Age of Rebellion - Grand Moff Tarkin 1

THE ESSENCE OF THE DEATH STAR! The EMPIRE has constructed the most devastating weapon ever witnessed in the galaxy. However, even the most heartless Imperial officer may hesitate when faced with the DEATH STAR's capacity to instantly kill millions. Uncover the hidden past of GRAND MOFF TARKIN, the chilling events that forged his determination, and the extreme measures he undertakes to ensure the Death Star lives up to its deadly reputation!

On the planet Eriadu, a young Wilhuff Tarkin finds himself hunted by a pair of black feline creatures. He seeks assistance from his Uncle Jova Tarkin, but the elder Tarkin informs his nephew that he must fend for himself, stating that he must either kill or be killed. The adolescent is attacked by the animals, but he succeeds in breaking off one of their claws.

Years later, Grand Moff Tarkin is in charge of the first Death Star. He questions Admiral Conan Antonio Motti about a nearby planet referred to as Rango Tan. Following Tarkin's instructions, Motti informs the entire crew that the planet is inhabited by a pre-hyperdrive native species called Rangans, who have established three major civilizations and number 45 million. He mentions that they have remained neutral in recent conflicts due to their lack of interplanetary travel technology. After the announcement, Tarkin instructs Motti to ready the Death Star for firing.

Before the Death Star gunners can finalize the firing sequence, Tarkin commands them to halt the simulation. When Motti inquires about the situation, the chief gunner explains that there are 168 gunners present, each required to execute their protocol precisely. Tarkin insists on seeing the gunners. Motti offers to investigate, but Tarkin reiterates his desire to see them all. The Death Star gunners gather in a hangar bay where Tarkin scrutinizes all 168 individuals.

He addresses Chief Gunner Endo Frant and orders the man to hand over his helmet and roll up his sleeves. Tarkin notices the younger man's arms are free of scars. Frant admits to having a scar on his knee from a grav-ball tournament during his university days. When Frant offers to show him the scar, Tarkin strikes the man in the face with his gunner's helmet. Tarkin notes that the gunner is taller than him by a quarter of a meter and at least 20 years younger, yet only has a single scar on his knee.

Tarkin removes his own tunic and displays his scarred chest to Frant and the other gunners. Considering the man weak and privileged, he requests a stormtrooper to provide Frant with a vibroblade. Tarkin declares that if Frant survives, he will be released unharmed and promoted to Captain. When Frant declines to fight Tarkin, the Grand Moff retorts that he has no choice and instructs him to imagine they are fighting for survival against rebel traitors who would murder them in their sleep and desecrate their graves. Tarkin challenges Frant to fight him and reveals a dagger crafted from the fang of the Eriadu feline beast. Frant complies and parries with Tarkin. However, Tarkin seizes the upper hand and slashes Frant multiple times, resulting in his death.

However, the assault and fight sequence turns out to be Tarkin's fantasy about punishing the reluctant gunners. After Frant explains that he sustained a scar on his knee from a grav-ball injury, Tarkin gives a speech to the gunners. While discipline was lax under the late Director Orson Callan Krennic, Tarkin reminds them that they are Death Star gunners, who are trained to unleash the Galactic Empire's most powerful weapon against their worst enemies. Tarkin observes that the gunners did not hesitate to carry out their orders in destroying Jedha City and the Scarif base. However, he chastises them for hesitating to destroy a planet during a simulation. Tarkin reminds the men that their only job is to fire when commanded. If they are unable to do so, he suggests that they report for decommissioning and shipment to the labor colonies, adding that this will be their only warning.

Aboard the Death Star above Alderaan, Tarkin confronts rebel leader Princess Leia Organa. Darth Vader is also present. Given her reluctance to disclose the location of the rebel base, Tarkin informs her of his intention to test the Death Star's superlaser on her homeworld of Alderaan. When Organa objects, stating that Alderaan is a peaceful planet without weapons, he reiterates his demand for the system's name. Organa falsely claims that the rebel base is on Dantooine.

Tarkin remarks to Vader that Organa can be reasoned with before instructing the Death Star gunners to proceed with the operation to destroy Alderaan. One of the Death Star gunners stares at Organa lustfully, prompting a warning from Tarkin, causing the gunner to refocus on his duties. When Organa protests, Tarkin responds that Dantooine is too remote to serve as an effective demonstration and promises to deal with her rebel associates later.

The Death Star gunners initiate the superlaser's firing sequence, resulting in Alderaan's rapid destruction. While Tarkin and Motti express satisfaction with the successful test firing, Organa is devastated and enraged. As Lord Vader and Imperial Navy troopers escort Organa back to her cell, Tarkin instructs another officer to gather the mission report reaction data and summon any "blue flags" to Bay 12.

At Bay 12, Tarkin addresses six Death Star gunners who exhibited hesitation at crucial moments during the Death Star's firing sequence. Tarkin informs the gunners that he instructed Admiral Motti to install bio-trackers within the helmets of every gunner on the station. Tarkin reminds them that he offered them the opportunity to resign if they were unable to fulfill their duties and expresses his disappointment. Chief Gunner Frant responds that he and his comrades destroyed Alderaan as ordered.

When Tarkin inquires if Frant was born on Alderaan, the gunner admits to being born there but clarifies that he was educated on Coruscant and has not returned to his homeworld in years. Frant then asks Tarkin to consider how he would react if ordered to destroy his own homeworld. Tarkin recalls a flashback of himself exacting revenge against Uncle Jovan by detonating explosives, killing him and his companions. Returning to the present, Tarkin responds that he would carry out his duty with pleasure.

When the gunners react with shock and silence, Tarkin comments that none of them understand and that they do not belong on the Death Star. The stormtroopers lead the men into an airlock where they are ejected into the vacuum of space. Tarkin observes as the gunners perish in space. Back in his personal quarters, Tarkin unbuttons his tunic and reads a datapad. The improvised fang dagger rests on a nearby table while TIE fighters orbit the Death Star.

During the last conversation between Wilhuff Tarkin and Endo Frant, Coruscant was incorrectly spelled "Corsucant."

• UPC 759606091904; April 10 , 2019 ; Marvel Comics [1] 00111; Cover A; Rachel Dodson, Terry Dodson 00121; Cover B; Guru-eFX, Mike McKone 00131; Cover C; Lucasfilm Ltd. 00141; Cover D; Iain McCaig