Writer: Greg Pak

Artist: Raffaele Ienco

Color Artist: Federico Blee

Cover Artist: Leinil Francis Yu

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Price: #4.99

Reviewer: StoryBabbler

Darth Vader has had enough of Emperor Palpatine’s tests and manipulations. To find a new path to topple his master, Vader has allied with the Schism Imperial to help do exactly that. And after gathering allies and resources, they are making their first real big move against the Emperor: attacking the planet Exegol. Read Star Wars: Darth Vader #46 to see what dangers await Vader and his new forces.

Review:

Alright, now that Darth Vader has joined the Schism Imperial, he’s got his personal army, and has elite soldiers to fight alongside him, we get to see them make their first real big offensive against Emperor Palpatine. On Exegol. From The Rise of Skywalker. Again. Hurray. There will be SPOILERS in this review.

Okay, the story starts off with a simple inspection near the Red Honeycomb Zone, where Vader and his forces infiltrate the system’s security using the strong anger of Vader from one of their members to mask their approach. From there, they begin their attack. Their goal: seize whatever treasures, weapons, and/or knowledge that Emperor Palpatine is hiding within the Sith Fortress on Exegol. Of course, the planet is protected by the ever loyal and fanatical Sith Eternal cult, as well as advanced bioengineered warriors made to fight deadly force Wielders like Darth Vader. And the dangers don’t stop there.

Obviously, I’m a little burnt out by all the lore from The Rise of Skywalker that Greg Pak keeps using and doubling down on in this series. The biggest issue is that he doesn’t do anything good or interesting with most of it. Exegol is the only piece that’s mildly interesting but he barely fleshes that out. If you ever expected you’d get answers or learn more about Exegol. I’m sorry, but you learn absolutely nothing new. I would’ve thought this series could’ve done for Exegol what past stories in the former Expanded Universe now Legends continuity have done for Sith worlds like Korriban, Malachor, etc. Haunting planets in the galaxy through which writers used to expand on the Dark Side and the macabre powers of the Sith, since they’ve operated in secret for a millennium. But sadly Greg Pak has shown he’s not creative enough to pull it off. The only new things he added were a giant mountain of red Kyber Crystal and some giant menacing psychic space squids.

I say all this because this story arc hinges on selling readers that Exegol has plenty of secrets that’s worth storming to get it. That’s it this really unique place in the Star Wars galaxy. But the comic doesn’t do anything special, interesting, or outright cool with what it has. The Sith Eternal are just fodder, despite being a cult of force users who’ve literally lived worshipping in the shadow of the Sith. Even their bio-warriors don’t do much except take on a droid body- double of Vader and get cut down the second the real Darth Vader shows up. The only interesting thing is the prospect of Vader having to fight the giant psychic space squid that’s been powered up by the mountain kyber crystal in the next issue.

Final Thoughts:

Star Wars: Darth Vader #46 brings the first chapter of Vader’s invasion of Exegol. Here we get to see Darth Vader and the Schism Imperial make their first big play against Emperor Palpatine by infiltrating the planet Exegol to seize its secrets. We have Raffaele Ienco back as the interior artist, which helps make the comic fun to read when it’s good. The fighting isn’t too intense or spectacular, but there is a neat little trick used by Vader. However, the ending does show that there’s a bigger fight for Darth Vader in the next issue that could get exciting.

7.5/10