Star Wars: Darth Vader, Vol. 1: Dark Heart of the Sith by Greg Pak

Star Wars: Darth Vader, Vol. 1: Dark Heart of the Sith Reviews

• 
  Khurram

  An awesome book. I was expecting it to be good but this was great. Great artwork and story. Vader has told Luke he is his father, but Luke escaped.
  
  Now Vader want revenge on everyone who had a hand in keeping Luke away from him. He begins his investigation on his home planet, then the grave of his dead wife.
  
  I really enjoyed that this comic bridges the gap from the Queens Shadow novel. Vader find he is not the only one looking for revenge.
• 
  fatherofdragons113

  This is the story I've always wanted. Darth Vader going back to find out what happened to Padme after discovering Luke was alive. We basically go on a tour with Vader through all the places important to Padme's story. Beautiful flashbacks were interspersed throughout the comic as Vader is visiting his past that's supposed to be dead to him. PADME'S HANDMAIDENS (gasp face emoji). SO GOOD. 100/10
• 
  Kristen ꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱

  Darth Vader comics continue to be consistently good writer to writer. Having Sabé and the Handmaidens return was super cool to have insight on what they reacted like to Padmé’s death and what they’ve done after. Also interesting that this fits right after episode V.
• 
  Robert

  Vader is still reeling from the events at the end of The Empire Strikes Back and embarks on a series of journeys that will bring him mask-to-face with his past as Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and those who knew him as Padme's protector.
  
  The results are predictably messy, and riveting. So glad I finally got around to reading this one.
• 
  Tiag⊗ the Mutant

  
  
  Anakin's saga is still best storyline being told in Marvel comics, and Dark Heart of the Sith was another fine addition to the story, with a lot of powerful moments. It's so satisfying to read a story written by someone who gets Star Wars and not just their own idea of it.
• 
  Chad

  Taking place right after the end of The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader revisits all of his old haunts as he tries to haunt down those who helped Luke Skywalker grow up. He then gets immediately sidetracked into learning about Padme's death and meets up with all of the old Naboo crew. The art shifts back and forth between now and Padme and Anakin's greatest hits from the prequels. The art is actually really good. The story revisits a lot that we've already seen.
• 
  Ben Brown

  Of all of Marvel’s “Star Wars” output over the last 5 years, by far and away their most creatively satisfying output have been their various Darth Vader-centric series. From Kieron Gillen’s initial run, to Charles Soule’s follow-up, to even more apparently “superfluous” fare like “Target Vader” and “Dark Visions,” Vader as a character has proven to be a consistent creative boon for the House of M’s storytellers…and his newest series, from Greg Pak and artist Raffaele Ienco, doesn’t appear to be any different, if this first arc is any indication. From the very first issue, Pak strikes a nice balance between Gillen’s more esoteric approach and Soule’s action-heavy stylings, while also injecting plenty of cool “Star Wars” lore that serve to make the whole package that much more enticing. It’s a slick, thematically confident first outing that bodes well for the future, both for this particular series, as well as the ongoing narrative prospects of Darth Vader at Marvel Comics.
• 
  Bookwraiths

  Good premise which suffered from some meh storytelling. The art was great though with the Vader action being very well done. It was also nice to see many old familiar characters and locations. Loved the ending to issue #6, can’t wait to see what happens.
• 
  Sud666

  I love a good Darth Vader story. This volume was quite good. Superb art and a good story combine to make a very good Vader story.
  
  Vader, an intrepid Imperial forensics droid, and a squad of Dark Troopers seek to resolve a mystery. Vader runs into someone he thinks is Padme. It turns out to be a coven of Padem's Handmaidens. This is a journey into Vader's past, when he was Anakin. From Naboo to Tatooiene, vader travels his old haunts seeking information. Along the way, we see flashbacks to his time as Anakin.
  
  A good, stand alone story, especially for any fan of Vader.
• 
  Subham

  So this was really good, I really like how Greg just focuses on action and if he has to give the reader any exposition he does it through the droid and then focusing on Vader's mindset after episode 5 and then showing how he finds what happened to Padme and kind of reconciling with having lost his love and something with Kenobi but mostly encountering Padme's confidantes and some great surprises and challenges for Vader to go against, just a terrific book and an even better read! Plus with epic art. Best star wars book atm! <3
• 
  Jamie Connolly

  I read all the vader comics. Always good. This one is no different. Except for Vader: Dark Visions. That book sucks. This one is good. 4 stars.
• 
  Jerry

  While I may despise Disney's celluloid treatment of Star Wars, especially the garbage that was The Last Jedi, Marvel's recent comic book stories set in a galaxy far, far away have mostly been winners...including this one. Fans of old-school space opera should give this a try.
• 
  Chris Lemmerman

  Darth Vader's encounter with Luke Skywalker during The Empire Strikes Back is fresh in his mind, and he is out for blood - all those that made his son weak must perish, but his quest for vengeance becomes something else entirely when a face from his past makes themselves known.
  
  We've had a lot of exploration of Darth Vader's character in terms of who he is and how he got to where he is - both Kieron Gillen and Charles Soule had him come face to face with metaphorical demons from his past, including himself and the ghost of Padme. Greg Pak goes one step further and throws loads of familiar (ish) faces at Vader so that he has no choice but to confront his past literally head on.
  
  It's a twist on a tried and true story, and it also gives us lots of characters to focus on aside from Vader himself who is never the most compelling protagonist given his penchant for not saying very much. That said, the Forensics Droid is a maybe a little too talkative - I think Pak was trying to create the newest incarnation of the evil droids from Doctor Aphra's series, but he falls short unfortunately.
  
  I'm not overly familiar with Raffaelle Ienco's art, aside from some truly heinous fill-in work he did on Fantastic Four a long time ago, but this is a marked improvement. He still has some awful faces at times, and the lightsaber combat feels a little limp, like he's not quite sure where the blade is meant to go once its done its job, but he manages to evoke a lot of emotion out of Vader's stoic face through subtle use of lighting, and the varied locales that the story visits across these five issues are all well rendered.
  
  Yet another Darth Vader solo series could get a little grating, but the new setting, the new quest, and the new supporting characters make this opening arc surprisingly solid. It's still similar to what we've seen before, but different enough to keep things interesting. Bravo.
  
• 
  Travis Duke

  Another slice out of the old trilogy, filling in the gaps, with more Vader violence. Yet once again another vader #1, what is that like 3 or 4 vader series in that past few years? They know what fans want and I cant argue.
  
  This time its all about Padme and Vader's relationship. I like that Marvel is expanding on Vader and how much his emotions STILL control him. It is also sad to see how manipulative the emperor is in all this. I do think it is funny that they have to introduce another droid for comic relief. The action is the bread and butter, Vader doing his amazingly evil dark side powers, defying everyone and taking names. The art is very good, with bright panels and awesome action.
  
• 
  Benji Glaab

  One of the better SW comics I've read this year. The overall story was good but the major strength is how Darth Vader's memories of his previous life are tangled into the narrative. I could go for a few more volumes to see where Darth's head is at leading into episode 6
• 
  Craig

  It's not terrible, but, really, nothing much happens here. It's Darth Vader revisiting old haunts, coupled with flashbacks to scenes from the movies. What's the point?
• 
  Brett Wyman

  This volume details the events after Vader confronts Luke in the Empire Strikes Back. Coming to terms that he does in fact have a son made him go on a journey to investigate Padmé’s death. He meets some people along the way who used to serve Padmé and it triggers a lot of memories of his past which was handled very well and easy to follow. It also ties in very well to the Padmé trilogy by E.K. Johnston. Probably my favourite volume of all the Vader comics runs in canon. Vader’s pain is at its peak and it’s just fantastic.
  
  5 stars, BRAVO!!!
• 
  Sophie_The_Jedi_Knight

  <3
  
  I am far too obsessed with Star Wars comics.
  
  I've had this one on my list for ages until my library finally purchased it. And oh man - I had such, such a time.
  
  "Purist" definitely isn't the right word, because I love practically everything Star Wars, but I really love SW content that takes a lot from the movies. This comic about Vader, set between ESB and RotJ, has SO much movie content in it that I adored. The use of it was absolutely spectacular - my one critique would be that I would've liked a little more stuff about Obi-Wan, but I can wait.
  
  This comic is about Vader seeking out what happened to Padme, given that he now knows Luke exists, and it's such a trip. There were also some really great
  Queen's Shadow tie-ins that I wasn't expecting at all, and they were so well done. I loved seeing the public's response to Padme's (and Anakin's!!) murders. "So swear the handmaidens of Amidala" gave me chills. And, aah, I'm so glad he didn't kill the handmaidens. I was really sure he was going to just murder them all and I took too long to turn the page when I thought that.
  
  I went into this comic thinking it would be more about Vader being more human, since this is before RotJ, but he was still pretty intense in here. "I made this for you." So I'm assuming more stuff will be to come in this series; I can't wait for the lead-in to RotJ! 5/5 stars.
• 
  Will Robinson Jr.

  Pretty good. Despite the fact that Star Wars has lost a bit of its luster since the sequel trilogy divided fans there are still writers and artists putting out quality Star Wars content. The Vader books have been remarkable. Greg Pak showcases like many writers on Vader that he gets the appeal of the character. In this new volume of the Vader saga, we get to see a different Dark Lord who is coming to terms with the past and future that haunts him. Taking place after the Empire Strikes Back Vader begins his search for the conspirators that hid the existence of his son from him. Without a doubt, Pak and the artist team did a great job of conveying the wrath and menace of a Vader that is out for revenge. There are few surprises that happen in this book that not only enhance the original trilogy plot threads but the prequels as well. I thought the artwork was good and the colors were well done as well. This volume ended with a deliciously dark set up with Palpatine. This book just did a great job conveying the tortured spirit of Anakin Skywalker. If you are looking for happy endings you will not find them here as Vader teaches us the true cost of giving into our dark desires. Once again another great Vader story from the folks at Marvel that proves why the character remains probably one of the greatest villains ever created.
• 
  Neil R. Coulter

  This is the Star Wars story we’ve been waiting for: finally, finally, we get a story featuring one of the greatest of all SW characters, beloved by all fans. What kind of leader has he become? What has motivated him all these years? How does he create wartime strategies? Will he get the revenge he has contemplated for so long?
  
  I’m speaking, of course, about Ric “You catch on pretty quick” Olié.
  
  I won’t spoil who emerges triumphant when Ric and Darth Vader (oh—I should mention that he also appears in some scenes in this book) come face to face (helmet) in pitched battle. It may surprise you (but it may not).
  
  Is this book hinting at a not-yet-announced Ric Olié series on Disney+? We don’t know yet, but certainly there’s plenty of his history yet to be covered in any medium. Someone once said, “Ric Olié is built on hope” (something like that, more or less). Our hopes are rewarded for now.
• 
  Sid

  *john williams' across the stars playing softly in the background while i'm crying over anakin and padme*
• 
  Robert

  Decent in terms of DV, bizarre in terms of the cult that has risen around the corpse of Padme.
• 
  Stephanie

  Why would I want to watch Darth Vader murder all of Padme’s friends? 🤨🤨🤨 and yet I read this. Huge regrets.
• 
  Patrick

  Easily one of the best things I've read by Greg Pak. Such a simple story but hits hard on the nostalgia and the tragic story of Anakin Skywalker.
• 
  Matěj Komiksumec

  Tady budu hrozně neobjektivní ale vážně jsem se bavil. Ačkoliv je příběh v určitém směru jen tupé pomrkávání na fanoušky prequelů přišlo mi to dostatečně zábavné na to abych to celý prakticky ihned dočetl. Ovšem dvě naprosto zásadní chyby mi vadí - Vader se až po epizodě 5 rozhodne zjistit co se stalo s Padmé? Vždyť už v Gillenově sérii se dozvěděl, že má syna tak proč až teď?
  A proč musí být Vader přehnaně akční v každým issue? Na většině míst si to mohl Pak odpustit.
  Tak či tak ujížděl jsem si na kresbě která mi přišlo boží i s flashbacky, to je ohromné plus oproti zmíněné Gillenově řadě.
• 
  Emma

  I generally don't get the hype around Darth Vader but wow Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 1 may have finally won me over. Pak's story leans into every possible chance to wallop the reader with emotional gut-punches -- something that reminds me a lot of Matthew Stover's Revenge of the Sith novelization, which I also loved. The story did an excellent job tying together character arcs and story elements from all three Star Wars trilogies to make an incredibly strong narrative. Seeing a Vader haunted by his past through flashbacks to the prequel trilogy helped me truly internalize the character development we see on-screen between Vader in Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
  
  I highly recommend giving this a read, particularly as we get ready for the Obi-Wan Kenobi show later this month.
• 
  Filip

  This review was posted as part of my weekly column, Saturday Star Wars, posted over at my blog,
  the Grimoire Reliquary.
  
  I’ll be, a Darth Vader comic book that taps deep into the prequel movies without mucking things up. This comic book Greg Pak has succeeded where I would’ve been skeptical he might, and has done so with flying colours. Speaking of colours, two colour schemes dominate the past and present. Neeraj Menon uses a subdued colour palette for the present, with plenty of grey and overwhelming black, as well as cold, natural beige for skin tone. All these are bathed in red whenever the Dark Lord of the Sith’s lightsaber is drawn.
  
  
  
  The past is seen through the red filter of Vader’s rage, which does an excellent job defining the time period; Pak keeps to straight adaptations of the movie events, which is acceptable but I see it as a bit of a missed opportunity. It might’ve been an interesting narrative device, to have Vader’s remembrances twisted, skewered towards his present beliefs, his rage and–yes–even self-pity.
  
  This is the first of Disney’s Vader comic books to take place between Episodes V and VI; it’s Vader’s investigation into the death of Anakin Skywalker’s wife, Padme Amidala. During it, he comes face to face with a woman whose face is a striking reminder of Padme’s: one of her former handmaidens.
  
  
  
  Armed with the failure of apprehending his son, Vader looks to understand how Luke slipped his reaches in the first place. Haunted by the memories that led to the loss of Padme, Vader is more introspective and passive than he usually appears. He’s not too chatty, our old Darth, which is why Pak decided to add an Imperial droid analyst, who makes oh-so-much idle chit-chat. I wonder how he’ll end up…
  
  This one offers resolution for some Prequel-era Naboo-based characters, which I thoroughly enjoyed; it puts to rest a whole minor faction whose absence I’d always been curious about in the Rebellion era. What’s more, it sets up a second volume I’m very excited for, with an appearance by everyone’s badass cowl-wearing grandpa, the big Pee, Emperor Palpatine himself.
  
  Phenomenal work by Raffaele Ienco, too, on what is some of the finest art in a Darth Vader title yet–and that’s saying something–you’ll agree, if you’ve read either Soule’s or Gillen’s run. I’m mightily impressed by Pak, to tell you true, and I can hardly wait until June for the second volume. I suppose I’ll dry my tears on the pages of Alyssa Wong’s first volume of Doctor Aphra, come January!
  
  Before then, you might as well get this one–you won’t regret it!
  
  
• 
  Dakota Morgan

  Greg Pak takes over the Darth Vader series and doesn't really do anything new or exciting with it. Whereas the previous series plumbed the depths of Sith lore, this first volume, Dark Heart of the Sith, plumbs Vader's previous life as Anakin. The Dark Lord searches for Padme's killers, taking him to all your favorite settings from the prequel trilogy, with older versions of all your favorite Nabooians. Nabooites. Naboos?
  
  Sith lore is a lot more exciting than revisiting scenes from the movies. Still, it's Darth Vader, and Greg Pak is a seasoned writer, so it's an involving read that keeps you turning the pages. There are just zero surprises - unless you consider the appearance of someone like Ric Olie to be a surprise. And I sure do hope you like talkative droids! (I did not) We more or less end where we started, so I guess the next Darth Vader book can be volume one again.
• 
  Ondra Král

  Soule mě namlsal na další Vaderoviny. Greg Pak obecně umí, nástřel zápletky je skvělej, ale mám s tím několik problémů:
  
  1) Děj se točí kolem toho, že Vader chce po "I am Your father" zjistit co nejvíc o narození Luka a smrti Padmé. Nedává mi to smysl - proč teď? Tenhle příběh se měl odehrát hned po Epizodě III nebo ve chvíli, kdy zjistil, že má syna.
  
  2) Nucená akce. Vader je mlátička a v každém čísle tak musí být povinné máchání mečem, i když to příběh akorát zdržuje. V prvním sešitě tak máme bandity, v druhém jakési příšery... Od třetího čísla je to lepší, ale všichni nepřátelé jsou prakticky cannon fodder (to je obecně problém vaderovských komiksů).
  
  Slabší 3*