Darth Vader (2020) #10 - Comic Review

Check out the review of the previous issue before moving on.

In hot pursuit of Emperor Palpatine’s hidden planet of Exegol, Darth Vader #10 had the Dark Lord and captive assassin Ochi of Bestoon dropped out of hyperspace in front of the Red Nebula only to be face to face with a subspecies of Summa-verminoth, the kind of creature seen in the maelstrom outside of the Kessel system! Ochi thinks things are bad enough with this massive obstacle in front of them, but when Vader turns around they both realize they’re trapped between the Summa-verminoth and now an Imperial fleet! Led by the Umbaran Sly Moore, Admiral Corleque and his fleet of TIE fighters and three Star Destroyers are here to finish what Ochi had failed to do in destroying Vader. Like everyone else, however, Moore vastly underestimates Vader’s capabilities as he not only fares quite well against the fleet, but also ends up toe-to-tentacle with the Summa-verminoth inside the nebula. Moore thinks Vader gone, as no one should be able to survive a fight with such a creature, especially when it’s revealed to also have psychic Force like abilities, but again Vader seems to be surpassing any expectation and pulling through as best he can to hopefully arrive at Exegol!

Darth Vader #10 really gives us a culmination of everything we’ve had so far in this run. Writer Greg Pak gives us action, space battles, an underdog story, an epic mental Force attack and vision involving Vader’s past, present, and future, and even a massive horrifying entity. It’s really spectacular stuff that one comes to expect from the current Vader run, but honestly better than it has ever been.

Artist Raffaele Ienco and colorist Neeraj Menon really put out some stunning work here as well, be it the space battles, the epic monster scenes, or the intimate moments between Anakin and Obi-Wan as well as Luke and Vader giving us a beautiful and tragic parallel between the lives and interactions. Menon’s colors really shine during every page and panel involving the Red Nebula and the Summa-verminoth, the latter being honestly one of the coolest things ever in a Star Wars comic thanks to Menon and Raffaele.

When it comes to an epic Star Wars tale, Darth Vader #10 hits all the right marks in the best ways imaginable. Between a ferocious space monster and an Imperial fleet led by an aid to the Emperor who refuses to fail, you do not want to miss this action packed issue when it hits shelves this week!