Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows #1 is a new series starring Darth Vader and is set before and after the events that took place in Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. It starts off by telling the story of a single clone trooper and his perspective of the rising notoriety of Darth Vader throughout the galaxy based on things he’s been hearing. This trooper had experience fighting alongside Jedis and saw, according to him, the good, the bad, and the reality about them outside of whatever tales were spread. So ever since his fighting days he hasn’t been impressed about stories regarding warriors because he knows they can be embellished, or as they say “the first casualty on any battlefield is truth.” And this trooper was no longer in the army because he was abandoned after being hurt during a battle so all he had to go on were stories. He was living a life away from war and fighting and as weird as it might sound for a clone trooper, he was discovering the meaning of individuality. He was barely surviving as the anger and hurt from being treated like he was disposable held him back as much as it helped him survive. But he’s moved by all the tales of this new warrior, Darth Vader, and he’s stirred back to life…or maybe something darker? Either way, the years spent just barely surviving are over as this former trooper has found his purpose.

I was excited for a new series starring Darth Vader, especially after reading Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin. And when this issue opened up with the perspective of a former trooper hearing about Vader’s rising notoriety, it was a fresh perspective in ways. I can’t speak on the entire series of course, but the problem with this issue is that it forgot to include Darth Vader. I read it again to see if it was the expectation of Darth Vader appearing at some point affected my view about this issue, and it did, however it also confirmed why that issue was valid. I admit that at some point I did wonder what would happen to any clone troops who were left behind. Did they regroup with the army at some point or were they just forgotten because they were viewed  as expendable in most cases. This issue addressed that from the perspective of a trooper who was abandoned and had to struggle with his entire existence. The answers he came up with were very interesting and he found value in his existence but it was the anger that also helped keep him alive and going forward. Even though it was interesting, it wasn’t interesting enough as the only story and sole character in an issue that has Darth Vader in the title. Of course it’s possible to look back on this a few issues later and see it as brilliant because of how things unfold but I can’t and won’t speculate on any of that here. If this was a side story that was revealed in a later issue or this series was titled “Tales from Clone Troopers” or something of that nature it might carry more weight. As easily as the trooper would view Darth Vader as the warrior he’s been waiting to follow, the atrocities that Darth Vader committed would easily destroy that notion. On top of that, this issue doesn’t give a sense of where this series is going even though the title could lead to some assumptions after this issue. I am curious about this series because of this seemingly unique trooper but hopefully it becomes more gripping in future issues.

SUMMARY

Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows #1 is a somewhat disappointing first issue because Darth Vader doesn’t make an appearance, and the narration of a lone, former clone trooper isn’t a gripping enough story for an entire issue. It wasn’t a completely bland story as a clone trooper struggling to find his identity separate from the original purpose he was cloned for has some good moments. But as a series that’s promoted as starring Darth Vader, his absence in this first issue ultimately made the story feel less than what it could have been if given a better context.

Release Date: 12/18/13

Writer: Tim Siedell

Artist: Gabriel Guzman