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Star Wars: Darth Vader - Dark Lord of the Sith #1-4
Star Wars: Darth Vader by Charles Soule Omnibus
Lord Vader…rise! Picking up directly where Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith ends, follow Vader as he ascends to power as a Dark Lord of the Sith! Having lost everything dear to him and now more machine than man, Vader takes his first steps into a darker world — beginning by eradicating the galaxy’s remaining Jedi! But librarian Jocasta Nu is making a desperate effort to preserve the religion’s legacy — and the stirrings of a rebellion have begun in the Mon Cala system! To ensure the Emperor’s grip on the galaxy is absolute, Vader must deal swiftly and brutally with any uprisings…but he has a goal of his own. And as darkness rises above Mustafar, scene of Vader’s greatest defeat, will the man once called Anakin Skywalker realize his true destiny?
COLLECTING: Darth Vader (2017) 1-25, Darth Vader Annual (2015) 2
COLLECTING: Darth Vader (2017) 1-25, Darth Vader Annual (2015) 2
624 pages, Hardcover
Published December 21, 2021
41 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
Charles Soule
1,520 books1,691 followersCharles Soule is a #1 New York Times-bestselling novelist, comics author, screenwriter, musician, and lapsed attorney. He has written some of the most prominent stories of the last decade for Marvel, DC and Lucasfilm in addition to his own work, such as his comics Curse Words, Letter 44 and Undiscovered Country, and his original novels Light of the Jedi, The Endless Vessel, The Oracle Year and Anyone. He lives in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
June 28, 2022
“The Force is eternal. It cannot be ended, it cannot be stopped, not as long as life exists. It will find its vessels. It always does. It already has—you know this. There are others, waiting, out in the galaxy. When the time is right...the Jedi will rise again.”
I’ve talked enough about how much I love this series plenty, so if you want to see me gushing about it, read any of the full reviews for the individual volumes down below, as I’ll be discussing the quality of the omnibus itself for the rest of this review. For $100 cover price, this is a nice omnibus that I would 100% recommend to any and all Star Wars and Darth Vader fans, mainly those who grew up on the prequels or enjoy the Clone Wars era. Anyone else who is more on the fence about the prequels or Clone Wars era in general should try to find it well below cover price before diving it, since you’ll probably be disappointed in this if you aren’t already a massive fan of those movies or this era. It could still be enjoyed by those who don’t enjoy the era, but you’ll honestly just get a lot more out of this if you do.
And even though this is a fabulous run and I loved it a lot, I will admit, this is a bit too short of an omnibus that could have easily been priced at $75. Yes, even shorter than the Gillen run, which also should have been $75 even though it ended up at $100. I did not pay full price for either of these Vader omnis, and even though I never do for any of the omnis I buy, if you are a big Darth Vader fan, I’d say just pull the trigger on them both. This is one of the best books starring the character and even if the book isn’t that long, the omnibus itself is insanely nice, with thicker pages than Marvel usually uses along with a fantastic spine. Same goes for the Gillen omnibus, which I do have a full review on for those interested. Both this and the aforementioned Kieron Gillen Vader Omnibus were out of print for awhile, so if you want these books, now is the time to get them since they were both reprinted recently for the Kenobi show. Soule’s omnibus contains all 4 volumes, plus a variant cover gallery, some of Camuncoli’s art before it was colored, and Soule’s goodbye letter from the final issue of the series. I do wish it had annotations from Soule, similar to what Gillen got to do in his Vader omnibus, but I’m fine that we even got this in the first place. As mentioned before, recommended for any Star Wars and Darth Vader fans, as this omnibus is the best way to read this series by far, but try to find it for cheaper than the cover price before pulling the trigger. It is still worth at cover price though, and that final issue alone is a must read for any Darth Vader fan.
Volume 1: Imperial Machine
Volume 2: Legacy’s End
Volume 3: The Burning Seas
Volume 4: Fortress Vader
I’ve talked enough about how much I love this series plenty, so if you want to see me gushing about it, read any of the full reviews for the individual volumes down below, as I’ll be discussing the quality of the omnibus itself for the rest of this review. For $100 cover price, this is a nice omnibus that I would 100% recommend to any and all Star Wars and Darth Vader fans, mainly those who grew up on the prequels or enjoy the Clone Wars era. Anyone else who is more on the fence about the prequels or Clone Wars era in general should try to find it well below cover price before diving it, since you’ll probably be disappointed in this if you aren’t already a massive fan of those movies or this era. It could still be enjoyed by those who don’t enjoy the era, but you’ll honestly just get a lot more out of this if you do.
And even though this is a fabulous run and I loved it a lot, I will admit, this is a bit too short of an omnibus that could have easily been priced at $75. Yes, even shorter than the Gillen run, which also should have been $75 even though it ended up at $100. I did not pay full price for either of these Vader omnis, and even though I never do for any of the omnis I buy, if you are a big Darth Vader fan, I’d say just pull the trigger on them both. This is one of the best books starring the character and even if the book isn’t that long, the omnibus itself is insanely nice, with thicker pages than Marvel usually uses along with a fantastic spine. Same goes for the Gillen omnibus, which I do have a full review on for those interested. Both this and the aforementioned Kieron Gillen Vader Omnibus were out of print for awhile, so if you want these books, now is the time to get them since they were both reprinted recently for the Kenobi show. Soule’s omnibus contains all 4 volumes, plus a variant cover gallery, some of Camuncoli’s art before it was colored, and Soule’s goodbye letter from the final issue of the series. I do wish it had annotations from Soule, similar to what Gillen got to do in his Vader omnibus, but I’m fine that we even got this in the first place. As mentioned before, recommended for any Star Wars and Darth Vader fans, as this omnibus is the best way to read this series by far, but try to find it for cheaper than the cover price before pulling the trigger. It is still worth at cover price though, and that final issue alone is a must read for any Darth Vader fan.
Volume 1: Imperial Machine
Volume 2: Legacy’s End
Volume 3: The Burning Seas
Volume 4: Fortress Vader
February 12, 2024
This remains one of my favorite titles that I have read and I freaking love this run and its so epic in all the right ways like seriously there is so much good stuff here!
Charles soule does a good job showing such momentous stuff in Vader's year one esssentially like how he is the chosen one and has to fight Master Kirak Infil'a and he has taken the barash vow (HR connections already) and what that means and the stuff with khyber crystals and them being made to bleed and all that and like how he fights and destroys him is just next level carnage and I love that. He does not spare any jedi who may have been surviving after order 66 and this book is essentially that, Vader vs remaining jedi.
There is Master Jocasta Nu who gets some cool moments and exploration and how Vader hunts her down, more like she comes to her archives as she cannot stay away from it. I remember her from clone wars, she was a minor character in it, a librarian of sorts but here she gets the due and there are other characters like the Inquisitors and they get a bit of shine too and some of them meet dastardly endings because of Vader and its just freaking awesome to see, him being ruthless and all and that ferocity growing.
The story vs Mon calamari is the big one here because you see how when he is on the hunt for someone he will not let them go and will find them wherever they maybe hiding like he does with Master barr and his students and well we don't get much about him, but he does hint at Mon-calamari people's future in the rebellion and the resistance and well thats a fun nod to events to come (in the movies its been done duh) and yeah its cool to see how he is playing the long Jedi game but also shows how Vader will destroy a world and also Tarkin gets some highlight here and I love it.
Tarkin is another character who gets a couple stories here and I really like them, like he gets explored through the writer in terms of his and Vader's relationship and respect for each other and how ruthless he is and how when he is on the hunt for someone he will find them and he doesn't need the force, and there is an issue where Vader asks Tarkin to hunt him and its wild lol and I love it, the stuff in the end was good too, where he has to find a mole for his project star dust and yeah its a fun nod to the prequels, which it does a good job to tie into!
Its a very fun building up of Vader and other people he meets and then the "Fortress vader" story is just a brutal ending to this saga, and shows how he builds his own fortress and all and has this ghost of a sith? maybe named Lord momin who helps him construct his own fortress on Mustafar, a planet where he got defeated and became Vader completely and well how he conquers it and well wins lets say and that last issue with him vs his visions and going completely over to the dark side was fascinating.
ITS one of those runs which really redefines Vader's character and makes him much more compelling and adds layers of intrigue and also provides answers and is a great "year one" story lets say and I highly recommend it, and lets not forget the art and colors which are just splendid and without them the series wouldn't stand out! One of the best Disney-era SW books!
Charles soule does a good job showing such momentous stuff in Vader's year one esssentially like how he is the chosen one and has to fight Master Kirak Infil'a and he has taken the barash vow (HR connections already) and what that means and the stuff with khyber crystals and them being made to bleed and all that and like how he fights and destroys him is just next level carnage and I love that. He does not spare any jedi who may have been surviving after order 66 and this book is essentially that, Vader vs remaining jedi.
There is Master Jocasta Nu who gets some cool moments and exploration and how Vader hunts her down, more like she comes to her archives as she cannot stay away from it. I remember her from clone wars, she was a minor character in it, a librarian of sorts but here she gets the due and there are other characters like the Inquisitors and they get a bit of shine too and some of them meet dastardly endings because of Vader and its just freaking awesome to see, him being ruthless and all and that ferocity growing.
The story vs Mon calamari is the big one here because you see how when he is on the hunt for someone he will not let them go and will find them wherever they maybe hiding like he does with Master barr and his students and well we don't get much about him, but he does hint at Mon-calamari people's future in the rebellion and the resistance and well thats a fun nod to events to come (in the movies its been done duh) and yeah its cool to see how he is playing the long Jedi game but also shows how Vader will destroy a world and also Tarkin gets some highlight here and I love it.
Tarkin is another character who gets a couple stories here and I really like them, like he gets explored through the writer in terms of his and Vader's relationship and respect for each other and how ruthless he is and how when he is on the hunt for someone he will find them and he doesn't need the force, and there is an issue where Vader asks Tarkin to hunt him and its wild lol and I love it, the stuff in the end was good too, where he has to find a mole for his project star dust and yeah its a fun nod to the prequels, which it does a good job to tie into!
Its a very fun building up of Vader and other people he meets and then the "Fortress vader" story is just a brutal ending to this saga, and shows how he builds his own fortress and all and has this ghost of a sith? maybe named Lord momin who helps him construct his own fortress on Mustafar, a planet where he got defeated and became Vader completely and well how he conquers it and well wins lets say and that last issue with him vs his visions and going completely over to the dark side was fascinating.
ITS one of those runs which really redefines Vader's character and makes him much more compelling and adds layers of intrigue and also provides answers and is a great "year one" story lets say and I highly recommend it, and lets not forget the art and colors which are just splendid and without them the series wouldn't stand out! One of the best Disney-era SW books!
August 23, 2023
Charles Soule has done some really good work on Darth Vader during one of the most interesting times in this character’s life. I’ve always wondered what Vader was up to in between the prequels and the original trilogy. The chess match between Vader and Kirak Infil’a was fascinating. Following this journey as Vader gains trust and power from the Emperor is too awesome. Specifically, I loved the issue where Vader crafts his new red lightsaber, solidifying his choice and clearing up any confusion that he is a Sith Lord. The command of the Inquisitorius is also fascinating to see in action, as they were one of my favorite parts of the Rebels television series. Vader’s battle with Jocasta Nu was exciting, intriguing, intense, and heartbreaking. There doesn’t seem to be any glimmer of hope (at least writing this portion of my review halfway through this omnibus) that Vader has any remorse or Anakin left in him. It’s made very clear that this Darth Vader is operating on fear from both his enemies and allies, hunger to pursue knowledge of the Dark Side, and absolutely immense and ruthless power.
Through the third quarter of this book, I’m really enjoying every single page turn. This one focuses mostly on the power dynamic between Palpatine, Vader, and Tarkin and the interactions between them are done so well! The battle on Mon Cala, as with every battle there (see Clone Wars) was just beautiful. The war tactics must be thought up more creatively and the way the illustrations were done were so clever. When you added the Inquisitorious to this and a group of Jedi on the run from them, you really couldn’t mess that story up.
The final quarter of this omnibus was probably my least favorite, but I still thought it was great and that it actually ended fantastically! I’ve been aware of Vader’s Castle for a while and seeing the story behind it both takes away from the mystery of it and strengthens the power and legacy behind it. Overall, I loved this series! Charles Soule absolutely cares about Star Wars and the artists on this book do some of the best work in Star Wars comics.
Through the third quarter of this book, I’m really enjoying every single page turn. This one focuses mostly on the power dynamic between Palpatine, Vader, and Tarkin and the interactions between them are done so well! The battle on Mon Cala, as with every battle there (see Clone Wars) was just beautiful. The war tactics must be thought up more creatively and the way the illustrations were done were so clever. When you added the Inquisitorious to this and a group of Jedi on the run from them, you really couldn’t mess that story up.
The final quarter of this omnibus was probably my least favorite, but I still thought it was great and that it actually ended fantastically! I’ve been aware of Vader’s Castle for a while and seeing the story behind it both takes away from the mystery of it and strengthens the power and legacy behind it. Overall, I loved this series! Charles Soule absolutely cares about Star Wars and the artists on this book do some of the best work in Star Wars comics.
February 7, 2022
4,5 stars. A great showcase of Vader, his power and badass abilities, all the while exploring his vulnerabilities and broken psyche. He is never represented as the "misunderstood" anti-hero - he is just a bad guy, however even his evil ways have several layers. Stories are well crafted, fast paced and fun, with equally compelling supporting chatacters on both sides of the force.
December 25, 2021
This is absolutely amazing. Probably the best exploration of Vader that exists. Every arc is so interesting. It’s also unforgivingly brutal and violent. You will not find a sanitized and sugar coated Vader here… he is a ruthless killer. I can’t recommend this one enough. Must read.
May 2, 2022
Soule joins Gillen in writing some of the best damn Vader material ever, comics not withstanding. It always makes me happy to see Vader written with the correct voice and ruthless action he takes. From forging a new lightsaber, purging Jedi, making war, and dealing with traitors, Vader proves why he deserves to have the title of Darth, and even tho this is set after Ep III and he is fallable, he always finds a way to punish those who stand in his way. Outstanding stuff, and it reads so easy. Shout out to Camuncali for his amazing art throughout
June 5, 2022
Not your daddys Vader!
This one makes mistakes. This one does not have the respect...yet!
Seeign Darth Vader build up his streight and getting accoustumed to his new body and armor. Along with cleansing out more of the Jedi you get a fresh perspective on the most bad-ass space knight there ever was.
This one makes mistakes. This one does not have the respect...yet!
Seeign Darth Vader build up his streight and getting accoustumed to his new body and armor. Along with cleansing out more of the Jedi you get a fresh perspective on the most bad-ass space knight there ever was.
January 12, 2023
Soule had such an uphill battle with this one. Bridging the gap between Episode 3 Vader and Episode 4 Vader, trying to find a path between Emo Crybaby and Ultimate Murder Machine, just doesn't even really seem doable. That was always my biggest issue with the prequel trilogy: Anakin Skywalker just does not seem like he could ever have become the terrifying figure we see in the original films. And yet, Soule manages to mostly do the impossible.
It's not a bump-free road. Early on the story is so tied to Revenge of the Sith that I couldn't help but find Vader's depiction as the greatest living warrior a little laughable, hot on the heels of his famous "Noooooo!" But Soule quickly rights the ship, depicting a Vader subtly desperate to shed any kindness from himself as fast as possible, rapidly resorting to terrifying rage and unprovoked murder to prove to himself and to Emperor Palpatine that he has earned his place as the Emperor's right hand. It's an interesting and, in this day and age, recognizable characterization: a man who has destroyed everything good in his life has to double down on his vile choices in order to prove that they were, in fact, the correct ones.
All in all, this is about as perfect of a bridge between the prequels and the original trilogy as I could ask for. Soule also takes great advantage of the comics medium to present the spiritual side of the Dark Side that we don't often see in the movies. I definitely recommend this for even the most discerning Star Wars fan.
It's not a bump-free road. Early on the story is so tied to Revenge of the Sith that I couldn't help but find Vader's depiction as the greatest living warrior a little laughable, hot on the heels of his famous "Noooooo!" But Soule quickly rights the ship, depicting a Vader subtly desperate to shed any kindness from himself as fast as possible, rapidly resorting to terrifying rage and unprovoked murder to prove to himself and to Emperor Palpatine that he has earned his place as the Emperor's right hand. It's an interesting and, in this day and age, recognizable characterization: a man who has destroyed everything good in his life has to double down on his vile choices in order to prove that they were, in fact, the correct ones.
All in all, this is about as perfect of a bridge between the prequels and the original trilogy as I could ask for. Soule also takes great advantage of the comics medium to present the spiritual side of the Dark Side that we don't often see in the movies. I definitely recommend this for even the most discerning Star Wars fan.
January 3, 2023
Excelente!
Histórias muito empolgantes, mostrando toda a evolução de Darth Vader em sua trajetória para se tornar o ser mais letal e temido a serviço do Império. E para ficar ainda melhor, a arte de G. Camuncoli é simplesmente sensacional.
Recomendadissimo!
(Ainda traz duas histórias extras, bem no finalzinho do volume, com duas outras equipes criativas, que também são divertidas, a última delas sendo cômica)
Histórias muito empolgantes, mostrando toda a evolução de Darth Vader em sua trajetória para se tornar o ser mais letal e temido a serviço do Império. E para ficar ainda melhor, a arte de G. Camuncoli é simplesmente sensacional.
Recomendadissimo!
(Ainda traz duas histórias extras, bem no finalzinho do volume, com duas outras equipes criativas, que também são divertidas, a última delas sendo cômica)
August 19, 2022
Effing Dope comic
August 1, 2021
Doesn't quite find its groove quickly enough to really dig into it, but Soule and team clearly have a grasp of storytelling in a freeform way that allows us to really get into Vader's mind and when that's highlighted, it's pretty fantastic. The final arc, Fortress Vader, and in particular the climactic issue of that arc and the whole series are really worth the read and I love the psychedelic storytelling within the force visions, I just wish the series more fully embraced that style more consistently throughout its run rather than only giving brief glimpses into the world of the force before that final glorious dive. As for the stories, a lot of totally decent stories about hunting down Jedi after Order 66, but that's perhaps the most generic story of this era. The final arc's turn towards a fairly minor story of Vader's desire for a new home and his intersection with an ancient sith artifact feels really different where the others blur together a bit. Meeting the inquisitors was nice, though it seems I'll be seeing more of them in other media of this era. While I'm less enthusiastic about the series than I'd hoped to be, I really do recommend it, but if you start to get burned out, skip to the final arc which is really what you're here for.
February 25, 2022
4.1
This was surprisingly entertaining! I would say that it is aimed at and will please mainly the Star Wars mythos fans. With that in mind, these are solid stories, centred on the events surrounding Darth Vader’s post Episode III (Revenge of the Sith) aftermath dealings with the Emperor. Quite convincing and enlightening! I would however concur with a prior reviewer that following Vader up close, during the course of many adventures, does remove some of the mystique that made his character so mysteriously attractive during the first movie trilogy. Still, fans will be happy to read those well-written (for the most part) stories.
This was surprisingly entertaining! I would say that it is aimed at and will please mainly the Star Wars mythos fans. With that in mind, these are solid stories, centred on the events surrounding Darth Vader’s post Episode III (Revenge of the Sith) aftermath dealings with the Emperor. Quite convincing and enlightening! I would however concur with a prior reviewer that following Vader up close, during the course of many adventures, does remove some of the mystique that made his character so mysteriously attractive during the first movie trilogy. Still, fans will be happy to read those well-written (for the most part) stories.
February 14, 2022
Discover how a Sith gets their light saber and why it's red, inquisitors and killing Jedi, followed by Darth Vader's fortress. Great artwork and stories. You won't want to put it down until it's finished.
May 30, 2022
1-6, The Chosen One, ☆☆☆☆☆
7-10, The Dying Light, ☆☆☆☆
11-12, The Rule of Five, ☆☆☆☆
13-17, Burning Seas, ☆☆☆
18, Bad Ground, ☆☆☆☆
19-25, Fortress Vader, ☆☆☆☆
Annual 2, Technological Terror, ☆☆☆☆
No Good Deed..., ☆☆☆☆
7-10, The Dying Light, ☆☆☆☆
11-12, The Rule of Five, ☆☆☆☆
13-17, Burning Seas, ☆☆☆
18, Bad Ground, ☆☆☆☆
19-25, Fortress Vader, ☆☆☆☆
Annual 2, Technological Terror, ☆☆☆☆
No Good Deed..., ☆☆☆☆
January 8, 2022
Phenomenal. Not too long, self contained, and a great cast of new and iconic characters. Vader is bang on, honestly I couldn't put it down.
January 12, 2022
Does an amazing job of bridging the gaps between Revenge of the Sith, Rebels, and Rogue One. Great insight into the tortured mind of the newly transformed Anakin Skywalker.
January 24, 2022
My first Star Wars comic. If you want to spend some extra time in the galaxy far far away this is great supplemental material.
February 8, 2022
This run made me a hardcore Soule fan. His Star Wars universes are amazing.
April 14, 2022
Awesome book. Super interesting to delve more into the psyche of Vader and what makes him tick as a character. A really fun book.
April 18, 2023
Excellent comic, probably my favorite Star Wars comic run and maybe even Marvel run. Highly recommend
July 26, 2025
This is pure and absolute fire! In my opinion, it’s an improvement over the last run. This age works perfectly because no one knows Vader yet, and we get to witness this incredible development arc that culminates in what we see on the big screen. We also get to meet a couple of great Jedi characters. Mon Cala’s battle is astounding. Towards the end, the villain vs villain plot is fantastic. And I love Camuncoli.
July 24, 2024
Anything Vader is always fun and stories this closely tied to the aftermath of Revenge of the Sith feel especially interesting. "The Dying Light" with Vader's hunt for Jocasta Nu is easily the best of the four stories here. "Fortress Vader" was a cool character dive.
Read
September 7, 2024Good
April 9, 2022
All in all - a fantastic read, felt it really added to the canon nicely and I would recommend it to any big Star Wars fan. I rarely give out 5 stars, but I will round this one up from the 4.75 I truly believe it deserves! A combination of the update comments that I made throughout my first read below:
Arc 1 - The Chosen One
What an opening arc! Gives us insight into Vader's first mission after donning the suit (obtaining his lightsaber etc), whilst telling us more about the history and life of the Grand Inquisitor and the inquisitorius at large.
The whole bit with Kirak Infil'a was really nice, and interesting to see more about some Jedi who just went in another direction. The dialogue was a strong point for me, too.
Arc 2 - Dying Light
'It's only an arm... Get up and fight.' WHAT A START to an arc! Vader's brutal training of the inquisitors becomes immediately apparent, teaching them only through punishment and negative reinforcement. Really cool to see such a dark take on the character, something we could have only imagined before becoming canon is what I like to see!
Jocasta Jocasta Jocasta... Absolutely wonderful! The infiltration of the temple was a really strong point for me... You really got a sense of how much old Jocasta really cared for the archives, and it was awesome to see her fight for what she really cared about. The way she went out was absolutely brutal, but I love the tie in that Luke eventually found the interim archive laid out by her decades before.
Arc 3 - The Rule of Five
A bit of investigation into the corruption within the empire, very interesting indeed! Established Vader as a character to be respected amongst the imperial ranks, which was great to see. The merciless slaughter of 5 random officers was brutal and just what I want to see from a Vader who is finding his feet. Brilliant stuff!
Cool little tease into the underbelly of Coruscant also, interested to learn more about this 'room of masks' who seem to have infiltrated the imperial system to frame those in the empire's top ranks.
Arc 4 - Burning Seas
Awesome to see the involvement of Mon Cala, harkens back to events we saw in clone wars, whilst also teeing up the rebel alliance nicely. This was an awesome arc, and really brought out the lore of the galaxy nicely, balancing it to the time period in which the story is set. Seeing scenes underwater that aren't Otoh Gunga was also great!
Also... Ackbar is a badass! The way he faces up to Vader without fear. The way he single-handedly took down the imperial sky base. Really cool to see some OT characters getting the credit they deserve, and really seeing them in action.
Tarkin as well? Getting a taste of his military strategy first-hand has been an absolute treat to read. In his own way, he is just as brutal as Vader.
The end of the Arc with Master Barr and his following vs the Inquisitorius was okay - Vader and the inquisitors crushing the whole of that force during issue 16 is amazing! I loved the little flashbacks to see where each of the disciples got picked up, particularly the one that included Anakin. Great juxtaposition as to how far he has come (or fallen for that matter). Barr's explanation of his journey since the purge was also good, much-needed exposition that makes sense in the wider canon. THE END OF THAT ISSUE! The whole 'Order 66' thing?! WOW! Pushed Barr up in my estimations massively, a very clever move.
The pure shrewdness and self-serving nature of the inquisitors are also seen in Sixth Brother's actions toward Ninth Sister...
The whole twist with Barr at the end - really goes to show not all Jedi are as noble as it may seem, or is perhaps a testament to the fact that these major galactic events can even break the strongest of wills... Either way, this has been my favourite arc yet!
Arc 5 - Bad Land
Just a single issue. I thought it was a bit weird at the start, but by the end, I realised exactly what Soule was doing. Great issue, showing us even more about both Vader's drive to stay sharp and also Tarkin's strategic prowess, thoroughly enjoyed!
Arc 6 - Fortress Vader
This series is really going from strength to strength. Vader killing more inquisitors, the creation of the new inquisitorius, the request for Vader's castle?! Padme's cruiser, and the way he absolutely totalled it?! Man, this is awesome.
The issues with Momin and the building of Vader's castle on Mustafar were nothing short of perfect. The final issue was one of the best in the whole series. The walk through Anakin's life, the pain and devastation. Wow.
Annual 2 - The annual that compliments the series at the end was interesting... The idea that Vader feels he needs to be the big power of the empire, and in turn orchestrates and catalyses the eventual demise of the death star (by warning the Erso's of what they are creating)?
Interesting but also not sure how I feel about it.
Arc 1 - The Chosen One
What an opening arc! Gives us insight into Vader's first mission after donning the suit (obtaining his lightsaber etc), whilst telling us more about the history and life of the Grand Inquisitor and the inquisitorius at large.
The whole bit with Kirak Infil'a was really nice, and interesting to see more about some Jedi who just went in another direction. The dialogue was a strong point for me, too.
Arc 2 - Dying Light
'It's only an arm... Get up and fight.' WHAT A START to an arc! Vader's brutal training of the inquisitors becomes immediately apparent, teaching them only through punishment and negative reinforcement. Really cool to see such a dark take on the character, something we could have only imagined before becoming canon is what I like to see!
Jocasta Jocasta Jocasta... Absolutely wonderful! The infiltration of the temple was a really strong point for me... You really got a sense of how much old Jocasta really cared for the archives, and it was awesome to see her fight for what she really cared about. The way she went out was absolutely brutal, but I love the tie in that Luke eventually found the interim archive laid out by her decades before.
Arc 3 - The Rule of Five
A bit of investigation into the corruption within the empire, very interesting indeed! Established Vader as a character to be respected amongst the imperial ranks, which was great to see. The merciless slaughter of 5 random officers was brutal and just what I want to see from a Vader who is finding his feet. Brilliant stuff!
Cool little tease into the underbelly of Coruscant also, interested to learn more about this 'room of masks' who seem to have infiltrated the imperial system to frame those in the empire's top ranks.
Arc 4 - Burning Seas
Awesome to see the involvement of Mon Cala, harkens back to events we saw in clone wars, whilst also teeing up the rebel alliance nicely. This was an awesome arc, and really brought out the lore of the galaxy nicely, balancing it to the time period in which the story is set. Seeing scenes underwater that aren't Otoh Gunga was also great!
Also... Ackbar is a badass! The way he faces up to Vader without fear. The way he single-handedly took down the imperial sky base. Really cool to see some OT characters getting the credit they deserve, and really seeing them in action.
Tarkin as well? Getting a taste of his military strategy first-hand has been an absolute treat to read. In his own way, he is just as brutal as Vader.
The end of the Arc with Master Barr and his following vs the Inquisitorius was okay - Vader and the inquisitors crushing the whole of that force during issue 16 is amazing! I loved the little flashbacks to see where each of the disciples got picked up, particularly the one that included Anakin. Great juxtaposition as to how far he has come (or fallen for that matter). Barr's explanation of his journey since the purge was also good, much-needed exposition that makes sense in the wider canon. THE END OF THAT ISSUE! The whole 'Order 66' thing?! WOW! Pushed Barr up in my estimations massively, a very clever move.
The pure shrewdness and self-serving nature of the inquisitors are also seen in Sixth Brother's actions toward Ninth Sister...
The whole twist with Barr at the end - really goes to show not all Jedi are as noble as it may seem, or is perhaps a testament to the fact that these major galactic events can even break the strongest of wills... Either way, this has been my favourite arc yet!
Arc 5 - Bad Land
Just a single issue. I thought it was a bit weird at the start, but by the end, I realised exactly what Soule was doing. Great issue, showing us even more about both Vader's drive to stay sharp and also Tarkin's strategic prowess, thoroughly enjoyed!
Arc 6 - Fortress Vader
This series is really going from strength to strength. Vader killing more inquisitors, the creation of the new inquisitorius, the request for Vader's castle?! Padme's cruiser, and the way he absolutely totalled it?! Man, this is awesome.
The issues with Momin and the building of Vader's castle on Mustafar were nothing short of perfect. The final issue was one of the best in the whole series. The walk through Anakin's life, the pain and devastation. Wow.
Annual 2 - The annual that compliments the series at the end was interesting... The idea that Vader feels he needs to be the big power of the empire, and in turn orchestrates and catalyses the eventual demise of the death star (by warning the Erso's of what they are creating)?
Interesting but also not sure how I feel about it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2022
Overall this was a really solid read and if you like Darth Vader, you will like this. This Vader book, like the last one, is mostly a character study in a sense. Whereas the last one was set after A New Hope, this one is right as Revenge of the Sith ends. From the word “Nooooooooo!” this story is a go.
On the surface, its stories seem very much like annoying fan questions. How did Vader get his red lightsaber? What about his castle? How did he get his reputation? Charles Soule uses these questions not to just provide lore dumps, but to ask questions about what drives him as a character. And conversely, during this journey, it allows for examinations of characters we only saw glimpses of in the movies. If you’ve ever wondered what happened to some of the Jedi…this gives some answers. Some darker than others.
Giuseppe Camuncoli depicts this well with his art. Having a consistent artist for the whole run (not counting the Annual with a completely different creative team, which is really the only mediocre part of the book) really helps it. He manages to have an energy most of the Disney Star Wars books lack, having both visual consistency and yet not looking like a weird photocopy either. The way he depicts Vader on the astral plane is both beautiful and kind of funny if you remember he drew Spider-Man for a bit.
The only part of this collection I’d say falls flat is the annual issue. It’s not written by Soule or drawn by Camuncoli, and it shows. Wendig (not a fan of the guy’s work in general, I should note) does an ok job with a story clearly meant to tie into Rogue One, but it has none of the depth or charm of Soule’s work. It’s far from his worst foray into Star Wars,but easily the the only weak spot of this collection. It’s swiftly followed by a short, comedic story that at least leaves the collection ending on a solid note.
On the surface, its stories seem very much like annoying fan questions. How did Vader get his red lightsaber? What about his castle? How did he get his reputation? Charles Soule uses these questions not to just provide lore dumps, but to ask questions about what drives him as a character. And conversely, during this journey, it allows for examinations of characters we only saw glimpses of in the movies. If you’ve ever wondered what happened to some of the Jedi…this gives some answers. Some darker than others.
Giuseppe Camuncoli depicts this well with his art. Having a consistent artist for the whole run (not counting the Annual with a completely different creative team, which is really the only mediocre part of the book) really helps it. He manages to have an energy most of the Disney Star Wars books lack, having both visual consistency and yet not looking like a weird photocopy either. The way he depicts Vader on the astral plane is both beautiful and kind of funny if you remember he drew Spider-Man for a bit.
The only part of this collection I’d say falls flat is the annual issue. It’s not written by Soule or drawn by Camuncoli, and it shows. Wendig (not a fan of the guy’s work in general, I should note) does an ok job with a story clearly meant to tie into Rogue One, but it has none of the depth or charm of Soule’s work. It’s far from his worst foray into Star Wars,but easily the the only weak spot of this collection. It’s swiftly followed by a short, comedic story that at least leaves the collection ending on a solid note.
February 27, 2024
This run is a great place to start Star Wars comics especially when it comes to fans of the Star Wars films because this picks up immediately after episode 3. The opening panels take place during the final scene of Vader saying “NOOOOO!” and rolls straight into the story from that point. At its core this run is an analysis of Anakin/Darth Vader and what exactly makes him tick. Soule dives deep into the psyche of Vader especially when it comes to his past AND his connection to the dark and light side of the force. You get to see the early trials and struggles of Vader while he gets acclimated with his new “body” and new connection to the dark side rather than the light side. You also get to see him struggle internally with his new purpose as the empires weapon against surviving Jedi being a Ex Jedi himself and what mental struggles that trauma has brought on. Soule builds a lot of lore into the Star Wars mythos as well especially when it comes to Kyber Crystal bleeding and the making of a blood red saber for a sith. The art is stellar and gets the point across despite it looking somewhat cartoony at times. Some panels and scenes are breathtaking while others are very simple which lets the moment and dialogue breathe during the scene. Really a great addition to Star Wars lore and the character of Darth Vader.
Overall this is my favorite Star Wars run in comics. Darth Vader is one of my favorite Star Wars characters and this run somehow made him that much more of a favorite character of mine. I Highly HIGHLY recommend it to new and old Star Wars fans and Vader fans alike.
Stay Nerdy!
Overall this is my favorite Star Wars run in comics. Darth Vader is one of my favorite Star Wars characters and this run somehow made him that much more of a favorite character of mine. I Highly HIGHLY recommend it to new and old Star Wars fans and Vader fans alike.
Stay Nerdy!
January 9, 2022
Vader’s new Lightsaber go brrrrrr
This collection was a really fun read! It takes place right after the events of Revenge of the Sith so we get to see a Vader that’s fresh of the operating table!
The story is mainly about Vader hunting down the last of the Jedi, and we also get to see him build his new lightsaber, meet his inquisitors, and gain Mustafar.
My favorite scene, which is kind of a spoiler, has to be when Vader turns back to the light for a split second while trying to bleed his new kyber crystal. I just found this scene very funny as at the end of it, it seems that Obi-Wan ‘s unwillingness to kill Vader is what causes Vader to revert back into the darkness. It was almost like he couldn’t stand the idea of Obi-Wan pitying him. Like you’d rather be a horrifying murderer than have your old father/brother figure look at you with an ounce of pity, really? Darth Vader being as overly dramatic as ever. I love it!
This collection was a really fun read! It takes place right after the events of Revenge of the Sith so we get to see a Vader that’s fresh of the operating table!
The story is mainly about Vader hunting down the last of the Jedi, and we also get to see him build his new lightsaber, meet his inquisitors, and gain Mustafar.
My favorite scene, which is kind of a spoiler, has to be when Vader turns back to the light for a split second while trying to bleed his new kyber crystal. I just found this scene very funny as at the end of it, it seems that Obi-Wan ‘s unwillingness to kill Vader is what causes Vader to revert back into the darkness. It was almost like he couldn’t stand the idea of Obi-Wan pitying him. Like you’d rather be a horrifying murderer than have your old father/brother figure look at you with an ounce of pity, really? Darth Vader being as overly dramatic as ever. I love it!
September 18, 2023
100
Easily one of the best stories in the canon era, and on par with The Empire legends omnibus from last year. This is precisely how Darth Vader should be, especially during this time period - unhinged, brutal, and uncompromising. It's great to have more content set immediately after Revenge of the Sith and to see what Vader went through to find his new lightsaber, establish his palace on Mustafar, and take charge of the Inquisitorius, who are actually tolerable here, unlike pretty much every other appearance they've made elsewhere. For fans of Darth Vader, this is a six-course meal with dessert.
July 9, 2021
My favourite Charles Soule's run . It takes place after episode 3 and show us how Vader destroys the last pieces of anakin that left inside of his heart. We can see the origin of the Inquisitorious and the purge of remaining jedis.
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