Darth Vader is the ruthless Sith Lord we all recognize—a terror to any Imperial officer or Stormtrooper who dares make a mistake in his presence.
We’ve seen countless examples of Vader using his infamous Force choke to end the lives of those who fail him.
But what about his Stormtroopers? Specifically, the legendary 501st Legion, also known as “Vader’s Fist”? These are the elite soldiers who fought under his command.
So, how did Darth Vader really treat or punish his Stormtroopers? Here is the exact answer you are looking for.
Table of Contents
Using Stormtroopers as a Human Shield
In Star Wars (2015) Issue #1, we pick up after the destruction of the Death Star, as seen in A New Hope.
The Rebels continue their fight against the Empire, with Han Solo, Leia Organa, and Luke Skywalker launching a daring mission to attack an Imperial weapons facility on Cymoon 1.
Meanwhile, Darth Vader is on Cymoon 1 for a separate mission: negotiating with Jabba the Hutt.
Upon arriving at the facility, Vader quickly realizes the base is under attack by Rebel forces.
Outside the facility, Chewbacca has Darth Vader in his sights, aiming a rifle and waiting for Leia’s command.
As soon as Leia gives the order, Chewbacca unleashes a relentless barrage of blaster fire at Vader.
What happens next is a chilling display of Vader’s ruthlessness.
Without hesitation, he uses nearby stormtroopers as human shields, positioning them to absorb every single shot.
Ending a Stormtrooper’s Life for Seeing Vader’s Face
Continuing into issue #2 of the same comic series, things take an even darker turn.
This time, Darth Vader brutally snaps the neck of a stormtrooper who accidentally sees his unmasked face.
As we saw in issue #1, the Rebels launched a chaotic attack on the Empire’s weapons facility on Cymoon 1.
Amid the chaos, Han Solo and Leia commandeer an AT-AT, wreaking havoc on the base while interrupting a tense confrontation between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.
In the confusion, the AT-AT’s destructive firepower causes Vader to fall amidst collapsing debris, knocking off his helmet.
A stormtrooper, unaware of Vader’s presence among the rubble, stumbles across the scene and accidentally catches a glimpse of the Sith Lord’s true face.
What happens next is swift and merciless—Vader uses the Force to break the stormtrooper’s neck in an instant, ensuring that no one lives to see him unmasked.
Vader’s Ruthlessness Against Disobedience
In Darth Vader (2013) Issue #14, we see yet another brutal example of Darth Vader’s treatment of stormtroopers who dare to question his authority.
During a mission to the Graveyard on Alderaan, Vader is accompanied by an elite squad of six stormtroopers tasked with capturing Tag Rogaren, a target of high importance to the Empire.
The mission itself was a success, but the aftermath revealed Vader’s uncompromising nature.
When it came to deciding what to do with Rogaren, the stormtroopers suggested taking him to Imperial Center for further interrogation.
Vader, however, had a different idea—he wanted to question the man himself, right then and there.
This disagreement led to a chilling moment where Vader mercilessly slaughtered the entire elite stormtrooper squad, one by one.
The most haunting part came when one of the troopers pleaded with Vader, saying, “My lord, please. We both serve the Emperor.”
Vader’s response was as cold as it was revealing: “Correction. You are compensated by the Empire for your service… I serve the Emperor.”