– Spoiler Review –
After issues of build-up, the Schism Imperial and Vader make their move on Exegol, while Sabé’s return to the fold includes a surprising familiar face, making for an action-packed and interesting Darth Vader #46 (Vol. 3).
If it feels like there was little fanfare for Sabé’s return to the story, as she was last thought dead at the end of issue #34, and the introduction of a new character felt very sudden, it’s completely understandable as this was handled more in the Darth Vader portion of the Star Wars/Darth Vader #1 Free Comic Book Day issue released on May 4. While Sabé being alive was already revealed in the comic solicitations, if you don’t partake in reading those nor read the FCBD issue, it certainly feels like there should’ve been more to her appearance here, but what she’s after and who she’s working with seem to promise it’ll come in time. Sabé’s after Luke Skywalker for reasons not totally clear, regardless if you’re reading this and/or the FCBD one, while she’s recruited the most unlikely source for help: Warba Calip! Once again, I can understand if there’s some confusion for some readers here, as prior to the FCBD issue out on May 4, 2024, the last time Warba made an appearance was Greg Pak and Phil Noto’s run on Star Wars (Vol. 1) in 2019 series to close it out. It’s a fun, wild ride told across 8 issues (it was rather refreshing at the time, too!), containing everything from Chewbacca and Darth Vader getting into a fight, Vader surfing on lava with a rock, C-3PO communicating with a species of rock people, one of which is large enough to pick up the Millennium Falcon like it’s a toy, Han Solo and Princess Leia mixing it up with high society, and Luke Skywalker seeking guidance from a shifty youngster named Warba! Considering Pak was behind her story back then, much of what made Warba so intriguing and fun to know (I’d hope we’d see her even back then) returns in the FCBD issue—make sure to grab it online if you missed it at your local comic—though hints of her interesting personality come out in the three pages we get this issue. There’s a tease of her true alliances and reasons for going along with Sabé to find Luke in DV #46, beyond their past interactions and her calling him a friend because of it, but there’s a much less subtle revelation in the FCBD issue: we see her kneeling before Darth Vader. What both Warba and Sabé hope to get out of Luke remains to be seen, but it’s definitely a storyline I’ll certainly be eager to return to this series and see unfold.
Over the last several issues, Vader and the Schism Imperial have been putting together their plans to take the fight to Palpatine on Exegol, though what we see here when the assault is launched comes as a surprise to us and some of the Schism themselves. I definitely enjoyed how quickly things unfolded, but the way some of their attack included some items we didn’t see, when instead we spent time on what felt like spinning wheels to get here, it lessened some of the impact. I’m still not sure if we should care about the M.A.R. Corps at all, as we’ve yet to meet them as people and they largely appear as shadows this issue, hidden in the fracas the Schism incurs when starting their attack on the Sith Eternal already on Exegol. The issue ends with at least one of them free of droid control, but will it matter much as they’ll likely end up teaming with Vader just to survive/have the option to leave? Will we get to learn more about them as characters regardless? I did really enjoy the fake Vader twist, something I’ve not seen before and it really spiced up the proceedings, making this feel different than other attempts by Vader, like he’s actually thought this through, with the Schism’s help, instead of charging in with Force powers raging. Vader’s first target of their attack being the giant red kyber crystal he was subjected to on his initial visit back in issue #11 makes a lot of sense, as it seems to be the power fueling some of the dark stuff the Sith Eternal have going on for Palpatine, though I’m not totally sure after this issue if Vader succeeded fully or just broke it a little. Also, I was surprised everyone knew who the Sith Eternal were, as this is the first time those on Exegol have been called that in this series (though Vader’s fought them previously in issue #11 as well), so I’m hoping we’ll get a little detail on how they know who they are/how they know to call them that. Having the Sith Eternal summon the sleeping Summa-Verminoth, who already showed Vader some crazy visions in issue #10 and this issue showed Captain Pryce his death on Exegol from The Rise of Skywalker, promises more interesting visuals ahead for the continued fight.
Speaking of visuals, Raffaele Ienco returns after a little 5 issue break, with Federico Blee colorist, and letterer Joe Caramagna carrying on. The scale of the results of Vader’s attack on the giant red kyber is both an awe to behold and why I’m not totally sure if he took it all down, besides a chunk he stole. Vader’s not even in the building with it but his power, and its desire for it, helps him to unmoor it, resulting in a page where letterer Caramagna goes absolutely overboard, in the best way possible, with sound FX defy the norm, obscure much of the panels, and shows the deadly results of Vader’s actions. Of the four panels on the page, my favorite is the one where Vader’s leaning back a little, holding himself upright against the kyber’s explosive outburst, and the SFX for the wind “fwoosh” ebbs and flows, giving readers a sense of the howling wind and how it would whip up against someone if they were there, while Blee’s mix of reds, oranges, and yellows paints an apocalyptic amount of fiery response. Drawing the giant summa-verminoth can’t be easy, but much like he did earlier in the series, Ienco makes it seem like it’s just another normal thing to draw, especially when it gets a glorious one-page reveal on the final turn, awake and heading down to Exegol to mess with those who would harm the Sith Eternal, plus Blee gives its purple-ish skin a glistening, wet appearance, making it seem extra unnerving, while Caramagna breaks the word bubble, at an appropriate scale, as it screams in anger after the Eternal’s little weapon woke it up from its nap.
Here are a few other things:
- Don’t forget, we’re approaching the end to this era of comics, per recent solicitations for trade paperback releases, though it’s not clear if it’ll wrap up before 2024 is over or sometime mid-2025, but hopefully we’ll learn soon enough.
- The Master & Apprentice Variant Cover by Phil Noto features Sidious and Count Dooku, as seen above. As for June, Doctor Aphra graces the series’ Pride Month cover!
Darth Vader #46 (Vol. 3) is a big step in the right direction as Vader and the Schism attack Exegol, though I wish more was said and done with some familiar faces.
+ Sabé’s back…and so is Warba!
+ Exegol battle comes with some surprises and intensity
– Quick intros and some clarity desired
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Bluesky, Twitter @MynockManor, and Instagram @mynockmanor.
DARTH VADER (VOL. 3)
Dark Heart of the Sith: #1-5 — Into the Fire: #6-11 — War of the Bounty Hunters: #12-17 — Crimson Reign: #18-22 — The Shadow’s Shadow: #23-27 — Return of the Handmaidens: #28-32 — Unbound Force: #33 | #34 | #35 | #36 — Dark Droids: #37 | #38 | #39 | #40 | #41 — Schism Imperial: #42 | #43 | #44 | #45 —The Razing of Exegol: