Star Wars: Darth Vader by Greg Pak Vol. 1: Dark Heart of the Sith by Greg Pak

Star Wars: Darth Vader by Greg Pak Vol. 1: Dark Heart of the Sith

by Greg Pak

Collects Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020) #1-5. A new chapter in the Sith Lord?s saga begins here! ?Join me, and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son!? In the shattering climax of The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader revealed his true relationship to Luke Skywalker and invited his son to stand at his side. But a horrified Luke chose to plunge into the abyss beneath Cloud City rather than turn to the Dark Side. Now Vader embarks on a bloody mission of rage-filled revenge against everything and everyone who helped to hide and corrupt his only son. But Vader must overcome shocking new challenges from his own dark past, including a hauntingly familiar face that will challenge everything he knows!

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

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Summary:

For years, Darth Vader believed that his child had died with Padme. Now, he knows the truth and must learn what else has been kept from him. More importantly, he needs to track down all those who kept the secret.

Vader’s quest for answers and vengeance puts him in the path of the Handmaidens - women loyal to Padme. Painful faces, to be sure. However, they are unlikely allies in this quest, as they want to know who was responsible for Padme and Anakin’s deaths.

Writing:

Once again, I’m late to the show. Greg Pak’s run on Darth Vader started over a year ago, but I’m just now getting around to it. The Handmaidens are some of my Star Wars characters, so I’ve been hearing the hype and hoping it lives up to my dreams.

Darth Vader Vol. 1 is an interesting start to the new series. Given everything going on, the timeline is fairly tight—it’s set after Vader learns about Luke but obviously before the conclusion of that arc.

I think I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the story so far. I love (LOVE) that Sabe and all the others are coming back to viewers/readers, but the excuse for them working with Vader could have been slightly better done. Still, beggars can’t be choosers! And it does make a certain sense, given what they think went down (remember, they don’t know Vader’s secret and therefore think Anakin is dead).

If you love the movies or Padme’s Handmaidens, this story will be worth following. I can already tell that much and can’t wait for more!

Art:

The artwork in Darth Vader Vol. 1 is really well done. It fits the overall Star Wars style (duh), but it’s more than that. I love the careful way the artists portrayed aging for our characters. They’re still recognizable for who they were (when we saw them in the movies), but likewise, you can tell time has passed. I know this is silly to say, but I’m so grateful they didn’t magically have the Handmaidens stay young.

Highlights:
Star Wars
Anakin/Padme History
Return of the Handmaidens

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 21 December, 2024: Finished reading
  • 21 December, 2024: Reviewed