What do you think?
Rate this book
Star Wars Legends: Comics
Star Wars - Darth Vader and the Lost Command
Still haunted by the death of Anakin Skywalker's beloved Padmé in Revenge of the Sith, Darth Vader is tasked with a mission to locate a lost Imperial expeditionary force—led by the son of Vader's rising nemesis, Moff Tarkin. But the perils of Vader's journey into the unexplored Ghost Nebula are compounded by traitors among his crew and the presence of the system's religious leader, Lady Saro.
• Collects the five-issue miniseries.
• Written by The Force Unleashed's Haden Blackman!
• Art by Rick Leonardi of Aliens vs. Predator: Three World War!
• Collects the five-issue miniseries.
• Written by The Force Unleashed's Haden Blackman!
• Art by Rick Leonardi of Aliens vs. Predator: Three World War!
120 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 9, 2011
98 people are currently reading
628 people want to read
About the author
W. Haden Blackman
256 books49 followersW. Haden Blackman is a writer who has long worked in the Star Wars universe. He is also the project lead on the MMO Star Wars: Galaxies and the video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
December 28, 2015
Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Lost Command was a good read, but I had some small issues with, for instance, the art was good...most of the time, but the dreams/visions where not as good as the rest, but I can understand that the dreams/visions did have to have another kind of art so it was easier for the reader to understand that this was not present time (Well honestly if you failed to realize that you couldn't really have understood the story very well...) I just wish the art could have been a little bit better!
The story was OK, interesting enough to read, but not as interesting as Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison. But I liked the fact that Darth Vader was shown a lot of time without his mask. That was cool. But I'm also a bit confused how he could breathe without his respirator? I mean I can understand how he could do it for a short period at time, but towards the end he was without his helmet for a long time as the image shows:
The story was OK, interesting enough to read, but not as interesting as Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison. But I liked the fact that Darth Vader was shown a lot of time without his mask. That was cool. But I'm also a bit confused how he could breathe without his respirator? I mean I can understand how he could do it for a short period at time, but towards the end he was without his helmet for a long time as the image shows:
February 6, 2022
This was quick breezy read!
It is a fascinating read and just flows so well and does well on its part to have so many intersecting plots and also does well to introduce conflict in the mind of Vader and make him meet these character and the twist there of whats happening with Garoche and how even then Palpatine has other plans just shows how dubious and evil he is and meanwhile even Vader gets some spotlight and an epic adventure here reaffirming his apprentice-ship to his master and all that so yeah a good read overall and makes for one heck of a read and the art is okay for the most part.
It is a fascinating read and just flows so well and does well on its part to have so many intersecting plots and also does well to introduce conflict in the mind of Vader and make him meet these character and the twist there of whats happening with Garoche and how even then Palpatine has other plans just shows how dubious and evil he is and meanwhile even Vader gets some spotlight and an epic adventure here reaffirming his apprentice-ship to his master and all that so yeah a good read overall and makes for one heck of a read and the art is okay for the most part.
September 8, 2016
Taking place shortly after the events of Episode III, Darth Vader is summoned by the Emperor. It seems that his ally Grand Moff Tarkin has managed to lose his son in the Atoan System. Admiral Garroche Tarkin and his lost command consists of an entire Imperial Star Destroyer.
Accompanying Vader and his 501st Imperial Legion is Captain Shale and his Special Storm Troopers who are aiding Vader in his hunt. Vader meets the Leader of the Atoan system, Lady Saro. Lady Saro agrees to help Vader locate Admiral Tarkin, but in return she wants to be the ruler of Atoa and vassal to the Empire. Vader agrees and eliminates her rivals and ensconces her as the leader of the Atoan system. But, at the last moment Vader and his 501st are betrayed by Capt. Shale who it seems is in league with Admiral Tarkin and Lady Sharo. I will let you read the whole thing to figure out the intricacies of this story. Just as Admiral Tarkin and Capt Shale have their agendas, Lord Sidious and Vader also have THEIR own agenda. The logic being that if Vader "fails" to rescue Tarkin's son, it will drive Tarkin towards the Dark Side by making him even more hateful and driven.
But underneath all the politics there is a rather touching look into the head of Darth Vader as he dreams of Padme and all that he has lost. I thought the scenes with him dreaming about her as Supreme Chancellor and he as the Grand Master of the Jedi Order with their children to be rather sad and touching. It speaks to the deep psychological scarring that is inside Vader's head.
SO with all this why only three stars? Well at the end of the day this is nothing more than a good Vader story. The artwork is not good at all. I did not like this style. Vader, Sidious both ended up looking almost like caricatures of themselves. It is certainly one of the reasons this only gets three stars. There are some issues here as well with how much the conspirators would have been able to mask something like that from Vader's Force sense.
This is a good story and a good read for any Vader fan. The poor artwork though adds nothing to this story. If the artwork was of a better caliber then I would have given this a 4 star rating. But overall, while I was not blown away, I enjoyed this Vader tale. In fact at the end I wonder if the "Lost Command" is referencing Admiral Tarkin's ISD command or Lord Vader's 501st Imperial Legion (the same unit he led as a Jedi and then assaulted the Jedi Temple with as Vader) which is wiped out here. I'll let you, the reader, to decide.
Accompanying Vader and his 501st Imperial Legion is Captain Shale and his Special Storm Troopers who are aiding Vader in his hunt. Vader meets the Leader of the Atoan system, Lady Saro. Lady Saro agrees to help Vader locate Admiral Tarkin, but in return she wants to be the ruler of Atoa and vassal to the Empire. Vader agrees and eliminates her rivals and ensconces her as the leader of the Atoan system. But, at the last moment Vader and his 501st are betrayed by Capt. Shale who it seems is in league with Admiral Tarkin and Lady Sharo. I will let you read the whole thing to figure out the intricacies of this story. Just as Admiral Tarkin and Capt Shale have their agendas, Lord Sidious and Vader also have THEIR own agenda. The logic being that if Vader "fails" to rescue Tarkin's son, it will drive Tarkin towards the Dark Side by making him even more hateful and driven.
But underneath all the politics there is a rather touching look into the head of Darth Vader as he dreams of Padme and all that he has lost. I thought the scenes with him dreaming about her as Supreme Chancellor and he as the Grand Master of the Jedi Order with their children to be rather sad and touching. It speaks to the deep psychological scarring that is inside Vader's head.
SO with all this why only three stars? Well at the end of the day this is nothing more than a good Vader story. The artwork is not good at all. I did not like this style. Vader, Sidious both ended up looking almost like caricatures of themselves. It is certainly one of the reasons this only gets three stars. There are some issues here as well with how much the conspirators would have been able to mask something like that from Vader's Force sense.
This is a good story and a good read for any Vader fan. The poor artwork though adds nothing to this story. If the artwork was of a better caliber then I would have given this a 4 star rating. But overall, while I was not blown away, I enjoyed this Vader tale. In fact at the end I wonder if the "Lost Command" is referencing Admiral Tarkin's ISD command or Lord Vader's 501st Imperial Legion (the same unit he led as a Jedi and then assaulted the Jedi Temple with as Vader) which is wiped out here. I'll let you, the reader, to decide.
October 2, 2011
It is no secret that I love Star Wars, Darth Vader, and the 501st...so I barely even hesitated before I requested this one from Dark Horse. As much as I adore the Star Wars galaxy this one sort of fell short for me, perhaps that is through my own fault as I was expecting more from it.
It's a relatively short graphic novel of about 128 pages on Adobe Editions, I've read a few other graphic novels of this length but they have all been apart of a series or were a bunch of short stories. I honestly felt that this should have been longer. It has all the elements the story needed and it was told wonderfully with great artwork, but it just kind of happened so fast that I barely got a feel for the situation. I think in this case having a little extra in the storyline would have been great and fleshed it out some more.
The artwork is usually what I call 'sketch' because of how it doesn't have definite lines, and this normally bothers me but I feel that it fit the story and situation better here.
Overall I did enjoy the novel but I didn't find it gripping or particularly fascinating. I would recommend this to hardcore Star Wars fans looking for a light read to fill in the 'visual' gaps of the universe.
I received this from Dark Horse and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's a relatively short graphic novel of about 128 pages on Adobe Editions, I've read a few other graphic novels of this length but they have all been apart of a series or were a bunch of short stories. I honestly felt that this should have been longer. It has all the elements the story needed and it was told wonderfully with great artwork, but it just kind of happened so fast that I barely got a feel for the situation. I think in this case having a little extra in the storyline would have been great and fleshed it out some more.
The artwork is usually what I call 'sketch' because of how it doesn't have definite lines, and this normally bothers me but I feel that it fit the story and situation better here.
Overall I did enjoy the novel but I didn't find it gripping or particularly fascinating. I would recommend this to hardcore Star Wars fans looking for a light read to fill in the 'visual' gaps of the universe.
I received this from Dark Horse and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2013
In all of STAR WARS, is there a character more complex than Darth Vader? In his humble beginnings, he was little more than a young boy – a tinkerer of machines – who was taken from the arms of a loving mother and placed into service of the Jedi. As a Padawan, he clearly had the support and guidance of a respected mentor in Obi-wan Kenobi, but still the movies made clear he wasn’t quite performing the way his teacher would’ve wanted in all things. He tried but failed in saving his mother. Then, he was faced with the loss of the only other woman he ever loved – and his own rage forced him to do the unthinkable. And all of this happened before he became a Sith Lord! Who could possibly imagine what would come next?
(NOTE: The following review will contain minor spoilers necessary solely for the discussion of plot and characters. If you’re the kind of reader who prefers a review entirely spoiler-free, then I’d encourage you to skip down to the last three paragraphs for my final assessment. If, however, you’re accepting of a few modest hints at ‘things to come,’ then read on …)
Darth Vader’s waking moments have begun to creep back into his recent past. He finds himself troubled with visions from the Force, those of an alternate timeline in which his love – Padme Amidala – survived and he himself became a bold champion for all of the Republic when he defeated the Sith and brought peace to the galaxy as Qui-Gon’s prophecy foretold. As he now serves under the heel of an Emperor, these are dangerous thoughts indeed, and, unless he can bring them under his control, they are bound to lead to his undoing.
That’s the real drama at the heart of DARTH VADER AND THE LOST COMMAND. Yes, that’s genuinely only the B story; the A story involves the Dark Lord being sent out into the cosmos to find the missing son of his political nemesis, Moff Tarkin. It’s believed that Garoche Tarkin is alive, being held captive by residents of a world resisting the reach of the Galactic Empire. There’s even a dissident leader – Lady Saro – introduced for good measure, but, as hard as scripter Haden Blackman tries, the A story never really achieves the heights I suppose he imagined. What works much better is the material focusing on Vader and the inevitable loss of Anakin Skywalker to the clutches of evil that have taken up residence in his broken mind, body, and soul.
In fact, I hated for LOST COMMAND to end, I was having so much fun watching Anakin’s fade. True, much of it comes out in Vader’s prosthetic face as he suggests one dark choice after another, and that mechanical visage can’t hide the humanity that’s slipping away from underneath. Vader’s often been voted the top villain in all of filmdom, and Blackman’s script uses that emotional currency to rather briefly deliver up the menacing, ruthless, and merciless heavy audiences are introduced to in the opening scenes of STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE.
What does work in the primary story is when Blackman shows readers a galaxy in conflict. We’re given all the indications that, despite the Emperor having achieved his grandest goal (in the near extinction of the Jedi Knights), things are not as hunky-dory as he would like. Worlds are beginning to push back against his totalitarian ways; and that’s why Vader’s struggle is probably so effective when coupled with the narrative here. His fall walks comfortably hand-in-hand with the fall of a Republic. While the action is intense, it never rises to the level of complexity in watching a single mind turn away from the light and embrace the darkness.
Still, LOST COMMAND is a journey worth taking. I only caution it probably won’t linger in your memory for the reasons the author and artists may’ve intended.
STAR WARS: DARTH VADER AND THE LOST COMMAND (Hardcover) is published by Dark Horse Comics. The story is written by Haden Blackman; the pencils are by Rick Leonardi; the inks are by Dan Green; the colors are by Wes Dzioba; and the lettering is by Michael Heisler. Oh, yeah: did I mention it’s all inspired by the works of George Lucas? Shame on me! This hardcover edition comes at a price of $24.99 in Republic credits, so spend ‘em wisely.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. In those early days of Anakin Skywalker slowly becoming Darth Vader, the fallen Jedi remains tortured by the choice he made; and that’s the brilliance behind so very much of DARTH VADER AND THE LOST COMMAND. Sure, there’s a lot of action and an awful lot of sacrificed Clone Troopers, but there’s a devilish heart only starting to beat inside everyone’s favorite Dark Lord of the Sith. Vader’s only beginning to realize the extent of the power he yields, and only the Emperor himself could save anyone his protégé sets his sights on. The rest of the story ends up feeling a bit too easy, a bit too convenient, and the ending feels too loosey goosey to be as effective as it could’ve been, but the Vader moments alone are pretty priceless.
In the interests of fairness, I’m pleased to disclose that the fine folks at Dark Horse Comics provided me with a digital copy of STAR WARS: DARTH VADER AND THE LOST COMMAND by request for the expressed purposes of completing this review.
(NOTE: The following review will contain minor spoilers necessary solely for the discussion of plot and characters. If you’re the kind of reader who prefers a review entirely spoiler-free, then I’d encourage you to skip down to the last three paragraphs for my final assessment. If, however, you’re accepting of a few modest hints at ‘things to come,’ then read on …)
Darth Vader’s waking moments have begun to creep back into his recent past. He finds himself troubled with visions from the Force, those of an alternate timeline in which his love – Padme Amidala – survived and he himself became a bold champion for all of the Republic when he defeated the Sith and brought peace to the galaxy as Qui-Gon’s prophecy foretold. As he now serves under the heel of an Emperor, these are dangerous thoughts indeed, and, unless he can bring them under his control, they are bound to lead to his undoing.
That’s the real drama at the heart of DARTH VADER AND THE LOST COMMAND. Yes, that’s genuinely only the B story; the A story involves the Dark Lord being sent out into the cosmos to find the missing son of his political nemesis, Moff Tarkin. It’s believed that Garoche Tarkin is alive, being held captive by residents of a world resisting the reach of the Galactic Empire. There’s even a dissident leader – Lady Saro – introduced for good measure, but, as hard as scripter Haden Blackman tries, the A story never really achieves the heights I suppose he imagined. What works much better is the material focusing on Vader and the inevitable loss of Anakin Skywalker to the clutches of evil that have taken up residence in his broken mind, body, and soul.
In fact, I hated for LOST COMMAND to end, I was having so much fun watching Anakin’s fade. True, much of it comes out in Vader’s prosthetic face as he suggests one dark choice after another, and that mechanical visage can’t hide the humanity that’s slipping away from underneath. Vader’s often been voted the top villain in all of filmdom, and Blackman’s script uses that emotional currency to rather briefly deliver up the menacing, ruthless, and merciless heavy audiences are introduced to in the opening scenes of STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE.
What does work in the primary story is when Blackman shows readers a galaxy in conflict. We’re given all the indications that, despite the Emperor having achieved his grandest goal (in the near extinction of the Jedi Knights), things are not as hunky-dory as he would like. Worlds are beginning to push back against his totalitarian ways; and that’s why Vader’s struggle is probably so effective when coupled with the narrative here. His fall walks comfortably hand-in-hand with the fall of a Republic. While the action is intense, it never rises to the level of complexity in watching a single mind turn away from the light and embrace the darkness.
Still, LOST COMMAND is a journey worth taking. I only caution it probably won’t linger in your memory for the reasons the author and artists may’ve intended.
STAR WARS: DARTH VADER AND THE LOST COMMAND (Hardcover) is published by Dark Horse Comics. The story is written by Haden Blackman; the pencils are by Rick Leonardi; the inks are by Dan Green; the colors are by Wes Dzioba; and the lettering is by Michael Heisler. Oh, yeah: did I mention it’s all inspired by the works of George Lucas? Shame on me! This hardcover edition comes at a price of $24.99 in Republic credits, so spend ‘em wisely.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. In those early days of Anakin Skywalker slowly becoming Darth Vader, the fallen Jedi remains tortured by the choice he made; and that’s the brilliance behind so very much of DARTH VADER AND THE LOST COMMAND. Sure, there’s a lot of action and an awful lot of sacrificed Clone Troopers, but there’s a devilish heart only starting to beat inside everyone’s favorite Dark Lord of the Sith. Vader’s only beginning to realize the extent of the power he yields, and only the Emperor himself could save anyone his protégé sets his sights on. The rest of the story ends up feeling a bit too easy, a bit too convenient, and the ending feels too loosey goosey to be as effective as it could’ve been, but the Vader moments alone are pretty priceless.
In the interests of fairness, I’m pleased to disclose that the fine folks at Dark Horse Comics provided me with a digital copy of STAR WARS: DARTH VADER AND THE LOST COMMAND by request for the expressed purposes of completing this review.
June 4, 2020
The story is too cold and lifeless. Only Vader's demeanor is recognizable. Though, it's cold too... The outcome has a bit of a twist, but overall the comic is difficult to recommend to any but the most die-hard fans. Oh, and the artwork sucked.
Vader must investigate the Atoa system in the Ghost Nebula where the Star Destroyer commandeered by Moff Tarkin's son Garoche has disappeared. He is joined by captain Shale, though Vader objects to his presence. Vader still needs to gain his master's confidence so he needs Tarkin's approval. During his rest, Vader experiences visions of what might have been had he remained with Padme and built a family together.
Vader must investigate the Atoa system in the Ghost Nebula where the Star Destroyer commandeered by Moff Tarkin's son Garoche has disappeared. He is joined by captain Shale, though Vader objects to his presence. Vader still needs to gain his master's confidence so he needs Tarkin's approval. During his rest, Vader experiences visions of what might have been had he remained with Padme and built a family together.
August 11, 2025
5 Stars, would give more if I could!
I've been trying to get into the Star Wars universe outside of the movies, and haven't quite found one that did it for me. This one did -
Darth Vader has to find Moff Tarkin's son, who has gone missing.
Boom! A great, compact tale folds out after that - and the authors really nail the inner turmoil of Darth Vader, a lot better than any other mediums that I have seen.
Great book - I highly recommend it!
I've been trying to get into the Star Wars universe outside of the movies, and haven't quite found one that did it for me. This one did -
Darth Vader has to find Moff Tarkin's son, who has gone missing.
Boom! A great, compact tale folds out after that - and the authors really nail the inner turmoil of Darth Vader, a lot better than any other mediums that I have seen.
Great book - I highly recommend it!
April 5, 2015
I was intrigued by the title and by the cover when I passed by this graphic novel in the library, so I picked it up. Once I started, though, I couldn't stop. Vader in his early days, when he is still coming into his own as a Sith Lord, when he is still actively haunted by all that he sacrificed, it just leaps out and grabs you.
I was a little thrown by the artwork, finding that it didn't resemble the characters from the movies all that much, but it was still quite lovely.
I was especially intrigued by how Vader is still actively haunted by Padmé and what they could have had -- a life together with their son (I loved the boy's name, Jinn -- perhaps in honor of Qui-Gon Jinn?), remaking the galaxy. It's rather interesting, the world Vader saw, Padmé as the new Chancellor. I doubted she'd be able to make the Jedi obsolete by any means (there is always evil to fight, no matter what), but it's intriguing that Anakin hoped that she would still do so.
A fascinating look into the early days of Vader...
I was a little thrown by the artwork, finding that it didn't resemble the characters from the movies all that much, but it was still quite lovely.
I was especially intrigued by how Vader is still actively haunted by Padmé and what they could have had -- a life together with their son (I loved the boy's name, Jinn -- perhaps in honor of Qui-Gon Jinn?), remaking the galaxy. It's rather interesting, the world Vader saw, Padmé as the new Chancellor. I doubted she'd be able to make the Jedi obsolete by any means (there is always evil to fight, no matter what), but it's intriguing that Anakin hoped that she would still do so.
A fascinating look into the early days of Vader...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2014
Bullet Review:
I'd write a proper review...if I actually remembered the comic (or still had a copy).
Feels like your average Star Wars story. Imperials are bad guys, oooh sexy lady, Darth Vader is BAD, some Imperial dude realizes the Empire is EVUL and turns to the Rebels, blah, blah, blah.
Is it not possible to have a story centered on Imperials without having a bunch of them turn Rebel? How does the Empire actually stay in power for as long as they do if every Imperial is fleeing to the Rebellion?
I've been looking forward to more comics in this largely unexplored era, and I just can't help but be disappointed. THIS is the best story they have to give us?
I'd write a proper review...if I actually remembered the comic (or still had a copy).
Feels like your average Star Wars story. Imperials are bad guys, oooh sexy lady, Darth Vader is BAD, some Imperial dude realizes the Empire is EVUL and turns to the Rebels, blah, blah, blah.
Is it not possible to have a story centered on Imperials without having a bunch of them turn Rebel? How does the Empire actually stay in power for as long as they do if every Imperial is fleeing to the Rebellion?
I've been looking forward to more comics in this largely unexplored era, and I just can't help but be disappointed. THIS is the best story they have to give us?
October 29, 2017
I had gotten the first issue, and thought it was worth hunting up the rest.
It was interesting, but the execution was a bit confusing. It appears that Vader is being haunted by memories, but later it appears that he was being tormented with an alternate timeline. Before that became clear, that was very distracting as I tried to figure out where certain characters came from and when these things had happened.
In the end the result is a look at a Vader (and a Tarkin) who have bits of humanity left, the destruction of which makes them more monstrous. That's fine, but I feel like it should have been more emotionally resonant than it was.
It was interesting, but the execution was a bit confusing. It appears that Vader is being haunted by memories, but later it appears that he was being tormented with an alternate timeline. Before that became clear, that was very distracting as I tried to figure out where certain characters came from and when these things had happened.
In the end the result is a look at a Vader (and a Tarkin) who have bits of humanity left, the destruction of which makes them more monstrous. That's fine, but I feel like it should have been more emotionally resonant than it was.
May 7, 2023
Egy teljesen oké Star Wars képregény, Darth Vader-rel a főszerepben. Ilyen felállások mellett, amik az Empire-ben vannak, és az alap problémáin túl, nem csodálom, hogy Darth Vader-nek dühkezelési gondjai vannak. XD Ettől függetlenül túlontúl átlagos a történet, nem sokat ad hozzá a világhoz, érzésre.
July 16, 2024
Good exploration, but too quick to move on
While I found parts if this very interesting and engaging, the format wasn't quite right for the story it was telling. Honestly, it should have been a double sized one-shot instead of a series. I think it would have flowed better and played more like the short-form movie it wants to be.
While I found parts if this very interesting and engaging, the format wasn't quite right for the story it was telling. Honestly, it should have been a double sized one-shot instead of a series. I think it would have flowed better and played more like the short-form movie it wants to be.
August 5, 2017
5 stars
Nice to see another Darth Vader comic. Hope he will try to free himself from his master. The comic was very good. We finally know why Taking is the way he is.
Can't wait to read more Star Wars comics!!!!
Nice to see another Darth Vader comic. Hope he will try to free himself from his master. The comic was very good. We finally know why Taking is the way he is.
Can't wait to read more Star Wars comics!!!!
November 15, 2011
I have a huge soft spot for bad boys and knowing that, you'd think I'd love a story about Darth Vader, the ultimate bad boy in scifi and how he regains his place as the second in command in Palpatine's new Empire. You'd think that, but you'd be wrong.
I'm not a fan of the art. This time it isn't about my general reticence when it comes to comics, this time it was specific to these artists. There are some powerful moments within the story like Darth Vader kneeling before the Emperor right after his reassembly that worked well, but most of the time the graphics didn't enhance my reading experience, they quelled it.
When Darth Vader was haunted by Padmé and the family he didn't have, I was distracted by the weak lines and blurry features. The artists were probably aiming for a dreamlike quality, but all it made me think was that I could do better (I really can't.)
In the first pages it felt like the artists tried too hard to recapture the feel of the original movie trilogy, which shouldn't be reproduced (we all know George Lucas tried that and failed. And it's his world.) Later it just felt like a mishmash of original trilogy visuals mixed with the prequels. I would have liked the artist(s) to pick a style that was more distinctively their own to create some consistency.
Darth Vader and the Lost Command ends up shining only at the descriptions of action and the attack to an unnamed (I'm a fan, not an obsessive fan) planet in an unnamed star system. These are the least interesting bits of the story itself (to me they are) and in a way it balances things.
This was my first outing with the Star Wars comics and I have to say I'm disappointed. They had the perfect opportunity and perfect setting to play with Darth Vader and his coming to terms with his place in the Empire and they blew it.
Fortunately, in this case, disappointed isn't a synonym for discouraged. I shall learn to enjoy graphic novels. I shall!
I received a copy of this publication from the publisher through NetGalley.
I'm not a fan of the art. This time it isn't about my general reticence when it comes to comics, this time it was specific to these artists. There are some powerful moments within the story like Darth Vader kneeling before the Emperor right after his reassembly that worked well, but most of the time the graphics didn't enhance my reading experience, they quelled it.
When Darth Vader was haunted by Padmé and the family he didn't have, I was distracted by the weak lines and blurry features. The artists were probably aiming for a dreamlike quality, but all it made me think was that I could do better (I really can't.)
In the first pages it felt like the artists tried too hard to recapture the feel of the original movie trilogy, which shouldn't be reproduced (we all know George Lucas tried that and failed. And it's his world.) Later it just felt like a mishmash of original trilogy visuals mixed with the prequels. I would have liked the artist(s) to pick a style that was more distinctively their own to create some consistency.
Darth Vader and the Lost Command ends up shining only at the descriptions of action and the attack to an unnamed (I'm a fan, not an obsessive fan) planet in an unnamed star system. These are the least interesting bits of the story itself (to me they are) and in a way it balances things.
This was my first outing with the Star Wars comics and I have to say I'm disappointed. They had the perfect opportunity and perfect setting to play with Darth Vader and his coming to terms with his place in the Empire and they blew it.
Fortunately, in this case, disappointed isn't a synonym for discouraged. I shall learn to enjoy graphic novels. I shall!
I received a copy of this publication from the publisher through NetGalley.
February 24, 2012
As a long time Star Wars fan, this is the Darth Vader I've wanted to see for years.
I don't make it a secret to my friends that I wish the first prequel had started with the plot of Episode III and continued until moments before Episode IV began.
For me, I always wanted to see inside the madness of Darth Vader. A man torn, haunted by his past, bitter about the family he lost, with perhaps the slight stirs of the light side still within him...buried deep within. Thankfully, with this graphic novel, I have what I wished for.
In Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Lost Command there's plenty of emotional turmoil and action on Darth Vader's part. I wish it had been a little longer, with the minor charaters a little more developed. However, this is a soild start to filling the gap between Episode III and Episode IV.
I don't make it a secret to my friends that I wish the first prequel had started with the plot of Episode III and continued until moments before Episode IV began.
For me, I always wanted to see inside the madness of Darth Vader. A man torn, haunted by his past, bitter about the family he lost, with perhaps the slight stirs of the light side still within him...buried deep within. Thankfully, with this graphic novel, I have what I wished for.
In Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Lost Command there's plenty of emotional turmoil and action on Darth Vader's part. I wish it had been a little longer, with the minor charaters a little more developed. However, this is a soild start to filling the gap between Episode III and Episode IV.
December 2, 2016
Read this review and more on my blog.
Darth Vader And The Lost Command is one of the Legends comic books.
I wish that this had been kept as Canon as this storyline very much made Darth Vader’s redemption arc in the original trilogy make a lot more sense.
This storyline follows Darth Vader following orders to find Grand Moff Tarkin’s son. Since Darth Vader is only used to / likes taking orders, and he is semi taking orders from Grand Moff Tarkin, it creates a very interesting approach as to how the story develops.
The main thing that I did not enjoy about this graphic novel was the art style. At times I was looking at the drawings and struggling to get my head around who was who.
Even though this is not canon, I would still recommend giving this a read as it is an enjoyable story and easy to follow along.
Darth Vader And The Lost Command is one of the Legends comic books.
I wish that this had been kept as Canon as this storyline very much made Darth Vader’s redemption arc in the original trilogy make a lot more sense.
This storyline follows Darth Vader following orders to find Grand Moff Tarkin’s son. Since Darth Vader is only used to / likes taking orders, and he is semi taking orders from Grand Moff Tarkin, it creates a very interesting approach as to how the story develops.
The main thing that I did not enjoy about this graphic novel was the art style. At times I was looking at the drawings and struggling to get my head around who was who.
Even though this is not canon, I would still recommend giving this a read as it is an enjoyable story and easy to follow along.
July 12, 2015
This is an action-heavy book that actually manages to deal with some fairly heavy themes (in a moderately heavy-handed way), as Vader is sent out to recoved Moff Tarkin's son in an unexplored system, and finds treachery, resolution of his feelings for Padme, and lots of people to kill. Vader is brutal here, and near unstoppable (at least two bombs explode in his face, both of which he survives with barely a scratch). The inhabitants of the system are cut off, so untranslated for the most part, with a leader who is playing a much deeper game than those around her. It is well done for the most part, but some of the Padme sections rankled, and its resolution didn't really work for me. But still, the story is told fairly well, and there's lots of action for fans of that side of Star Wars.
February 3, 2016
This is a nice arc mainly for its depiction of Darth Vader. I'm not convinced that it matches the other comics from the immediate post-III period, but Blackman does a great job of depicting a Vader who is still uncertain of himself and unrespected by his fellows. It's a really nice transition between III and IV, between Anakin and Vader. This arc's only problem is that it's too decompressed. Too many pages go by with few words and many pictures, making this a very quick read.
July 30, 2018
Okay book with okay art. Doesn’t illuminate Vader’s character very well the way they’re attempting to do with the new canon comics (which, incidentally, have like the blackest possible black Vader armor and generally great art). Worth a read if you stagger across it or can get it at a local library.
October 12, 2015
Dark. Painful. There is no hope. This was a wonderful read about Anakin's further transition into Darth Vader. I especially liked his dreams. :)
September 7, 2016
Not sure I buy the whole DV regrets dream sequences, but still a decent tale.
December 25, 2016
Pffff!! Que poco me gustan los cómics de Star Wars, puede que sea cosa mía, que los cómics definitivamente no son lo mío. No me ha gustado ninguno de los que he leído. :-(
February 15, 2022
This was really good!
May 21, 2022
This was an interesting story; I think in some ways it might have been stronger as a written novel as opposed to the comic book format in which it was originally printed. It moves at a fast pace; it held my interest throughout the narrative. What stands out to me is that I had found a copy of the last issue and that made me want to read the full story. I was grateful to find this compilation at a decent price. The story takes place shortly after the events in Revenge of the Sith.
The artwork was a bit hit-and-miss for me. When it was good, it was very good and quite strong. I did like how the artwork for the dreams was different enough from "reality" to make them distinguishable from each other (that, and the use of colors and lighting).
Some of what I felt were the strengths in the book/story:
What I felt was "weakest" about the story:
I have blathered on long enough about this story, this compilation. I enjoyed it overall. It held my interest and was a fast read for me. I am glad that I took the time to read all of the issues in this splendid compilation; it was worth the read.
The artwork was a bit hit-and-miss for me. When it was good, it was very good and quite strong. I did like how the artwork for the dreams was different enough from "reality" to make them distinguishable from each other (that, and the use of colors and lighting).
Some of what I felt were the strengths in the book/story:
What I felt was "weakest" about the story:
I have blathered on long enough about this story, this compilation. I enjoyed it overall. It held my interest and was a fast read for me. I am glad that I took the time to read all of the issues in this splendid compilation; it was worth the read.
March 1, 2022
3.5/5 stars. This story isn’t quite what I was expecting. It takes place one month after Revenge of the Sith with Vader getting used to life amidst the dark side and with his new machine body. I loved the moments of him dreaming of the life he could have had if he had destroyed Palpatine and saved Mace Windu’s life until it slowly turns more into Padmé tormenting him until Vader finally admits how much he hates himself after everything he’s done. Another good moment was at the beginning when Vader is first summoned by the Emperor and stands before him. Palpatine tells Vader to kneel before him and for a moment it looks as though Vader will refuse. There’s a lot said in that small moment with the new power structure Vader has to live by. He serves the Emperor as a servant and a slave, and does not train with him as an equal like a master and apprentice with the Jedi. Seeing Vader lead the 501st was really good too.
But for the most part the rest of the story is so-so. I thought there would be more going on in a story that involved Tarkin’s son but about halfway through the story takes an unexpected turn that didn’t do the story any favors.
The synopsis talked about Vader having to show people that he isn’t going to be used but I never really felt the stakes in this or Vader’s uncertainty as much as I should have. Also the twist with Tarkin’s son was weird and didn’t make any sense considering the loyalty Wilhuff Tarkin has to Palpatine and the Empire.
Overall, while this story had some moments, I did find myself being disappointed in a story written by Haden Blackman aka the creator of The Force Unleashed series.
But for the most part the rest of the story is so-so. I thought there would be more going on in a story that involved Tarkin’s son but about halfway through the story takes an unexpected turn that didn’t do the story any favors.
The synopsis talked about Vader having to show people that he isn’t going to be used but I never really felt the stakes in this or Vader’s uncertainty as much as I should have. Also the twist with Tarkin’s son was weird and didn’t make any sense considering the loyalty Wilhuff Tarkin has to Palpatine and the Empire.
Overall, while this story had some moments, I did find myself being disappointed in a story written by Haden Blackman aka the creator of The Force Unleashed series.
October 20, 2018
Este encadernado faz parte da coleção Star Wars Legends, do Universo Expandido de Star Wars e, portanto, não é cânone como as novas histórias escritas pela Marvel. Essas histórias foram publicadas pela Dark Horse. Escrita por W. Haden Blackman (Batwoman) e desenhada por Rick Leonardi (X-Men, Homem-Aranha 2099), O Esquadrão Perdido serve como uma espécie de Ano Um para Darth Vader. O grande Lorde Sith precisa resgatar um almirante do império em um planeta hostil cheio de rebeldes enquanto precisa lidar com o seu passado de ter abandonado a Rainha Amidala grávida de seu(s) filho(s). Ao mesmo tempo em que sofre de autocomiseração por causa de seu passado como Anakin Skywalker, Darth Vader é impiedoso com seus adversários. Tudo para descobrir que suas alucinações com sua amada são causadas pelos poderes da regente daquele planeta, que quer se ver livre do Império e ter condições de se autogerir dando ao impressão aos Siths de que governam o lugar. Mas mais uma vez a raiva e a determinação de Vader vai sobressair enquanto aqueles que se opõem a ele vão sucumbir. Um quadrinho ok de Star Wars que junta a trilogia clássica com a "nova" trilogia.
December 3, 2020
What I liked most about this book is how it nicely depicted the early Empire period - thus we have a lot of Clone Wars era equipment and vehicles but painted over in typical Imperial gray tones. It really stresses how quickly things shifted to the Empire.
The actual story in focus is a fairly interesting one, although it follows the usual Darth Vader story format where he gets sent on a mission by the Emperor, and then we follow him through that journey. Seriously, most Vader stories are like this and I kinda feel sad for his relative lack of agency in his own life. When he gave himself over to the Emperor, he REALLY dedicated his life to service.
What started as a rescue mission panned out to be a fairly complex plot with different narrative twists and turns. Of course, Vader handily deals with everything thrown his way in a manner that harkens back to his bravado as Anakin Skywalker.
Mixed feelings about the side flashes to this idealized dream world where Anakin and Padme still have a life together. But again, this is early Empire, so Anakin still sees himself as, well, himself, and he hasn't quite fully given himself over to the grim role of Darth Vader.
The actual story in focus is a fairly interesting one, although it follows the usual Darth Vader story format where he gets sent on a mission by the Emperor, and then we follow him through that journey. Seriously, most Vader stories are like this and I kinda feel sad for his relative lack of agency in his own life. When he gave himself over to the Emperor, he REALLY dedicated his life to service.
What started as a rescue mission panned out to be a fairly complex plot with different narrative twists and turns. Of course, Vader handily deals with everything thrown his way in a manner that harkens back to his bravado as Anakin Skywalker.
Mixed feelings about the side flashes to this idealized dream world where Anakin and Padme still have a life together. But again, this is early Empire, so Anakin still sees himself as, well, himself, and he hasn't quite fully given himself over to the grim role of Darth Vader.
February 1, 2018
Well this one was coming - cos apparently "hes more machine than human" - Obi Wan Kenobi
I just finished the entire movie series from 1977 up to the Last Jedi, and wanted to read more into Darth Vader. I liked how in the movies they covered the entire transformation of an orphan kid going from a slave to the Sith Lord of the Galactic Empire! Later on when Luke strongly believed there's good in Vader, like everyone else, I doubted that too. But this one from Dark Horse kinda focuses on that aspect of things, a weak Darth Vader; by bringing those brilliant dreamy pages where Padme converses with him way before he turned to the Dark Side, and showing that there's still some good in him and her influence on his decisions. Will surely recommend this to anyone trying to get to know Darth Vader.
I just finished the entire movie series from 1977 up to the Last Jedi, and wanted to read more into Darth Vader. I liked how in the movies they covered the entire transformation of an orphan kid going from a slave to the Sith Lord of the Galactic Empire! Later on when Luke strongly believed there's good in Vader, like everyone else, I doubted that too. But this one from Dark Horse kinda focuses on that aspect of things, a weak Darth Vader; by bringing those brilliant dreamy pages where Padme converses with him way before he turned to the Dark Side, and showing that there's still some good in him and her influence on his decisions. Will surely recommend this to anyone trying to get to know Darth Vader.
December 1, 2018
В галактике неспокойно — пропал отряд империи, который возглавлял сын знаменитого Гранд-моффа Таркина. Император направляет Дарта Вейдера на опасное задание — найти Таркина-младшего и вернуть его живым.
Это комикс из цикла «Легенды», однако не из-за отсутствия каноничности оно казался далеко не самым лучшим. То есть да, читать небезынтересно, персонажи все культовые и их даже раскрывают немного, есть интересные конфликты, да и мощные оригинальные сцены тоже на месте, но в остальном очень уж всё банально и буднично. Как часто было в этой серии, тут много действия, много ярких красок, но мало эмоций.
Получилось больше для глаз, меньше для сердца, и совсем мало для мозга. Можно ознакомиться из интереса, но многого ждать не стоит.
Это комикс из цикла «Легенды», однако не из-за отсутствия каноничности оно казался далеко не самым лучшим. То есть да, читать небезынтересно, персонажи все культовые и их даже раскрывают немного, есть интересные конфликты, да и мощные оригинальные сцены тоже на месте, но в остальном очень уж всё банально и буднично. Как часто было в этой серии, тут много действия, много ярких красок, но мало эмоций.
Получилось больше для глаз, меньше для сердца, и совсем мало для мозга. Можно ознакомиться из интереса, но многого ждать не стоит.
September 9, 2024
A short Dark Horse offering that would never, ever be made by Disney now.
Vader, still haunted by the death of Padme, is still wrecking everyone in between the times of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. Tarkin’s son has taken up with some ethereal hottie on another planet. Of course, they’re part of a rebellion opposing the empire.
It’s violent and satisfying, it’s just too bad Marvel wouldn’t publish anything like this now.
RIP James Earl Jones
Vader, still haunted by the death of Padme, is still wrecking everyone in between the times of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. Tarkin’s son has taken up with some ethereal hottie on another planet. Of course, they’re part of a rebellion opposing the empire.
It’s violent and satisfying, it’s just too bad Marvel wouldn’t publish anything like this now.
RIP James Earl Jones
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews