As the most expendable, Pryde is ordered to scout ahead and he enters the vast cavern, throwing a rock ahead of him and watching as laser cannons pop up and blast the rock into dust. The site clear, Pryde tells Vader it’s safe to enter, and as he does a droid appears speaking to Vader in an alien language. The sith lord destroys it, but as he does Sly Moore stumbles in pain and we learn that the Martyrium has been awakened.
Here we learn that the Martyrium is showing them the anguished confessions of dead Jedi, from one who was haunted by the faces of his students to another who killed 12 men. Moore sees them as weak, but their actions are nothing compared to what Vader has done. Moore and Vader see the spirits of the Jedi, and as Moore speaks Vader suddenly hurls her away with the Force, and one of those spirits coalesces into the kneeling form of his son Luke Skywalker who questions whether he is really a Jedi. Vader wastes no time in swinging his blade through the apparition, and as Pryde watches Vader talk to thin air it’s explained to him that the site recieved a visitor in Luke Skywalker, and we watch as his apparition remembers their duel at Bespin, and how he often wonders what if…..and we don’t learn what he says, as Vader calls his sons name and the apparition fades away.
Back with the Schism we see Vader order them to get as much Kyberite as possible and then level the place as he roars away in his TIE and Pryde is confused, wondering why Vader just left. It’s explained that Vader doesn’t explain himself, how they are beneath his notice, but Pryde is undeterred explaining how Vader’s ruthlessness and determination will bring him to victory as we end with Vader remembering that encounter with his son and calling out in the Force ‘Luke, I am coming.‘
The 2020 run of Darth Vader continues to be thought provoking and insightful as it rolls on towards it conclusion, and with Vaders final line it’s clear that we really are finally on the home stretch to Return of the Jedi. Vaders ‘internal monologue’, told through memories, visions and flashbacks has given us a throughline that shows his state of mind as he makes his play for power, incresingly pulling at the yoke of the Emperor. That’s been vital – it would be ‘all too easy‘ to give us a Robot Chicken / LEGO Star Wars version of their relationship, one destined to end with the death of one or the other. Greg Pak has layered in so much to his run, taking us back to the ghost of Padme and the handmaidens of Naboo, Anakins childhood pal Kitster and his hatred / subservience to Palpatine, and it’s that central relationship that drives the whole run. Now, as we approach Jedi thoughts of his son begin surface, something we know affects him deeply, and the final issues of this run are even more essential than they were before, especially under the pen of Pak and the art team of Adam Gorham and Paul Fry.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Pak, Greg (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 23 Pages - 05/08/2024 (Publication Date) - Marvel (Publisher)
