Published: August 12, 2020
Rating: T
Writer: Greg Pak
Penciler: Raffaele Ienco
Colourist: Neeraj Menon
Cover Artist: In-Hyuk Lee
The synopsis;
WHO HUNTS THE HUNTER? DARTH VADER continues his terrifying quest for vengeance against everyone who hid the existence of his son from him. But on NABOO, the DARK LORD OF THE SITH faces a deadly new challenge as his focus turns from LUKE to PADMÉ, the wife of the man Vader used to be. And what secrets lie in the tomb of PADMÉ AMIDALA?
The review;
Lee’s direct cover is absolutely breathtaking and heartbreaking all at the same time. A melancholy Vader grasps at the fading ghost, or memory, of his beloved Padmé, all surrounded by the most beautiful golden sunset. It’s definitely one of the best covers for this series so far. The anniversary variant focusses on Dagobah and Sprouse has even included the pterodactyl-like bogwing last seen in “Voices” from Season 6 of The Clone Wars.
After being unexpectedly betrayed by Sabé and her Naboo forces, the Amidalans, Darth Vader must fight his way out of the trap they have set. Yet through it all Vader is torn – he keeps seeing Padmé in his mind’s eye, hearing her voice as he slaughters her people. Rather than flee Naboo though, Vader is determined to visit one last place and at the tomb of Padmé Amidala he finds all five former royal handmaidens waiting…
So, let’s talk about this trap first. Pak could’ve written an ambush, maybe a cave collapse, but he went much bigger. Sando Aqua Monster bigger. It famously appeared in The Phantom Menace as Qui Gon’s “bigger fish” and made a cameo in “Monster” from Forces of Destiny. Ienco has drawn it brilliantly, really playing with its huge scale in the opening panels. Much like the Zillo beast in Age of Resistance: Kylo Ren #1, even a gigantic monster isn’t enough to stop a Dark Sider. After slaying the beast there’s a very impactful moment when Vader sees his reflection in its dead, vacant eye. It may be only one brief panel but it really emphasises how torn Vader is about killing the creature.
Darth Vader #4 has taken on a much more serious tone, with the Dark Lord possibly doing some self-reflection while on Naboo. Pak writes Vader in such a way that as a fan you can’t help but wonder what Vader is thinking. It’s almost impossible to get into the mind of a Sith, but it could be that Vader knows Padmé would hate the monster he has become. Even the sarcasm of forensic analysis droid ZED-6-7 falls flat, and Vader soon has enough of him, sending the droid away with a Force-push. Pak writes it deliberately like this so that Vader can eventually enter the tomb of Padmé completely alone – except for his own haunting thoughts.
Although Padmé’s funeral procession is part of Revenge of the Sith, her final resting place has never been seen before in the modern canon and fans are only teased with the exterior in Darth Vader #4. Ienco perfectly captures the Naboo architecture; a simple green-domed mausoleum framed with doors carved in flowers and a statue of Padmé as Queen. This new territory is extremely thrilling and how Pak will explore it further in the next issue will be very exciting. It will also be interesting to see whether the interior will use any of the design features from Erik Maell’s “Mourning for Padmé” Topps card from 2012.
However, Vader cannot simply enter the tomb. He’s barred by Sabé and the rest of the former royal handmaidens: Eritaé, Rabé, Saché and Dormé. All were trained by the Naboo Security Forces in combat, and all of them are convinced that Vader killed Padmé. The following interaction is amazingly written by Pak, who plays on Vader’s guilt. Knowing how much the women meant to Padmé, he offers them a chance to walk away – a chivalrous act most fans wouldn’t typically associate with the Sith Lord. It’s yet another amazing moment when Pak writes this torn Vader.
The finale for Darth Vader #4 is a fast-paced dynamic between past and present. As Vader faces off against the handmaidens, he sees flashes of Padmé, scenes from the Prequels, and he remembers all that he made for her. All that’s he’s now destroying. Darth Vader #4 ends with Vader entering the tomb of his beloved – but what will he find? The Dark Heart of the Sith will be uncovered in Darth Vader #5 next month!
Availability;
Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020) #4 was published August 12, 2020 by Marvel Comics. This issue is available via The Marvel App and from all good comic bookstores and retails at $3.99.
