Published: January 3, 2023
Rating: T
Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Adam Gorham
Colourist: Federico Blee
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Leinel Francis Yu & Romulo Fajardo Jr.
The synopsis;
THE RISE OF THE SCHISM IMPERIAL!
• In the wake of DARK DROIDS, DARTH VADER explores his powers and takes on the most dangerous team of rebel heroes he’s ever faced!
• Meanwhile, the greatest threat to the EMPEROR’S rule is rising – from within THE EMPIRE itself! Will the DARK LORD OF THE SITH destroy it – or join it?
• Featuring the comic-book debut of ENRIC PRYDE from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker!
The review;
Standing at the ready for the next challenge he must face, Darth Vader is overlooked by a set of Imperials with ulterior motives in the direct cover. It’s a busy composition with some familiar faces – all sporting determined expressions. Meanwhile Wijngaard’s Rebels anniversary variant showcases Vader’s once apprentice as Ahsoka Tano leaps into action with her white lightsabers ignited. Finally, there’s one of the new logo variants for this issue which features the signature Darth Vader (2020) text on a solid black background, which is perfect for some customisation using art or journalling supplies.
After successfully destroying the threat of the Spark Eternal and its hive mind of droids, Darth Vader thinks he’s at the end of the Emperor’s nefarious tests. Surely, he can return to being the iron fist of the Empire? But there’s never an end to Palpatine’s plotting and Sly Moore is sent to watch over Vader’s power to make sure he can never threaten his own master. Sly’s got her own plans though…
Throughout the Darth Vader (2020) series, Pak has highlighted how different levels of the Empire view Palpatine’s rule. While some are happy with their positions and the power afforded to them, others wish for the Empire to be a more democratic whole, working together to maintain order throughout the galaxy rather than continuously backstabbing each other. The threat of the Emperor’s wrath is no easy thing to live with for any Imperial officer and schisms have been suggested before in these stories. What this next arc seems to be focussing on is the way these schisms operate.
Enter an obscure Outer Rim world. On Zee-Nine there’s a very frustrated Imperial officer who is trying to persuade his superiors to send more resources to help stave off the rebel threat. It’s an interesting situation because most of the Imperial controlled planets we get to see are well under the rule of the Empire. Yes, there may be some unruly citizens (who may or may not be wielding bricks), but overall, most people accept their rule. On Zee-Nine that’s not the case. Without enough of an Imperial presence and a lack of stormtroopers, the rebels are bold enough to take the Imperials head on.
Much to the annoyance of Lieutenant Enric Pryde. And that name should sound familiar to a lot of Star Wars fans. Introduced in Episode IX as part of the Imperial remnant in the First Order, this is Pryde’s debut in the comics. He’s leading a garrison inspection on Zee-Nine when it all goes wrong and the rebels attack. It’s revealed in Shadows of the Sith by Adam Christopher that Pryde certainly likes doing things his own way and has always wanted more power, which ties in with his report here in Darth Vader (2020) #43. He’s trying to show off his successful leadership abilities while reporting the issues on the planet, which makes his capture by the rebellion all the more satisfying.
However, considering this is Pryde’s debut in the comics, it’s a bit of a shame that he gets so little time in this story. While the series is fundamentally about Vader, many of the storylines have been more about the Empire rather than the Sith Lord himself. Considering Pryde is just a lowly lieutenant at this point, it’s a little surprising that Vader would come out to investigate the problem. There are plenty of Imperial officers who would have perhaps made more sense. Although the group of rebels on Zee-Nine are well organised, a battalion could have taken them on.
Still, it makes for an impressive battle sequence for Vader that’s brilliantly illustrated by Gorham. Having the rebels use cybernetic technology makes for some very interesting and dynamic panels. He also does a fantastic job in capturing Pryde’s younger likeness and haughtiness of the character. Hopefully it’s not the last we see of him during this arc because it would be interesting to find out more about Pryde’s early service in the Empire.
