Darth Vader 1 marks the inaugural issue of the canon comic book series titled Star Wars: Darth Vader (2017). Charles Soule penned the story, while Giuseppe Camuncoli provided the illustrations. Marvel Comics released it on June 7, 2017. Additionally, the issue showcases the comic tale "No Good Deed...," crafted by Chris Eliopoulos alongside Jordie Bellaire.
The most feared villain in history is back with a brand-new series! Anakin Skywalker's downfall occurred when he succumbed to the dark side's allure and Obi-Wan Kenobi's attack, leading to his transformation into a being more machine than human. Having forfeited all that he once held dear, the former chosen one is compelled to embark on his journey into a darker existence…as Darth Vader, the Dark Lord of the Sith!
Within the Grand Republic Medical Facility situated on Coruscant, Darth Vader incessantly repeats "No" as recollections of choking Padmé Amidala on Mustafar flood his mind. As his new master, Darth Sidious, observes with a smirk, Vader unleashes the Force in a violent outburst, obliterating medical droids and even propelling the Emperor against a wall. Vader questions Palpatine's inability to resurrect her as promised, to which Palpatine responds that Vader's rage led him down a different path, rendering even the dark side of the Force incapable of bringing her back. However, Padmé's demise has bestowed upon Vader the "gift" of pain, which he must accept to survive. Vader consents to live, prompting Palpatine to utter "Good," before assailing his apprentice with bursts of Force lightning. As Vader writhes in agony, Palpatine instructs him to defend himself with his lightsaber. Vader counters that he lost it during his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the Jedi took it. Palpatine informs him that the blade belonged to a Jedi, and he is a Sith. Acknowledging the traumatic nature of recent events for Vader, he cautions that any further use of the Force against him will result in him finishing what Kenobi started. He then advises Vader to rise and follow him, as he has something to reveal.
Upon the steps of the Jedi Temple, Mas Amedda is presiding over a ceremony, destroying the lightsabers of the Jedi who were slain or forced into hiding during the Great Jedi Purge. He proclaims to the citizens that they will no longer fear the Jedi, as Palpatine has rescued them from their treachery. Observing from above, Palpatine inquires whether Vader knows why Sith lightsabers possess a red hue. Upon Vader's admission of ignorance, Palpatine derides the Jedi for concealing knowledge they found unsettling, which ultimately contributed to their downfall. He elaborates that a Sith kyber crystal is like any other, except it has been made to bleed—the living crystal from any Jedi's saber can be converted by pouring one's pain and agony into it, until it turns crimson—the color of rage. In the courtyard below, Amedda deposits the lightsabers into an incinerator, where they begin to melt. He then recoils as the kyber crystals detonate, unleashing a powerful beam of energy and flame into the sky. Vader points out that Palpatine could have provided him with one of the destroyed lightsabers to corrupt, including Yoda's. Palpatine retorts that a Sith's saber is never given, only taken.
Vader and Palpatine journey to Gattering in the Mid Rim aboard a Theta-class T-2c shuttle. Upon landing, the Emperor remarks that he had acquired a ship for Vader to use on his lightsaber-making mission, but it appears to have been stolen. He urges Vader to embrace the dark side and allow it to guide him. Vader exits the shuttle and manipulates the controls on his belt to adjust the optical scanners in his visor, revealing tracks indicating that his ship had been dragged across the desert sands.
At their base, two enslavers admire the starship, musing that even if they cannot decipher its encryption, they can sell it for more than a year's worth of slaving. The Aqualish enslaver is struck by a piece of machinery, propelled by Vader's Force powers. Vader stands on the wall and declares, "That ship... is mine." The enslavers unleash a barrage of fire as Vader leaps from the wall, hurling machinery and shrapnel. A Pau'an enslaver manages to hit Vader's armor and boasts of his success, but Vader uses the bodies of his fallen comrades as shields before launching them at the Pau'an. The remaining survivor pleads with Vader to reveal his desires, to which Vader responds, "From you? Only this," and snaps his neck using the Force.
On April 24, 2019, Marvel Comics re-released Darth Vader 1 as a component of its "True Believers" initiative, setting a suggested retail price of $1 USD.
This comic portrays the destruction of Yoda's lightsaber, a depiction that was initially perceived as conflicting with the 2016 reference book Star Wars: Complete Locations, which illustrates the lightsaber stored in a box within Yoda's Hut during the events of Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. In response to inquiries, writer Charles Soule speculated that Yoda might have constructed a new one, possessed multiple lightsabers, or that Darth Sidious fabricated a replica to emphasize a point. Lucasfilm Story Group's Matt Martin later affirmed awareness of the discrepancy, clarifying that it was not an error, as Yoda likely owned numerous lightsabers throughout his life. The discrepancy seemingly found resolution in the 2022 comic Crimson Reign 3, which stated that one of Yoda's lightsabers met its end during the celebration. The implied second lightsaber was shown earlier in The Book of Boba Fett episode "Chapter 6: From the Desert Comes a Stranger," where it was offered by Luke Skywalker to Grogu.
However, the short story "Masters," subsequently established that Sidious intended to retrieve Yoda's initial lightsaber after his passing and display it within the Imperial Palace as a trophy, suggesting that Sidious did not have it destroyed as depicted in Darth Vader (2017) 1. The existence of a second lightsaber in this narrative remains uncertain.
- UPC 759606086665; June 7 , 2017 ; Marvel Comics [1] 00111; Cover A; Jim Cheung, Matthew Wilson 00121; Cover B; John Tyler Christopher 00131; Cover C; Lucasfilm Ltd. 00141; Cover D; Phil Noto 00151; Cover E; Mark Brooks 00161; Cover F; Adi Granov 00171; Cover G; Skottie Young 00181; Cover H; Blank 00191; Cover I; John Tyler Christopher 00116; Cover J; David López 00117; Cover K; Rod Reis 00118; Cover L; Francesco Mattina 00112; Cover M; Jim Cheung, Matthew Wilson
- UPC 759606094370; April 24, 2019; Marvel Comics; True Believers [3] 00111; Cover N; Jim Cheung, Matthew Wilson