Warning: SPOILERS for Star Wars: Darth Vader #27Despite Darth Vader‘s tremendous skill, experience and power as a Force user, Emperor Palpatine believed the iconic Star Wars villain’s reliance on his body armor meant he was vulnerable to technology fails and hacks. It is this vulnerability that made Vader a target for Palpatine.
It’s no exaggeration to say that once Palpatine successfully turned Anakin Skywalker to the dark side it was only a matter of time before the Sith would achieve absolute domination over the universe. To be sure, the combination of Palpatine’s immense Force powers along with the potentially unlimited capabilities of a young, healthy Anakin suggested that there would be few who could challenge their abilities. However, a massive setback to Sith supremacy occurred with Obi-Wan Kenobi’s defeat of Anakin on Mustafar. Although Palpatine was able to save Anakin, he would never be the same. Most specifically, his potential Force power decreased significantly as the result of his reliance on technology to keep him alive.
In George Pak and Raffaele Ienco’s Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020) #27 it’s revealed that, if not for Sabe’s change of heart, Darth Vader would be dead, and the Star Wars saga would have never been the same. Vader is put in this position due to his campaign to eliminate the Crimson Dawn intergalactic crime organization and those who facilitate their plans such as Governor Tauntaza. While Vader is able to stop a death machine Tauntaza has created, a last-minute explosion causes a power feedback that overloads his armor, leaving him completely helpless. It is only when his erstwhile ally, Sabe, reconnects the power to his suit that Vader is able to live to fight another day. This over reliance on technology is not lost on Palpatine.
Palpatine Didn’t Hide The Fact That He Would Replace Vader
In Keiron Gillen and Salvador Larroca’s Darth Vader (2015) series, Palpatine admits how Vader was the key to his plans for Sith supremacy, but as a result of the fight on death and near death, Vader’s abilities, and usefulness to the emperor have been limited. While Palpatine states that Vader remains his first choice as apprentice, he makes it clear to Vader that if a more capable individual is identified, he will have no problem setting them against him. This is why Palpatine, despite his outward support of Vader, is continuously looking for his replacement.
Vader’s performance in Darth Vader (2020) #27 is a perfect display of what concerned Palpatine and weighed on his consideration of Vader being a valid apprentice. As in most similar situations, the “number 2” is expected to be as strong, intelligent, and effective as the boss or master, if not more so. Vader easily fulfills all these categories. Indeed, considering the length of Vader’s services as a Jedi, along with all the activities he has been involved with as a Sith, it is unlikely there is anyone more suitable to replace Palpatine than Vader. The problem, however, is Vader’s technological vulnerability. It gives almost anyone with access to a computer a vector to make him bend a knee.
Darth Vader (2020) #27 ends with the revelation that Tauntaza has been following the orders of Palpatine. Accordingly, the emperor should know that Vader is on the planet investigating activities that Palpatine is directly linked to. His lack of action to support Vader strongly suggests he wouldn’t mind if Vader were defeated. Palpatine is not necessarily wrong to think this, as Darth Vader is not up to the challenge and requires the assistance of others for his continuing survival in Star Wars.
Star Wars: Darth Vader #27 is now available from Marvel Comics!
