Review: Star Wars: Darth Vader #11

There are certain issues you just want to block out as a fan because it doesn’t fit with a character you know and love, this for Vader is that issue. For years the Darth Vader comics have been an example of everything that’s right with Star Wars comics, a massive, threatening Vader at the height of his powers taking down his enemies among both the Jedi and Empire one calculated step after another. This arc and especially this issue completely fall short of that standard.

Rather than seeing a strong resilient Vader we see a scared little boy with all the power but none of the willingness to use it. This is clearly meant to be a bridge to his actions in Return of the Jedi, but it simply does not carry the same weight without someone else to fight for as he eventually fights for his son. It only weakens Vader’s character to have him clearly see all of the Emperor’s faults but do nothing to oppose a very direct assault by the Emperor simply out of fear.

For Vader to see the Empire and its plans as hollow, petty and meaningless here but then simply fall back into line robs his character of all conviction. It alternately gives him motivation to hate the Emperor out of pure spite rather than pure love. That might be the point, and this may simply be the middle of his character’s journey through this series, but it is nonetheless very painful to experience. The action and the art by Raffaele Ienco looks good, but lacks consistent emotional depth.

The book ties directly to The Rise of Skywalker as Vader arrives on Exegol and discovers all that we remember from that film. We witness the cloning of the Snokes, the dark army that attacks Vader and the massive fleet of Khyber powered Star Destroyers. The craziest surprise of the issue is seeing what appears to be Luke Skywalker’s hand near the cloning tanks, making one wonder if we’ll be seeing a cloned version of Luke at some point.

Ultimately Vader arrives at the heart of darkness with the massive Khyber Crystal being tortured to turn it to darkness. Vader feels the pain and power of the Crystal and has a vision of Luke calling to him to join him and take down the Emperor. Vader bows at the issue’s end, either agreeing to serve the Emperor for the sake of power or doing it to plot his eventual overthrow.

Neither of these seem to match the Vader we know at the outset of the Return of the Jedi, but time will tell if this series can bring Vader back to at least some degree of conviction to maintain the massive stakes of his final decisions and final sacrifice.

Writing: 2 of 5 stars
Art: 3.2 of 5 stars
Colors: 3.4 of 5 stars

Overall: 2.2 of 5 stars

Writer: Greg Pak
Art: Raffaele Ienco
Colors: Neeraj Menon
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.