Review: Darth Vader Is Infected by the Scourge in ‘Darth Vader’ #41
As the Dark Droids crossover event draws near its finale, Darth Vader’s hatred of the Emperor becomes more and more palpable in the lead-up to Return of the Jedi. Darth Vader #41 acts as an incredible introspective stepping stone for the arc, diving into the machine versus man dichotomy and drumming up momentum for Vader’s ultimate redemption.
This issue follows the aftermath of Vader’s attack on the Emperor, and what happens when he allows the Scourge to infect him. If you haven’t yet, check out the review for Darth Vader #40 here. Although issue #41 is somewhat exposition-heavy (at this stage, we all know the Scourge loves a good monologue), it works to emphasize the relentless tirade of manipulation the Scourge imposes upon Darth Vader, which is very reminiscent of the Emperor during the prequel era. Accompanied by some brilliant yet terrifying art by Raffaele Ienco, this issue certainly does not fail to deliver.
Spoilers ahead…
It would come as a surprise to absolutely no one that Darth Vader does not simply allow the Scourge to take over his being. He initiates his own plan for the entity: to take control of its power. By isolating a piece of the Scourge within his suit, he separates it from its hive mind and studies it, using it to create his own droid army under only his control. But, as the Scourge points out, what benefit would this bring him? We know that he has already tried overthrowing the Emperor with a droid army, a plot that failed in the aftermath of A New Hope.
This image of Darth Vader altering the Scourge for his own agenda brought back all those memories of Anakin Skywalker tinkering away with his droids, that deeply rooted desire to ‘fix’ things beautifully captured in this illustration:
Imperial troops then arrive on Mirgoshirax in their hunt for the treasonous Lord Vader and provide a perfect opportunity to demonstrate an intriguing new addition to Vader’s Force abilities. Through the power of the Scourge, Vader is able to create his own hive mind and use the droids he controls as an extension of himself and his abilities. As such, he is able to direct the Force at anything his droids see.
This is ultimately what the Scourge wished to accomplish by infecting Vader: a terrifying amalgamation of the natural and powerful biological Force sensitivity with the omnipotent knowledge and mechanical might of a droid army. It serves as an incredibly interesting and dangerous threat to the fabric of the galaxy. But also an expansive symbol of what Vader represents: a deadly mix of man and machine.
I have to say, this Imperial officer has guts. Either that, or he’s never seen Darth Vader in action. Literally ever.
Side note: Vader’s use of the Force through his droids could have been complicated to depict, but the inclusion of red circles here is really simple and effective.
Of course, the Scourge was not going to lie down and die. It works hard to convince Darth Vader to surrender himself to it, to relinquish his flesh and allow the superior mechanical mind to take control, as Darth Vader could only influence a handful of droids at once. Its promises of ultimate power, its claims that Darth Vader is merely being used as a tool by the Emperor… it all sounds incredibly familiar… and readers are not the only ones to acknowledge this.
Darth Vader battles with the Scourge in his head as he tears down the droids it throws at him. He does it with a physical and mental fight that reflects his anger, but not toward the Scourge. Vader simply views it as a way of getting what he truly wants. This is instead directed at the Emperor, who has echoed those manipulations for decades.
He is aware of the Scourge’s deception and refuses to succumb to its control. He refuses to be a second-in-command — an attack dog on a leash — and he symbolically fights for his flesh, the part of him that is still man and the part of him that the Emperor did not build. This part of him is what the Scourge truly fears.
If he can defeat the Scourge and its manipulation and assert his power over it, why does he still submit to the Emperor? What will happen next to foil all his progress?
Left to ponder this, the issue comes to an end as we move to an undisclosed area of the Outer Rim, where a group of people are watching Vader and discussing his newfound strength. They reveal themselves as the Schism Imperial, an Imperial faction seemingly opposed to the Sith rule of the galaxy. Sly Moore can be seen amongst the group, debating whether they should kill Darth Vader or recruit him, setting us up for the events of Darth Vader #42.
Overall, this issue added some fascinating new lore to the canon and Darth Vader’s character development as we prepare for the critical juncture in Return of the Jedi. This a solid issue that does leave us wondering how Vader’s latest and arguably most heated attempt to overthrow the Emperor will result in the Vader we see in Return of the Jedi: a Vader resigned to his fate, willing to hesitate for a few agonising moments as the Emperor tortures his son. How this resolution pans out, in my opinion, will make or break this series.
Rating: 8/10
Rosalie Lambert is a law student from Australia with a deep love for Star Wars, fantasy, and epic stylistic storytelling. Growing up in the country, Rosalie has always loved nature and outdoor activities, and has a passion for human rights and social justice that she wants to work towards in her field of study.
