Star Wars: Darth Vader is Returning to the Darkest Corner of the Galaxy

Star Wars is sending Darth Vader to one of the darkest corners of the Galaxy. And while Darth Vader is fully prepared for the journey ahead, some of his followers have no clue what they are about to uncover.

Star Wars: Darth Vader #46 finds the titular villain and his Schism Imperial drifting along through space in their mission to amass further power in the name of Darth Vader. While no members of the Schism Imperial are unwilling to continue their journey, Captain Corleque is left distraught by his encounter with the Sith Eternal. Thankfully, Corleque has no reason to follow them as they make their way to Exegol. Lieutenant Pryde, on the other hand, has plenty of reason to worry about what they will find when they eventually make their way there, especially after seeing a vision of his own life ending on the planet’s pitch-black surface.

Written by GREG PAK Art by RAFFAELE IENCO Colorist FEDERICO BLEE Letterer VC’s JOE CARAMAGNA Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU and ROMULO FAJARDO JR. Variant Cover Artists BJÖRN BARENDS, CHRIS SPROUSE, KARL STORY, NEERAJ MENON, PHIL NOTO and TOM REILLY

First seen in 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Exegol is a secluded desert planet awash in darkness. Though Exegol used to be home to all manner of life, the presence and influence of the ancient Sith brought death and destruction across its surface. Over the years that followed, Exegol became the throneworld of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, better known as Emperor Palpatine. Exegol was also the birthplace of numerous individuals such as Supreme Leader Snoke and the developments that led to their creation, largely due to Darth Sidious’ continued efforts to find immortality on the planet.

Though the Schism Imperial first appeared in the pages of Darth Vader #41, though they weren’t openly referred to as such until the following issue. Though the members of the Schism Imperial primarily consist of fellow commanders in the Galactic Empire, their mission has always been to usurp the Emperor’s place. The group was formed by the Sith “Umbaran,” Sly Moore, who first appeared in 2005’s Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones as portrayed by Sandi Finlay. Since joining the Schism Imperial, the increasingly powerful Darth Vader has become their obvious would-be replacement for the Emperor.

Darth Vader joined forces with the Schism Imperial shortly after the events of the recently concluded Star Wars: Dark Droids comic book crossover event. Dark Droids saw the Galaxy Far, Far Away come under the threat of The Scourge, a sentient artificial intelligence with an insatiable hunger and desire to consume the Force itself. In its quest for power, the Scourge took hold over countless Droids before moving on to cybernetically enhanced organic lifeforms, including Darth Vader himself.

Star Wars: Darth Vader #46 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.

Source: Marvel Comics