Comic Talk: Darth Vader #10

Darth Vader is arguably the most iconic character of an entire franchise of iconic characters. Vader has been a goldmine of merchandise for decades and he will continue to sell merchandise long after "Baby" Grogu "Yoda" is a forgotten memory. Star Wars comics have always cashed in on Darth Vader. Dark Horse had a dedicated Vader line from 2011 - 2014 and Marvel has hardly let a month go by without a comic with Vader's name on the cover. The current Vader line is actually the 3rd to be published under the title "Darth Vader". 

Prerequisites:

You do not have to be familiar with the plot of the first Marvel Vader line that covered the timeframe between "A New Hope" and "The Empire Strikes Back" to enjoy this comic. You also don't have to read the "Darth Vader Lord of Sith" series, the "Vader: Dark Visions" or the "Target Vader" series. 

What you should really be familiar with before tackling "Darth Vader #1" (2020) is the novel "Queen's Shadow" by EK Johnston. Trust me, it's worth it. 

Who wrote this?

Grek Pak has been writing Star Wars comics since 2019. Pak first wrote the series "Age of Rebellion" before taking over as head writer on the closing arc of the main Star Wars line (#68 - #75). 

Characters: 

Vader is on a journey of self-discovery in which he is haunted by his past, his present, and his future. The journey has taken him to the planet Tatooine (where he grew up), the planet Naboo (where he fell in love), the asteroid field of Polis Massa (where his son was born), the planet Mustafar (where he was reborn), and now the planet Exegol (where his Master keeps secrets). 

Ochi of Bestoon is a Sith assassin, who was first introduced in "The Rise of Skywalker". Palpatine had tasked Ochi with eliminating Vader, but now Ochi is very much a captive and along for the ride on Vader's strange quest.

Why Should I Read It?: 

The character of Darth Vader has never been so compelling. Fresh from his duel with his son, Luke Skywalker, Vader is questioning his place in the Galaxy. Vader's tenuous relationship with his master has always been strained, but now it feels like it's at the breaking point. Vader wants Palpatine dead and Palpatine knows it. This series bridges the gap between Bespin and Endor, but also draws on storylines from both the Prequels and the Sequels.

What's Next?

I will be back in two weeks to review Star Wars Adventures #4