Darth Vader #7: Sith Rebuilt

This issue follows one of the most brutal comics Star Wars has ever released. Vader has been literally torn apart in an effort to squash any bit of Anakin Skywalker that remains in The Emperor’s favorite puppet. His goal now is to rebuild himself and face the Sith assassin that has been tasked by The Emperor to kill him. Vader will learn or be destroyed. He starts at rock bottom to be sure, but quickly drags himself to shelter and begins the painstaking work of physically and mentally rebuilding himself as Vader reborn. Having built droids, racers, lightsabers, most of his life, this is something  that is certainly in his wheelhouse.

Following in the pattern of the previous arc, this one is peppered with flashbacks of Anakin’s memories. More specifically this issue deals with his first day, no longer as Anakin but Darth Vader, soon to be dismembered for the first time. One of the things Vader has done really well is to fill in his personal narrative that the films really can’t tackle under their allotted running times. This is a crazy era for Vader as a character. He just found out he has a son, he has visited the tomb of Anakin’s late wife. He has been mutilated and now tested by his master, and know he is hunted by Sith assassin, Ochi of Bestoon. The point here is to show how well Anakin’s spirit really does hold on. His skills at droid and cybernetic integration are Anakin’s skills, which he utilizes to rebuild himself. Palpatine may think he is eliminating Anakin’s sprit, but in truth he is flaming the long thought dead ember at Vader’s discovery of having a son, a product of the love of his life. There is strong Light Side magic in that. Of course, the events of Return of the Jedi will prove this to be the point when Anakin fully comes back. Undoubtedly the events of this series played through his mind when he decided to turn on his master.

The art and story telling in this offering is not only just as superb as this series has been so far, but manages to raise it a level. Decomposed aliens, sparking electronics in Vader’s failing suit, Lava hissing and eating away at metal. On top of the atmospheric elements action is depicted well, as is dialogue. It is clear though the work that the creative team here is firing on all cylinders.