Darth Vader (2020) 24

Darth Vader 24

Publisher's summary[]

Someone's been to Polis Massa. Someone's heard Padmé's last words. Someone knows Vader's deepest secret. What happens when the Dark Lord of the Sith finds out? Meanwhile, a colony of refugees from a certain sandy planet struggle under the rule of an Imperial governor. Will their connection to Vader's past betheir salvation – or their doom? Plus: the shocking return of two of Anakin Skywalker's oldest friends!

Opening crawl[]

Sabé has revealed to Darth Vader that sheknows his secret: Underneath his armorand machinery is the Jedi Knight onceknown as Anakin Skywalker.Playing to his sympathies for hishomeworld, Sabé leads Vader to Anakin'sold friends Kitster and Wald, whosestruggling community is the victim of acorrupt governor working with CrimsonDawn.Now Sabé, with Vader's help, is gettingready to take a stand against the governorand Crimson Dawn….

Plot summary[]

Battle plans[]

Astormtrooper introducesCommanderSabé, who is dressed in a mixture of her own clothes and Imperial body armor. When Sabé asks if they can take onGovernorTauntaza,Darth Vader asks anImperial officer to open a channel to theSuper Star DestroyerExecutor. However, the Governor'sImperial Star Destroyer is blocking all outgoing communications fromGabredor III. Vader asks that his shuttle be readied for departure.

Abalding male villager says that Vader can't destroy the flagship butKitster Banai disagrees. The villager fears that the 33 villagers that the Governor conscripted are aboard the Governor's Star Destroyer. In response, Sabé asksZED-6-7 to gather the names, expertise and skills of those conscripts and to extrapolate their locations. When Zed says he will do it soon, a stormtrooper reiterates the Commander's order. ZED-6-7 reveals that Governor Tauntaza is no longer aboard her flagship but had set up base at the old science colony about 300klicks north of theGabredor III colony about two days ago.

Rescuing the conscripts[]

Shortly later, Governor Tauntaza is watching as her scientists and technicians test conversion machine, which alieutenant describes as 323 percent stronger than the one used onKarolia. The machine has blown a hole in the dome. Before they can finish the extraction, klaxons ring. The lieutenant informs Governor Tauntaza that the facility is under attack. Believing it is a foresttangor, Tauntaza orders the lieutenants to deploy thebattle droids. The lieutenant informs her that Darth Vader is leading the attack. In response, Tauntaza orders the crew to work faster while she requests reinforcements fromCrimson Dawn.

Vader, Sabé and their stormtroopers smash through the battle droid guards and free the conscripts. Sabé reassures the conscripts that they are here to help. When Vader finds the Governor, Tauntaza offers to share her side of the story. Vader responds that she has sided with chaos and has chosen her fate. Before he can continue, Tauntaza orders her crew to unleash a prototype cannon, which shoots out an electrical current thatstuns Vader. Believing that the weapon has worked against Vader, Tauntaza uses a prototype energy shield to deflect Sabé and the stormtroopers' blast.

SeveralCrimson Dawn assassins arrive in anairspeeder and attack Vader and his forces. AB2-series super battle droid orders the assassins to evacuate the Governor while he handles the intruders. TheSith assassinOchi ofBestoon arrives on aspeeder bike and blasts the super battle droid andB1 battle droids. However, his arrival creates a distraction that allows Governor Tauntaza to escape. An enraged Lord VaderForce chokes Ochi. When Ochi says that he came to save Vader, the Sith Lord disparages Ochi for believing that the droids could kill him.

Pursuing the Governor[]

Sabé reassures DoctorAira and the other conscripts that they are safe now. Aira explains that Governor Tauntaza has been working on a new weapon that drains power from living things including planet. He explains that Tauntaza had already tested the weapon onKarolia, a densely forested planet in theBelderone system. Vader experiences a flashback of watching thedestruction ofAlderaan withPrincessLeia Organa and sensing the millions of death throughthe Force.

The conscripts feel guilty about helping Governor Tauntaza but Sabé reassures them that they are innocent of her crimes. Vader then experiences flashbacks of slaughteringTusken Raiders to avenge the murder of his motherShmi Skywalker Lars, killingJedi Initiates and slaying theSeparatist Council. Vader then experiences aForce vision wherePadmé Amidala tells him that there is still good in him but is separated by an electronic gate. Ochi offers Lord Vader his speeder bike, which the Sith Lord accepts. The ricochet knows Ochi to the ground.

When Ochi tells Sabé that he believes he has earned Vader's favor by bringing him the speeder bike, Sabé expresses disinterest. She instead orders the stormtroopers to secure any working vehicles, evacuate the conscripts and destroy the facility. She says that they will wait for Vader's return. As Vader experiences his vision, Vader rebuffs Amidala, believing that he is not capable of returning to the light. He shatters the gate with the Force.

Development[]

Battle droids appear serving Governor Tauntaza's forces and Crimson Dawn inDarth Vader 24. When asked about the background of these droids, authorGreg Pak did not recall the exact reasoning for their appearance and reflected it could have been as simple as they liked battle droids so wanted to use them in the story.^[3]

Media[]

Cover gallery[]

Final cover byPaul Renaud

Solicit cover by Paul Renaud

Cover art

Choose Your Destiny variant cover byChris Sprouse

Pride variant cover byKei Zama

Collected in[]

• Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 5 — The Shadow's Shadow
• Star Wars: Crimson Reign Omnibus

Appearances[]

This media's Appearances list is incomplete. You can help Wookieepedia byexpanding it.

Sources[]

• Krrsantan Attacks inHan Solo & Chewbacca and More from Marvel's June 2022 Star Wars Comics – Exclusive onStarWars.com(backup link)
• This Week! in Star WarsMarvel Comics Previews, Unwrapping a Gift for Boba Fett, and More! on the officialStar WarsYouTube channel(backup link)(Posted on StarWars.com)
• Marvel and Lucasfilm Celebrate Pride Month with SpecialStar Wars Covers onStarWars.com(backup link)
• "Launchpad" —Star Wars Insider 211
• The Emperor Sets His Sights on a New Enemy in Marvel'sStar Wars: Crimson Reign #5 – Exclusive Preview onStarWars.com(backup link)
• This Week! in Star WarsThe Cast of Obi-Wan Kenobi Talk Darth Vader, Obi-Wan's Daring Mission, and More! on the officialStar WarsYouTube channel(backup link)(Posted on StarWars.com)

Notes and references[]

External links[]

• Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020) #24 onMarvel Comics'official website(backup link)
• STAR WARS: DARTH VADER 24 onPenguin Random House'sComics Retail website(backup link)

Dark Heart of the Sith: 1 ·2 ·3 ·4 ·5 Into the Fire: 6 ·7 ·8 ·9 ·10 ·11 War of the Bounty Hunters: 12 ·13 ·14 ·15 ·16 ·17 Crimson Reign: 18 ·19 ·20 ·21 ·22 23 ·24 ·25 ·26 ·27 ·28 ·29 ·30 ·31 ·32 Unbound Force: 33 ·34 Target Aphra: 35 ·36 Dark Droids: 37 ·38 ·39 ·40 ·41 42 ·43 ·44 ·45 The Razing of Exegol: 46 ·47 48 ·49 ·50 Trade paperbacks 1 ·2 ·3 ·4 ·5 ·6 ·7 ·8 ·9 ·10 Related media Darth Vader (2015) ·Darth Vader (2017) In Service to the Empire ·Revelations (2022) ·Tool of the Empire The Curse ·Phantom Menace Special
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1 ·2 ·3 ·4 ·5 Crossover Star Wars: 19 ·20 ·21 ·22 ·23 ·24 Darth Vader: 18 ·19 ·20 ·21 ·22 ·23 ·24 Doctor Aphra: 16 ·17 ·18 ·19 ·20 ·21 Bounty Hunters: 18 ·19 ·20 ·21 ·22 ·23 ·24 Collections Crimson Reign ·Omnibus Crossover: Star Wars Vol. 4 ·Darth Vader Vol. 4 Doctor Aphra Vol. 4 ·Bounty Hunters Vol. 4 Related media War of the Bounty Hunters ·Hidden Empire Han Solo & Chewbacca 3
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