Darth Vader learns his lesson in the final issue of Star Wars: Age of Rebellion
By Monita Mohan
In Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Darth Vader No. 1, the Sith Lord must earn the respect of the Emperor and his peers as he carries out his duties for the Empire.
Darth Vader is the villain to beat all villains – he’s ruthless and scary, and nothing gets in his way. But once upon a time, Vader was a young man, new to embracing the Dark Side of the Force. Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Darth Vader No. 1 explores a brief period in the young villain’s life, as Vader attempts to navigate his duties as Emperor Palpatine’s Fist.
In this final issue of the “Age of Rebellion” segment, Vader disobeys the direct orders of one of the Empire’s governors. He believes he is in the right, but the Emperor has other plans. Palpatine commands Vader to follow Governor Ahr’s orders to the letter, until Vader has “learned your lesson.” When that will be is left to Vader.
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Darth Vader No. 1 (Credit: Marvel Comics)
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Suffice to say, Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Darth Vader No. 1 ends with Vader learning his lesson, but what do his actions teach him? It sets him on the path to becoming an even more callous leader, which isn’t a story that needs to be re-told. It is also a strange decision to end the arc during a pre-Rebellion era, given the title of the segment.
That being said, the panels recounting Vader’s past life as Anakin Skywalker were an unexpected throwback that reinforces the knowledge that there is much more to Vader now than being a quintessential blank-slate villain. The prequel trilogy added so much to the character, that it’s hard not to have an emotional reaction to anything Vader endures as a Sith Lord. In her afterword, Bria LaVorgna perfectly encapsulates why Vader evokes such a response in Star Wars fans, and it all has to do with love.
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Star Wars: Age of Rebellion was not the most successful series when it came to capturing the lives of our favorite characters from a galaxy far, far away. But the series improved immensely partway through to give readers hard-hitting and relevant stories. This final issue doesn’t quite live up to the standards of the others, but it aptly shines a spotlight on a villain we all hate to love.