Dark Droids: D-Squad #3
“THE REUNION”
The SPARK ETERNAL has merged with an ancient droid intelligence to become something new and terrifying.
This SCOURGE is corrupting droids on both sides of the GALACTIC CIVIL WAR.
Among them is the protocol droid SEE-THREEPIO. Under the control of the Scourge, Threepio attacked his friend and counterpart ARTOO-DETOO.
Searching for a way to help Threepio, Artoo has traveled to the planet of Gallios—only to discover that the Scourge is now corrupting cyborgs….
Writer: Marc Guggenheim
Artist: Salva Espin
Letterer: Joe Sabino
Colorist: Israel Silva
Cover artist: Aaron Kuder
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publication date: November 22, 2023
How do you kick off the latest issue of D-Squad? You have 4-LOM and IG-88 squaring off with a cyborg in the middle, the threat of the scourge fuelled by the Spark Eternal making cyborgs the latest and deadliest threat to the galaxy. Knowing this threat, IG-88 blasts the cyborg, but it rises and a firefight ensues with Artoo caught in the middle, tagged by 4-LOM as he tries to roll away. Meanwhile, IG-88 drops the prone 000 onto the floor, who activates in the midst of chaos. IG-88 wants to end the cyborg, while 4-LOM wants it alive to learn why it’s hunting Artoo, and the phlutdroids plan to end the cyborg is foiled by noe other than Artoo, who yanks IG-88 away and electrocutes the cyborg.
The droids – Artoo, 4-LOM, IG-88 and 000 – all confer as Artoo lays down a plan, and we cut to space as they continue their machinations. 4-LOM has a plan that should work to all their advantage, and as BT-1 begins to stir after his unfortunate encounter with a podracers power couplings, 000 explains how they came to be afflicted by the scourge, and how the cyborg was affected. 4-LOM believes the scourge is after Artoo on the assumption that he is assembling a crack team of droids, and is intent on stopping it after he was similarly afflicted. However, IG-88 isn’t interested and only wants to take 000 and BT-1 to Milvayne for the bounties on them, until Artoo makes a counter offer that IG-88 accepts.
His plan will team them up with the Droids of the Second Revelation, and their plans take them to Ryloth where Artoo and 4-LOM meet with Clone Wars veteran QT-KT. The two astromechs communicate as the rest of D-Squad enter the room, and it’s explained to them that QT now serves Loris Cona, a droid expert who is offworld. They need to find Second revelation leader Ajax Sigma, but their plans are halted by the arrival of a cadre of KX-series security droids, and a firefight breaks out that sees QT launch a tiny drone from her dome before being downed by a blast from a KX droid….
We’re on the final stretch of Dark Droids, and this quirky title continues to entertain and show just why droids in general and Artoo in particular are so important. Every droid gets a moment, be they ‘good’ or ‘bad’, and seeing them only interact wirth each other is an interesting change from their usual pre-programmed subservience. Dogs and cats interact with humans very differently to how they do with each other, and with many Star Wars droids easily comparable to one domesticated pet or another, it makes for a fun and energetic read.
