Darth Vader 42 is the forty-second issue of the 2020 canon comic book series Star Wars: Darth Vader. The issue was written by Greg Pak, illustrated by Adam Gorham and Federico Blee, and published by Marvel Comics on January 3, 2024.
Publisher's summary[]
THE RISE OF THE SCHISM IMPERIAL! In the wake of DARK DROIDS, DARTH VADER explores his powers and takes on the most dangerous team of rebel heroes he's ever faced! Meanwhile, the greatest threat to the EMPEROR'S rule is rising … from within THE EMPIRE itself! Will the DARK LORD OF THE SITH destroy it … or join it? Featuring the comic-book debut of ENRIC PRYDE from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker!
Opening crawl[]
| RISE OF THE SCHISM IMPERIAL |
|---|
Plot summary[]
In the Imperial Palace on Imperial capital planet Coruscant, Grand Vizier Mas Amedda stands frustratedly outside of the Emperor's throne room. Sub-Administrator Sly Moore approaches, startling the Chagrian. She takes the lead of the situation, entering the throne room and announcing to Emperor Palpatine that Amedda has a report, which the Emperor sensed due to the Chagrian's fear.
Amedda informs the Emperor that the droid scourge had been destroyed but that Darth Vader had devised a method to infect and control droids of his own. This represents Vader's ongoing efforts to defend himself and seek increasing power. Enraged by Amedda's failure to quell Vader's ambitions, Palpatine attacks his vizier with Force lightning and gives Moore an opportunity to try.
In Zee-Nine City Seven, Lieutenant Enric Pryde of Imperial Star Destroyers Steadfast and Impervious prepares a recording to Amedda. He explains that the Imperial garrison there is understaffed and is a prime target for Rebels. As he records, however, a series of explosions erupts and X-wing starfighters fly overhead. He looks up to see the Impervious crashing into the planet. Pryde has his Stormtroopers prepare for battle.
Rebel prisoners mock the Lieutenant, and Pryde prepares to kill them when he hears voices threatening him to stand down. He refuses, and the augmented soldiers of M.A.R. Corps burst in to fight the Imperials. They subdue Pryde and lock him in a cage.
Twelve hours later, Darth Vader and ZED-6-7 arrive to the city and locate Pryde. The Lieutenant informs them that it is a trap and informs them of the cyborgs' presence. Vader releases Pryde from the cells, and ZED-6-7 advises Pryde to evacuate. The Lieutenant, however, is unconvinced and remains worried for Vader's safety in facing the formidable Rebels.
Vader faces the four members of M.A.R. Corps, and they engage in a fierce battle, the Rebels buoyed by rooftop support. Pryde attempts to intervene by creating cover for Vader, only for the Sith to push him back with the Force. The knocked down Pryde sees several MSE-series droids approach the cyborgs. They deploy spikes loaded with Imperial droid brains that interface with the cybernetic implants on the Rebels. This forces them into the control of Vader, and the four cyborgs start firing on their former Rebel comrades.
One M.A.R. Corps member, Masakint, starts to fight the droid brain and attempts to get her squad mates to fight theirs too. In spite of her pleas, Tandorvo primes a thermal detonator and throws it to Rebel ordinance caches, destroying them. Just then, another MSE droid re-implants the droid brain into Masakint, bringing her back into Vader's control.
Later, in Fortress Vader on Mustafar, ZED-6-7 and some medical droids tinker with the M.A.R. Corps members. Vader remains frustrated at the mental fortitude the Rebels are able to muster in fighting the droid brains. Alas, Vader's plan hinges on leveraging the lived experience and skills sentient soldiers possess, so they cannot simply remove the organic brains.
Soon, Sly Moore arrives at the castle. She informs Vader that she has been sent by the Emperor to spy on him and asks some prying questions. Vader is unwilling to play her games and recommends she stops them. Moore, however, has other plans. She mentions that Vader needs to destroy Palpatine or be destroyed himself, as is the way of the Sith, and she offers Vader a way to help him get ready to win against his master. She informs him of the Schism Imperial, a group of Imperials, including herself, Governor Tauntaza, and Captain Corleque that have grown tired of Palpatine's caprice and failure. She works to try and convince him to align with the Schism, saying that doing so could give him significant power. Vader contemplates his answer.
Media[]
Cover gallery[]
Collected in[]
Appearances[]
| Characters | Organisms | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
|
Droid models
Events
|
Locations
|
Organizations and titles
|
Sentient species
Vehicles and vessels
|
Weapons and technology
|
Miscellanea
Sources[]
Marvel to Celebrate 10th Anniversary of Star Wars Rebels with Special Variant Covers - Exclusive Reveal on StarWars.com (backup link)- This Week! in Star Wars Dispatch: Ahsoka Tano Marvel Comics Variant Cover on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
- Marvel Comics Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of 'Star Wars Rebels' with New Variant Covers on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
- This Week! in Star Wars Dispatch: Star Wars Rebels 10th Anniversary and Dreams and Madness on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- "Tool of the Empire" — Revelations (2023) 1
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020) #42 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
- ↑ The events of Darth Vader (2020) 42 take place after the Escape from Cloud City and before the Rescue of Han Solo, which are dated to 3 ABY and 4 ABY, respectively, by Star Wars: Galactic Atlas.
External links[]
