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Darth Vader
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Creation & Design

Darth Vader was created by George Lucas for the Star Wars franchise, designed to be a menacing figure representing the dark side of the Force.

Early Years

Anakin Skywalker was a Jedi Knight who fell to the dark side and became Darth Vader, serving as the right hand of Emperor Palpatine.

Character Development

Darth Vader's character evolves from a tragic hero to a villain and ultimately to a redeemed figure, showcasing themes of power, loss, and redemption.

Cultural Reception

Darth Vader is widely regarded as one of the greatest villains in cinematic history, receiving critical acclaim for his complex character.

Character Details

Real Name:
Anakin Skywalker
First Appearance:
Star Wars #1
Aliases:
Dark Lord of the Sith, Lord Vader, The Chosen One
Species:
Human
Gender:
Male
Affiliations:
Galactic Empire, Sith Order, Separatists
Abilities:
Force sensitivity, Lightsaber combat, Piloting
Equipment:
Lightsaber, TIE Fighter, Darth Vader suit
Weight:
200lbs
Height:
6' 0"
Eye Color:
yellow
Hair Color:
black
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Star Wars #1
Marvel ⋅ 1977
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Star Wars #1
 
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Key Facts

Issues #1 - #6 are an adaptation of 'Star Wars: A New Hope'

1st appearance of Darth Vader

1st appearance of Luke Skywalker

1st appearance of Princess Leia

View more (6)

1st appearance of C-3PO and R2-D2

1st appearance of Grand Moff Tarkin

1st appearance of Beru and Owen Lars

Introduction of Stormtroopers

1st cover appearance of Obi Wan Kenobi and Han Solo (not in story)

📖 Reading Order: read Star Wars (1977) #1 - #6, then Princess Leia #1

Star Wars #6
Marvel ⋅ 1977
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Star Wars #6
 
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$4
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$45

Key Facts

2nd appearance of Wedge Antilles, brief, identified by name

Battle of Luke Skywalker versus Darth Vader

Final issue of the Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope movie adaptation

Star Wars #7 begins original stories in the expanded Star Wars Universe

Star Wars Annual #1
Marvel ⋅ 1979
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Star Wars Annual #1
 
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Kharys, an apprentice to Darth Vader

Sabrina the Teen-Age Witch #53
Archie ⋅ 1979
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Sabrina the Teen-Age Witch #53
 
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Key Facts

Cover art featuring Darth Vader

Star Wars #35
Marvel ⋅ 1980
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Star Wars #35
 
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Key Facts

First meeting of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker

Marvel Comics Super Special #16
Marvel ⋅ 1980
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Marvel Comics Super Special #16
 
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$30
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$300

Key Facts

Adaptation of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in an oversized comic book magazine

1st appearance of Yoda

1st appearance of Boba Fett

1st appearance of Lando Calrissian

View more (4)

1st appearance of Lobot

1st cameo appearance of Emperor Palpatine aka Darth Sidious, Bossk, 4-Lom, Dengar and IG-88

1st team appearance of Rogue Squadron

📖 Reading Order: next read Star Wars Adventures #1 (2020 series)

Star Wars #44
Marvel ⋅ 1981
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Star Wars #44
 
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Key Facts

Interior story depicts the moment when Darth Vader revealed he is the father of Luke Skywalker

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace #1/2
Dark Horse ⋅ 1999
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Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace #1/2
 
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$3
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$35

Key Facts

Obtained by mailing in a coupon found in Wizard Magazine #94

Original 15-page story with four pages of character sketches

Preview sketch of Darth Maul

1st appearance of Anakin Skywalker, later becomes Darth Vader

View more (3)

1st appearance of Jar Jar Binks

1st appearance of Qui-Gon Jinn

1st appearance of Padme

Star Wars Tales #9
Dark Horse ⋅ 2001
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Star Wars Tales #9
 
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Key Facts

Battle of Darth Maul vs Darth Vader

Star Wars Tales #9
Variant ⋅ Dark Horse ⋅ 2001
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Star Wars Tales #9
 
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Key Facts

Variant photo cover

Star Wars: Infinities - Return of the Jedi #4
Dark Horse ⋅ 2002
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Star Wars: Infinities - Return of the Jedi #4
 
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Key Facts

Series centers on alternate outcomes of known Star Wars stories along the lines of Marvel's 'What If...?' and DC's 'Elseworlds'

Appearance of Darth Vader in a white version of his suit to symbolize his redemption from the dark side

Star Wars Tales #17
Dark Horse ⋅ 2003
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Star Wars Tales #17
 
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Key Facts

Cover appearance of Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Count Dooku, Asajj Ventress, Palpatine, Queen Zalem

Star Wars: Republic #71
Dark Horse ⋅ 2004
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Star Wars: Republic #71
 
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Key Facts

Cover art featuring Anakin Skywalker, six months before Revenge of the Sith

Copies ordered by retailers: 19,823

Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Lost Command #1
1:10 ⋅ Dark Horse ⋅ 2011
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Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Lost Command #1
 
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Key Facts

Variant cover art by Douglas Wheatley

25th Anniversary of Dark Horse Comics variant

Star Wars: Dark Times - Out of the Wilderness #1
Variant ⋅ Dark Horse ⋅ 2011
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Star Wars: Dark Times - Out of the Wilderness #1
 
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$8
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$20
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$85

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Douglas Wheatley, limited to 500 copies

Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
Non-Key
1:25 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2015
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
 
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$2
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$20

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Whilce Portacio

Star Wars #1
UK Edition ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2015
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Star Wars #1
 
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$2
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$8
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$25

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Mike Deodato

Store exclusive

Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
Non-Key
1:25 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2015
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
 
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$1
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$15

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Mike Del Mundo

Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
1:50 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2015
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
 
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$5
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$15
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$75

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Alex Ross

Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
Non-Key
1:50 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2015
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
 
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$3
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Variant cover art by J. Scott Campbell

Connecting cover

Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
GameStop ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2015
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
 
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Key Facts

Variant cover art by Greg Horn

GameStop exclusive

Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
Non-Key
Photo Cover ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2015
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
 
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Movie variant

Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
Non-Key
Action Figure ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2015
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
 
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Key Facts

Variant cover art by John Tyler Christopher

Action Figure variant

Star Wars: Darth Vader #3
1:25 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2015
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #3
 
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$30
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$90
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$300

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Salvador Larroca

Star Wars: Kanan - The Last Padawan #1
Variant ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2015
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Star Wars: Kanan - The Last Padawan #1
 
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$3
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Variant cover art by Phil Noto

Store exclusive

Star Wars #4
1:100 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2015
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Star Wars #4
 
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Key Facts

Variant sketch cover art by John Cassaday

Star Wars: Vader Down #1
Non-Key
Exclusive ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2015
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Star Wars: Vader Down #1
 
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ZBOX mystery box exclusive

1st cover appearance of Black Krrsantan - tied as first cover appearance with the Mile High Comics exclusive by Skottie Young

Vader Down #1 went on sale November 18th, 2015

Star Wars: Vader Down #1
1:4999 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2016
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Star Wars: Vader Down #1
 
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$80
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$200
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$800

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Chip Zdarsky

Star Wars: Vader Down #1
Non-Key
Store Exclusive ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2016
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Star Wars: Vader Down #1
 
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$1
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$2
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Key Facts

Variant cover art by Mike Mayhew

Comic Con Box exclusive

Star Wars: Vader Down #1
Exclusive ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2016
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Star Wars: Vader Down #1
 
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Key Facts

Variant cover art by Alex Maleev

Disney Parks variant sold on site at Disney World and Disneyland

Star Wars: Obi-Wan and Anakin #1
Marvel ⋅ 2016
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Star Wars: Obi-Wan and Anakin #1
 
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Key Facts

Premiere issue of a five-issue limited series featuring Obi-Wan Kenobi during the time he served as Master to the Padawan, Anakin Skywalker, the future father of Luke Skywalker who would even later become Darth Vader

📖 Reading Order: read Obi-Wan and Anakin #1 - #5, then Age of Republic - Count Dooku #1

Star Wars: Darth Vader #15
Variant ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2016
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #15
 
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Key Facts

Variant cover art by Katie Cook

Store exclusive

Star Wars: Darth Vader #25
1:25 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2016
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #25
 
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$2
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Key Facts

Variant cover art by Cliff Chiang

Star Wars: Darth Vader #25
Variant ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2016
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #25
 
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$4
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$12
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$40

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Michael Cho

Star Wars: Darth Maul #2
Variant ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2017
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Star Wars: Darth Maul #2
 
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Key Facts

Variant cover art by Paul Renaud

40th Anniversary cover

Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
1:50 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2017
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
 
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$15
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$150

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Mark Brooks

Cover art inspired by Uncanny X-Men #145 (1981)

Star Wars: Rogue One Adaptation #4
Marvel ⋅ 2017
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Star Wars: Rogue One Adaptation #4
 
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Introduction of Fortress Vader

Star Wars: Darth Vader #3
1:25 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2017
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #3
 
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$5
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$18
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$60

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Giuseppe Camuncoli

Star Wars: Darth Vader #5
Marvel ⋅ 2017
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #5
 
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Key Facts

Origin of Darth Vader's red lightsaber

Star Wars Annual #4
1:25 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2018
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Star Wars Annual #4
 
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$40
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$120
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$450

Key Facts

Variant cover art by John Tyler Christopher

Negative Space cover

Star Wars Adventures: Tales From Vader's Castle #1
IDW ⋅ 2018
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Star Wars Adventures: Tales From Vader's Castle #1
 
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Key Facts

Origin of Darth Vader's castle

📖 Reading Order: read Tales From Vader's Castle #1 - #3, then FCBD Star Wars Adventures 2019

Star Wars: Darth Vader #25
Marvel ⋅ 2018
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #25
 
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$2
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$25

Key Facts

Revealed that Darth Sidious aka Palpatine created Anakin Skywalker aka Darth Vader, via Midocholorian manipulation

Ahsoka Tano appears as an adult, briefly, in a vision

Star Wars: Darth Vader #25
1:25 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2018
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #25
 
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Key Facts

Variant cover art by Gabriele Dell'Otto

Star Wars: Age of Republic - Obi-Wan Kenobi #1
Marvel ⋅ 2019
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Star Wars: Age of Republic - Obi-Wan Kenobi #1
 
Low
$1
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$2
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$4

Key Facts

Origin of Anakin Skywalker as he is being trained by Obi-Wan Kenobi

📖 Reading Order: next read Obi-Wan and Anakin #1

Star Wars: Vader - Dark Visions #1
Variant ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2019
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Star Wars: Vader - Dark Visions #1
 
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Key Facts

Variant cover art by Giuseppe Camuncoli

Star Wars #75
Action Figure ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2019
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Star Wars #75
 
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$1
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Key Facts

Force ghost Anakin Skywalker action figure variant

Star Wars: Empire Ascendant #1
1:50 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2019
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Star Wars: Empire Ascendant #1
 
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$25
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$80
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$250

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Giuseppe Camuncoli

Star Wars #1
Non-Key
1:50 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2020
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Star Wars #1
 
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$2
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$8
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$25

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Mahmud Asrar

Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
1:100 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2020
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
 
Low
$12
Mid
$45
High
$145

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Mike Del Mundo

Star Wars: Darth Vader #5
Marvel ⋅ 2020
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Star Wars: Darth Vader #5
 
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$2
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$8
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$20

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Cover art by InHyuk Lee

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