Darth Vader

Darth Vader #22

Comic Books Library
by Comic Books Library August 02, 2025
Darth Vader #22


Darth Vader #22 – A Duel of Steel and Shadows

Genre

🛾 Science Fiction, Action, Space Opera, Supervillain Drama

Main Characters

  • Darth Vader – Sith Lord, feared enforcer of the Empire

  • Cylo – Rogue scientist with a fleet of cybernetically enhanced operatives

  • Murderbots (0-0-0 and BT-1) – Sadistic droids created by Cylo, now with shifting loyalties

  • The Emperor (Palpatine) – Silent observer pulling strings behind the scenes

  • Doctor Aphra – Archeologist with questionable morals, caught between loyalty and survival

Writer

✍️ Kieron Gillen – Known for his sharp, layered storytelling and redefining Vader’s inner voice

Artist

🎹 Salvador Larroca – Renowned for his hyper-detailed, cinematic art style, especially in depicting iconic Star Wars tech and characters

Editor Details

🖋️ Editor: Jordan D. White – Oversaw the Star Wars line, ensuring consistency and narrative cohesion

Publisher and Brand

📚 Marvel Comics – Star Wars Line

Release Year

📅 2016

Brief Plot Summary

In Darth Vader #22, the Sith Lord begins his final push against Cylo, a rogue Imperial scientist who created his own line of cybernetic champions to replace Vader in the Emperor’s service. As the construction of the massive Executor Star Destroyer nears completion, Vader faces off against Cylo’s remaining operatives in a showdown of brute power and dark strategy.

Meanwhile, the fan-favorite murderbots, Triple-Zero (0-0-0) and BT-1, begin to question their servitude. Their loyalty to Cylo is fractured, leading to a violent and unexpected turn of events as they challenge their own "creator."

This issue builds on themes of loyalty, power, and identity, as Vader claws back control over his fate, and the path to becoming the Empire’s true weapon begins to solidify.

Notable Arcs or Storylines

đŸ”„ “The Shu-Torun War” arc flows directly into this issue’s momentum, with Vader asserting dominance post-war
⚙️ Cylo’s Betrayal Arc reaches its climax here, with Vader confronting his engineered replacements
🚀 Birth of the Executor – the enormous Star Destroyer symbolic of Vader’s power, moves closer to completion

Fan Theories or Interpretations

🧠 Some fans speculate that the murderbots' rebellion hints at future droid uprisings within the Empire’s ranks
đŸ–€ Vader’s brutal efficiency and unrelenting actions in this issue are seen as the full crystallization of his transformation into the feared enforcer we see in The Empire Strikes Back
⚔️ Cylo’s cybernetic champions are interpreted by some as metaphors for Vader’s own struggle between machine and man – his triumph over them being a personal reckoning

Review Summary

🌟 Darth Vader #22 is a masterclass in visual storytelling and character progression. Salvador Larroca’s art electrifies each page with striking motion and intense facial detail, even under a mask. Kieron Gillen continues to evolve Vader not just as a villain, but as a character full of conflict, ambition, and cunning. The murderbots inject dark humor and chaos, making this issue both thrilling and chilling. A must-read for fans wanting to see Vader at his most ruthless and calculating.

⭐ Rating: 9/10
đŸ–€ Dark, brutal, brilliant.



Comic Resource / Read Online (External Source)

Darth Vader #22
Language : English