There’s a new piece of Star Wars content on store shelves today, and its name is Darth Vader #20.
Drafted up by a slew of talented Marvel scribes – namely Charles Soule, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Daniele Orlandini, Dono Sánchez-Almara, Erick Arciniega, and Travis Lanham – #20 parallels Vader’s rise with the Republic’s downfall, as the galaxy’s Dark Lord sets about eradicating all forms of Resistance (and the Jedi) so that he and Palpatine can enjoy absolute rule.
There’s also one or two revelations tucked away within the pages of Star Wars: Darth Vader #20, including the reason why Mustafar, the volcanic planet visited by Rogue One and Revenge of the Sith, was chosen as Vader’s permanent residence.
However, ComicBook.com goes one step further to identify a subtle callback to the Star Wars prequels. And we’ll give you a clue: it has something to do with Padme Amidala.
This particular “gift” can be traced back to Emperor Palpatine, who rewards his subordinate with a new ship. But not just any space vessel – the one used by his late wife Padme Amidala during The Phantom Menace, which involved a daring escape from Naboo. It was also the ship that Anakin used to leave Tatooine for the very first time.
So, yeah, pretty dark, and we imagine this pivotal moment (among many others) encourages Vader’s change of heart, as he turns his back on his former master during Return of the Jedi, ultimately bringing an end to the Galactic Empire and its era of dominance.
For all this (and much more!) be sure to pick up Marvel’s new Darth Vader comic from store shelves today. If nothing else, it ought to ease the agonizing wait for Star Wars: Episode IX.
