Darth Vader (2020) #30
ALL HER SHADOWS
Under the tutelage of Darth Vader, Sabé, the former handmaiden of Padmé Amidala, has slipped further under the influence of the Empire. Seeking to liberate their companion from Darth Vader’s grasp or put an end to her desecration of Padmé’s memory, Sabé’s fellow handmaidens apprehended the assassin Ochi of Bestoon.
Using Ochi and his security clearances, the handmaiden Dormé boarded the ”Executor” posing as Sabé to track down her whereabouts. Dormé discovered that Sabé had been dispatched to Skako Minor to assassinate Jul Tambor. Moments later, Dormé’s cover was blown by Darth Vader.
On Skako Minor, Jul Tambor attempted to sway Sabé to his side to no avail, as Sabé followed orders and shot her target down….
Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Luke Ross
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Federico Blee
Cover artist: Rahzzah
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Release Date: January 11, 2023
As dramatic openings to Star Wars comics go, the opening few pages of Darth Vader #30 takes some beating. Not only do we kick off with Padmé’s Handmaidens, concerned for the fate of their missing sister Sabé and Dormé, who’s currently posing as Sab, but we swiftly join Vader, Ochi and Dormé as they strided through the corridors of the Executor. Vader knows the deception, that Dormé is masquerading as Sabé, and after taking it out on Ochi he tells Dormé she’s there for her sister, but that Sabé now servies his will, and she could too, if she chose to.
We swing to Brentaal IV, where Sabé has just shot Jul Tambor, laying down covering fire as a ship comes in and picks her and the stricken Skakoan up – literally, with huge grabbers – and swooping away. Onboard, droid Zed checks the body, explaining that Jul is still barely alive, and offers to finish the job but Sabé stops him; she wants him alive. Tambor is confused, and Sabé explains that she did it to stop his attack on the Imperial garrison on Skako Minor, an attack that would bring swift and deadly retribution from the Empire to his people. Jul then changes tack, swearing to kill Vader instead. He has a plan, and a vast droid army comprised of droids destroyed by Vader, cobbled together into a makeshift droid army. Jul believes he has found Vader’s weakness, a claim Sabé refutes until Tambor tells her the weakness – her.
Dormé, Ochi and Vader leave the Executor, heading for Fedalle where the Handmaidens follow much to Dormé’s dismay as Vader launches at them. He bests them, explaining that they served Padmé who believed in order. Sabé believes in order too; imagine what they could achieve if they worked together, for him. However, a twist. The last time they fought they managed to infiltrate his armour, taking codes that compromised the security of his flagship. The Handmaidens just want Sabé, and are prepared to destroy the ship and thousands onboard to get her, but just as the choice is about to be made Ochi plays a transmission from Admiral Piett onboard the Executor. Jul Tambor, who has captured Sabé. The choice is stark, but the answer clear – they agree to work for Vader, so they can rescue their sister.
Another top issue from Greg Pak and team, elevated to must-have staus by some truly sumptuous artwork by Luke Ross and Federico Blee and a stunning Rahzzah cover. We’ve said it before, in the wrong hands the storyline of the Handmaidens could come off all kinds of wrong, but steered by Greg Pak it’s engrossing, engaging, galaxy-spanning and laces together prequel concepts with OT scenerios in a way fans could never have dreamed of just a few years ago. It’s clever, considered, treats Vader like the Godzilla threat he is while allowing just enough of Anakin to peer through the visor and leaves us keen for the next issue, which never arrives quickly enough.
