A dark lord of the Sith has been dragged into a rather expansive murderous plot, but should you really care how it concludes?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Dark Horse:

Darth Vader’s search for the culprits behind an assassination attempt on the Emperor leads to a shattered Star Destroyer floating lifeless above a mysterious moon. On the ground he finds no survivors—instead ancient ruins, and frightening inhabitants. All the while, a hunter follows, waiting for the moment to strike!

When I first began covering this series I found myself accepting the concept with ease while also experiencing feelings of trepidation towards its assuredly forthcoming conclusion.  We know for a fact that Darth Vader is not in any mortal danger against this foe but despite that knowledge the creative team has found a way to make this outlandish set of bouts work.

Tim Siedell pens the script and the scribe knows exactly when to step back and let the dialogue be the light in this car as the illustrations become the chief engine for the plot.  That’s not to say that the tale found here is lacking by any stretch of the imagination, in truth it’s not a literary feet but I found myself, on several occasions, in a state where I enjoyed many of the subtleties of the text.  In short: this was an action packed and fast moving narrative that left very little room for exposition or disappointment.

The art by Iván Fernández is just as good as you probably expect it to be. The character renditions match their movie counterparts in the best ways possible as the talent gets to embrace the dark side by illustrating a version of our storied protagonist that’s rarely seen.  The pencil strokes on display, especially when the action starts, are more than up to the task as they deliver a kinetic experience that’s destined to bring smiles to devoted followers.

Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin #3 is an excellent release that more than deserves a purchase from faithful fanboys and fangirls through out the galaxy.  Recommended.

4/5