Star Wars: Darth Vader 2: Shadows and Secrets

star wars darth vader volume 2 shadows and secrets cover
8.0 Overall Score
Story: 8/10
Art: 8/10

Like the House of Cards style of the series

Mostly a building volume of the series

Comic Info

Comic Name:  Star Wars:  Darth Vader

Publisher:  Marvel Comics

Writer:  Kieron Gillen

Artist:  Salvador Larroca

# of Issues:  6

Release Date:  2016

star wars darth vader #7 cover adi granov art

Star Wars: Darth Vader #7

Reprints Star Wars: Darth Vader #7-12 (September 2015-January 2016). Boba Fett has uncovered the identity of Luke Skywalker for Darth Vader, and Darth Vader now knows that the Emperor lied to him about Padme’s fate.  Now more than ever, Darth Vader must find Luke Skywalker, but the Emperor’s plans for Skywalker could get in his way.  With Ephra working secretly for him, Vader is walking a dangerous route by working against the Emperor…and his plans must not be uncovered!

Written by Kieron Gillen and illustrated by Salvador Larroca, Star Wars: Darth Vader Volume 2:  Shadows and Secrets follows Star Wars:  Darth Vader Volume 1:  Vader.  The issues in this volume were also collected in a hardback version which contained Star Wars:  Darth Vader #1-12.

Star Wars: Darth Vader is a good read.  With so many years of watered down Star Wars comics from Dark Horse, it is nice to have a thoroughly thought out series.  This volume shows the meat of what makes Star Wars:  Darth Vader work…paranoia and deceit.

star wars darth vader #12 cover salvador larroca art

Star Wars: Darth Vader #12

Darth Vader is a villain in a villainous organization. The Empire is corruption and it only makes sense that within the Empire there would be dissent.  Vader’s secret plots against the Emperor doesn’t make him a good guy and that is the fine line that Gillen is walking.  He might be undermining the Emperor but it is still for his own gain.

As of now, the Aphra storyline is working with the book, but it does worry me. Vader always seemed very much like a lone wolf…even in the prequels.  He might work with someone but he does better on his own.  It doesn’t seem entirely realistic for him to take on someone like Aphra as close as he does in this series…a bounty hunter—yes but a partner—no.  She does provide a lessening of tensions, but the series doesn’t necessarily require it.

Star Wars: Darth Vader Volume 2:  Shadows and Secrets feels like it is a building series, and it is.  This series is building up to Star Wars:  Vader Down which officially crosses over with the Star Wars book.  Unfortunately for Star Wars:  Darth Vader, it proves to be a problem because of how the comics fit into the movies.  Star Wars:  Darth Vader Volume 2:  Shadows and Secrets is followed by Star Wars:  Vader Down.

Related Links:

Star Wars:  Darth Vader Volume 1:  Vader

Star Wars:  Vader Down

Star Wars:  Darth Vader Volume 3:  The Shu-Torun War

Star Wars:  Darth Vader Volume 4:  End of Games

Author: JPRoscoe View all posts by
Follow me on Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd @JPRoscoe76! Loves all things pop-culture especially if it has a bit of a counter-culture twist. Plays video games (basically from the start when a neighbor brought home an Atari 2600), comic loving (for almost 30 years), and a true critic of movies. Enjoys the art house but also isn't afraid to let in one or two popular movies at the same time.

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