Warning: contains a preview of Darth Vader #15 and spoilers for Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters #3!

To get the best of Jabba the HuttDarth Vader has created a secret alliance to undermine the crime lord from within his own organization. A preview has been released for Darth Vader #15. It features Bokku the Hutt, Ochi of Bestoon, and the titular Sith lord scheming before the events of Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters #2. 

The next issue of Darth Vader is another tie-in to the ongoing crossover Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters event. Crimson Dawn - one of the galaxy's crime syndicates - has taken possession of Han Solo, still frozen in carbonite. They're auctioning him off to the highest bidder - an event Darth Vader recently crashed after it emerged he'd already sent two proxies to bid on his behalf. Before this happened however, Darth Vader made sure to look into one of his servants, believing they'd agreed to betray Jabba a little too easily.

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Darth Vader #15 has the creative team of Greg Pak, Raffaele Ienco, Jason Keith, and Joe Caramagna. StarWars.com's preview features Darth Vader making plans with a prominent member of the Hutt Cartel  - Bokku the Hutt. It also includes Ochi of Bestoon, his assassin sidekick as of late, on a mission to gather information about their new ally, who agrees to bid against Jabba for Vader too quickly for the Sith's liking. The cover for the new issue is illustrated by Aaron Kuder and Richard Isanove. Enjoy the preview below:

Darth Vader and Bokku the Hutt have joined forces to get the best of Jabba. This is a major betrayal, since Jabba has often served as an ally of the Empire (albeit only because he believes it's in his interests to do so.) Darth Vader puts a plan into motion, using others to get ahead without them knowing what he is actually planning. While Vader often relies on brute strength for his victories, he has been known to stay ahead of his foes, tactically manipulating people and situations into his favor. Vader can be seen using his most common method for doing that in this preview: fear. The Sith lord's allies know he can easily take them out, and that his partnerships tend to end at the first sign of non-compliance.

Vader likewise forced the Umbaran Sly Moore to bid against Jabba in Star Wars: Darth Vader #14, informing her that his only purpose in sending her and Bokku was to humiliate them both at once before barging in and claiming Solo himself. In this issue, fans at least learn why it was worth Vader's time to push Bokku into open opposition to Jabba, seeding distrust within the Hutt Cartel and perhaps making its most distinguished member easier prey.

In addition to gaining Bokku as a temporary ally, Darth Vader has the potential to uncover other secrets - which may put him in a place where he has extra leverage. He believes Bokku has other allies due to his ready agreement, giving Vader the opportunity to find out who else is planning to undermine Jabba. Ochi is responsible for finding out this information, under the implied threat of death is he fails. The two have been working together very effectively in recent issues, but their dynamic could be changing. Ochi is a tool that Vader will happily use and eventually discard, and he doesn't bother to hide it when sending him after Jabba's relative. But while Ochi is happy to borrow Vader's power and influence as his servant, he's no fool, and if there's another player in the game, it's possible his loyalties will shift to whoever offers the best chance of survival. See the truth behind Vader's plans to undermine Jabba and what Ochi will do next when Darth Vader #15 releases August 25, 2021.

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Source: StarWars.com