REVIEW: ‘Star Wars: Darth Vader,’ Issue #11

Star Wars: Darth Vader #11 is written by Greg Pak, joined by artist Raffaele Ienco, colorist Neeraj Menon, letterer Joe Caramagna, and cover artists Aaron Kuder and Richard Isanove. Published by Marvel Comics, Star Wars: Darth Vader #11 continues the mechanical menace’s quest to uncover his master Emperor Palpatine’s secret plan. Darth Vader is one step closer to confronting his master, but the question of whether he is strong enough to face the Emperor still remains.

Previously, in Star Wars: Darth Vader #10, the Sith Lord had finally escaped Mustafar after defeating a plethora of obstacles including being maimed and rebuilt with scrap parts, hunted by Ochi of Bestoon, ambushed by assassin droids, and mentally combating the ancient Eye of Webbish Bog. None of the threats were enough to stop Lord Vader from getting to bottom of Emperor Palpatine’s secret plot on Exegol. Even the Red Space maelstrom and a summa-verminoth, a Force-sensitive 7,400-meter long space squid, were no match for the Dark Lord’s undying determination to confront his master.

Star Wars: Darth Vader #11 opens with Darth Vader calling Darth Sidious to face him outside of the giant structure fans saw in The Rise of Skywalker. The last time he saw his master, Palpatine had left him broken, Forceless, and lightsaber-less on Mustafar. Now, Darth Vader sits atop the summa-verminoth who was now bent to his will through the dark side of the Force.  The tension continues to build as readers are treated to what amounts to kaiju battle with the summa-verminoth battling two massive crab-like rock creatures. Art, colors, and letters all come together as, panel after panel, Darth Vader controls the space creature in battle all while being taunted by Darth Sidious.

Throughout the Star Wars: Darth Vader series, there have been many battles. In addition to being amazing seeing Darth Vader ride a space squid, this entire sequence brings a different weight to the scope of the power of the dark side. Darth Vader has run through all that has been in front of him to this point but Darth Sidious dispatched the 7400-meter long monstrosity with nothing more than a thought.

The rest of Star Wars: Darth Vader #11 follows Darth Vader as his master leads him through the massive structure to face more and more enemies. As the former Jedi defeats more and more waves enemies, he slowly starts to uncover his master’s plan. While the first half of Star Wars: Darth Vader #11 showed the physical power of the Emperor through stunning art, the second half brings the true perspective of his ability to plan and conquer through exquisite exposition. Taking place over 30 years before the events of The Rise of Skywalker, writer Pak show fans that Darth Sidious has had a plan A, B, and C way before being thrown down a shaft on the second Death Star.

Overall, I continue to enjoy this series. Star Wars: Darth Vader #11 moves away from Vader’s power to show how powerful the Emperor truly is. Throughout this series, I have wanted to see an animated version of it brought to life as it has provided crucial details to stories we have known and loved. Star Wars: Darth Vader #11 bridges the gap between two trilogies and begins to answer many of the questions fans had in The Ride of Skywalker with Palpatine’s return.

Star Wars: Darth Vader #11 is available everywhere comics are sold.