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Star Wars: Darth Vader (2015) #1-4
Star Wars: Darth Vader Omnibus
One of the greatest antagonists in all of fiction rises again! Fresh from a stinging defeat at the hands of the Rebel Alliance, Darth Vader must reassert the Empire's iron grip on the galaxy. But will his personal desire for vengeance against the young Jedi who destroyed the Death Star distract from Vader's duty to the Emperor? As a fateful quest begins, the Dark Lord of the Sith will face fresh threats to his power. And, as other villains old and new play their part - from Boba Fett and Jabba the Hutt to diabolical debutante Aphra and the killer droids Triple-Zero and BeeTee - will Vader's Imperial march continue, or will his schemes prove his undoing? COLLECTING: DARTH VADER 1-25 AND ANNUAL, STAR WARS: VADER DOWN 1, STAR WARS 13-14
736 pages, Hardcover
First published September 19, 2017
33 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
About the author
Kieron Gillen
1,472 books1,907 followersKieron Gillen is a comic book writer and former media journalist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
June 15, 2022
"I am a lord of the Sith. They are the ones who should be running.”
The book that made me give Star Wars comics another chance, Star Wars: Darth Vader by Kieron Gillen & Salvador Larroca is one of the best Star Wars runs any fan of this franchise can read. Covering the time period between A New Hope & The Empire Strikes Back, these 5 volumes detail “The Fall & Rise of Darth Vader”, showing how Darth Vader gained control of the Executor Star Destroyer and the knowledge that Luke Skywalker is his son. While we all know that Vader will make it out of this run okay, there was still plenty of tension regarding the question of how he would. Gillen also writes in some truly amazing new characters into the Star Wars universe, with Doctor Aphra, BeeTee, and Triple-Zero being some of my favorite additions to the Star Wars mythos. Down below are my individual reviews of each volume, but this is an easy recommendation to any Star Wars fan. The omnibus I read this in is also fantastic, with the pages being a lot thicker than the paper Marvel usually uses for omnibuses. The binding is sturdy as well, and the book has a large cover gallery as well as annotations for each arc by Kieron Gillen. Amazing Star Wars run and I cannot wait to start diving into the Doctor Aphra run by Gillen & Spurrier that came after this.
Volume 1: Vader
Volume 2: Shadows and Secrets
Vader & Shadows and Secrets (Hardcover 1)
Volume 2.5: Vader Down
Volume 3: The Shu-Torun War
Volume 4: End of Games
Vader Down, Shu-Torun War & End of Games (Hardcover 2)
The book that made me give Star Wars comics another chance, Star Wars: Darth Vader by Kieron Gillen & Salvador Larroca is one of the best Star Wars runs any fan of this franchise can read. Covering the time period between A New Hope & The Empire Strikes Back, these 5 volumes detail “The Fall & Rise of Darth Vader”, showing how Darth Vader gained control of the Executor Star Destroyer and the knowledge that Luke Skywalker is his son. While we all know that Vader will make it out of this run okay, there was still plenty of tension regarding the question of how he would. Gillen also writes in some truly amazing new characters into the Star Wars universe, with Doctor Aphra, BeeTee, and Triple-Zero being some of my favorite additions to the Star Wars mythos. Down below are my individual reviews of each volume, but this is an easy recommendation to any Star Wars fan. The omnibus I read this in is also fantastic, with the pages being a lot thicker than the paper Marvel usually uses for omnibuses. The binding is sturdy as well, and the book has a large cover gallery as well as annotations for each arc by Kieron Gillen. Amazing Star Wars run and I cannot wait to start diving into the Doctor Aphra run by Gillen & Spurrier that came after this.
Volume 1: Vader
Volume 2: Shadows and Secrets
Vader & Shadows and Secrets (Hardcover 1)
Volume 2.5: Vader Down
Volume 3: The Shu-Torun War
Volume 4: End of Games
Vader Down, Shu-Torun War & End of Games (Hardcover 2)
December 21, 2017
Must read for Dr. Aphra and her murderous droids. One of the coolest new characters in the new canon.
March 4, 2023
5 stars based on the artwork alone.
September 5, 2021
Do you even Star Wars bro?! 🪐
I reread the Darthvader omnibus and i liked it even better the second time around. For me Darthvader really is at the center of the entire Star Wars universe, and just the most badass all around. And he is just one of the best villains of all time. Its really impressive how they show his inner strugle and conflict, while maintaining him to be the baddest motherfucker in the galaxy. The artwork is great, the side characters with Doctor Aphra and her evil droids, really fun, and The Vader Down arc has to be one of the coolest arcs i have ever seen. This book is not without its flaws, it has a really lesser second half and a couple ok issues, but this is still a very worthy book ! Cant wait to read more of the universe and the new Darthvader omnibus that will arrive later in the year.
I reread the Darthvader omnibus and i liked it even better the second time around. For me Darthvader really is at the center of the entire Star Wars universe, and just the most badass all around. And he is just one of the best villains of all time. Its really impressive how they show his inner strugle and conflict, while maintaining him to be the baddest motherfucker in the galaxy. The artwork is great, the side characters with Doctor Aphra and her evil droids, really fun, and The Vader Down arc has to be one of the coolest arcs i have ever seen. This book is not without its flaws, it has a really lesser second half and a couple ok issues, but this is still a very worthy book ! Cant wait to read more of the universe and the new Darthvader omnibus that will arrive later in the year.
March 12, 2021
Crítica completa
Darth Vader es uno de los grandes villanos de la historia del cine. Su mera silueta nos evoca a aquel monstruo que, en la primera película de la saga, abordaba la Tantive IV y era escoltado por siniestros soldados de asalto. Al principio como una sombra terrorífica, halló un interesante desarrollo en El Imperio contraataca y en El retorno del Jedi, donde aquel samurái futurista de una galaxia muy, muy lejana lograba una historia de auge y caída, de un Jedi que se entregó al Lado Oscuro. Las precuelas creadas por Lucas narraron cómo el Elegido, en busca de salvar a aquellos que amaba y bajo la maraña de la red de los Sith y los Jedi, se acabaría convirtiendo en un ser trágico. Si alguien piensa en Star Wars, piensa en Darth Vader.
Cuando Disney compró Lucasfilm, la licencia para la realización de nuevos cómics pasó a Marvel tras estar varios años en Dark Horse. No olvidemos que, antes del estreno de Una nueva esperanza, George Lucas había cedido los derechos para los cómics a Marvel, así que fue un regreso al antiguo hogar y la Casa de las Ideas apostó por varias series y miniseries realizadas por autores solventes que se dedicarían a expandir el nuevo canon de la saga. Y lo que se nota es que muchos de estos creadores crecieron jugando con estos personajes y varios de estos relatos tienen la ilusión de un fan jugando con la creación de Lucas.
Marvel dedicaría toda una serie a Darth Vader. Pero ¿qué quedaba por contar? No era una idea sencilla. Muchos villanos que son sobreexplotados pierden el aura de misterio. Numerosos fans se quejaron de que las precuelas contaban demasiado. Sin embargo, Marvel aprovechó los huecos entre las películas para explicar, desarrollar y narrar nuevas historias dedicadas a la mano derecha del Emperador. Para ello, decidieron contar con el guionista Kieron Gillen y con el dibujante Salvador Larroca. ¿El resultado? Una de las mejores series del nuevo canon, que sirve para desarrollar todavía más a Vader.
Darth Vader es uno de los grandes villanos de la historia del cine. Su mera silueta nos evoca a aquel monstruo que, en la primera película de la saga, abordaba la Tantive IV y era escoltado por siniestros soldados de asalto. Al principio como una sombra terrorífica, halló un interesante desarrollo en El Imperio contraataca y en El retorno del Jedi, donde aquel samurái futurista de una galaxia muy, muy lejana lograba una historia de auge y caída, de un Jedi que se entregó al Lado Oscuro. Las precuelas creadas por Lucas narraron cómo el Elegido, en busca de salvar a aquellos que amaba y bajo la maraña de la red de los Sith y los Jedi, se acabaría convirtiendo en un ser trágico. Si alguien piensa en Star Wars, piensa en Darth Vader.
El alzamiento de Vader
Cuando Disney compró Lucasfilm, la licencia para la realización de nuevos cómics pasó a Marvel tras estar varios años en Dark Horse. No olvidemos que, antes del estreno de Una nueva esperanza, George Lucas había cedido los derechos para los cómics a Marvel, así que fue un regreso al antiguo hogar y la Casa de las Ideas apostó por varias series y miniseries realizadas por autores solventes que se dedicarían a expandir el nuevo canon de la saga. Y lo que se nota es que muchos de estos creadores crecieron jugando con estos personajes y varios de estos relatos tienen la ilusión de un fan jugando con la creación de Lucas.
Marvel dedicaría toda una serie a Darth Vader. Pero ¿qué quedaba por contar? No era una idea sencilla. Muchos villanos que son sobreexplotados pierden el aura de misterio. Numerosos fans se quejaron de que las precuelas contaban demasiado. Sin embargo, Marvel aprovechó los huecos entre las películas para explicar, desarrollar y narrar nuevas historias dedicadas a la mano derecha del Emperador. Para ello, decidieron contar con el guionista Kieron Gillen y con el dibujante Salvador Larroca. ¿El resultado? Una de las mejores series del nuevo canon, que sirve para desarrollar todavía más a Vader.
La serie se compone de cinco arcos: Vader, Sombras y secretos, Vader derribado, La guerra Shu-Torun y El final de todos los juegos. Se sitúa poco después de la destrucción de la Estrella de la Muerte, la primera victoria de la rebelión, y se focaliza en cómo Vader debe recuperar la credibilidad ante el Imperio, aunque suponga colaborar con cazarrecompensas, jugar a su propio juego por el poder y averiguar quién es el tal Luke Skywalker, que lleva un apellido que hacía años que no escuchaba. Por su período temporal, va en paralelo y tiene cruces con la serie de Star Wars de Jason Aaron (véase Vader derribado).
El argumento nace de la siguiente idea de Gillen:
«Lo he dicho mil veces, El Imperio contraataca es la primera película que recuerdo haber visto en el cine y el momento álgido de esa película es la escena del «yo soy tu padre». Así que, el hecho de que me viera en la situación de tener que escribir lo contrario, el implícito «Tengo un hijo», es algo que, sencillamente, me dejó y me deja estupefacto. Es un buen trabajo este de escribir Darth Vader».
Continúa aquí
April 13, 2021
Сам Вейдер у Гиллена вышел более скучным, чем у Соула, но сюжет хорош, а самое главное - тут впервые появляется Доктор Афра, "гендерно и морально инвертированный Индиана Джонс", и ее парочка дроидов-социопатов BT-1 и 0-0-0 - злые доппельгангеры R2D2 и С3PO. И вот они-то всю серию на себе отлично тащат, с шутками и прибаутками, пытками и уничтожением людей и частной собственности. Познакомившись с Афрой, планирую в срочном порядке прочесть ее титульную серию.
April 19, 2018
Really the best Star Wars stories I've read. This does what Lords of the Sith didn't manage to accomplish, it fleshes out Darth Vader's character without ever bucking the rules established by the movies. It cleverly demonstrates how the Emperor punished his apprentice for the loss of the first Death Star and how Vader managed to regain the Emperor's favour before the Empire Strikes Back. Loved the antagonists, they were a more credible threat than the Free Ryloth Movement, and while Vader dispatched all of them with relative ease, it always looked cool and satisfying. All in all, great read.
November 28, 2024
Three stars maybe more because I'm finding the average quality of Star Wars products sadly low.
The narrative arcs address three (four?) issues:
1 - the "rise" of Darth Vader from the failure of A New Hope to the power and characterization he has in The Empire Strikes Back
2 - cross-over with the famous rebel heroes and their adventures in the parallel comic series Star Wars
3 - relationship with Darth Sidious and, in general, the science vs magic conflict that I like so much
4 - I list this but I don't know if it was conceived from the beginning: the introduction into the narrative universe of a character with a very high potential, Doctor Aphra
(1-3)
Darth Vader is well drawn (pun not intended). Aside from a joke about killing children, I didn't perceive any lapses in style and the character manages to be terrifying, powerful and dramatic when necessary without changing his personality.
The events that lead him to go from being blamed for the loss of the Death Star to commanding the Executor and having information and contacts that go beyond his role in the Empire are sensible and interesting.
The same goes for Darth Vader's Force-free replacements, highly technological and bizarre imperial servants, a real threat to the protagonist not so much for their lethality as for his master's habit of using everyone as tools to be thrown away as soon as there are better ones.
One of the big problems is the speed and superficiality with which the new characters are introduced (and often killed). In the final notes of the omnibus the author himself highlights this with some regret, so for once I don't feel like I'm the only one who feels the comics are "too fast".
(2)
Vader Down is the big cross-over in the omnibus and it managed to satisfy me even though it is mostly action with the Sith Lord in one-man army mode.
I think it is also the arc with the most suggestive tables.
Speaking about drawings in general, Darth Vader is very lacking in terms of drawings for me. The subjects are interesting, with styles that recall different types of space opera, but they are often flat, with "little pathos", they follow the shots and expressions of the films too much when there are "big names" on page, etc. Unfortunately they do not do justice to the events narrated.
(4)
Doctor Aphra is an original character who can compete in quality with the historical ones.
A more "rogue" version of Indiana Jones, she manages to offer tension, irony and twists. Her relationship with the protagonist is only apparently one of alliance: Vader is a (lightsaber) sword of Damocles who could kill her regardless of her successes in carrying out the missions he assigns her. The conflict for the evil she must do and the constant threat of death are two of the best aspects of the series.
A character unlike many of those in the films but in line with the franchise. The same goes for the two sadistic droids that accompany her, deeply indebted to a certain "ancestor" of theirs from the Star Wars video games.
A good series that adds several interesting elements to the galaxy far, far away, it fits well between the first two films, filling a hole in the new Disney canon and entertaining. Too bad for the too many "speeded up" parts, for the many characters eliminated before being incisive and for the worldbuilding not explored in depth.
The narrative arcs address three (four?) issues:
1 - the "rise" of Darth Vader from the failure of A New Hope to the power and characterization he has in The Empire Strikes Back
2 - cross-over with the famous rebel heroes and their adventures in the parallel comic series Star Wars
3 - relationship with Darth Sidious and, in general, the science vs magic conflict that I like so much
4 - I list this but I don't know if it was conceived from the beginning: the introduction into the narrative universe of a character with a very high potential, Doctor Aphra
(1-3)
Darth Vader is well drawn (pun not intended). Aside from a joke about killing children, I didn't perceive any lapses in style and the character manages to be terrifying, powerful and dramatic when necessary without changing his personality.
The events that lead him to go from being blamed for the loss of the Death Star to commanding the Executor and having information and contacts that go beyond his role in the Empire are sensible and interesting.
The same goes for Darth Vader's Force-free replacements, highly technological and bizarre imperial servants, a real threat to the protagonist not so much for their lethality as for his master's habit of using everyone as tools to be thrown away as soon as there are better ones.
One of the big problems is the speed and superficiality with which the new characters are introduced (and often killed). In the final notes of the omnibus the author himself highlights this with some regret, so for once I don't feel like I'm the only one who feels the comics are "too fast".
(2)
Vader Down is the big cross-over in the omnibus and it managed to satisfy me even though it is mostly action with the Sith Lord in one-man army mode.
I think it is also the arc with the most suggestive tables.
Speaking about drawings in general, Darth Vader is very lacking in terms of drawings for me. The subjects are interesting, with styles that recall different types of space opera, but they are often flat, with "little pathos", they follow the shots and expressions of the films too much when there are "big names" on page, etc. Unfortunately they do not do justice to the events narrated.
(4)
Doctor Aphra is an original character who can compete in quality with the historical ones.
A more "rogue" version of Indiana Jones, she manages to offer tension, irony and twists. Her relationship with the protagonist is only apparently one of alliance: Vader is a (lightsaber) sword of Damocles who could kill her regardless of her successes in carrying out the missions he assigns her. The conflict for the evil she must do and the constant threat of death are two of the best aspects of the series.
A character unlike many of those in the films but in line with the franchise. The same goes for the two sadistic droids that accompany her, deeply indebted to a certain "ancestor" of theirs from the Star Wars video games.
A good series that adds several interesting elements to the galaxy far, far away, it fits well between the first two films, filling a hole in the new Disney canon and entertaining. Too bad for the too many "speeded up" parts, for the many characters eliminated before being incisive and for the worldbuilding not explored in depth.
December 31, 2022
Very, very good!!!
Kieron Gillen is a really talented writer, I have loved him since his Journey into Mystery and X-men days. And Salvador Larroca is a great artist, his Iron Man is still my gold standard for art.
This story is set between Episodes 4 and 5. It's about Vader loosing his high position in the Empire and doing everything to get it back. And it's so fun seeing him plot and outsmart everyone! He's at his most charismatic here. The famous Vader Down storyline happens in the middle of this omnibus and it's really great and trilling to read!
Also, the charming Doctor Aphra makes her first appearance here. She is witty, slightly amoral, and too much of an opportunist. So she's naturally my favorite character! I'll be jumping to the Doctor Aphra omnibus soon!
Kieron Gillen is a really talented writer, I have loved him since his Journey into Mystery and X-men days. And Salvador Larroca is a great artist, his Iron Man is still my gold standard for art.
This story is set between Episodes 4 and 5. It's about Vader loosing his high position in the Empire and doing everything to get it back. And it's so fun seeing him plot and outsmart everyone! He's at his most charismatic here. The famous Vader Down storyline happens in the middle of this omnibus and it's really great and trilling to read!
Also, the charming Doctor Aphra makes her first appearance here. She is witty, slightly amoral, and too much of an opportunist. So she's naturally my favorite character! I'll be jumping to the Doctor Aphra omnibus soon!
June 22, 2023
The first couple of issues were pretty slow and boring, but after that I was so enraptured that I almost jumped out of my chair every time I turned the page. Made me love Vader’s character even more.
November 26, 2019
Guess what? I cried at the end.
March 15, 2021
I've always wanted to hear the inner thoughts of the most iconic star wars character. It works out beautifuly in this book. But the good in him is still buried deep within him during this run of the Darth Vader Saga.
December 28, 2022
I am now obsessed with Triple Zero, Beetee, and Dr. Aphra. Vader Down was the highlight, but this whole omnibus is amazing.
April 7, 2025
3.5 Really great, I’m finding I’m loving SW maybe more but I haven’t finished that yet
June 26, 2024
Very enjoyable, which is what I was looking for in a star Wars comic! There are some clever turns, and even knowing where the story will go (to Empire Strikes Back), it held my interest!
March 14, 2023
«A menudo me he preguntado si lo que levantamos de la mesa de operaciones era una máquina o un hombre... Me alegro de saber ya la respuesta».
Nunca le voy a decir que no a una historia de Star Wars y poco a poco ir completando los huecos que hay entre las películas es muy chulo.
Nunca le voy a decir que no a una historia de Star Wars y poco a poco ir completando los huecos que hay entre las películas es muy chulo.
August 9, 2023
This is just a fantastic read. I’ve heard a lot about this Sho-Torun War and I’m happy it lived up to the hype. I’m excited to see what else happens in the main Star Wars series because I know it comes back later. But Vader is an absolute unit in this run with zero mercy for anything in the Galaxy. A very good time. Happy to be finally he catching up with this stuff set between Episodes 4 and 5.
August 28, 2024
The 2015 Darth Vader series isn't perfect, but it's an excellent look at Darth Vader in the time between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back that fleshes out his story in ways that make a lot of sense and introduces a lot of interesting new characters. It's easy to recommend this omnibus, collecting the entire 25-issue run, to Star Wars fans.
In broad strokes, this series is about Vader getting back in the Emperor's good graces after the events of A New Hope. It follows the trend of a lot of stories from this period of development of the new Star Wars canon -- it just makes logical sense for this to be the story that's being told here in a way that's very pleasing to my brain. Obviously the Emperor would be unhappy with Vader, but we see him with more power in the next movie, so what happened in between? And now we know.
The series is split into four main arcs and a crossover with the ongoing Star Wars comic series (written by Jason Aaron) that was being released at the same time. Three of the arcs and the crossover are great, while the remaining one is a bit lacking:
The series starts extremely strong with the first two arcs, introducing Vader's investigation into Luke Skywalker, need to prove himself to the Emperor, and surrounding cast of characters. The sort of "dark-side Indiana Jones" character Doctor Aphra is a highlight and good counterbalance to Vader's seriousness, and her two violent droids are even better -- they're my favorite characters in the whole series. Sherlock Holmes-esque Inspector Thanoth is also pretty good and it's a joy to see him battle wits with Vader. Vader and the Emperor themselves are also well captured here; I could read practically every line in their voices and it all feels authentic to their characters.
The crossover with Jason Aaron's Star Wars series is a good opportunity to see some of these secondary characters interact with the main Star Wars heroes, but doesn't have too big of an impact.
The third arc is the weakest, and felt the most like a self-contained story instead of an important part of the Star Wars saga.
And the fourth/final arc wraps thing up nicely while placing Vader in the position he needs to be in for The Empire Strikes Back -- although there's the ever-present issue of Vader being so powerful that he can easily dispatch foes, leading to little suspense once he actually meets his antagonists on the field of battle.
Overall, Kieron Gillen establishes himself a great Star Wars writer who understands the characters and the universe. Hot off reading this series, I'm eager to read the rest of his Star Wars work.
Unfortunately, you may have noticed I haven't said anything about the art. I'm sad to say that much of the art is lackluster -- while Vader looks good in passive shots and the framing and lighting do a good job indicating his feelings without facial expressions, this series utterly fails at action scenes and almost anything more complicated than a close-up of a character's face. The final arc in particular loses a lot of its visual impact with flat-looking full-page space scenes where it looks like tons of ships are right next to or on top of each other and action sequences that don't convey motion in ways that make sense. It really is a shame that the art is so bad, because the writing is so good.
This omnibus also comes with a cover gallery -- some of the alternate covers are quite impressive, I love John Tyler Christopher's action figure covers in particular -- and a breakdown from Gillen of each arc in the series and what his thought process was behind it. This breakdown solidifies Gillen's Star Wars bona fides: this is a smart, Star Wars-loving guy who wrote a great comic series.
Overall, I highly recommend Star Wars: Darth Vader (2015) -- but for the excellent story, not the poor art.
In broad strokes, this series is about Vader getting back in the Emperor's good graces after the events of A New Hope. It follows the trend of a lot of stories from this period of development of the new Star Wars canon -- it just makes logical sense for this to be the story that's being told here in a way that's very pleasing to my brain. Obviously the Emperor would be unhappy with Vader, but we see him with more power in the next movie, so what happened in between? And now we know.
The series is split into four main arcs and a crossover with the ongoing Star Wars comic series (written by Jason Aaron) that was being released at the same time. Three of the arcs and the crossover are great, while the remaining one is a bit lacking:
The series starts extremely strong with the first two arcs, introducing Vader's investigation into Luke Skywalker, need to prove himself to the Emperor, and surrounding cast of characters. The sort of "dark-side Indiana Jones" character Doctor Aphra is a highlight and good counterbalance to Vader's seriousness, and her two violent droids are even better -- they're my favorite characters in the whole series. Sherlock Holmes-esque Inspector Thanoth is also pretty good and it's a joy to see him battle wits with Vader. Vader and the Emperor themselves are also well captured here; I could read practically every line in their voices and it all feels authentic to their characters.
The crossover with Jason Aaron's Star Wars series is a good opportunity to see some of these secondary characters interact with the main Star Wars heroes, but doesn't have too big of an impact.
The third arc is the weakest, and felt the most like a self-contained story instead of an important part of the Star Wars saga.
And the fourth/final arc wraps thing up nicely while placing Vader in the position he needs to be in for The Empire Strikes Back -- although there's the ever-present issue of Vader being so powerful that he can easily dispatch foes, leading to little suspense once he actually meets his antagonists on the field of battle.
Overall, Kieron Gillen establishes himself a great Star Wars writer who understands the characters and the universe. Hot off reading this series, I'm eager to read the rest of his Star Wars work.
Unfortunately, you may have noticed I haven't said anything about the art. I'm sad to say that much of the art is lackluster -- while Vader looks good in passive shots and the framing and lighting do a good job indicating his feelings without facial expressions, this series utterly fails at action scenes and almost anything more complicated than a close-up of a character's face. The final arc in particular loses a lot of its visual impact with flat-looking full-page space scenes where it looks like tons of ships are right next to or on top of each other and action sequences that don't convey motion in ways that make sense. It really is a shame that the art is so bad, because the writing is so good.
This omnibus also comes with a cover gallery -- some of the alternate covers are quite impressive, I love John Tyler Christopher's action figure covers in particular -- and a breakdown from Gillen of each arc in the series and what his thought process was behind it. This breakdown solidifies Gillen's Star Wars bona fides: this is a smart, Star Wars-loving guy who wrote a great comic series.
Overall, I highly recommend Star Wars: Darth Vader (2015) -- but for the excellent story, not the poor art.
November 18, 2022
Star Wars – Darth Vader Vol.1 - Vader
#1 - “You arrive a day early, kill two of my guards and expect me to deal with you? - Jabba
“I have ONLY killed two. Do not make me reconsider my generosity.” - Vader
#2 - “Hmm. Droids. One can always trust droids...” - Vader
#3 - “There's a REASON why the Triple-Zero matrix has been quarantined for CENTURIES.” - Utani Xane.
“Yes. Because of people like YOU. Small minds who just want to hide beautiful things in storage or a museum. IT SHOULD BE IN AN ARMORY!”
#4 – Dr Aphra asks Vader a personal question.
“Cease your probing.” - Vader
“I'm a rogue archaeologist. You have to expect a little digging.” - Dr Aphra
#5 - “The Force is obsolete. These are it successors.” - Cylo V
“This is BLASPHEMOUS” – Vader
#6
“I was a great admirer of the late General Grievous.”
.
“You stand there, more metal than man, and talk of abominations?” – Palpatine to Vader
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Star Wars – Darth Vader Vol.2 – Shadows and Secrets
#7 - “Revenge is one hell of a motivator.” - Dr Aphra
“You are correct.” - Vader
#8 - “We're in this together. Cross three bounty hunters? Sure. Four? Even I'm not that suicidal.” - Dr Aphra
#9 - “I'm trying to ascertain if you are … dangerous.” - Vader
“Oh, I am, Lord Vader .. but only to the enemies of the Empire.” - Inspector Thanoth
#10 - “Criminals are like bugs. The slightest hint of the light and they scuttle away, never to be found again.” - Inspector Thanoth
#11 - “Ah, traps … always good to set a trap.” - Inspector Thanoth
#12 - “You know, one of these days, I hope we're going to get past this Is-he-going-to-murder-me-this-time stage of our relationship.” - Dr Alpha
- - -
Star Wars – Darth Vader Vol.3 – The Shu-Torun War.
Annual#1 - “This is a small reminder of what happens to worlds who resist the Emperor. This is what remains of Alderaan.” - Vader hands over a rock.
#16 - “You have been seeking Commander Karbin. I found him.” [Vader reports to the Emperor and drags in the corpse of Karbin.]
“Are these light-saber wounds, Vader?” - Emperor
“You wish me to prove myself, Master. Give me a fight worthy of my time.” - Vader
#17 - “Escape? I think not. There will be no escape.” - Vader
#18 - “Such a delightful planet with charming people... oh no, Beetie! There are plenty of things I like about organics. Well, that wonderful smell as they bur to a crisp, for one.” - Triple Zero [000].
#19 - “My droids! My wonderful droids! We are the thin, metallic line!” - Triple Zero [000].
- - -
End of Games (Star Wars: Darth Vader #4) by Kieron Gillen, Salvador Larroca
#20 - “We did it, Vader. The Jedi destroyed! The Republic a shattered corpse for me to resurrect as a puppet! And you, Vader – the boy transformed into the man you were destined to be...” - Emperor Palpatine
“Exactly, Beetee. If people treated droids with more respect, none of this would be necessary. The rudeness is simply intolerable. … Yes, on the bright side, the explosions are very pretty.” - Triple Zero [000].
#21 - “The Emperor and Vader will live just long enough to regret underestimating me.” - Cylo
#22 - “It's a shame to lose her. She was a fine vessel. She served me well. I will remember her fondly … as the weapon that ended Darth Vader.” - Cylo
#23 - “You have lost control of the engines. You will not be escaping. I am coming for you.” - Vader
#24 - “Nothing is impossible for the Force.” - Vader
#25 - “ I will make you ash...” - Vader
#1 - “You arrive a day early, kill two of my guards and expect me to deal with you? - Jabba
“I have ONLY killed two. Do not make me reconsider my generosity.” - Vader
#2 - “Hmm. Droids. One can always trust droids...” - Vader
#3 - “There's a REASON why the Triple-Zero matrix has been quarantined for CENTURIES.” - Utani Xane.
“Yes. Because of people like YOU. Small minds who just want to hide beautiful things in storage or a museum. IT SHOULD BE IN AN ARMORY!”
#4 – Dr Aphra asks Vader a personal question.
“Cease your probing.” - Vader
“I'm a rogue archaeologist. You have to expect a little digging.” - Dr Aphra
#5 - “The Force is obsolete. These are it successors.” - Cylo V
“This is BLASPHEMOUS” – Vader
#6
“I was a great admirer of the late General Grievous.”
.
“You stand there, more metal than man, and talk of abominations?” – Palpatine to Vader
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Star Wars – Darth Vader Vol.2 – Shadows and Secrets
#7 - “Revenge is one hell of a motivator.” - Dr Aphra
“You are correct.” - Vader
#8 - “We're in this together. Cross three bounty hunters? Sure. Four? Even I'm not that suicidal.” - Dr Aphra
#9 - “I'm trying to ascertain if you are … dangerous.” - Vader
“Oh, I am, Lord Vader .. but only to the enemies of the Empire.” - Inspector Thanoth
#10 - “Criminals are like bugs. The slightest hint of the light and they scuttle away, never to be found again.” - Inspector Thanoth
#11 - “Ah, traps … always good to set a trap.” - Inspector Thanoth
#12 - “You know, one of these days, I hope we're going to get past this Is-he-going-to-murder-me-this-time stage of our relationship.” - Dr Alpha
- - -
Star Wars – Darth Vader Vol.3 – The Shu-Torun War.
Annual#1 - “This is a small reminder of what happens to worlds who resist the Emperor. This is what remains of Alderaan.” - Vader hands over a rock.
#16 - “You have been seeking Commander Karbin. I found him.” [Vader reports to the Emperor and drags in the corpse of Karbin.]
“Are these light-saber wounds, Vader?” - Emperor
“You wish me to prove myself, Master. Give me a fight worthy of my time.” - Vader
#17 - “Escape? I think not. There will be no escape.” - Vader
#18 - “Such a delightful planet with charming people... oh no, Beetie! There are plenty of things I like about organics. Well, that wonderful smell as they bur to a crisp, for one.” - Triple Zero [000].
#19 - “My droids! My wonderful droids! We are the thin, metallic line!” - Triple Zero [000].
- - -
End of Games (Star Wars: Darth Vader #4) by Kieron Gillen, Salvador Larroca
#20 - “We did it, Vader. The Jedi destroyed! The Republic a shattered corpse for me to resurrect as a puppet! And you, Vader – the boy transformed into the man you were destined to be...” - Emperor Palpatine
“Exactly, Beetee. If people treated droids with more respect, none of this would be necessary. The rudeness is simply intolerable. … Yes, on the bright side, the explosions are very pretty.” - Triple Zero [000].
#21 - “The Emperor and Vader will live just long enough to regret underestimating me.” - Cylo
#22 - “It's a shame to lose her. She was a fine vessel. She served me well. I will remember her fondly … as the weapon that ended Darth Vader.” - Cylo
#23 - “You have lost control of the engines. You will not be escaping. I am coming for you.” - Vader
#24 - “Nothing is impossible for the Force.” - Vader
#25 - “ I will make you ash...” - Vader
July 25, 2020
Star Wars: Darth Vader uses the strong foundation of its titular character to further flesh him out, and make his portrayals in the prequels and original trilogy seamless with each other. It's a great lead-in to Empire Strikes Back that enhances the movie, because everything is building to that confrontation where Vader truly meets his son for the first time and offers him a place at his side. It's what's driving him. It's all he wants, what he is staking everything on. It shows the inciting incident that leads him to fully consider overthrowing the Emperor, it shows how he went from relative disgrace after his failure in A New Hope to more powerful and intimidating than ever in ESB, and it bridges the gap between the prequel Anakin and Vader now. Vader may be the most compelling and fleshed out character in the Star Wars universe, rivaled by a select few like Ahsoka and Maul, and this series is much of why that is.
In A New Hope Vader is oddly muted compared to what he'd be later, and on a meta level this series felt like showing how he gets to his most iconic portrayal. But while Vader is obviously great, it doesn't shy away from doing new things with the canon and introducing three new beloved characters who get a lot of use elsewhere- Doctor Aphra, Triple Zero, and Beetee. The three bring plenty of laugh out loud moments.
The art shines in the background, as well as with faceless and static beings like Vader and thre droids. It carries Prowse's legacy in letting a slight head tilt or a zoom in convey a thousand emotions. Where the art falters, and the reason it's not five stars, are the human characters. The series ids beholden to representing the OT actors' likenesses, which look awkward and rub up against the uncanny valley. Even original characters aren't extempt from this. Still, it's only a minor blemish on a fantastic series.
In A New Hope Vader is oddly muted compared to what he'd be later, and on a meta level this series felt like showing how he gets to his most iconic portrayal. But while Vader is obviously great, it doesn't shy away from doing new things with the canon and introducing three new beloved characters who get a lot of use elsewhere- Doctor Aphra, Triple Zero, and Beetee. The three bring plenty of laugh out loud moments.
The art shines in the background, as well as with faceless and static beings like Vader and thre droids. It carries Prowse's legacy in letting a slight head tilt or a zoom in convey a thousand emotions. Where the art falters, and the reason it's not five stars, are the human characters. The series ids beholden to representing the OT actors' likenesses, which look awkward and rub up against the uncanny valley. Even original characters aren't extempt from this. Still, it's only a minor blemish on a fantastic series.
August 4, 2023
Ah, the Darth Vader Comics Omnibus - a galactic rollercoaster of emotions and villains! After diving into this epic collection, I must admit, it's a thrilling ride. Witnessing Vader's rise again after that "stinging defeat" was like watching a Sith Lord on a mission to prove his worth, all while juggling a personal vendetta against a pesky young Jedi.
The artwork and storytelling are undoubtedly top-notch; it's like the Force itself guided the talented creators. The battles with Boba Fett and Jabba the Hutt were a highlight - I mean, who doesn't love a good lightsaber duel or a standoff with bounty hunters?
Now, let's talk about the characters. Aphra, the diabolical debutante, brings a unique charm to the story - a delightful mix of cunning and madness. And let's not forget Triple-Zero and BeeTee, the killer droids with personalities you wouldn't want to encounter in a dark alley. These characters truly added a memorable flair to the saga.
However, my only nitpick is that sometimes Vader's personal vendetta against the Jedi felt a tad repetitive. It's like he couldn't resist bringing it up in every other conversation, but hey, we get it, Darth! Revenge is a dish best served with a side of lightsaber duels.
Overall, though, the Darth Vader Comics Omnibus is an absolute must-have for any Star Wars fan. With its blend of action, intrigue, and just the right amount of sarcasm, it keeps you hooked from start to finish. Four stars for this galactic symphony of storytelling and wit! May the Force be with you as you enjoy this cosmic adventure.
The artwork and storytelling are undoubtedly top-notch; it's like the Force itself guided the talented creators. The battles with Boba Fett and Jabba the Hutt were a highlight - I mean, who doesn't love a good lightsaber duel or a standoff with bounty hunters?
Now, let's talk about the characters. Aphra, the diabolical debutante, brings a unique charm to the story - a delightful mix of cunning and madness. And let's not forget Triple-Zero and BeeTee, the killer droids with personalities you wouldn't want to encounter in a dark alley. These characters truly added a memorable flair to the saga.
However, my only nitpick is that sometimes Vader's personal vendetta against the Jedi felt a tad repetitive. It's like he couldn't resist bringing it up in every other conversation, but hey, we get it, Darth! Revenge is a dish best served with a side of lightsaber duels.
Overall, though, the Darth Vader Comics Omnibus is an absolute must-have for any Star Wars fan. With its blend of action, intrigue, and just the right amount of sarcasm, it keeps you hooked from start to finish. Four stars for this galactic symphony of storytelling and wit! May the Force be with you as you enjoy this cosmic adventure.
December 7, 2022
Alright, I'm cheating a bit here to get to my goal, sue me! I read this earlier in the year and it's worth noting.
I went on a good long stretch of catching up with old comics I never got to. All the Star Wars from 2015 was on that list, and still is as I never finished the initial run. But what I did read I absolutely adored! My goodness, the stories in here, the art, the interaction of characters. It's so freaking perfect for Star Wars fans.
This ties heavily into Star Wars by Jason Aaron Omnibus and Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Omnibus. So finding a proper reading order and following it between all three titles is worth it.
While this is a story focusing on Vader, you'll get what you're expecting which is full on Sith amazingness. AND you'll get introduced to who is easily one of my favorite characters in Star Wars, Doctor Aphra. Like if Indiana Jones and Lara Croft had a baby, it would probably be Aphra and she is amazing.
Anyway, this omnibus, highly recommend!
I went on a good long stretch of catching up with old comics I never got to. All the Star Wars from 2015 was on that list, and still is as I never finished the initial run. But what I did read I absolutely adored! My goodness, the stories in here, the art, the interaction of characters. It's so freaking perfect for Star Wars fans.
This ties heavily into Star Wars by Jason Aaron Omnibus and Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Omnibus. So finding a proper reading order and following it between all three titles is worth it.
While this is a story focusing on Vader, you'll get what you're expecting which is full on Sith amazingness. AND you'll get introduced to who is easily one of my favorite characters in Star Wars, Doctor Aphra. Like if Indiana Jones and Lara Croft had a baby, it would probably be Aphra and she is amazing.
Anyway, this omnibus, highly recommend!
August 26, 2022
The thing I love about Gillen' Vader as opposed to other authors that have come since, is the pace.
We aren't seeing a Darth Vader who is acrobatically flipping across chasms and dueling with trivial characters over a petty idiology like respect. Gillen's Vader just moves forward, crushes their windpipe and continues with his current mission. We have the embodiment of an unstoppable force here that other writers just couldn't seem to grasp. He is large, imposing, and demands the attention of all around him.
As I mentioned, the pace is perfect. We are met with multiple pages of Vader just sitting in contemplation to other's actions, taking in his environment and thinking about current events. Whole issues appear to have Vader just... Listening and waiting like a circling predator for his time to strike.
It's awesome. Much more impressive than seeing some Jedi-duel-of-the-fates array of battles. We see menace and brutality across 500+pages as the dark lord himself carves a name for himself in the new empire.
4.5/5 death stars.
We aren't seeing a Darth Vader who is acrobatically flipping across chasms and dueling with trivial characters over a petty idiology like respect. Gillen's Vader just moves forward, crushes their windpipe and continues with his current mission. We have the embodiment of an unstoppable force here that other writers just couldn't seem to grasp. He is large, imposing, and demands the attention of all around him.
As I mentioned, the pace is perfect. We are met with multiple pages of Vader just sitting in contemplation to other's actions, taking in his environment and thinking about current events. Whole issues appear to have Vader just... Listening and waiting like a circling predator for his time to strike.
It's awesome. Much more impressive than seeing some Jedi-duel-of-the-fates array of battles. We see menace and brutality across 500+pages as the dark lord himself carves a name for himself in the new empire.
4.5/5 death stars.
March 22, 2020
So my frustrations with this book come out of the sam frustrations that people have with the newer Star Wars films. Basically, you will not find anything in here that is new and exciting. The thing makes this so painful to read is that they basically just take a protagonist character from the original trilogy and make them evil. Like there is no imagination going into this other that pleasing people that already love Star Wars. It wasn't until I was half way through that this book is a straight up gimmick. Ackbar, 3CP0, R2D2, Chewbacca, Solo. All of these characters and are lazily made evil for this book. The Triple Zero character is basically 3CP0 but with a sense of humor comparable to Harley Quinn which just annoyed me.
The artwork in this book was nothing to get excited about, but it's not really the artwork in the background that is bad, un actually the faces of the human characters is hard to look at.
Very underwhelming read and purchase.
The artwork in this book was nothing to get excited about, but it's not really the artwork in the background that is bad, un actually the faces of the human characters is hard to look at.
Very underwhelming read and purchase.
August 10, 2022
As the Kenobi show was coming out, I decided to start reading Star Wars comics, so I stocked up on omnibuses to get my fill. This is the first one I’ve finished, and I’ll say I’m very pleasantly surprised by the quality. Obviously nothing of consequence really happens, but I was still able to enjoy viewing this as fun side stories. If I had to make an appropriate comparison, I’d say this new era of “canon” Marvel Star Wars comics is basically the Clone Wars equivalent for the original trilogy. Stories that fill the gaps between the movies and enhance the lore, while introducing new original characters for fans to grow attached to. It helps that Kieron Gillen understood the assignment and made Vader a total badass the whole way through. This is an easy recommendation for any Star Wars fan that wants to expand their horizons outside of the movies!
May 1, 2022
This was pretty good, there’s a lot of Vader just absolutely demolishing his opponent which was fun.
It’s about Vader getting back in the good graces of the emperor, while also realizing the emperor has lied to him all this time. It basically puts Vader in the position and state of mind he’s in at the beginning of the Empire Strikes Back.
Doctor Aphra is also introduced here, and I actually liked her way more than I thought I would. Her dynamic with Vader was entertaining, and I loved triple zero and Beetee!
The only thing I really didn’t care for were all of Cylo’s creations. I just personally wasn’t a big fan of their character designs and none of them were that interesting. I did however realize that their position in the story was just as enemies for Vader to overcome. And like I stated, watching him defeat them was pretty cool.
It’s about Vader getting back in the good graces of the emperor, while also realizing the emperor has lied to him all this time. It basically puts Vader in the position and state of mind he’s in at the beginning of the Empire Strikes Back.
Doctor Aphra is also introduced here, and I actually liked her way more than I thought I would. Her dynamic with Vader was entertaining, and I loved triple zero and Beetee!
The only thing I really didn’t care for were all of Cylo’s creations. I just personally wasn’t a big fan of their character designs and none of them were that interesting. I did however realize that their position in the story was just as enemies for Vader to overcome. And like I stated, watching him defeat them was pretty cool.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2023
Thank you Kieron Gillen for keeping Aphra alive. She is so vital to this story because she is the one I'm rooting for in a story about a villain. I read her comic run before this and back then, I had trouble piecing her story together. Now I get it. Besides Aphra, there's obviously Vader, who's written well, there are Beetee and Triple Zero, which I hate, so well done Kieron Gillen, and there are some antagonists. Tagge and Thanoth are great, they fit perfectly into the Empire and pose real threats to Vader. Cylo and his abominations are a little bit over the top, I think. Sure, there's always weirdness in Star Wars, but the weirdness is usually found in supporting characters, not in antagonists.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2022
Gripping art and captivating scenes made up for rushed or under-explained elements. This line of comics is a valuable piece of canon that I had neglected for too long and am glad to have finally engaged with. V1 was alright but the rest were never not captivating.
Appreciated the looks at the Emperor and Vader’s relationship in the wake of the purge and the fledgling Empire. I’ll always eat up inquisitor content and while I would have appreciated more content before the inquisitorius was fully assembled, their presence really made this what it was. Enjoyed the ways in which OT references were included such as the Mon Cala fleet or Fortress Vader.
July 16, 2022
Vader is a ruthless, menacing villain of few words, and this storyline sees him regaining his status of the Empire's most dominant power, after the fallout of losing the first Death Star. Accompanying him on various tasks is a fun supporting cast of inverse - or bizzaro - variations of classic Star Wars characters, such as the homicidal robot duo that plays off of C-3PO and R2-D2. Story is fast paced and cinematic, complimented by mostly gorgeous artwork. The only part that fell flat for me was the Vader Down crossover, which pits all the major good guys against Team Vader in what is a very inconsequential series of events with bland art.
June 1, 2023
Ya había leído la primera parte de esta colección porque soy muy fan tanto de Star Wars como de Kieron Gillen. Lo mejor de estas historias es como se rellenan los vacíos argumentales entre Ep.IV y Ep. V. Lo segundo mejor, en mi opinión es el personaje de Dr. Aphra, que tiene mucho potencial para seguir creciendo dentro del universo y que espero que en cualquier momento aparezca en alguna serie de Disney+. En tercer lugar, los análogos malvados de C3PO y R2, Triple 0 y BeeTee. Son una gran comic relief y conductores de la historia que cumplen la misma función que sus contrapartes de las películas pero al revés. Me compraría ya mismo las action figures si existieran.
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