Comic Info
Comic Name: Star Wars: Darth Vader (Volume 2)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli
# of Issues: 6
Release Date: 2018
Star Wars; Darth Vader (2) #8
Reprints Star Wars: Darth Vader (2) #7-12 (January 2018-April 2018). Darth Vader has been appointed by the Emperor to help the Inquisitor hunt down the last of the Jedi. When the Emperor reveals that he wants Jocasta Nu brought in alive, Vader questions what information the elderly record keeper could hold that would be so important. Meanwhile, Vader’s actions are beginning to attract attention and the fact that Emperor keeps him close could make him a target.
Written by Charles Soule, Star Wars: Darth Vader—Dark Lord of the Sith Volume 2: Legacy’s End is a Marvel Comics Star Wars spin-off title. Following Star Wars: Darth Vader—Dark Lord of the Sith Volume 1: Imperial Machine, the collection features art by Giuseppe Camuncoli. The issues in the volume are also included in Star Wars: Darth Vader—Dark Lord of the Sith—Volume 1.
The last volume of Darth Vader was a lot of fun, but this series continues to bring the fun under the new team. Divided into two stories (“The Dying Light” and “The Rule of Five”), the collection is a solid entry in a good character examination of one of film’s all-time “villains”.
The story has Darth Vader trying to tie up loose ends, and one of the loose ends is Jocasta Nu. What is nice about the comic book versions (particularly since Marvel has taken over again) is that they dive deep. Jocasta Nu appears in the film as a cast off character, but here, she’s given depth…and it is a rather interesting story. The collection emphasizes that all Jedi have purpose and their purpose might vary from Jedi to Jedi. Jocasta’s purpose isn’t to fight, but to be an educator and a record keeper…she carries the line.
Star Wars: Darth Vader (2) #12
The second story is Vader the transformation of Vader into Vader. It is implied multiple times that Vader just shows up. As revealed in Star Wars, it isn’t common knowledge that Vader is Anakin Skywalker and since he isn’t known as Anakin, everyone is questioning where he came from. With the Jedi crushed and the resistance shattered at this point in the story, there is a question of what does Vader do next especially since he is so powerful…and this has Vader trying to learn to control and use his rage for legitimate purposes instead of flaunting his power (which helps explain the less rage driven Vader of Star Wars and later movies).
Overall, Star Wars: Darth Vader is a decent way to not only flesh out the character, but also to smooth out some of the questions created between the prequels and the original trilogy. Some of this was fleshed out in other stories before this, but Disney’s acquisition of the Star Wars property created a clean slate…and a streamlining of stories and characters. While you can argue if Disney is a good or bad thing overall, it is good to have more direction from the Star Wars comics that I feel was rather lacking under Dark Horse…and Darth Vader is a great example of how it can benefit the character and the movies. Star Wars: Darth Vader—The Dark Lord of the Sith 2: Legacy’s End is followed by Star Wars: Darth Vader—The Dark Lord of the Sith 3: The Burning Seas.
Related Links:
Star Wars: Darth Vader—Dark Lord of the Sith 1: Imperial Machine
