A model of monster droid[1] was assembled out of parts[2] modified from[10] the B1-series battle droid. The unit's head was modified from the KX-series security droid.[2] The monster droid model saw heavy use by the Droid Crush Pirates of Bestoon.[4] The Galactic Empire also made use of the monster droids as repair units for the Executor.[8] Some were also present on the Imperial capital planet Coruscant.[9]
Behind the scenes[]
- "You seem to draw them as being built out of old battle droid parts, is that correct?"
"Correct. And their heads are modified K2SO." - ―A fan asks Raffaele Ienco about the monster droid
The monster droid's appearance in Darth Vader 29
The monster droid first appeared in Darth Vader (2020) 8, which was written by Greg Pak and illustrated by Raffaele Ienco.[11] When asked about the droids on Twitter by a fan, Ienco confirmed that they were built out of B1 parts. He further revealed the head of the units was modified from a KX-series security droid.[2] Ienco clarified that the units' legs were larger than that of the average B1. The lack of detail on the B1 parts was simply for easier drawing.[12] He defined the droid model as "an evolution of existing parts," with those parts modified to create the new design.[10] The head design remains the same across all of the monster droids, yet with a differing number of circles and lines to make individual droids distinct.[12] When the monster droids appeared in Darth Vader (2020) 29, which was drawn by Luke Ross, they appeared even closer to standard B1s.[6] It is unclear if this should be taken simply as an artistic difference or if these two monster droids, in-universe, retained an appearance closer to their B1 sources.
When asked about why these monster droids appeared in Imperial service in Darth Vader (2020) 35, Ienco reasoned that the monster droids were used for those panels because they were an existing design. As such, using them helped speed up the drawing process, instead of spending one's limited time coming up with a new model.[13] Darth Vader (2020) 37 depicted a type of service droid with the same head design as the monster droid.[14] Given that Ienco clarified the monster droid head is modified from the KX-series,[2] this establishes yet another droid with a modified KX-series head in Imperial service by Ienco's reckoning.[15] Adam Christopher also confirmed these B1/KX-derived droids are the units described in his novel Shadow of the Sith.[16]
Appearances[]
- Darth Vader (2020) 8 (First appearance)
- Darth Vader (2020) 9
- Darth Vader (2020) 13
- Darth Vader (2020) 16
- Darth Vader (2020) 29
- Darth Vader (2020) 35
- Darth Vader (2020) 36
- Darth Vader (2020) 37
- Darth Vader (2020) 40
- Darth Vader (2020) 41
- Darth Vader (2020) 46
- Darth Vader (2020) 47
- Darth Vader (2020) 49
- Darth Vader (2020) 50
- Shadow of the Sith (and audiobook)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 Darth Vader (2020) 9
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6
Raffaele Ienco (@Raffaele_Ienco) on Twitter (post): "Correct. And their heads are modified K2SO. (In response to: "Haha, noted! And thank you for answering! Basically curious about how I should define the crush pirates. You seem to draw them as being built out of old battle droid parts, is that correct?")" (backup link)
- ↑ Darth Vader (2020) 46
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Darth Vader (2020) 16
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Darth Vader (2020) 41
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Darth Vader (2020) 29
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Darth Vader (2020) 36
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Darth Vader (2020) 35
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Darth Vader (2020) 40
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Raffaele Ienco (@Raffaele_Ienco) on Twitter (post): "They're an evolution of existing parts-- just modified to make a new design. (In response to: "So you would say they are built out of b1 parts? Or at least that's the intention behind the design? Modified parts, I suppose, if they are slightly taller lol")" (backup link)
- ↑ Darth Vader (2020) 8
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Raffaele Ienco (@Raffaele_Ienco) on Twitter (post): "The droid crush have longer legs than battle droids and less detail for easier drawing. They have common heads but with some added circles and lines to differentiate them from each other. (In response to: "There are some minor differences between how you draw the crush bodies and b1 bodies, smoother arms and torso on crush, but the overall shape and legs make them pretty one to one. Was that the intention?")" (backup link)
- ↑
Raffaele Ienco (@Raffaele_Ienco) on Twitter (post): "I suppose-- some things are done because you have to finish a book in a month and there's no time to think/design, you just have to get the thing done and on to the next person. (In response to: "My curiosity was kicked off because issue 35 shows the empire using what seem to be droid crush units as labor droids. Same idea with these lads? B1/K2 derived?")" (backup link)
- ↑ Darth Vader (2020) 37
- ↑ Raffaele Ienco (@Raffaele_Ienco) on Twitter (post): "Looks that way. (In response to: "ah, turns out I have another question! In Vader 37, we see some service droids with the same head design. Are these units therefore also created with modified KX-series heads?")" (backup link)
- ↑ Adam Christopher (@ghostfinder) on Twitter (post): "Same droids. (In response to: "Speaking of shadow, I have been wondering, are the droid crush members described as being skeletal droids with large heads the same type of pirate we often see in their comic appearances?")" (backup link)