Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin trade paper back is the collection of the 5 issue mini-series published by Dark Horse Comics and written by Tom Siedell. It takes place after Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and deals with the empire consolidating power and not tolerating any rebellion against its rule, and the desperate lengths people would go to strike back at the face of the enforcement of this new regime, i.e. Darth Vader. It begins with a father telling the story of his only child’s death, his only heir, at the hands of Darth Vader. He tells how their mining operation was flourishing until the empire got involved and forced on them concessions through renegotiating contracts with others, and according to this father that hurt them. So when the son pulls out a blaster when the meeting is concluded to shoot those a new deal was just reached with, the shot is deflected by Darth Vader and it kills the son. The father says his son’s only crime was protecting the family honor. As a result, the father wants revenge on Darth Vader and there’s no price he’s willing to pay and he will never stop as he’s hired 8 assassins and all of them have failed in this mission. So he travels through the galaxy and ends up in a swamp with his men because they’re seeking the services of one who can be successful. He begs for help and offers any price and he’s promised that this one, the ninth assassin, won’t fail where the previous eight did. So begins a game of cat and mouse between this assassin and Darth Vader.

For a series where it’s already known that ultimately the assassin doesn’t succeed in killing Darth Vader, it’s a very gripping story and actually quite suspenseful. That’s not an easy task to accomplish but Tom Siedell pulls it off. The drive of the father is laid out clearly and regardless of the details behind the renegotiated deal it’s clear that this family was screwed over and they felt their honor was taken from them. And to add insult to injury his only son is killed so this revenge is the only thing he has to live for. This is conveyed not just through words but where this unwavering desire leads him even after failing 8 times, and that’s ultimately to this broker of assassins. This assassin is no Darth Vader, of course, but he does come off menacing and effective enough to at least create the belief that he could succeed in this task. And the plan he describes and what makes him different from the other 8 is convincing, so it’s easy to understand the father’s hope that this one will succeed. The story gets even more intriguing when a weapon more powerful than anything the empire has ever seen is used to cut one of their attack cruisers in half, which is then followed by an assassination attempt on the Emperor himself. This leads to Darth Vader entering into a fit of rage as this takes place in the Emperor’s throne room so how could someone get so close and be undetected. This leads them to conclude that someone or something is clouding their vision and is darker and more powerful than Jedi. They discover that the symbol used belongs to an ancient cult that possesses a powerful dark magic. This causes Darth Vader to seek them out and try to uncover this plot against them.

As the story progresses it becomes more and more interesting. It isn’t just a story about someone trying to assassinate Darth Vader but ultimately becomes about Darth Vader himself and what he represents, and the prophecies surrounding him. This is explored with his interactions with this ancient cult. There’s plenty of action and Darth Vader’s command of the force is still incredible to see, especially in comparison to the smaller feats others can accomplish without it. And when it gets to the final confrontation with the assassin it doesn’t disappoint and we even get a really good glimpse into Vader’s mind, his view on justice, assassins, and the use of assassins. It’s really interesting to see and read and confirms why he is still one of the most popular villains of all-time. And yes, the Emperor is still as twisted as ever. I highly recommend Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin HC because it’s an extremely enjoyable read.