Star Wars: Darth Vader #23
- Writer
- Greg Pak
- Artist
- Raffaele Ienco
- Letterer
- VC's Joe Caramagna
- Cover Artist
- Paul Renaud
- Publisher
- Marvel
- Price
- $3.99
- Release Date
- 2022-06-01
- Colorist
- Carlos Lopez
The name Darth Vader strikes fear in the farthest reaches of the Star Wars Universe, from the cantinas of Mos Eisley to the rebel bases of Yavin IV. He has vanquished countless armies and gutted humongous beasts. But, for a man obsessed with the notion of order, the exploits of his son, Luke Skywalker, are an embarrassment -- especially as they add fuel to the flames of rebellion. As the Sith apprentice starts questioning his life's quest, the return of Padme's handmaiden, Sabe, muddles his mind further. Written by Greg Pak with artwork from Raffaele Ienco and Carlos Lopez and lettering by VC's Joe Caramagna, Marvel's Star Wars: Darth Vader #23 confronts Vader with the past.
The Crimson Dawn has infiltrated the highest ranks of the Empire, and Lord Vader is on a mission to wipe them from the face of the galaxy. Star Wars: Darth Vader #23 takes Vader and Sabe to the distant planet of Gabredor III. In honor of Anakin's mother, Shmi, the Amidalas had liberated the people of Tatooine, but now they are in grave danger. As Darth Vader wallows in painful memories, Sabe brings him to the refugee camp to face reality. Vader sees this as a chance to kill two birds with one stone -- defeat the Crimson Dawn and bring order to the Empire.
"There is good in him. I know..." were the last words that Senator Padme Amidala said about her husband, Anakin Skywalker, and despite Darth Vader's best efforts to bury his Jedi self in the past, those words reach out to him like a siren's song. Star Wars: Darth Vader #23 offers Vader a chance to do the right thing for once, but Vader being Vader, things will only get messier from here. Writer Greg Pak's storytelling intertwines the past with the present to create a layered narrative that brings elements from the franchise's history back into the mix. As the story moves along, the invisible threat becomes apparent bit by bit, adding an air of suspense to the storyline.
Artist Raffaele Ienco and colorist Carlos Lopez help give form to the expanse of the Star Wars universe. Ienco's voluptuous lines adapt to new surroundings from panel to panel, depicting a vast range of flora and fauna as the scenery changes at lightspeed. While they add a granular filter to the topography, it is his bold inking style that gives depth to the visuals. Be it the sinister frame of Vader standing head and shoulders above others or the radiant beauty of Sabe, the paneling in this issue makes each moment feel dramatic. Lopez spreads an array of bright colors through every corner of the book, and the dark outline of Vader stands out even in the heat of battle.
Despite its emotional moments, Star Wars: Darth Vader #23 does not stop to smell the roses. Instead, it flies like a podracer from one plot point to the next. This issue is steeped in nostalgia, as Vader meets two of his oldest friends from Tatooine, and seeing them alive has stirred something in the black-clad brute. Star Wars: Darth Vader #23 ends with the promise of a new counteroffensive that has the potential to send major shockwaves through the Star Wars Universe.
