Darth Vader (2017) 12: The Rule of Five: Part 2
What is it ? : Vader is returning to Coruscant and has built himself his familiar lightsaber, as they emerge over the planet the Ninth Sister reports that their transponder signal is being jammed so the planetary defences are opening fire. Vader takes control and crash lands them onto the surface of the planet.
Vader later meets with Palpatine in the hidden archive of Jocasta Nu in the Jedi Temple. Vader asks if Palpatine ordered the contract on him, and Palpatine asks for his lightsaber, commenting that it is more suited to him. Palpatine tells him that if he wanted Vader dead, he would be dead, but Vader asks if it was a test, to which Palpatine responds that he does not test, he teaches. He gives Vader the task of discovering these assassins, telling him that if he does his job properly he will not lack for people wanting to kill him.
Vader goes to his chambers and meditates, sensing masked figures discussing their attack on him, that they have no idea who he is, or why Palpatine has elevated him, so to protect their own status they are going to try to kill him again, as he cannot always be lucky.
Vader reports back to Palpatine, telling him that a lesson must be taught, since Palpatine doesn't want to rule over a dead Empire, and Palpatine agrees, he can choose 5, but not Tarkin, he requires Tarkin.
They hold a meeting with hundreds of the top Imperial Officers, and Palpatine introduces them to Vader, who he tells them speaks with his voice, and commands from him should be treated as commands from Palpatine.
Vader calls 5 officers out, and tells them that there have been 2 attempts on his life, and that he will always survive such attempts, but on this occasion, these 5 will not, and he force chokes them.
Afterwards he returns to his chambers, and as he meditates the glass in front of him shatters. . . .
High Points : The relationship between Vader and Palpatine continues to be refined, with Palpatine revealing that everything occurring is a lesson for Vader as he shapes him into the apprentice he wants. He is giving Vader free reign to shape his interactions with the Empire, within defined limits, and even this limit on his behaviour angers Vader as we see in the final frame with him shattering the window in front of him in anger.
Low Points : But this issue is really just putting everything in place for later, Vader is now known to the Empire, his power and status made known, he's got his familiar lightsaber, and I'm aware that the story jumps forward by 3 years next issue, so we're just finishing off this first arc and making everything how it should be. But that's just explanatory dialogue and moving things around and not satisfying storytelling.
So what do you really think ? : While a lot happens, it's just box ticking as we put everything interesting we've began in these beginning arcs and we check them off to make everything familiar. The time jump feels like we're moving on from this interesting set up period where Vader isn't quite Vader yet, and it seems as if the authors lacked faith in their story and just want to move onto where they can tell a more standard Vader story.
Final Words : While I'm being quite down on this issue, there are moments within it which are interesting, and worth mentioning particularly is when Vader is meditating and we see his spirit roaming as he looks for answers. His spirit is drawn with jagged undulating lines, a mess of squiggles, with his arms and legs shown as a clear white light. His damaged body radiating anger, and the severed limbs ghostlike. It's an interesting version of himself that we've never seen before, and it'll be fascinating to see if they explore this self image he has of his body as a knot of anger.
Score : 6.5/10
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