The tale of Anakin Skywalker is about to get a bit more tragic, thanks to the new Star Wars: Darth Vader comic series beginning in February. A story that looks more and more determined to show fans that the role played by Padmé Amidala role didn't end with her death.
Proving itself a standout among Marvel's line of Star Wars books, the previous Darth Vader comic made Padmé -- or Vader's memory of Padmé -- a part of his motivations. But with the new Darth Vader and Star Wars comics leaping into the fallout of The Empire Strikes Back in the movie timeline, the secret of Anakin and Padmé's son is out. And in new preview images from the series, Anakin Skywalker's greatest love has now become Darth Vader's torment. At least judging by the moments of love and anguish he can't seem to forget... all of them tied to the face of his beloved Padmé.
The anticipation surrounding Greg Pak and Raffaele Ienco's new series is easy to understand, considering just how stellar Vader's comics have proven to be (for many fans, delivering Darth Vader moments even better than the movies). Now that the comics are picking up after Vader invited his son to the dark side, it seems a chance for the villain to revisit his own descent into darkness... and what it cost him. The first preview of Darth Vader #1 showed the villain returning to the Lars homestead, but new images from Issue #2 are all about love. Speaking with StarWars.com, editor Mark Paniccia confirms that Darth Vader #2 will show Vader confronting his memories of his late wife. A decision that will apparently lead to "a terrible and inevitable encounter with someone he should never have crossed." That tease will be hard to resist, but writer Greg Pak explains it may only be the tip of the iceberg for die-hard fans of Darth Vader:
In the wake of Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader’s on a terrifying mission to destroy everyone who hid his son Luke from him. But in the process, he uncovers a shadow from his past that he’s absolutely not ready for. Working on this book is a constant shock, revelation, and thrill. We’ve been given the green light to take an unprecedented journey into the Dark Lord’s dark heart and explore just what Padmé still means to him after all these years. The entire creative team is bringing everything they have to this story and I can’t wait for you to discover the shocking truth behind these images.
With that set-up out of the way, head on below for the official preview pages:
Until the first issue arrives on February 5th, 2020, fans and interested readers can find the full solicitations details and plot synopsis for Darth Vader #1 below:
- STAR WARS: DARTH VADER #1
- Release Date: February 5th, 2020
- Written By: Greg Pak
- Covers By: Raffaele Ienco, Inhyuk Lee
- “JOIN ME, AND TOGETHER, WE CAN RULE THE GALAXY AS FATHER AND SON!” THE TRAGEDY OF DARTH VADER CONTINUES! In the shattering climax of The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader infamously reveals his true relationship to Luke Skywalker and invites his son to rule the galaxy at his side. But Luke refuses -- plunging into the abyss beneath Cloud City rather than turn to the Dark Side. We all remember Luke’s utter horror in this life-altering moment. But what about Vader? In this new epic chapter in the Darth Vader saga, the dark lord grapples with Luke’s unthinkable refusal and embarks on a bloody mission of rage-filled revenge against everything and everyone who had a hand in hiding and corrupting his only son. But even as he uncovers the secrets of Luke’s origins, Vader must face shocking new challenges from his own dark past.
Star Wars: Darth Vader #1 comes to your local comic shop this February 5th, 2020.
Source: StarWars.com