D-Squad Returns in New Miniseries as Part of Marvel’s ‘Star Wars: Dark Droids’
R2-D2-led, elite droid squad, coined D-Squad, returns in a new miniseries as part of Marvel’s Star Wars: Dark Droids comic series. You may remember D-Squad from The Clone Wars (season 5, episodes 10-13), where it was first introduced, led by the over-confident Colonel Meebur Gascon. The miniseries is written by Marc Guggenheim with art by Salva Espín and David Messina.
In Dark Droids, this summer’s horror-fueled comics crossover event, a mysterious threat called the Scourge begins to corrupt droids, cyborgs, and mechanical beings of all kinds. In Dark Droids: D-Squad, R2-D2 recalls his elite team, but with a few character changes. The new group consists of R2-D2, IG-88, 4-LOM, WAC-47, BT-1, and 000, who will work together to combat the Scourge. The first issue also features a backup story starring Ajax Sigma, a new character that first appeared in last year’s Star Wars: Revelations #1, who’s promised to play a major role in the crossover as a whole.
Starwars.com writer, Dan Brooks, interviewed author Marc Guggenheim ahead of the miniseries release. Elaborating on where the miniseries picks up within Dark Droids, Guggenheim said:
D-Squad picks up directly after the events of Dark Droids issue 2. Without spoiling that issue, suffice it to say that the corruption that is affecting droids throughout the galaxy is made apparent to R2-D2 in a very pointed and personal way. We pick up in the aftermath of that development and with Artoo realizing that he’s going to need some help if he’s going to fight back against this menace.
Further explaining how D-Squad fits into the landscape of the Dark Droids narrative, which leans into the horror genre, Guggenheim clarified:
D-Squad is more of a romp. It’s high adventure mixed with as much humor as I could conjure. I approached it like the first Avengers movie, but with droids instead of superheroes.
Lastly, faced with the task of picking a favorite droid from D-Squad, Guggenheim was quick to answer:
Is it a cop-out to say Artoo? Yeah, it’s probably a cop-out. But it also has the virtue of being true. I’m just constantly amazed at how vivid Artoo’s voice is as a character, despite the fact he doesn’t ever speak a word of English. But despite that, you know exactly who he is. You know he’s feisty. You know he’s brave. You know he’s got spunk and moxie. It’s a really incredible achievement in storytelling, to be frank.
All that being said, I’ve probably had the most fun writing WAC-47. As a friend of mine from college would say, Wac’s just ‘such a happy idiot.’
D-Squad is also known for being one of George Lucas’ favorite arcs from The Clone Wars. A selection that raised some eyebrows given the story’s slapstick comedic tone. And yet, one can’t help but draw comparisons to Jar-Jar Binks. It’s also worth noting that the D-Squad arc introduced Gregor, who went on to have a full and heroic narrative.
Dark Droids: D-Squad is set to release in August. Check out the full interview with author Marc Guggenheim at Starwars.com
When she isn't watching her friends and family's eyes glaze over at the mention of The Clone Wars, she's at the park with her dog, Melvin, or on the couch with a book in one hand and a drink in the other. Physically, she lives in Ohio; spiritually, she lives in Naboo.
