Darth Vader (2017) 7

What the Publisher Says

LEGACY'S END IS HERE! Vader assumes his position in command of the Emperor's clandestine Inquisitorius Program, setting his sights on a particularly dangerous Jedi survivor…one you might not anticipate.

Storyline Synopsis

Serving Under the Same Dark Lord

In Coruscant's The Works sector, Darth Vader is seen instructing the Inquisitorius in the art of lightsaber combat. His training regime is brutally harsh, leading to severe injuries among the Inquisitors, including lost limbs and damaged eyes. After severing the Sixth Brother's left arm, Vader insists that the wounded Inquisitor press on with the duel. The Grand Inquisitor steps in, voicing worries about the violence of Vader's methods. As the Sixth Brother departs, hobbling, Vader retorts that he is teaching them about loss, a lesson the Inquisitors will never forget.

In a medbay, medical droids are shown tending to several injured Inquisitors, including the Ninth Sister, the Fifth Brother, and the Sixth Brother. Vader expresses his belief that the Inquisitorius is not yet prepared to track down and eliminate survivors of the Great Jedi Purge. The Grand Inquisitor disagrees, pointing out that the Inquisitors are former Jedi. Vader dismisses the Jedi Order's defensive fighting style, which prioritizes minimal bloodshed. He attributes this flaw to the Inquisitors' flawed tactics.

Upon entering a meeting room dominated by a holo-map, the Grand Inquisitor reminds Vader that the Emperor personally selected him for his position and has faith in his capabilities. Unmoved, Vader demands that the Grand Inquisitor instill his training methods in the others, warning that any Inquisitors who fail to improve will be eliminated. The Grand Inquisitor acknowledges Vader's disdain for them but reminds him that the Emperor has tasked them with hunting down the Jedi. As Vader is in command, the Sith apprentice is reminded that their failure will reflect poorly on him, not the Grand Inquisitor. Vader concedes his dislike for the Inquisitorius but asserts his belief in the possibility of change through the Force.

Examining the map, Vader declares their intention to begin hunting Jedi Purge survivors. The Grand Inquisitor reminds Vader that the Emperor has provided a list of priority targets, including Yoda, Quinlan Vos, the deceased Kirak Infil'a, Jocasta Nu, and Ahsoka Tano. Among these targets is the Jedi archivist Jedi Master Jocasta Nu, who has been singled out for reasons yet to be revealed. The Grand Inquisitor questions her survival, but Vader cautions against questioning the Emperor's will. He vows to carry out the Emperor's wishes for her destruction.

A Jedi in Seclusion

In her hidden sanctuary, Master Nu employs a holocron to broadcast a message to Jedi in hiding, emphasizing their individual responsibility. A dark-skinned human man with spectacles, named Gar, enters the cave, voicing concerns about her holocron recordings draining her energy. Nu assures him that only one more recording is needed before thanking him for bringing her tea. When Gar asks about the holocron, Nu reveals that it contains her final thoughts on the Jedi Order's purpose and the light it brings to the galaxy.

She instructs Gar to place the holocrons with the others, as she has further tasks to complete. Gar worries about Nu overworking herself, but Nu insists that her work is not finished, as she possesses knowledge of the Jedi Archives' secrets. Before he departs, she requests more tea from Gar.

At the former Jedi Temple, the Grand Inquisitor confides in Darth Vader about his deep-seated hatred for Master Nu, whom he resents for restricting his access to the Jedi Archives. He believes that Nu considered education exclusive and discriminated against those Jedi who risked their lives for the Order. The Inquisitor vows to scrutinize every record in the Jedi Archives. Lord Vader reminds him that his mission is to scour the Archives for information about surviving Jedi, including their personal details and family connections. He warns the Grand Inquisitor against failure. The Inquisitor assures him that he has been waiting for this opportunity his entire life.

After recording her final holocron, Master Nu enters a waterfall concealing a hangar, which houses a Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptor and her astromech droid Beetoo. Gar invites Master Nu to dine with him, but he realizes that she intends to leave. Gar pleads with Master Nu to remain in hiding and not return to the Jedi Archives. Nu explains that she has not established an Archive here, but rather a school. She explains that she must leave to retrieve something, a dangerous mission, but one that is necessary. When Gar asks what is so important, Master Nu explains that the school she is building needs pupils.

Vader's New Objective

Back on Coruscant, Lord Vader informs the Emperor that he has initiated an intensive training regimen for the Inquisitors. Lord Vader then inquires about the Emperor's particular interest in Master Jocasta Nu. The Emperor explains that Nu, as the archivist, possesses knowledge of every Force-strong location throughout the galaxy, including shrines, energy wells, and ancient temples. He reveals that Nu guards a "great treasure" hidden within the Jedi Archives, which he desires. The Emperor orders Vader to capture Master Nu alive and deliver her to him to obtain this treasure.

When Lord Vader questions why the Inquisitors were not informed, the Emperor expresses concern that Master Nu might fall into the hands of non-Sith, who could potentially use it against them. While the Grand Inquisitor and the others should be aware of Master Nu, he believes they should not be informed of her importance since they are not Sith. The Emperor senses that Master Nu is attempting to alter the destiny of the galaxy and orders Vader to thwart her plans, emphasizing the importance of preserving her life.

Meanwhile, Master Nu lands her Jedi starfighter at a Coruscant hangar. She instructs her droid Beetoo to remain with the ship, providing instructions on what to do if discovered. While she hopes it will not come to that, the situation is dire and Master Nu reasons she has no choice. Before departing, she attaches her lightsaber to her belt. Proceeding to the Jedi Temple, Nu employs a Jedi mind trick to deceive several Coruscant Guards, convincing them that they did not see her. She then gains access to the Temple through a secret entrance.

Connections to the Broader Story

This issue features an Aurebesh list containing the names of presumed Order 66 survivors, although two names are partially obscured by text bubbles. Heather Antos, the comic's assistant editor, shared an unlettered version of the list on Twitter, revealing the names "Naia Taver" and "Kule Xandar." Matt Martin of the Lucasfilm Story Group clarified in subsequent tweets that the obscured names, along with "Kayce Beradun," were simply Easter eggs and should not be taken literally. The name Kule Xandar was created as a reference to the planet Xandar from the Marvel Studios film Guardians of the Galaxy.

Within the story, Jocasta Nu records a holocron containing a message intended to revive the Jedi Order. This holocron initially appeared in the 2015 comic book Star Wars (2015) 9, where Luke Skywalker hears the message.

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Publication Details

• UPC 759606086665; November 1 , 2017 ; Marvel Comics [1] 00711; Cover A; Giuseppe Camuncoli & Francesco Mattina

Cover Images