– Spoiler Review –
A familiar face returns in an unexpected, but compelling way in Darth Vader #2 (Vol. 3), propelling the story towards more trips down prequel trilogy lane.
Much like how I did my best to hide the spoiler about Baby Yoda in my first The Mandalorian review, I put up an extra warning in my review of issue #1 regarding its big cliffhanger ending, but I can’t talk about this series and subsequent issues without diving right into the reveal of the Padmé lookalike anymore so watch out, I’m not holding back! Out of my myriad of guesses for who the Padmé doppelgänger would turn out to be, Sabé was among my list, especially after the events of the excellent novel, Queen’s Shadow. As a logical conclusion to the question posed at the end of issue #1, the woman turns out to be Sabé, who ends said novel beginning the search for how and who killed her best friend and Queen, thus we’re now picking up the thread here again, some 20 years later, with Darth Vader at her side! Vader is understandably pissed some woman is going around pretending to be the woman he loved, but he finds himself unable to kill Sabé outright, both due to his need for answers and how he can’t stop thinking of how this is almost a second chance with Padmé; he’s technically had a try when helping forge Queen Trios into the fierce and calculating ruler of Shu-Torun, but this is far more personal. He’s also able to connect with her because she’s just as angry as he is, something he latches onto and uses as he spins half-truths to gain her help in his mission to wipe out those who hid Padmé from him. Sabé, so committed to discovering what happen to her Queen, is the one who did bug her apartment on Coruscant as we saw last issue, but she seems to have gotten caught up with the Rebellion since, hence her mission changing and lack of progress on uncovering what happened. She began her mission with Captain Tonra by her side, but he’s suspiciously absent here, leaving one to wonder if he died some time again or he’s off elsewhere and we’re going to have a clash for Sabé’s soul when he confronts Vader and the path she’s going down with him. As a big fan of Sabé after Queen’s Shadow came to a close, and eager to see where her exploits took her, this has been an delectable development for her story; my favorite aspect of her reveal is how Vader calls her the, “Queen’s shadow,” for a wonderful little reference I’m sure writer Greg Pak couldn’t resist!
It occurred to me in the middle of writing about Sabé and Vader that Vader’s insistence Padmé was hidden from him means he’ll likely end this threadof inquiry by learning how she died: losing her will to live. Padmé’s death has long been a subject of debate and understandably an issue for many, considering she’s one of the prequel films’ only female characters, and a resourceful and determined one at that, potentially dying over a broken heart is a stab in fans’ hearts. Could we learn a little more here, maybe something that could ease the pain of such a moment or will we just open the wound for both fans and Vader alike? I don’t know what that all could entail, but maybe we’ll get confirmation of the popular theory that the Emperor siphoned her life force to save Vader or that she gave her life force to the ailing babies Luke and Leia so they may live ends up being the correct answer (which I prefer far more, as less Emperor shenanigans the better at this point) or something else entirely. In fact, there’s the possibility this series will never touch on it, but it would be an intriguing direction to go and definitely something to keep in mind for this first arc, especially as Sabé tells Vader they’re heading to Naboo (and the May solicits for the series seem to hint we’ll be diving quite deep into Padmé’s death…).
This series so far on story alone would merely be interesting, but it’s the art that elevates the proceedings into something else. The mixture of Vader’s red tinted flashbacks with Sabé’s words or which memories ring through his head given the moment before him, have really offered a whole new level of insight and depth to the character I didn’t think we could achieve once again in a comic. Raffaele Ienco’s art and Neeraj Menon’s colors, combined with Joe Caramagna’s lettering, offer so much nuance to Vader, despite being behind a mask, the subtle aging of Sabé adds weariness to a character we haven’t seen in some time, and the flashbacks between blank black panels continue to delight with what they reveal and hint at.
Here are a few other things:
- Vendaxa is a beastly place, as it made its first appearance in Star Wars Adventures #30, where Supreme Leader Kylo Ren and General Hux encounter an acklay. The land squids here are far more nasty and scary, but Vader manages to make quick work of them regardless, even flashing back to standing besides Padmé in battles from long ago.
- Really loving the droid Zed, his blunt pronouncements and displeasure at being forced to dig graves on Sabé’s orders are hilarious.
Darth Vader #2 (Vol. 3) wastes no time in answering the burning question from issue #1, allowing the series continue towards even more interesting avenues.
+ Sabé’s next adventure begins, with Vader at her side?!!?
+ Vader finding a chance to try again with “Padmé”
+ Implications of what they might uncover
+ Art team offers stunning work, elevating the story
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
DARTH VADER (VOL. 3)
Dark Heart of the Sith: #1 | #3 | #4 | #5 / Arc Review (by Chris)