Published: September 16, 2020
Rating: T
Writer: Greg Pak
Penciler: Raffaele Ienco
Colourist: Neeraj Menon
Cover Artist: In-Hyuk Lee
The synopsis;
A QUEST FOR TRUTH…A JOURNEY OF DESTRUCTION!
DARTH VADER’S search for revenge against those who hid his son Luke reaches a terrible climax – at the tomb of PADMÉ AMIDALA! What secrets does he learn? And who will pay as a result? All the answers are coming – in the ruins of POLIS MASSA – the birthplace of Luke Skywalker!
The review;
The direct cover by Lee for Darth Vader #5 is electrifying! Literally. Lightning splits Vader and Anakin, the two sides to the same man, and while one is cast in blood-red the other is surrounded by blue. It’s yet another contender for one of the best covers from this series so far. Meanwhile Sprouse’s anniversary variant moodily captures Vader’s subservience to the Emperor and the use of bold shadows really make the characters stand out on the cover.
Inside the tomb of Padmé Amidala, the Dark Lord of the Sith finds his final clue. A medical chip containing the coordinates for a base on Polis Nassa, where Padmé died from heartbreak and where Luke Skywalker was born. Taking Imperial forensics droid ZED-6-7 with him, Vader heads for the location in order to finally find the answers he’s been seeking. However, he demands that Sabé and her loyal Amidalans follow him for one last confrontation…
Darth Vader #5 explosively ends the Dark Heart of the Sith story-arc, but before all that action comes the moment where Vader steps inside Padmé’s tomb. It’s such a mindful moment and although there’s dialogue, it’s the artwork that makes this scene. The way Vader looks at Padmé’s sarcophagus is so beautifully drawn by Ienco, and although most fans were probably expecting the tomb interior to be ornate it’s actually very plain. That was a clever design choice as it lets readers focus on the feelings of the moment, rather than be distracted by the decorations.
From there Vader travels to a place fans will recognise from the Prequels. Polis Nassa – the asteroid belt in the Outer Rim. Pak certainly picks up the pace in this part of the story, from Vader’s anger at discovering Obi-Wan’s part to play in hiding Luke, to the explosive battle between Vader and the Amidalans. This battle is a geek’s dream come true, with ships galore to mention from across the Prequels; Z-95 Headhunters, N-1 Starfighters, and even a few new designs. It’s masterfully drawn by Ienco, especially the incredible spread in the middle of the comic which balances detail and chaos, and Menon’s colours complete the fiery panels of total destruction.
Vader’s rage builds up during this issue before he explodes entirely. Pak takes him through an emotional rollercoaster of discoveries and hearing Padmé’s final words about him as part of an old hologram recording is the final straw. He finally has his answer. Vader can blame Obi-Wan, the natives of Polis Nassa, and to some extent himself, for Padmé’s death and the deception surrounding Luke. However, Pak expertly twists the information Vader finds so he only knows about Luke, perfectly tying in with the twin revelation from Return of the Jedi.
While the story unfolds, Darth Vader #5 also includes the Dark Lord’s thoughts at some of these discoveries. Blacked out panels are interspersed throughout some pages, with Vader’s internal monologue in starkly contrasting red lettering. It certainly gives ‘seeing red’ a whole new meaning and reading the lines fans will definitely hear Vader’s chilling voice as he plots revenge.
This ‘detective’ style Vader has been a very interesting take on the character, and it makes sense that the Dark Lord would want to know more about how Luke was hidden considering how doggedly he pursued the young Jedi around the galaxy. The way Pak wove this story arc with Queen’s Shadow by E.K. Johnston along with the Prequels is absolutely brilliant and it will be exciting to see where this series heads next.
Now that Vader has found his answers, he returns to the Emperor who isn’t happy about Vader basically going AWOL. An evil grin followed by the crackle of Force lightning threateningly ends Darth Vader #5 as the Emperor taunts Vader for wallowing in grief. Who wants a lesson from the Emperor? No one, but Vader’s going to have to endure it anyway in next month’s Darth Vader #6!
Availability;
Darth Vader (2020) #5 was published on September 16, 2020 by Marvel Comics. This issue is available via The Marvel App and from all good comic bookstores and retails at $3.99.
