Darth Vader (2020) #27
THE QUEEN’S HEART
After hearing the plight of Kitster and Wald’s community, Darth Vader and Sabé launched an attack on Governor Tauntaza, a corrupt operative of Crimson Dawn.
Driven back by their pursuit, Governor Tauntaza fled to her fortress concealed within an artificial sandstorm. While Darth Vader boarded Tauntaza’s starship and made contact with his own, Sabé was left to the mercy of the deadly storm.
Haunted by losses in his past, Darth Vader refused to abandon Sabé. Before ordering his command ship to destroy Tauntaza’s fortress, Darth Vader rushed into the storm and rescued his ally….
Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Raffaele Ienco
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Cover artist: Rahzzah
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Release Date: 21st September 2022
As soon as we learned there was a man beneath the armour – the fallen father of the hero of the piece no less – then the story of Darth Vader was destined to bring depth and shade to the wider story. That said, one could be forgiven for not anticipating such a left turn into familiar Prequel territory, the now grown up remnants of Anakins childhood once again a part of his world.
The handmaiden storyline has been a fascinating plot to delve into, as has the return of Kitster Banai, and as Vader tears into the raging storm determined to destroy the fortress of Governor Tauntaza, there’s more than a thrill of unexpected excitement; is Vader enjoying this reunion with friends of old? Implacable as ever, it’s as if he is relishing their presence, and while die-hard adherents to the eternally immovable object of Vader may struggle with this, it only slightly chinks the armour of a man who gave so much to the galaxy but lost even more.
Ordering Admiral Piett to destroy the fortress from orbit, he learns just how powerful it is when even the mighty ISSD Executor can’t lay it to waste. Instead, they realise the best route to its destruction is from underneath, and so Vader and Em-Seven-Bee head out, Vader’s lightsaber launching from the droid into the guts of the fortress allowing him access to tear through the troops while Tauntaza climbers into heavy armour to take him on, leaving when the fortress explodes and incapacitated Vader. Here, Sabe finds Vader, thinking back two decades to when she served Padme and remebering her words, to trust Anakin. Giving Vader power, his helmet smashed and clearly weakened, she helps him to his feet as the issue ends.
We’ve said it before and likely will again, Greg Pak understands Vader and his supporting cast deeply, and as such can take what may be perceived as bold chances and deliver on them in ways other less skilled writers may falter. Rafaelle Ienco presents superbly crafted art, European in style and scope with detailed facials and crisp characters while the colours from Carlos Lopez are as impressive and rich as ever. An excellent addition to the wider story, and another straw on the back of the Eopie that will ultimately break high above Endor.
