Star Wars Revives Palpatine’s Greatest Sith Rival to Commemorate a Significant Milestone

Warning! This article contains major SPOILERS for Star Wars: A New Legacy #1.

Marvel Comics is commemorating a decade of canonical Star Wars stories since 2015 with a thrilling new special issue that revives a notorious Sith lord. Unlike the Jedi who ascend to become Force ghosts through enlightenment, dark side practitioners often resort to sinister means to extend their existence beyond death. This is exemplified in the tale of Darth Momin, a heretical Sith whose return adds a chilling new chapter to the Star Wars mythos.

Unveiling the New Darth Momin Narrative

The Sith Lord Possesses His New Vessel

The storyline is set in 2BBY on Alderaan, coinciding with the Empire’s celebration marking 30 years since Palpatine’s ascension as Supreme Chancellor and the subsequent transformation of the Republic into the Galactic Empire. During this event, a curated selection of artworks, including items from Palpatine’s private collection—most notably Darth Momin’s mask—are displayed. This artifact proves irresistible to a nearby stormtrooper, leading to a shocking resurgence of Darth Momin through possession.

As an artist before identifying as a Sith lord, Momin surveys the exhibited artworks with disdain, dismissing them until he spots a large piece credited as “Artist Unknown, ”igniting a rage within him. Concurrently, notable characters Doctor Chelli Aphra and Sana Starros plot to steal the art, while bounty hunter Beilert Valance seeks to apprehend Aphra for her bounty.

Darth Momin’s Legacy of Heresy

The Emperor’s Collection of Darkness

Darth Momin’s origin story reveals that he spanned the years between 1, 100-1, 000 BBY. As a child, he faced imprisonment due to his dark side experiments involving grotesque “art.”After becoming a Sith lord and ultimately murdering his master, Momin avowedly eschewed the notion of training an apprentice, believing his pursuit of dark side knowledge took precedence.He argued against the title of “master”for the Sith, proposing instead that they should exist as servants to the dark side.

Momin’s abominable creations included superweapons like the Fermata Cage, a device capable of freezing a being in a moment of fear—a reflection of his twisted desires. Ultimately, his radical beliefs led to his expulsion from Sith history, but it would only make sense for Palpatine to covet Momin’s mask and possibly more of his dark works, illuminating the cyclical nature of Sith exploitation of power.

The Final Confrontation with Commander Zahra

The Demand for Recognition

Outraged by the absence of recognition for his artistry, Darth Momin unleashes chaos at the Imperial Jubilee, asserting that none present merit his legacy. His outburst draws the attention of Imperial forces, including the formidable Commander Zahra, a character introduced by Soule. In a climactic confrontation, Zahra delivers the finishing blow, leading Momin to remark that she, too, constitutes a work of art—a harbinger of her future as a nemesis to Princess Leia after The Empire Strikes Back.

As his mask rolls away from the slain stormtrooper, the flickering red eyes of Darth Momin’s spirit begin to fade—though his existence in this tale may be brief, it reinforces Momin’s status as one of the most enigmatic villains in the Star Wars universe, highlighting his potential for live-action representation in the future.Star Wars: A New Legacy #1 is now available from Marvel Comics.

Source & Images