Comic Review — Star Wars: Darth Vader #28–32: Return of the Handmaidens
Thoughts on the five-issue run of the Darth Vader comic series, which sees the continuation of Vader’s interactions with Padmé’s old handmaidens; in particular Sabé, who seeks to redeem him. Title for the arc taken from the omnibus edition. Written by Greg Pak, with art by Raffaele Ienco, Luke Ross, Ibraim Roberson, Carlos Lopez, and Federico Blee.
This recent run of five-issues in the Darth Vader comic series continues Vader’s slightly odd relationship with Padmé’s former handmaidens, in particular Sabé who has lately in the Vader series become one of the dark lord’s sidekicks. I find this ongoing relationship weird and uncomfortable. But I guess that’s kind of the point. This gang of Padmé-lookalikes is an interesting test for who Vader is, and how near or far he is from Anakin buried inside.
Sabé’s role with Vader is kicked up a gear in the start of this run, with issue twenty-eight seeing Vader take her before the Emperor to test her. This I think is the strongest issue of the arc, as the Emperor rarely disappoints in his occasional appearances in the comics, in pushing Vader’s buttons. He knows Sabé acts as a good test for Vader himself, and seems intrigued by her boldness in thinking she can do anything to rescue Anakin, in the name of the late-Padmé.
