Darth Vader (2017) 12
title: Darth Vader 12
Darth Vader issue number 12 represents the twelfth installment of the canon comic book series titled Star Wars: Darth Vader (2017). This issue was penned by Charles Soule, features illustrations by Giuseppe Camuncoli, and was released to the public on February 28, 2018 through Marvel Comics.
Synopsis from the Publisher
A hefty reward has been offered for Vader's demise! Who would be so bold as to challenge the Dark Lord's position within the Empire?
Detailed Plot
The Second Attempted Hit
As Vader's starship hurtles through hyperspace, Darth Vader's droid relays to Darth Vader that its investigative analysis traces the origin of the assassination contract to the highest echelons of the Imperial Executive Building, encompassing the offices of Emperor Palpatine. The droid calculates a 97% likelihood of the signal's origin being there, with no indications of digital intrusion. While Lord Vader is in the process of assembling his new lightsaber, he commands the droid to provide a roster of all individuals possessing access codes to Imperial systems at Level 1A1 and above. The droid identifies seven individuals: Corin Ferro, Wilhuff Tarkin, Jer Croteau, Cassio Tagge, Joon Strephi, Tomas Azoras, and Zorta Bingan. Vader expresses his gratitude to the droid before activating his newly constructed lightsaber.
The Ninth Sister guides Vader's starship out of hyperspace, positioning it above Coruscant. She expresses relief at the conclusion of their journey, confessing her aversion to Vader's presence. However, they are immediately confronted with a fresh predicament: they are unable to transmit their authorization codes to the orbital defense systems. Vader's droid informs them that Coruscant Security has flagged their vessel as an active threat, and the ship's transponder is identified as belonging to a Separatist cell.
Unable to authenticate their ship as an Imperial vessel, Coruscant's orbital defense initiates a missile barrage against Vader's craft. Recognizing the imminent danger, Vader seizes control of his starship. With Vader at the controls, they successfully evade the incoming missiles. Employing his exceptional piloting skills, Lord Vader manages to crash-land the ship on the streets of Coruscant. Upon exiting the wreckage, Vader, accompanied by the Ninth Sister and his hovering droid, declares that he has reached his limit.
Return to Coruscant
Within the dilapidated remains of the former Jedi Temple, the Emperor informs Vader that while he does not consider his battle against Jocasta Nu a definitive victory, he acknowledges that it is not a complete loss, given his acquisition of her collection of Jedi and Sith artifacts, including a blue mask. Cutting to the chase, Lord Vader informs the Emperor that he was targeted in an assassination attempt during a mission to Cabarria with the Ninth Sister. He reveals that the contract originated from the highest levels of the Imperial government.
Palpatine shows interest in Lord Vader's lightsaber, deeming it an improvement. The Emperor assures Lord Vader that he did not issue the kill order, as he would not resort to such veiled tactics. When Vader inquires whether it was a test, the Emperor responds that he imparts knowledge rather than administering tests. Lord Vader recounts the second attempt on his life during his return to Coruscant. Vader suggests that Lord Vader should not dwell excessively on the assassination attempt, as individuals like them will always attract enemies seeking their demise.
Conspiracy Against Vader
In a secluded chamber within the Uscru District's "The Room of Masks," two masked assassins deliberate on their unsuccessful assassination attempts targeting Lord Vader. A red-clad conspirator adorned with a horned mask questions his co-conspirator, who is attired in blue and wears a brown hood, regarding the identity of their target. His colleague admits his ignorance. The horned conspirator laments that establishing the mercenary contract within the Emperor's office failed to sow discord between Lord Vader and the Emperor.
The hooded conspirator corroborates this, stating that Vader and the Emperor appear to have reached a consensus. The horned conspirator expresses curiosity about the relationship between Vader and the Emperor. The hooded conspirator shares his bewilderment, complaining that the Emperor elevates Vader seemingly from nowhere and grants him unchecked authority. He questions whether Vader is a mere servant or a bodyguard.
The horned conspirator posits that Vader is more than a servant or bodyguard, given the Emperor's decision to entrust him with control of the Inquisitorius program. He asserts that Lord Vader must be eliminated and believes that the Emperor will be more manageable once Vader is gone. When the hooded conspirator, who is missing two fingers, inquires about how they can defeat such a formidable adversary, the horned conspirator dismisses Vader as merely skilled or fortunate. He vows to persist with further attempts until Vader is killed.
The Emperor's Right Hand
Unbeknownst to the conspirators, Lord Vader is meditating through the dark side of the Force and perceives through a Force vision that one of the conspirators is Colonel Barokki, the officer he had previously subjected to a Force choke. Vader voices his suspicions regarding Colonel Barokki to the Emperor. Vader believes that the Imperial officers fail to comprehend his strength and power. While Vader concedes that the Sith cannot govern an "Empire of the dead," he insists that there must be consequences. The Emperor acquiesces, granting Lord Vader permission to punish several officers but cautions him to spare Tarkin, as he is essential.
The Emperor convenes the senior members of the Imperial Officer Corps in an auditorium, where he delivers a speech outlining his vision for the Empire. Palpatine concludes his address by clarifying Lord Vader's position within the Imperial hierarchy. He declares that Vader speaks with his authority and that a command issued by him carries the same weight as a command from the Emperor. He instructs the officers to disseminate this information to their subordinates before yielding the floor to Lord Vader.
Lord Vader summons the Imperial officers Ferro, Bingan, Strephi, Azoras, and Barokki to the forefront of the assembly. He informs the assembled Imperial Officer Corps that two attempts have been made on his life. While he has been unable to identify the conspirators, Vader warns that he will invariably survive. As retribution, he has selected five Imperial officers at random to be executed by having their necks snapped using the Force. The assembled officers witness the summary executions of their colleagues with a mixture of horror and awe. Following the killings, Lord Vader departs from the stage. The sole remaining conspirator, who is missing two fingers, observes from within the assembly.
Later, while meditating through the dark side, Lord Vader shatters a transparisteel window.
Available Versions
- UPC 759606086665; February 28 , 2018 ; Marvel Comics [1] 01211; Cover A; Elia Bonetti, Giuseppe Camuncoli