One Great Volume: Darth Vader: Imperial Machine (Vol 1 of 4)

Welcome to One Great Volume! Here, I’ll provide a spoiler-free exploration of the first volumes and standalone stories (an entire story collected in one regular sized book) in comics, manga and graphic novels, because I feel they make for some of the most accessible entry points into the exciting world of panels and pages. The recommended prior reading for these books will be nothing, or optional. This is a positive space, so I’ll be covering the books I have personally read and love, and hope that my thoughts on these stories will help you to find your next favourite.  

Please note: I will be discussing a range of titles, including both all-ages and adult-only content. Always check the recommended age ratings to find what’s right for you.

With that said, on with the story!

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Darth Vader: Imperial Machine (Vol 1 of 4)

Writer: Charles Soule | Penciler: Giuseppe Camuncoli | Inker: Cam Smith | Colourist: David Curiel | Book Type: First in a Series | Publisher: Marvel Comics | Ages: 14+

Darth Vader: Imperial Machine is the first volume of a compelling and in-depth character study on one of pop culture’s most iconic villains. With such a well-known and widespread legacy, it was an exciting idea to dive further into more stories about Darth Vader, which haven't made it to screen (yet). The writing in this fantastic book remains faithful to the source material and the larder Star Wars universe, whilst still managing to be inventive and to tread new ground (or at least it’s new to me!). The artistic team behind this comic do fantastic work together to capture beautiful wide-shots that the franchise is known for, as well as key character moments expressed in so many creative ways. This book is one that’s been really exciting to me, and I think it’s got something to offer even the long-term Star Wars fans.  (Before I go on, I need to provide a quick and necessary spoiler, so SPOILER ALERT: Anakin Skywalker is Darth Vader. Bam. There it is. On with the blog.)

When I think about pop culture’s most iconic villains, Darth Vader would probably be one of the first names I would rattle off. To me, villains are some of the most interesting characters out there, but I think that one of the things that makes Vader so beloved and iconic is because, before he became a villain, he was a hero. The Chosen One, turned away from the light to fester in the dark, filled with rage, grief, hatred and fear - and this story really dives into the internal conflict that Darth Vader is dealing with in his early days as a Sith. Writer Soule poses questions about how Darth Vader/Anakin fit into this new role in the empire as a Sith, and how he can adapt to his new body and way of life. What really stood out to me in Soule's writing was the way in which he held space for what made Anakin special (and a bit scary), his creativity, unpredictability and his unrelenting persistence. As a standalone book, this one is fantastic, and is clearly written by someone who is not only a clever and skilled writer, but also has a lot of fondness for the world of Star Wars and the character of Anakin Skywalker. If you like this one, you’ll love what comes in the following three volumes.

Throughout Imperial Machine, Darth Vader comes across as a fearsome unstoppable force at all times throughout this Imperial Machine - both the writing and the art do a wonderful job of showing that, even when quiet, Vader’s mind is always at work. Some of the most impactful panels I saw were close-ups of Vader’s mask between dialogue or behaviour. To me, Darth is most terrifying when he is quiet, contemplative and scheming. Sure, Darth Vader is plenty scary when he’s shown tormenting his subordinates or swinging his lightsaber, but I think a lot of the fear-factor about the character comes through with the way that he thinks. Anakin was a creative, unpredictable and determined Jedi Knight, and retains those characteristics as a Sith as shown in this book. Another highlight of mine in terms of the visuals in this volume is the artists’ characterisation of Vader’s Sith meditations, seen in the image below. The dark swirling blacks and reds throughout most of Vader’s body create a feeling of instability or uncertainty, and the glowing limbs tell me that he might not see himself as completely Sith - there’s still some good, some of Anakin left in him, though it might be dormant or separate from what is on his mind currently.  

In terms of pre-requisite reading/viewing material, it definitely helps to have at least watched the original Star Warms film trilogy (Episodes IV, V, and VI), but I’d also recommend the prequel trilogy (Episodes I, II, and III, 1999–2005), as this comic book picks up right where the prequel trilogy films finish. Movies aside, I don’t think anyone needs to read other Star Wars comics before starting this one, and it's truly a great place to start! I’ve been a long-term fan of Star Wars in both film and TV series, and I have a lot of fondness for the hero-turned villain, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. When I finished reading this book, my first words to my partner were, “This was the most Vader I’ve ever seen Vader.”, and by that I mean he was my favourite version of Vader - the one where he’s kind of new to villainy, but you can still see and feel Anakin, just under the surface, hiding behind his mask and his rage. I think this book, and the three volumes that follow it have a lot to give all Star Wars fans. 

This isn’t your typical ‘hero goes on a space adventure with fun hijinks’; this is a deeply interesting character study of one of pop culture’s most famous and daunting villains. The pencil, ink and colour artists have done a fantastic job in breathing life into the characters and world, and the writer has really chosen to focus on character over story, which I appreciate for someone like Darth Vader, who has such an extensive pre-existing history and many interesting factors that make him a compelling character to go deeper on. This fantastic volume (and the three that follow it) really have a lot to offer fans of the Star Wars universe, no matter where they’re coming from. Darth Vader: Imperial Machine is a fantastic book that will leave you shocked and wanting, neigh, needing more.

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