A vengeful Darth Vader confronts the Emperor as the Dark Droids set their sights on Coruscant

Art from Star Wars: Darth Vader #40
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

The Dark Droids arc has seen an ancient Sith weapon known as the Scourge spread its malign influence throughout the galaxy. It's turning droids against their organic masters and leading to a wave of murder across numerous worlds. And now it has its eyes set on the jewel in the Empire's crown: the planet Coruscant. 

The Scourge has already tried to possess Darth Vader - himself a cyborg - but he has a more immediate problems in the form of his rival, Mas Amedda, who tried to assassinate him. Now, in Star Wars: Darth Vader #40, the Dark Lord of the Sith is out for revenge and that means confronting Amedda - and Emperor Palpatine himself.

We have a preview of the new issue, by writer Greg Pak, artist Raffaele Ienco, colorist Federico Blee and letterer Joe Caramagna, in the gallery below.

Marvel's synopsis for the new issue reads:

"SCOURGE OF CORUSCANT! What greater prize could the DROID SCOURGE imagine than CORUSCANT, an ecumenopolis filled with millions of droids? And what greater TERROR could the people of Coruscant imagine than a horde of scourged droids…led by LORD VADER himself?"

Here's the issue's main cover by artist Leinil Francis Yu and colorist Romulo Fajardo Jr.

The cover for Star Wars: Darth Vader #40

(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

From here the Dark Droids arc continues in the main Star Wars comic, as well as the Doctor Aphra and Bounty Hunters spin-offs. It concludes on December 20 with the publication of Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #39 and Star Wars: Darth Vader #41.

Stars Wars: Darth Vader #40 is published by Marvel Comics on November 8.


The Star Wars comics are full of interesting characters that didn't start out on the big screen. Check out our list of the ten best Star Wars comics characters.

Will Salmon
Comics Editor

Will Salmon is the Comics Editor for GamesRadar/Newsarama. He has been writing about comics, film, TV, and music for more than 15 years, which is quite a long time if you stop and think about it. At Future he has previously launched scary movie magazine Horrorville, relaunched Comic Heroes, and has written for every issue of SFX magazine for over a decade. He sometimes feels very old, like Guy Pearce in Prometheus. His music writing has appeared in The Quietus, MOJO, Electronic Sound, Clash, and loads of other places and he runs the micro-label Modern Aviation, which puts out experimental music on cassette tape.

Read more
The Jedi attack.
Star Wars: The High Republic's final arc will force Keeve Trennis to face her fears – and her future with the Jedi
Andor
Star Wars fans are debating the saga's darkest moment, and it's reminding us how messed up the galaxy actually is
Jude Law in Skeleton Crew
Skeleton Crew episode 7 ends with a sinister Star Wars callback to Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars #1 cover by Phil Noto
Marvel's Star Wars comic is relaunching with a new #1 set after the end of the Galactic Civil War
ahsoka
What is Thrawn cooking? Star Wars fans are debating the Ahsoka villain's plans
Iron Man descends.
Doctor Doom is emperor of the world – but the insurgent Iron Man is coming for him in "new, deadly" armor
Latest in Comics
Sanda Vol. 1
Beastars manga creator's new Christmas-themed series Sanda is getting an English release ahead of its anime adaptation
Daredevil leaping into action by Chris Samnee
Who is Daredevil? Everything you ever wanted to know about Marvel's Man Without Fear before Daredevil: Born Again
Juggernaut and Cyclops.
The Amazing Spider-Man #68.DEATHS is a major turning point for one former X-Men villain
Uncanny X-Men #11
Professor Xavier goes into cardiac arrest as X-Manhunt kicks off in Uncanny X-Men #11
Concert of Champions #1
Concert of Champions brings together Luna Snow of Marvel Rivals, Dazzler of the X-Men, and many more for the biggest music festival in Marvel Universe history
Peacemaker and Eagly.
DC's new Peacemaker comic takes place in the universe of the show – and James Gunn was its story consultant
Latest in News
Monster Hunter Wilds beta and trailer screenshots
A Monster Hunter Wilds bug doomed one player to fight the 5-minute punching bag tutorial boss for a freakin' hour: "I’ve had to sharpen my weapon at least 15 times now"
Dave Bautista in In the Lost Lands
Dave Bautista says "I always look to Clint Eastwood" when approaching a western role: "He's always going to be my gold standard"
The Prince John foil Lorcana Promo card
I don't get how this Disney Villainous: Introduction to Evil board game is under $9 right now, when it has a free Prince John Disney Lorcana foil card inside
Ralph Macchio and William Zabka in Cobra Kai season 6
Cobra Kai mock trailer that sold the Karate Kid revival is revealed by the Netflix show’s co-creator
The King is Watching
This roguelike city-builder casts you as a benevolent Lord of the Rings villain, and its Steam Next Fest demo accidentally consumed my entire evening
Monster Hunter Wilds trailer screenshot showing a young woman with long blonde hair tied back into a ponytail smiling slightly, pumping her left fist in the air
Monster Hunter Wilds' worst feature is its "ridiculously poorly built UI," according to fans of the new action RPG – but there's already "a mod that fixes that"