Darth Vader
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
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
•
Vol. 1
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
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
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
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
•
Vol. 1
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
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
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of Kharys, an apprentice to Darth Vader
Sabrina the Teen-Age Witch #53
Archie
•
1979
•
Vol. 1
Cover art featuring Darth Vader
Star Wars #35
Marvel
•
1980
•
Vol. 1
First meeting of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker
Marvel Comics Super Special #16
Marvel
•
1980
•
Vol. 1
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
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)
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
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
•
Vol. 1
Interior story depicts the moment when Darth Vader revealed he is the father of Luke Skywalker
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
•
Vol. 1
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
1st appearance of Jar Jar Binks
1st appearance of Qui-Gon Jinn
1st appearance of Padme
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
1st appearance of Jar Jar Binks
1st appearance of Qui-Gon Jinn
1st appearance of Padme
Star Wars Tales #9
Dark Horse
•
2001
•
Vol. 1
Battle of Darth Maul vs Darth Vader
Variant photo cover
Star Wars: Infinities - Return of the Jedi #4
Dark Horse
•
2002
•
Vol. 1
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
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
•
Vol. 1
First published art in comics by David Nakayama, done while he was in his 2nd year at Joe Kubert School
First published art in comics by David Nakayama, done while he was in his 2nd year at Joe Kubert School
Star Wars: Republic #71
Dark Horse
•
2004
•
Vol. 1
Cover art featuring Anakin Skywalker, six months before Revenge of the Sith
Copies ordered by retailers: 19,823
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
Dark Horse
•
2011
•
Vol. 1
1:10
Variant cover art by Douglas Wheatley
25th Anniversary of Dark Horse Comics variant
Variant cover art by Douglas Wheatley
25th Anniversary of Dark Horse Comics variant
Star Wars: Dark Times - Out of the Wilderness #1
Dark Horse
•
2011
•
Vol. 1
Variant
Limited: 500
Variant cover art by Douglas Wheatley
Variant cover art by Whilce Portacio
Variant cover art by Mike Deodato
Store exclusive
Variant cover art by Mike Del Mundo
Variant cover art by Alex Ross
Variant cover art by J. Scott Campbell
Connecting cover
Variant cover art by Greg Horn
GameStop exclusive
Movie variant
Variant cover art by John Tyler Christopher
Action Figure variant
Variant cover art by Salvador Larroca
Variant cover art by Phil Noto
Store exclusive
Variant sketch cover art by John Cassaday
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
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
Variant cover art by Chip Zdarsky
Variant cover art by Mike Mayhew
Comic Con Box exclusive
Variant cover art by Alex Maleev
Disney Parks variant sold on site at Disney World and Disneyland
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
•
Vol. 1
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
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
Variant cover art by Katie Cook
Store exclusive
Variant cover art by Cliff Chiang
Variant cover art by Michael Cho
Variant cover art by Paul Renaud
40th Anniversary cover
Variant cover art by Mark Brooks
Cover art inspired by Uncanny X-Men #145 (1981)
Variant cover art by Mark Brooks
Cover art inspired by Uncanny X-Men #145 (1981)
Star Wars: Rogue One Adaptation #4
Marvel
•
2017
•
Vol. 1
Introduction of Fortress Vader
Variant cover art by Giuseppe Camuncoli
Star Wars: Darth Vader #5
Marvel
•
2017
•
Vol. 2
Origin of Darth Vader's red lightsaber
Variant cover art by John Tyler Christopher
Negative Space cover
Star Wars Adventures: Tales From Vader's Castle #1
IDW
•
2018
•
Vol. 1
Origin of Darth Vader's castle
📖 Reading Order: read Tales From Vader's Castle #1 - #3, then FCBD Star Wars Adventures 2019
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
•
Vol. 2
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
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
Variant cover art by Gabriele Dell'Otto
Star Wars: Age of Republic - Obi-Wan Kenobi #1
Marvel
•
2019
•
Vol. 1
Origin of Anakin Skywalker as he is being trained by Obi-Wan Kenobi
📖 Reading Order: next read Obi-Wan and Anakin #1
Origin of Anakin Skywalker as he is being trained by Obi-Wan Kenobi
📖 Reading Order: next read Obi-Wan and Anakin #1
Variant cover art by Giuseppe Camuncoli
Force ghost Anakin Skywalker action figure variant
Variant cover art by Giuseppe Camuncoli
Variant cover art by Mahmud Asrar
Variant cover art by Mike Del Mundo
Star Wars: Darth Vader #5
Marvel
•
2020
•
Vol. 3
Cover art by InHyuk Lee
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