Have you ever wondered just how muchDarth Vaderhated his boss, Emperor Palpatine? The depth of Darth Vader’s animosity was not just mere resentment, but multiple direct attempts to end the Emperor’s life. Long before Luke Skywalker’s heroics, the seeds of Palpatine’s demise were sown in Vader’s relentless defiance.
Darth Vader(2020) by Greg Pak and Raffaele Ienco masterfully details Vader’s bold attempts and frontal assaults on Palpatine, showcasing thatVader’s internal struggle, not Luke’s arrival, was the true catalyst for Palpatine’s downfall.
Prepare to delve into tales of betrayal, violent confrontations, and the audacious ambition thatdrove Darth Vader to multiple assassination attempts.Here are five times that Vader tried to kill Palpatine long before his son’s arrival.
After Learning Palpatine Lied About Padmé’s Death
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Following the events ofEmpire Strikes Backand the bombshell revelation that his son with Padme survived,Vader becomes increasingly obsessedwith the circumstances surrounding Padmé’s death. His investigation, spurred by encounters with Padmé’s former handmaidens, Sabé and Tonra, eventually reveals the truth about how Palpatine manipulated the entire situation.Vader discovers that the Emperor had actively contributed to Padmé’s demise, instead of the lie that Vader himself was solely responsible.
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The initial shock of Luke’s mere existence, followed by his horrified rejection, sends Vader on a furious quest for understanding and retribution.
Consumed by grief, betrayal, and rage, Vader confronts Palpatine. This confrontation isn’t a subtle power play; it’s a direct, emotionally charged assault.Vader unleashes his Force powers against the Emperor.However, Palpatine, ever the master strategist and immensely powerful in the dark side, anticipates andeffortlessly counters Vader’s fury.He uses his superior command of the Force, including potent Force lightning, to not only subdue, but physically and emotionally break Vader, reminding him of his place and the Emperor’s ultimate control.
Darth Vader #40
Following various trials and manipulations by Palpatine, and amidst the chaos of the Droid Scourge, Vader returns to Coruscant with a clear intention to confront his master.Palpatine has sent multiple adversaries to attempt to bring Vader to his knees, causing Vader to reach his breaking point.He has had enough of being tested and seeks to assert his own power and confronts Palpatine directly.
While there are some displays of Force power, the encounter largely revolves around Palpatine demonstrating his continued superiority verbally. There are no lightsaber duels; instead, Palpatine effortlessly deflects Vader’s attacks and uses the Force to overwhelm him.More importantly, he delves into Vader’s psyche, questioning his power and his connection to the dark side.Palpatine makes it clear thathe remains the master and Vader the apprentice, despite Vader’s growing power and rebellious thoughts. The “fight” is less about physical blows and more about Palpatine asserting his dominance on a fundamental level.
Dark Droids Crossover Event
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In this arc, Vader does not outwardly confront Palpatine or come to blows with the Emperor.In fact, they are not even in the same physical location. However, the presence of Scourge, a deadly AI that is turning droids into killing machines, gives Vader ideas about how he can covertly overthrow Palpatine and rid him of the Empire as a whole. It’s important to note that Vader’s goals are not altruistic for the good of the galaxy; instead, his hatred for Palpatine is a personal matter.
It is a glimpse of Anakin Skywalker, the young boy who was fascinated with building droids and has a knack for mechanics that shines through as Vader dissects the Scourge’s bots to use against Palpatine.
Vader’s internal monologue and actions during this time continue to reveal his resentment and his constant calculation of potential moves against Palpatine. The Scourge adds another layer of complexity to his schemes, as Vader is quick to realize he can reappropriate the Scourge’s base coding to use as a weapon for himself.It is a glimpse of Anakin Skywalker, the young boy who was fascinated with building droids and has a knack for mechanics that shines through as Vader dissects the Scourge’s bots to use against Palpatine.
On the Outer Rim Planet Of Caranthanax B
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Following his continued failed assassination attempts,Vader tries yet again to strike at Palpatineon the remote, icy planet of Caranthanax B, surrounded by members of the Rebellion.Leading up to this specific confrontation, Vader had acquired multiple Force-related weapons that helped enhance and channel his own powerand amassed the powers of a group known as the Schism Imperial, making him a serious threat to the Emperor instead of a bothersome gnat to be swatted away.
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Though the confrontation on Caranthanax B isn’t a drawn-out physical brawl or a full-frontal attack like some of the other attempts readers see from Vader throughout the series, it is perhaps the most scarring for Vader himself. Like their earlier encounter on Coruscant,Palpatine uses the Force to mentally and emotionally assault Vader and goads him, reminding him of his past failures and the acts of darkness he has committed.Palpatine showcases his absolute control and superiority, effectively dismantling all the power and allies Vader has amassed in the attempt to rise against him.
