After recruiting Aphra and the murder droids the next adventure for this Darth Vader comic series is Shadows and Secrets! The plot gets deeper as Vader searches for answers in old places and does his best to keep his moves and countermoves hidden!
Watching Vader plot and deceive is something we so rarely think of when we are so familiar with Vaders’ signature problem-solving style…
Which is pretty much lazer-sword everything until the problem is solved…
SO MUCH LAZER SWORD.
Which leads us to my favorite parts!
SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD!
Twin Suns
Vader and Aphra return to Tatooine seeking answers about Skywalker. There are some really cool scenes as Vader is still trying to piece together the puzzle. All he has is a name, and after Cymoon, he knows Kenobi was training the boy.
Critter Treats
Vader really uses the Force to place this guy in a giant creature’s mouth.
Classic Vader.
Can’t take him anywhere.
What a joker.
Indubitably!
Meet Inspector Thanoth! You know how Thrawn is like a “space Sherlock Holmes?” Well, Thanoth is like, literally a space Sherlock Holmes.
Monacle and all.
The thing is that Vader is trying to hide a few things these days…
Which means a space Sherlock Holmes is like… the LAST thing Vader needs right now.
Just Slaying Rebels… Whatchoo Doing?
At one point Vader slaughters a bunch of Rebels then calls up his adjutant all while enjoying the breeze atop his TIE x1 Advanced.
Chillin.
Putting Together a Crew
Aphra puts together a nice bunch of bounty hunters for a big score! Familiar faces Bossk and Krssantan Black are here. We have a cool IG-90 blood-red edition and the shortest little armored up Beebox!
Teamwork!
… Kinda…
The Replacement Killers
So now that the secret is out on Vaders’ replacements they all have their own missions to prove themselves useful! Vader crosses path with them along the way. Pretty much everyone just trying to one-up each other (you know how evildoers do.)
Annoying.
THE DRAGON
Ortolan crime lord.
That is all.
My favorite.
The Mortician
As Vader and Aphra uncover more of the puzzle the clues lead to a retired mortician on Naboo.
They are getting warmer…
Vader has no Respect for Y-Wings
Vader tracks down the Plasma Devils base and attacks. He tosses his saber into a fleeing Y-wing.
Rude.
Stay Useful
Aphra proves her usefulness, the murder droids start a firefight in a casino, and Vader uses sneaky force tricks to keep everyone off his trail. The path leads to Skywalker’s whereabouts and Aphra does everything she can to prove to Vader that she’s worth more alive.
All in a day’s work for a Sith lord and a rogue archeologist right?
The Rogue Rebels 