R2-D2 will always be known as the classic, cute, reliable astromech droid in the Star Wars universe who's always ready to assist his friends in trouble. What fans might not know... is how far Artoo is willing to go to help them, even using deadly force when necessary.
When his most trusted friend C-3PO, the protocol droid who's always at his side, gets captured and taken aboard an Imperial Star Destroyer, several stormtroopers end up paying the price with their lives courtesy of the little droid. Read on to learn more.
The rescue mission in question takes place in Star Wars #36 from writer Jason Aaron with art from Salvador Larroca. When Scar Squadron captures Threepio, the Rebel Alliance can't justify a rescue mission over one droid, especially when the Star Destroyer he's on also carries Darth Vader himself. The only rebel who refuses to leave Threepio behind is Artoo, even if it means having to rescue Threepio on his own. Taking a X-Wing, Artoo travels to the Star Destroyer himself. Seeing no life signs, the imperials bring the ship on board. Then, Artoo makes his move, electrocuting the inspecting troops before escaping into the halls where he starts to inflict some major damage all over the ship.
Artoo uses his skills and abilities in hacking and accessing systems to great effect, setting off multiple problems and distractions that put the entire Star Destroyer in chaos, with many stormtroopers losing their lives. For instance, Artoo turns out the lights in several halls, while also sending in multiple response teams. Unfortunately for the squads, they each think that the other team is an enemy squad of rebels, and they end up killing each other. Not only that, but Artoo goes further, and perhaps even more terrible. Artoo engages security defenses against troopers, drops multiple into trash compactors, and even sends whole squads flying into the vacuum of space out of opened airlocks.
Eventually, Artoo is successful and finds his dear friend Threepio. Together, they get back into the astromech's X-Wing and fly out of the hanger door, but not before TIE fighters fly in right behind them, including Lord Vader's personal TIE with the Dark Lord in hot pursuit. Thankfully, Artoo sent out a message to Luke, who sends a small team that arrives out of hyperspace in the knick of time with cover fire, allowing for them all to escape with a saved droid, no casualties, and a Star Destroyer left in absolute chaos and mayhem thanks to one brave and incredibly lethal little astromech droid.
Artoo is still that cute and classic droid, but he's much more capable of handling himself that he's given credit for, as this issue proves. As Marvel's Star Wars run continues, it would be great to see more issues of Artoo in action, seeing as how formidable he is in taking down whole squads on his own.