The Hunt for Surviving Jedi Begins in Marvel’s Star Wars: Darth Vader #7

 

Written by Charles Soule

Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli

LEGACY’S END BEGINS!

As Vader takes his place in command of the Emperor’s secret Inquisitorius Program, he sets his sights on one of the most dangerous Jedi remaining alive…and it’s not who you’d expect.

 

 

SPOILERS AHEAD

 

 

With this issue, the Soule/Camuncoli creative team begins the new arc of the current Darth Vader run: The Dying Light. In the previous issue, the Emperor gave Vader the command over the Inquisitorius, led by the Grand Inquisitor (whom we know from Star Wars: Rebels). The Inquisitorius is another testament of the breadth and depth of Palpatine’s planning. Though, in the comics, the events seem much faster, disregarding space travel and jumping from location to location, we are still talking about only a few months after the Revenge of the Sith and the Inquisitorius is fully functional and running. This means that, like in the case of the Death Star (which Palpatine started building in secret during the Republic), he must have pre-selected his candidates and planted the seeds for their turn much earlier – knowing that Order 66, no matter how successful, wouldn’t be able to wipe out thousands of Jedi. The last panel revealed to us one of the surviving Jedi he had set his eyes on – Jocasta Nu, the former Chief Librarian of the Jedi Archives.

 

 

As this issue opens, we find out how seriously Vader has taken his new task. He is merciless towards the inquisitors, chopping off hands left and right. He doesn’t believe that they are ready to take on the surviving Jedi because they still fight like the Jedi – defensively.

 

 

If anything is clear from these opening pages, it’s that Vader’s reputation still isn’t what we see in the original trilogy or even Rogue One. The Grand Inquisitor, proud that he was personally selected by the Emperor, questions Vader and tries to use that as a leverage. He even questions the emphasis given to Jocasta Nu on the list of surviving Jedi that the Emperor provided them with.

 

https://xsoldier.tumblr.com/post/167008138680/so-this-is-the-inquisitors-list-of-jedi-who

 

 

Speaking of the list, the aurebesh proficient fans on Reddit and Tumblr have already partially translated the list and you will be happy to know that in addition to expected names like Yoda or Ahsoka, the list also includes the bad boy Quinlan Vos. Hopefully, we will see him in the future. After his turn in Dark Disciple by Christie Golden, his encounter with the inquisitors and/or Vader could be very interesting.

Charles Soule’s tweet on the topic (read all sub-tweets):

 

 

 

 

It soon becomes clear why Palpatine has singled out Jokasta Nu. Hidden in an unknown location, she is creating holocrons containing Jedi knowledge she acquired over the decades maintaining the Jedi Archives, knowledge that Palpatine wants to suppress at all cost. But, Jocasta is more ambitious than that – she envisions a school and the future for the Jedi. Before she can start, though, she has to retrieve something that will enable the school to find its students.

 

 

In conversation with Vader, Palpatine reveals his true intentions concerning Jocasta, which he did not reveal to the inquisitors, because her knowledge could be easily used against the Sith. Vader is to find her and save her life.

 

 

While the issue lacked in action (hand chopping notwithstanding), it gave us an interesting insight into the post-ROTS era. It is clear that Palpatine is working on the consolidation of his power and tying up loose ends. Jocasta Nu is a logical if unexpected loose end, considering her “If an item does not appear in our records, then it does not exist!” blunder. But, perhaps that can be attributed to the general complacency of the Jedi in the late Republic era. That is one thing Palpatine was not wrong about.

But I liked the idea that the old librarian and, as the Emperor puts it, middling Jedi at best, can threaten two powerful Sith lords and the future of the Empire as well. I am curious to see what the mysterious item is that they both require – she to acquire students and he to ensure his power.

 

I also like the insight we are getting into the Grand Inquisitor’s personality in these last couple of issues. He is clearly of the ‘knowledge is power’ school of thought. He is resentful of the Jedi and especially Jocasta for preventing him to learn the deeper secrets of the Force. You can easily see why the former Jedi strayed. And since he is itching to kill Jocasta, he will inevitably come into conflict with Vader. The Grand Inquisitor seemed such a loyal follower in Star Wars: Rebels. The question is did he still hope that the Sith would share knowledge with him or was the smackdown he received from Vader (or Palpatine) brutal enough to keep him in line and provoke this:

 

 

 

On the more mundane side of things, the continuing presence of clone troopers on the streets is another testament to how early in the Imperial timeline we are.

 

 

I always liked Camuncoli’s art, but what I was really appreciative of in this issue was what David Curiel did with colors. He filled Camuncoli’s art on the Imperial/Sith side with cold blues and grays and gave warmth to Jocasta’s side of the story.

 

I appreciate Soule’s storytelling more and more. This new Darth Vader run has a very intimate feel to it, as if we are flies on the wall watching the true birth of the Dark Lord of the Sith and his secrets. I like where the story is going and expect great things from the future issues. I’m not sure I want to see the horrible things Palpatine is planning for Jocasta, though I know they need to and inevitably will happen. Still, watching Vader grow in power and all the ways Palpatine breaks him to ensure that is like watching a Star Destroyer wreck – you can’t take your eyes off of it.

 

That is, however, in the future. Until then, Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith #7 gets 7/10 STARS.

 

 

NEXT ISSUE (and what a great cover):

 

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Staff member, comic and book reviewer. Cheers for the Light Side, but would drink with Grand Admirals.

Jelena Bidin (LadyMusashi)

Staff member, comic and book reviewer. Cheers for the Light Side, but would drink with Grand Admirals.

11 thoughts on “The Hunt for Surviving Jedi Begins in Marvel’s Star Wars: Darth Vader #7

  • November 3, 2017 at 9:57 am
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    One of my favourites from this new series.

  • November 3, 2017 at 1:41 pm
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    Clearly Vader is trippin’ balls on that cover for issue 8.

  • November 3, 2017 at 2:25 pm
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    I really like this series so far. It could be my favorite of the current running series.

  • November 3, 2017 at 3:22 pm
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    In Ahsoka’s novel she fakes her own death during order 66. I’m confused on why her name would appear here? Possible continuality error?

    • November 3, 2017 at 4:20 pm
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      Yeah that was a big error for me. Clearly Vader was surprised when he felt her presence in Rebels.

      • November 3, 2017 at 6:10 pm
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        This is very, very close to ROTS, while Rebels are almost 15+ later. The reports of her (fake) death might not even reached Vader and Palps because she wasn’t even formally a Jedi. All they know is that she is unaccounted for.

  • November 3, 2017 at 4:21 pm
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    Re-watching the Grand Inquisitor’s death here, and the first thing I thought was man, Rebels animation has come a loooonnnnggg way since Season 1.

  • November 3, 2017 at 5:08 pm
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    I’m disappointed this is a comic and not a tv series or future movie. I would love to see Vader and the Inquisitor’s hunting down Jedi and the secrets of the Force on the screen.

  • November 3, 2017 at 7:52 pm
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    This has been THE best Star Wars comic so far. It was the regular Star Wars line until they got to the space vampires but none the less this comic has been awesome.

    • November 5, 2017 at 7:51 pm
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      No way. It’s not even the best VADER comic. I like this series but it’s not even close to Vader Down or 2-3 others.

      • November 6, 2017 at 4:36 pm
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        I liked Vader Down, but I felt like he was completely overpowered even for Vader. I understand that it’s the medium of comics and all that comes with it. I personally find more enjoyment of the “how he became who he was” rather than the look at all the cool shit he did off screen. That is just me though.

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