Dark Truth About Princess Leia Exposed

SPOILERS FOR STAR WARS #24

In Marvel's Star Wars #24, Princess Leia is looking to reassemble the Rebel Alliance after narrowly escaping the ice planet of Hoth in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. However, the Galactic Empire and Commander Ellian Zahra had other plans for the Rebellion fleet. Zahra was set on avenging Grand Moff Tarkin’s death when the first Death Star was blown up in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. This protégé of Grand Moff Tarkin exhibited a strong desire to accomplish her mission of wiping out the Rebels once and for all as she waged a personal vendetta against Princess Leia for her role in Tarkin's demise.

In this upcoming issue of the comics, Princess Leia and Zahra engage in their final showdown. Commander Zahra had narrowly escaped the destruction of the first Death Star and was now in command of the Star Destroyer Tarkin's Will. In their previous encounter, Princess Leia went face-to-face with Zahra and lost her hope temporarily. She regained her faith during the fight when the Rebellion’s fleet unleashed chaos on Zahra’s Star Destroyer from the inside. However, Zahra survived as the Tarkin's Will crashed to the surface, and challenged Leia to settle their score once and for all. Although Zahra appeared to have the upper hand at first, a surprise attack from a large cave creature left her pinned to the cave wall at the mercy of Leia.

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This Star Wars story reveals the dark side of Princess Leia, showing that she has more in common with her nemesis, Grand Moff Tarkin. Leia tells Zahra that she had blood on her hand. Her role in the assault on the Death Star caused the deaths of more people than anyone else except for Grand Moff Tarkin himself.

What sets Princess Leia and Grand Moff Tarkin apart is that Princess Leia only kills when it is absolutely necessary in the Rebellion’s fight for justice against tyranny. She does not kill for revenge. The attack against the Death Star was not to avenge Tarkin's destruction of Alderaan. It was to further their cause for freedom. As she explains, Princess Leia kills only when absolutely necessary in the fight against the evil in the galaxy:

“Destroying the Death Star… And killing him… That wasn’t REVENGE. It was a terrible choice made in a war against FEAR and TYRANNY.”

It is surprising to hear Princess Leia admits to the dark side of her position. The fanbase is used to the perception that Princess Leia sets the stage for an attack by planning and organizing her fleet strategically to defeat Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire. No one thinks of the guilt weighing down on her as she sees the results of these attacks. I do not think anyone would see her as a cold-blooded killer. Although, it is a little jarring to hear her admit her part in the deaths of many. Interestingly enough, this dark reveal does not put a bad image upon Princess Leia.

Princess Leia does not kill Zahra herself but leaves the Imperial pinned against the cave wall to fend for herself against the atrocious cave creatures. Fans can assume that Princess Leia emerges victorious from this showdown as her rivalry with Ellian Zahra comes to an end. Although Princess Leia’s reasoning for killing others is justified and legitimate in good moral terms, it is still a dark thing to be compared to the ruthless Grand Moff Tarkin as one of the leading killers in this conflict.

Read more about Princess Leia’s battle with Commander Zahra in Star Wars #24 available now.

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Written By: Charles Cunha

Source(s): ScreenRant [1], [2]

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