Darth Vader #3 – The Chosen One Part III Review

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The assault for Vader’s new lightsaber commences.

This review contains plot details for Darth Vader #3 – The Chosen One Part III.

Darth Vader #3 – The Chosen One Part III

Writer: Charles Soule | Pencils: Giuseppe Camuncoli | Inks: Cam Smith | Colorist: David Curiel | Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna | Cover Artist: Olivier Coipel | Assistant Editor: Heather Antos | Editor: Jordan B. White

Darth Vader continues his quest for his Sith lightsaber. This quest brings him to the River Moon of Al’doleem. On this moon, Master Infil’a resides. Infil’a survived Order 66 and senses Vader’s approach. Believing Vader responsible for the death of all the Jedi, he allows Vader to proceed up his mountain. Once he makes it to the top, Vader challenges Infil’a and loses. Badly. Darth Vader #3 – The Chosen One Part III concludes with Infil’a casting Vader over the side of a cliff.

Infil’a’s Choices

Despite the urging of his droid, Master Infil’a refuses his to hide. Indeed, he declares that pretending not to be a Jedi wouldn’t be easy. In fact, it would be impossible. This is an interesting contrast to Obi-Wan Kenobi. In his solitude on Tatooine, Kenobi posed as a hermit. He let people think he was crazy. Unlike Infil’A, he hid his identity. However, there is a difference between the two Jedi. While Infil’A went to Al’doleem as a penance, Kenobi went to Tatooine on a mission.

Kenobi safeguards Luke, the future of the Jedi. In contrast, Infil’A committed some sort of crime against the Force or the Jedi. For his actions, he serves a penance. He took the Barash vow and removed himself from the Jedi Order so that he might better serve the Force. While on Al’doleem, Infil’A resided on the top of Passvaal, a sacred place designed to test any Jedi that ventured there.

Infil’A and Kenobi both serve the future of Force and the Jedi in their own way. Kenobi protects the embodiment of the light side of the Force and Jedi in Luke. Infil’a declares his Barash complete and hopes to rebuild the Jedi and restore light to the galaxy.

Vader’s Confrontation with Infil’a

The Chosen One Part III demonstrates Vader’s power in the Force. After all, he has no lightsaber. Therefore, he must rely on the Force to combat Infil’A and the traps of Passvaal. Interestingly, Vader finds himself on a mountain designed to Jedi. However, he is there to acquire a Jedi’s Kyber crystal and prove himself as a Sith.

Infil’a defends himself by unleashing the powers and traps of Passvaal. He starts with opening the sluice gate of the damn controlling a river flowing around Passvaal. Vader is plunged under a torrent of water. Much like Moses, Vader parts the water, only he uses the Force. Later, while crossing a bridge, rapotrians, eagle like creatures, attack Vader. He uses his brute physical strength and blunt, raw power in the Force to fight them off.

Despite Vader’s strength in the Force, Infil’a overwhelms him. Vader loses a leg, and then Infil’a throws him over the side of the mountain. Somewhat surprising is that Infil’a only threw Vader over the side of the cliff. Given the strength Vader demonstrated, one might have expected Infil’a to finish off Vader in a more certain matter.

Infil’a’s Epiphany

While clashing with Vader, Infil’a reaches out with the Force. He then senses Vader’s purpose. He knows Vader wants his lightsaber. Whether Infil’a knows of this new Sith tradition for obtaining lightsabers is unknown. In addition, Infil’a learns more about the Sith. He realizes the downfall of the Jedi couldn’t have been solely Vader’s doing. Infil’a believes Vader is too weak. He must have a more powerful master. Therefore, Infil’a vows to destroy the master next.

Conclusion

It is not surprising that Infil’a proved a challenge for Vader. However, it is surprising that Infil’a utterly dominated Darth Vader in their first confrontation. Vader is still new to his armor and cybernetic limbs. In addition, he has no lightsaber. Therefore, he was at a disadvantage in his fight with Infil’a.

Although, don’t forget the name of this story arc: The Chosen One. Anakin, now Darth Vader, is the Chosen One. Darth Sidious recruited him for his potential and power. Despite the disadvantages in fighting Infil’a, one might have expected Vader to overcome them. After all, Vader unleashed so much power against the traps of Passvaal.

With The Chosen One Part III, Charles Soule continues a incredible story of Vader’s early days. The Legends universe of Star Wars stories often employed the notion of “shatterpoints.” Sometimes shatterpoints were physical things. For instance, a piece of armor might crumble if struck at the weakest point, which is the shatterpoint. Similarly, events might prove to be a shatterpoint. Anakin’s decision to save Palpatine from the Emperor was one such shatterpoint on which the fate of the galaxy hinged. The moment in which Infil’a passed on finishing off Vader is another one. The Chosen One Part III teases a fascinating alternate story of Star Wars.