Star Wars: Darth Vader #46 / FCBD Darth Vader
Recap
Free Comic Book Day Story:
Darth Vader employes a surprise character from the past to help him find Luke Skywalker. But Sabé, former handmaiden of Padmé Amidala is also on a quest for the son of Vader. Having worked for him as an Imperial Commander, Sabé has enough resources to cause chaos for anyone who stands in her path. How will this affect the Dark Lord’s plans to remove Palpatine from power?
Darth Vader #46
DARTH VADER and the SCHISM IMPERIAL launch their boldest challenge to the power of PALPATINE with an assault on EXEGOL, the home of the EMPEROR'S greatest secrets and treasures! But if sheer brute force can't overcome the defenses of the SITH CITADEL, what terrifying new resources will the DARK LORD draw upon? Also: CAPTAIN ENRIC PRYDE faces his greatest test!
Review
Since the end of the Dark Droids event, Vader has been on the outs with the Emperor and the Empire’s Inner Circle of advisors like Mas Amedda who have been moving against Darth Vader in hopes of reducing his power within The Empire. In the process of trying to route out the members of the Schism Imperial, they end up recruiting Vader to join their ranks as they plan to move against the Emperor. At the same time, Vader continues his search for Luke, as Warba, the con artist who tried to convince Luke she was a Jedi meets with Amadala’s former handmaiden Sabe, who has also been working with Vader.
In the Free Comic Book Day installment of Darth Vader Sabe meets Warba wanting to enlist her help in locating Luke. Warba sends Sabe on a mission to test her determination and character and ends with the reveal that Warba is working for Vader. The FCBD is a great setup for Issue #46 as it gives potential new readers a look into the upcoming story arc while not being completely divorced from the story over in the ongoing series.
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Issue #46 picks up shortly after the events of the FCBD, with Sabe and Warba meeting up and heading off on their journey to locate Luke briefly recapping the highlights of their mission.
The main part of the issue focuses on the Schism Imperial launching their first strike against the Emperor on by attacking the Kyber Temple on Exegol. the planet where Palpatine has hidden many of his treasurers of the Sith. It was refreshing to finally see the Schism in action after the past few issues, which has mainly focused on Sly Moore’s recruitment of the various officers who have a grudge against the Emperor or his inner circle for various reasons.
Pak does an excellent job of letting the members of the Schism have a chance to shine along with Vader, who is still hard to tell if he is truly invested in the group’s purpose or merely going along to trap and expose their deceit.
The artwork by Raffaele Ienco is solid and one can feel the energy leap off the page. Ienco also impresses with the space creature Summa-Verminoth, a Krakken-esque monster that Vader and the others are going to have to deal with next issue/
Final Thoughts
With Star Wars: Darth Vader #46, the story speeds up as it goes from the build of who the Schism members are to them finally doing something other than the recruiting taking place. Like with the other Star Wars series currently running, these events take place before The Return Of The Jedi so it will be interesting to see how Pak ties the Schism story arc up so that the continuity remains intact.
Darth Vader #46 ;/Darth Vader FCBD: No One Suspects The Imperial Schism!
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 8/108/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 10/1010/10
