Darth Vader (2015) 1

Darth Vader 1 is the first issue of the Marvel comic book series Star Wars: Darth Vader and the first of six issues in the series' first story arc, Vader. The comic takes place between the events of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope and Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and centers on the character Darth Vader. It was written by Kieron Gillen with art by Salvador Larroca. Darth Vader 1 was released on February 11, 2015.
The issue is set in the aftermath of the events of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope and the first three issues of the comic series Star Wars. Darth Vader must suffer the consequences of his failure to stop the Rebel Alliance during the Battle of Yavin and the assault on Cymoon 1, and is sent by Darth Sidious on a mission to negotiate with Jabba the Hutt. Meanwhile, Vader hires two bounty hunters to capture Luke Skywalker and a mysterious agent of the Emperor.
==Publisher's summary==
The original Dark Lord of the Sith stars in his first ongoing series!
Ever since Darth Vader made his first on-screen appearance, he became the one of the most popular villains to ever haunt an audience's dreams! Now, follow Vader straight from the ending of "Star Wars: A New Hope" (and the pages of the new STAR WARS comic book) into his own series, showing the Empire's war with the Rebel Alliance from the other side! Writer Kieron Gillen and artist Salvador Larroca bring us a peek behind the mask of evil!
==Plot summary==
===Jabba's lair===
The story opens on the planet Tatooine, when Darth Vader visited Jabba's Palace. After entering through the gate, he was greeted by a pair of Gamorrean guards, who he cut down with his lightsaber. Vader then walked into Jabba's throne room, where the Hutt crime lord's majordomo Bib Fortuna tried to stop him. However, Lord Vader forced Fortuna at lightsaber point to allow him an audience with Jabba.
Bib Fortuna woke Jabba, telling him that Vader had butchered the guards. Jabba shoved Fortuna aside and spoke to Vader, upset that Vader arrived a day early and killed two of his guards. Vader was unmoved by Jabba's anger and said that he only killed two was merely a sign of generosity. Vader convinced Jabba to dismiss his audience so that they could talk privately. When Jabba asked what he could do for the Galactic Empire, Vader revealed to him that he had come for a personal issue. Vader warned he will return in his official capacity.
Jabba was dismissive and warned Vader not to play any mind tricks on him. Lord Vader countered that mind tricks are not the way of the Sith and that the Jedi were long gone. Jabba tried to intimidate the Sith Lord by telling him that the rebels and "darker factions" had imposed a bounty. Jabba warned that if he was not careful, he could make him "disappear", hinting at the controls to the rancor pit below. Jabba asked the Sith Lord if he was brave or foolish, but Vader threw the question back at him.
Jabba, remarking that the Jedi were always making things so difficult, summoned his entourage who converge on Lord Vader. The Sith Lord drew his lightsaber and deflected blaster bolts and struck down several guards, including a third Gamorrean guard, a Gran and Whiphid. A deflected blaster bolt also hit Jabba's nutrient jar, shattering it. Realizing he was outmatched by Vader's mastery of the Force, Jabba backed down and pled with Vader to not to be hasty.
Vader was still incensed that Jabba had called him a Jedi, telling him that he knew nothing and that mind tricks were not of the dark side. Vader Force choked Jabba and added that the Sith prefered to rather use force. After Vader released his grip, Jabba remarked that Vader drove a hard bargain and that it was not difficult to respect that. Vader replied that this was now better before telling him what he needed.
===Audience with the Emperor===
A day earlier, Lord Vader had met with Emperor Palpatine at the Emperor's throne room in the Imperial Palace on Coruscant. Lord Vader briefed the Emperor about the recent rebel attack on Cymoon 1, which has dealt a considerable setback to Imperial production. Vader explained that the rebels were posing as Hutt envoys and forced the Overseer Aggadeen to reveal the base's codes, resulting in the destruction of the factory's core reactor.
When the Emperor asked about the Overseer, Vader informed him that he had brought Aggadeen with him. Lord Vader brought the Emperor to a torture chamber where Aggadeen was being strapped to a torture rack and interrogated by an IT-O Interrogator, and two droids including a silver protocol droid. Vader explained that Aggadeen was being probed to ensure that nothing was hidden from them. He said the Overseer Aggadeen would not fail them again.
Vader wanted to discuss the rebel agents, but the Emperor changed the topic to Vader's failure. The Emperor says that they kept the Imperial Senate for nearly twenty years while the Death Star was being constructed. The Emperor lamented that they no longer had the Senate to hold order or the Death Star to voice it, and that their production was in ashes. With the Empire besieged, the Emperor blamed Lord Vader for the recent disasters. He was angry that Vader tagged the rebel ship with a homing beacon and allowed the rebels to escape with the Death Star plans deliberately. Vader took responsibility for his actions but argued that the Death Star's arrogance courted disaster. He said that the power of the space station was nothing compared to the Force.
The Emperor shushed him and acknowledged that Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, Admiral Conan Antonio Motti, and the others shared the blame but that Vader was the only survivor to suffer his anger. The Emperor described Vader as the survivor of the Empire's greatest military disaster and quipped that Vader was the Chosen One, "chosen to be responsible." Vader wanted to make amends but the Emperor replied that he had proved himself to be a blunt instrument and that it was far better for him to be wielded than to wield.
The Emperor revealed that Cassio Tagge survived the Battle of Yavin and that he had always argued against using the Death Star as the Empire's sole weapon. While the second Death Star was being constructed, his philosophy needed to be dominant. Thus, the Emperor placed Vader under Tagge's command. Before that, he tasked Vader with finishing his dealings with Jabba the Hutt. Since Jabba couldn't bring an agent to the Core Worlds, they had to go to the Outer Rim Territories instead.
The Emperor ruled out any communications with the Crymorah Syndicate or other crime lords. The Emperor expected Lord Vader to finish the deal in two day's time. Vader was not accustomed to haggling. The Emperor replied that Vader would need some practice and reassured him that it was a passing phase they must endure. He then told Vader that the Empire would claim the Outer Rim eventually. He remarked that a trip to Tatooine would be sentimental for the Sith Lord.
===The rival===
Just then, a human man with a Rodian eye entered the Emperor's throne room. Vader asked who the man was but the Emperor claims that it was someone he didn't need to know. When Lord Vader asked if the Emperor was hiding something from him, the Emperor chastised his apprentice for even considering that question. He then asked Vader if he had anything to report.
Vader experienced a flashback of his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi aboard the Death Star and himself telling Tagge that the "old man" was someone who thought he could train gifted children. Vader also recalled pursuing Luke Skywalker in the Death Star trench and later encountering him face to face on Cymoon 1. Vader realized that Obi-Wan gave Anakin's lightsaber to Luke. Returning to the present, Lord Vader claimed that he had nothing to report. The Emperor dismissed him, warning him not to fail him again. He walked past two Emperor's Royal Guards, leaving the mysterious man to talk with the Emperor.
Above Coruscant, Vader confered with the Imperial captain of the Imperial Star Destroyer. The captain told him that they needed to travel across the Outer Rim to collect trade goods but that they would still be able to travel to Tatooine in time for the meeting. Vader however forced the captain to take him to Tatooine first before resuming his errand. The captain protested but Vader warned that this would reflect badly on his crew. The Captain acquiesced and Vader retreated to his meditation chamber.
===Hiring bounty hunters===
A day later on Tatooine, Lord Vader met in the desert with Jabba's top bounty hunters, Boba Fett and the Wookiee Krrsantan. Lord Vader tasked Fett with hunting down an X-wing starfighter pilot who knew Kenobi. He explained that the pilot left the planet aboard a smuggling vessel called the Millennium Falcon . He ordered Fett to bring back the pilot alive.
Vader tasked Black Krrsantan with tracing an agent engaged in secret work for the Emperor. Vader particularly requested that the agent be brought to him for a secret conversation. The Sith Lord warned them both not to fail. Fett warned that the Wookiee's target may not keep all their limbs but reassured him that they won't get away. Vader then prepared to leave the planet, saying he had been delayed on Tatooine long enough. Before leaving, he killed an entire settlement of Tusken Raiders.
==Release==
Marvel anticipated that the book was on track to sell over 200,000 copies. Some time later, the company revealed to ComicBook.com that the book had indeed surpassed that estimate and had gone on to receive over 300,000 in pre-orders. Ultimately, Star Wars: Darth Vader 1 became the second best-selling comic of February 2015.
In celebration of Star Wars Day on May 4, 2016, Marvel re-released Darth Vader 1 as part of its True Believers budget reprint program, which reprints popular comic titles for the suggested retail price of $1.
==Media==
===Editions===
*UPC 7596060812410; February 11, 2015; Marvel Comics
*UPC 759606085019; May 4, 2016; Marvel Comics; True Believers
**00111; Cover A, Adi Granov
===Cover gallery===
==Appearances==
==Collections==
*Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 1 — Vader
*Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 1
*Star Wars: Darth Vader by Kieron Gillen & Salvador Larroca Omnibus
*Star Wars: Darth Vader Modern Era Epic Collection: Shadows and Secrets
==Sources==
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*The Marvel Art of Star Wars
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==Notes and references==
==External links==
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Category:True Believers