Comic Review: Darth Vader (2020-) #1

Darth Vader #1

Marvel Comics

Writer: Greg Pak

Artists: Raffaele Ienco and Neeraj Menon

If you were to ask me a few years ago if an ongoing Darth Vader comic is something I want, I wouldn’t even think about it before answering no. Vader’s great, love that guy, but he’s not what I typically consider a compelling protagonist. He’s certainly a great antagonist, but everything that makes Vader work seems to oppose what makes a good protagonist. Yet here I am today, having essentially read a new Vader book every month for nearly five years. Greg Pak and Raffaele Ienco’s new Darth Vader #1 is no exception and delivers another compelling Vader tale.

The thing that stands out the most about this book is its dedication to connecting the Prequel version of the character with the original. Generally, even a casual reference to the prequels is enough to raise my guard, which is why it’s so surprising that it was so enjoyable here. While Vader is investigating Luke’s existence, he keeps stumbling upon things that trigger memories of his other life. The book attempts to make all of these events work within the confines of what we know about Vader. He never says any of this out loud, and only expresses his sorrow through the anger and violence he’s now known for. It’s a surprisingly satisfying method of cleaning up the character in a way that doesn’t throw the less desirable aspects away. Instead, it shines a light on them.

The conceit of the story itself also works very well. After Empire, there are essentially only two avenues for Vader to take that makes sense. One, he hunts down Luke, or two, he finds out who’s responsible for hiding his existence in the first place. The former, while interesting, only serves to lessen the impact of their next meeting, so naturally, you can’t go there. This leaves an equally satisfying option on the table, and it’s one that allows for a natural exploration of Vader’s past without it compromising his character. It humanizes Vader without destroying the character’s arc that follows, which is ultimately the book’s greatest strength.

While the character journey might be its strongest aspect, it’s not the only one. Penciller Raffaele Ienco and colorist Neeraj Menon do a stellar job of selling this story. Ienco’s style isn’t my absolute favorite, but it’s undeniable that he has a strong grip on storytelling. Plus, he’s a huge step up from the unfortunate wax-face style of many modern Star Wars books. Meanwhile, Menon makes the particularly astute choice of coloring the flashbacks with a strong red tint. It’s another example of great character building and the fact that it infects every facet of this book all the way down to the coloring is a testament to its commitment to the pitch.

Darth Vader #1 is one of the best Vader comics in a sea of outstanding Vader books. It leans into the character’s history, the good and the ugly, and manages to produce something more than coherent of it. With such a strong art team as well as a script so well-executed, I struggle to think of someone I wouldn’t recommend this to.