Because the Scourge of the Droids spreads throughout the galaxy, one Star Wars quote is revealing its full which means. In Rise of Skywalker, Normal Leia Organa imparts a chunk of knowledge to Rey – “by no means underestimate a droid.” Having seen the destiny of the galaxy shift due to R2-D2’s heroic mission to carry her assist, it is smart that Leia has a lot religion in artificial life – nonetheless, she had way more direct experiences that give the quote additional context.
In a preview of Alyssa Wong, Jethro Morales, Minkyu Jung, Rachelle Rosenberg, and Joe Caramagna’s Star Wars: Physician Aphra #36, Leia receives the final transmission of the Silver Arrow – a ship taken over by the Scourge. The very fact reminds followers that the Resistance was caught up within the Scourge’s try and seize all natural life within the galaxy, and witnessed its darkish deeds within the course of. Spreading from a single droid that would slot in a human palm, the Scourge now has brokers throughout the galaxy, attacking each faction and notable particular person followers know from the films. Not solely that, nevertheless it has been finishing up grotesque experiments to mix organic and artificial life – murdering numerous individuals to make use of as uncooked supplies. When Leia instructed Rey “by no means underestimate a droid,” she wasn’t simply talking as somebody who relied on one for her survival, however somebody who fought by way of a galaxy-wide plague of loss of life and mutilation unfold from a single droid.
Accomplished after the loss of life of Leia actress Carrie Fisher, a lot of Rise of Skywalker used outdated strains and current footage to piece her story collectively. Due to this, some moments match collectively poorly – Leia telling Rey to not underestimate droids is handled as sage recommendation, however whereas it does come again later when BB-8 saves Rey from a pursuing Stormtrooper, there’s positively the sense of an uncommon quantity of weight being given to dialogue that doesn’t justify it. Now, nonetheless, Star Wars has given Leia’s remark new depth – droids aren’t simply as succesful as people, however a single droid nearly took down the galaxy throughout her lifetime, resulting in the horrific deaths of troopers beneath her command.
An historical piece of tech locked away by the Sith, the Scourge was solely unleashed on the galaxy due to Girl Qi’ra’s try and outsmart Palpatine. Now, it’s working rampant, seizing numerous droids and searching for methods to cross over and do the identical to organic life, in addition to claiming the Pressure for itself. It’s a army problem followers by no means knew Leia confronted – one other struggle among the many stars that the Insurrection needed to climate with the intention to carry down the Insurrection. Marvel promised that the Darkish Droids occasion can be Star Wars horror, and the occasion has lived as much as that declare.
Now, Leia, Physician Aphra, Darth Vader, and lots of different Star Wars figures are a part of the battle to cease the Scourge claiming all life – dwelling by way of a blood-soaked battle that offers new which means to “by no means underestimate a droid.”
Star Wars: Physician Aphra #36 is out there from Marvel Comics September 27.