Star Wars: Darth Vader Modern Era Epic Collection: Vader Down

The thrilling conclusion of Marvel’s intial Darth Vader run, collected along with the first blockbuster crossover event in modern Star Wars comics!

When Darth Vader accidentally finds himself facing off against the rebel fleet on his own, he is sent crashing onto a nearby planet. Will the rebels seize this opportunity to put an end to one of their greatest enemies? Or will they be made to feel the full power of the dark side? Then the natives of Shu-Torun are in revolt, and there’s no way the Empire will stand for that. When Darth Vader is tasked with leading a military assault against the planet, could it be that his rise to glory has begun? As rivals vie for Vader’s seat at the Emperor’s side, Inspector Thanoth closes in on the truth, the killer droids Triple Zero and Beetee embark on a crucial mission and Doctor Aphra makes her move. All the players are in place, but it’s time for the games to end. The galaxy is about to feel the power of Darth Vader!

COLLECTING: Darth Vader (2015) 13-25, Star Wars: Vader Down (2015) 1, Star Wars (2015) 13-14

An award-winning critic and journalist, Kieron Gillen turned his attention to comics on titles including the critically lauded Phonogram with frequent creative partner Jamie McKelvie -- as well as Thor, S.W.O.R.D. and Generation Hope. Gillen relaunched two longstanding Marvel series in Uncanny X-Men and Journey into Mystery before again teaming with McKelvie for an acclaimed take on Young Avengers. Gillen wrote Iron Man for Marvel NOW! -- and he explored the galaxy far, far away in the pages of Darth Vader, Doctor Aphra and Star Wars. Gillen returned to Marvel with thoughtful runs on Immortal X-Men and Eternals.

Writer Jason Aaron saw his early collaboration with artist Cameron Stewart on DC/Vertigo’s The Other Side named one of the Washington Post’s Best Comics of 2007. His next project, Scalped, garnered industry-wide praise and led to a guest spot on Wolverine, beginning Aaron’s long association with Logan on various titles, as well as the rest of Marvel’s merry mutants on books including X-Men: Schism, Wolverine & the X-Men and Amazing X-Men. Aaron rocked the Marvel Universe with Original Sin and unfolded a status-quo-shattering Asgardian epic across multiple Thor titles. He was the ideal choice to steer the Rebel crew of Star Wars into new adventures on the series’ return to Marvel, and he ushered in a new era for the publisher with Marvel Legacy. In the wake of that one-shot, he took on Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in a sprawling, multiversal run on Avengers; welcomed another iconic property back to the House of Ideas with Conan the Barbarian; and put Frank Castle in charge of the Hand in a shocking relaunch of Punisher.

Working for the Marvel UK imprint led Spanish artist Salvador Larroca to a regular gig on Ghost Rider. He graduated to Fantastic Four, alongside one of his favorite writers, Chris Claremont. From 2000 to 2006, Larroca depicted Marvel’s mutants across Uncanny X-Men, X-Men and X-Treme X-Men. Following a stint on Amazing Spider-Man, Larroca brought his maturing style to a lengthy run on Invincible Iron Man and the X-Men: No More Humans original graphic novel. Upon the return of Star Wars to Marvel, Larroca turned to the dark side with Darth Vader before taking on the flagship Star Wars title.

Artist Mike Deodato Jr. was already a renowned illustrator in his native Brazil when he got his big break in American comics in 1994, illustrating DC’s Wonder Woman. For Marvel, he drew such series as Avengers, Elektra, Spider-Man and Incredible Hulk. After refining his inimitable style on the creator-owned Jade Warriors, he returned to Marvel for a second turn on Incredible Hulk, with writer Bruce Jones, and a stint on J. Michael Straczynski’s Amazing Spider-Man. Deodato has forged an association with the Avengers on various titles -- including collaborations with Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker and Jonathan Hickman -- and demonstrated his superstar status on the event book Original Sin. Deodato joined writer Jeff Lemire in exploring one of Marvel’s greatest villains in Thanos.