Comic Review: Darth Vader (2020) #46

Well, if one guest review wasn’t enough, you have me for a second while Kat is indisposed elsewhere! Last issue highlighted divisions within the Empire of how troops viewed Vader and how the Empire as a whole operated. It was a great issue to bring new fans in. However, that was not the latest story prior to this one. Saturday saw this year’s Free Comic Book Day, in which half of the Star Wars contribution was from writer Greg Pak. Within that issue, we saw the return of several characters and the appearance of Vader. Rather than been a one off, this story feeds directly the current storyline and I’m intrigued to see how it will all play out. Joining Greg Pak this issue is artist Raffaele Ienco, who is no stranger to this series. Let’s see what the pair have for us this week in part one of ‘The Razing of Exegol’…

The start of the issue sees a very brief recap of the events of the Free Comic Book Day story. Babe and Warba meet up almost immediately, both in pursuit of Luke Skywalker. What they will do when they find him, we don’t know. However, we do know the outcome: Luke will survive. Any task they set themselves is bound to fail. What I find most interesting, is that at the end of the Free Comic Book issue, we see Vader himself show up and know that one of these characters is working for Vader. If you haven’t read that issue and are just following this series, this knowledge remains unknown to you. With this been the only appearance of the duo in this issue, I wonder if Pak will return to this information in the next comic or he is going to have this as ‘secret’ information for those that haven’t read the free instalment.

We then travel to the Red Honeycomb zone and the Sith Eternal. Pak has thought of all the ways that Vader shouldn’t be able to find and follow them, and they are all addressed. The hate for Vader – which you would think would be unwanted in the men who are following him – actually turns out to be a strength here. It seems very in keeping with the dark side, they don’t want followers who are blindly obedient, but followers who hate them as it gives them power (or in this case – cover!).

Throughout the issue, we see how the Sith Eternal have a profound effect on those that they touch. They are mentally delving into people’s minds. Ienco does a great job of illustrating this and you can feel the pain that is been caused by this process. Some of the action scenes in this issue can get a bit busy and further on in the issue I did have to look twice to make sure I understood what was happening between Vader and the Sith Eternal. That said, the panel with Vader walking out of the red smoke is incredible, Ienco capturing the moment perfectly and creating a very Vader-ess scene.

We are introduced to a new creature called a Summa-verminoth. Even when asleep, this creature is able to cause unbearable pain to those that get near it. It’s an interesting sort of creature, one that we have seen before in Solo as well as Darth Vader. Clearly, we are going to get to know this creature better and I’m intrigued to learn more about it. It’s one of those designs that feels more at home in Watchmen than Star Wars but the interaction it is going to have with Vader could really add some freshness to the galaxy.

What I like most about this issue is how Vader is handled. As much as I like Vader – and this is after all a Darth Vader series – Vader is best used conservatively. He shouldn’t’ be in every scene, every panel. He should be left a mystery, with the timing of his appearances very carefully planned out. In this comic, you feel that. Pak has been careful not to overplay him but give us short bursts of him. It means when he does show up, the impact is so much more. Along with this, we see such development of Vader. Yes, he likes to go in blasters blazing – well force powers and lightsabers – but he is learning that this isn’t always the best way. We see a much more strategic Vader in this issue, one that understands that deceit and deception are powerful tools of the Sith and they too need to be utilised to ensure victory. It is a side of Vader we see very little of, the focus is always on the powerful, crushing Vader. That’s not to say that there isn’t action, there’s plenty of that but there is also so much more.

This issue is incredibly face paced, not allowing the reader a moments rest. It’s better for it. You are taken on a whirlwind ride that for some writers, I imagine they’d stretch over two or three issues. Pak doesn’t make that mistake and instead gets right to the point. It’s a great entry point for new readers who have found their way through the Free Comic Book Day event, and readers of that issue will have a bit of a head-start to what is happening with Sabe and Warba. I’m not sure if they’ll be in the next issue, part of me thinks they’re included here to help guide the new readers, rather than for the story. Even so, to have a quick catch up for fans who haven’t read the issue, is extremely helpful. The next issue I’m expecting even more action and Vader really been unleashed. I mean, how else do you take on a Summa-verminoth?

Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020) is an ongoing series published by Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $4.99 and is available via ComiXology and from all good comic book stores.