Warning! This article contains spoilers for Star Wars: Darth Vader #42 Most Star Wars fans would likely assume that the Jedi are the ultimate enemies of the Sith, as the two Force-groups have been at odds for thousands of years. However, Star Wars lore just introduced all-new rivals to the Sith that boast they’re actually more powerful than the Jedi, especially in terms of their threat-level to the Sith-ruled Empire.
When Sheev Palpatine corrupted Anakin Skywalker, executed Order 66, and then reorganized the Republic into the Galactic Empire, he effectively eliminated the threat of the Jedi. The Jedi Order was eradicated beyond repair, and the only Jedi who survived the great purge lived in hiding, and in fear.
The more modern Sith of the Imperial era had no reason to consider the Jedi a threat to their power, especially when Darth Vader was leading his Inquisitors across the galaxy to find and slaughter any and all remaining Jedi. What’s ironic, however, is that in establishing the Sith’s seemingly indomitable power wrapped within the unbreakable shell of the Empire, Emperor Palpatine unwittingly created perhaps the greatest threat to his rule: the Schism Imperial.
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Star Wars’ Schism Imperial Could Be A Greater Threat To The Sith Than The Jedi
In Star Wars: Darth Vader #42 by Greg Pak and Adam Gorham, Darth Vader is in open conflict with Emperor Palpatine, as he is attempting to raise an army of droids and cyborgs he can control with his mind (a trick he learned from the Scourge) to challenge the Emperor’s rule. While conducting these experiments on Mustafar, Vader is approached by Administrator Sly Moore, who was tasked by the Emperor to try to eliminate Vader. However, Moore does just the opposite.
Administrator Moore goes to Mustafar not in an attempt to kill Darth Vader, but to recruit him. Moore reveals that she’s a member of a secret society embedded within the Empire that seeks to usurp Emperor Palpatine, and the group calls itself the Schism Imperial. Moore wants Vader to be the Schism Imperial’s new leader, which would grant Vader the power and influence he’d need to actually take down the Emperor and rule the Empire himself – and Moore’s logic is surprisingly sound.
The Schism Imperial Is Using Palpatine’s Own Power Structure Against Him
The Empire’s hierarchy is one that is based solely on fear and obedience. Everyone takes unquestioning orders from those above them, all the way up to the Emperor himself. This means that all one would have to do – if they were high enough in rank – is go rogue, and start making their own orders for their subordinates to blindly follow. That’s why the Schism Imperial is such a threat to the Emperor, not because its individual members are powerful like the Jedi – indeed, they’re all bureaucrats – but because they have the nerve to use their political power and military command to suit the needs of their secret Imperial rebellion rather than those of the Emperor, effectively cutting Palpatine out of his own Empire.
If Darth Vader decided to lead the Schism Imperial, the group would be taking a major step forward in their attempted coup, as Vader would not only be the highest ranking among them, but he could also challenge the Emperor in physical, Force-wielding combat. Plus, Vader would have the immediate backing of major political powerhouses within the Empire upon his ascension to the throne if the coup was successful. However, even without Darth Vader, the Schism Imperial still proved to be more of a threat to the Imperial Sith than the Jedi, as they have the power to subtly cripple and reorganize the Empire by using the Emperor’s own fear-based power structure against him, while the Jedi were eradicated before the Empire was even fully established in Star Wars canon.
Star Wars: Darth Vader #42 by Marvel Comics is available now.
