Darth Vader (2020) #40
THE MASTER’S TRIAL
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 to the planet Mustafar. Upon arriving on Mustafar, ZED was overtaken by the scourge and led an attack on Vader with a scourged octuptarra droid.
Vader cut his way through the compromised droids and is now ready to face down those who tested and doubted him….
Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Raffaele Ienco
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Federico Blee
Cover artist: Leinil Francis Yu
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Release Date: November 8, 2023
Ok, be aware as you read this issue of Darth Vader that the final page has a genuine ‘Holy poodoo‘ moment of epic proportions waiting for you that not only elevates the entire Dark Droids storyline, but adds fuel to the balance of power in Return of the Jedi. Yes, it’s that good, and shows once again why Greg Pak is totally the right writer to be steering this particular storyline towards the events of Episode VI.
We open on Coruscant, as an Imperial vessel is being prepared for inspection, and while the Empire’s finest are understandably annoyed, we watch as the X1 of Lord Vader tears through the skies, and cut to the Imperial Palace and the Emperor. He stands near Sly Moore, her pain evident; the Force Wave has returned, and she’s struggling to manage the pain. As Palpatine leans in to relieve her of the burden – most likely permanently – his Grand Vizier Mas Amedda arrives, informing his master of Vader’s approach. Palpatine seems annoyed that Amedda was unable to end Vader, and orders his gun emplacements to take the TIE down despite being over the city, and we watch as the X1 is hit and smashes into the grounds of the Palace.
Vader emerges from the wreckage, aware that he has been tested and ready in turn to test his master and attacks, a move Palpatine easily avoids. Sheev is curious; why has Moore struggled and yet Vader remains unaffected, and the dark lord explains – hate. He has learned to focus it, and as his own Death Troopers turn on him and attack, their loyalty to their Emperor superceeding their loyalty to Vader, Palpatine asks if it is the hate that is controlling Vader. Hate leads to power, and we see Palpatine ‘power up’ with Sith lightning as we turn to BZ-2 who identifies the X1 as being contaminated, and watch as he himself is taken over, the small spidery Disc Droids now swarming in numbers.
Now taken by the scourge, the Death Troopers move to escape, and Vader is forced to end them rather than continue his ‘rebellion’ against his master, and using the Force gathers a vast number of the Disc Droids, swinging them towards Moore and Amedda. As the droids move in Palpatine uses his own powers to decimate them, and we learn that while this has all been happening the plague has spread into the city. Palpatine reminds Vader that while his hate is strong, he remains his master, and that he thrives on Vader’s hate. The more he hates him – the more Palpatine is hated by anyone – the stronger he becomes, and we see a huge fireball engulf sectors 35 and 36 of the city, ending the scourge on Coruscant and likely hundreds of thousands of lives. Silently, Vader and Palpatine stare at each other, and as the dark lord returns to his shuttle to take to the skies we end with that holy poodoo moment as the voice of the scourge tells Vader he can’t defeat his master alone, and the most prized cyborg in the galaxy willingly falls in thrall to the unified mind of the scourge….
Absolutely engrossing. Any time Vader and Palpatine meet it’s a game of chess, but never more than now, a time period we know is towards the very end of Vader’s corporeal life. How close we are to Jedi is uncertain, but Palpatine wanting Vader to ‘remain on the command ship‘ makes even more sense now. Anakin is gunning for Palpatine, and while the master plan to end the Rebellion continues, their own personal Battle of Endor hots up. Superb writing from Pak, complimented by an art team who really understand the assignment, this is top draw, heavy-hitting storytelling that would be an absolute joy to watch if it ever got retold in live action.
