Warning! Spoilers for Star Wars: Darth Vader #13
Darth Vader is going head-to-head with The Empire Strikes Back droid bounty hunter IG-88 in an upcoming Star Wars comic. Their showdown will reveal who is the galaxy’s strongest fighter, as the Sith Lord channels his anger and the phlutdroid uses its lack of emotion to its advantage.
As Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters follows the search for the carbonite-frozen Han Solo, the roster of hired hands from The Empire Strikes Back are waging war. Jabba the Hutt is furious at Boba Fett, who has failed his mission to deliver the smuggler. Now, the Empire is getting involved in the seemingly low stakes quest, granted that fans know where things are headed. The ongoing crossover event carries on in Star Wars: Darth Vader, written by Greg Pak with art by Rafaela Ienco.
In a preview released by StarWars.com for Darth Vader #13, the Sith Lord goes up against the infamous IG-88 in a ruthless battle. After proving himself capable when he struck down Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and confronted Luke Skywalker with the truth of his lineage, the Sith is fueled by his memories of previous victories. Following a series of flashbacks to the Original Trilogy, as has become a trademark for the series, the phlutdroid bounty hunter blasts Vader, who has his lightsaber drawn while deflecting the lasers. The issue, appropriately titled “Sound of Metal,” highlights IG-88, giving him more time to show off his skills than in his first appearance in The Empire Strikes Back, when he was hired by the Empire to hunt Han Solo. In an attempt to retrieve intel leading to the smuggler, Vader will stop at nothing to win.
The action-heavy event, which is leading into Return of the Jedi, won’t go Darth Vader’s way, as he obviously isn’t the one who ends up with Solo. This unfortunate series of events has become typical for Vader, who recently endured the Emperor’s maniacal tests, meant to show how little he is in the grand scheme of Palpatine’s plans. As IG-88 observes Vader’s compromised state, he boasts that he’ll manage to win the encounter. The Sith responds by saying that the droid is only still functioning because it has information he wants. It’s unclear if this is actually the case, or if IG-88 is truly this skilled against the galaxy’s tyrannical ruler. The fact that such a powerful Sith might be struggling to defeat a bounty hunter, let alone a droid, feels emasculating to his reputation.
For all fans know, this issue might mark the end of IG-88, who doesn’t show up again after the Original Trilogy in current continuity. If Vader is going to retrieve the intel he’s looking for, it will involve taking the droid’s head and downloading it manually. With access to Han Solo’s current location, it’s a matter of time until the Sith faces a more serious threat. Star Wars: Darth Vader #13 releases on Wednesday, June 23.
Source: StarWars.com