Setting the stage to understand this particular Vader.
Creative Staff:
Story: Greg Pak
Art: Raffaele Ienco
Colors: Neeraj Menon
Letterer: VCs Joe Caramagna
What They Say:
In this new epic chapter in the Darth Vader saga, the dark lord grapples with Luke’s unthinkable refusal and embarks on a bloody mission of rage-filled revenge against everything and everyone who had a hand in hiding and corrupting his only son. But even as he uncovers the secrets of Luke’s origins, Vader must face shocking new challenges from his own dark past. Writer Greg Pak and artist Raffaele Ienco unleash Darth Vader on his dark quest of vengeance and discovery!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The third Darth Vader series has the potential to be my favorite as it expands our understanding of the character. Greg Pak has taken on this title where we get to explore Vader after confronting Luke on Cloud City and coming to some understandings himself. I’ve enjoyed a lot of what Pak has written so far for the property but he gets to start at a really good place here. He’s joined by Raffael Ienco who is an intriguing choice for an artist. I really struggled with his work when I first saw it on a digital-first Batman title a few years ago but he’s perfectly ideal here in capturing past and present and a variation on familiar characters from the films, giving them new life. With Menon’s color work clicking very well with it, Ienco is able to deliver a fascinating Vader and familiar locations.
Taking place at the end of Empire, we get to see some of what Vader experienced in facing off against Luke from his perspective, realizing what he truly is and calling it out. Within Vader, however, we see how he views Luke as someone who has been made weak by those that raised him. And he intends to backtrack and figure all of this out so that when he does confront Luke again he’ll know far more. That has him working with an analytics droid named Zed Six Seven who he adjusts so that if he reveals anything that the pair learns along the way he’ll auto destruct. It’s a smart move and the droid is able to provide some commentary to the cooler moments by Vader where he reflects and remembers. It’s a key piece to the puzzle in a sense because as we’ve seen before, Vader spent his formative years isolating away Anakin as an “other” that was not him. Remembering things through Anakin’s eyes is not something he favors, which they’ve covered in the novels as well.
That we end up on Tattooine is no surprise, but I am amused that some criminals see the shuttle and think that they can take advantage of it, not realizing who is on there. But for the most part, the book explores him working through the old Beru residence and remembering past and understanding lineage to bring this some closure. Exploring where Luke grew up shows the similarities between the two but it requires Vader to remember himself as young Anakin as well. What drew me in, however, was the final few pages where the next step is off to Coruscant to explore Padme’s residence. It’s been sealed since her death as it’s no surprise Vader would let anyone else reside there. This sets him on another path that brings a familiar face back into play, one that I wasn’t sure would still be alive even as I read the events of the Queen’s Shadow novel that explores Padme’s early days as a Senator for Naboo on Coruscant.
In Summary:
The shocking final page is anything but to anyone who has read the wider universe and can follow it through but it is a pretty great one. This brings more of the prequel era into the original trilogy era to explore and cover what’s gone between. A lot of what worked for me with this book was in listening to Vader thinking to himself, reinforcing how Luke is weak, and how he struggles with the memories of his other life. Pak’s work is solid throughout and Ienco brings it to life in a way that I would not have bet would look as great as it does. I’ve grown to really enjoy his work but it can be really hit or miss depending on the property. The Darth Vader series may be him at his best yet and I’m excited to see more of what Ienco can bring to the page.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Marvel Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: February 5th, 2020
MSRP: $4.99
