If you've somehow managed to miss these books for the last year, Darth Vader Annual #1 is also the perfect reason to get on board. As I said, the quality is unreal, the story telling is amazing, and this one book contains a complete tale, so you can pick it up and understand everything. Sure, you'll want more, but you won't have any problem finding it. The annual is just a taste of the ongoing goodness you can expect every month from Darth Vader. Read Full Review

I now find myself wanting a monthly or quarterly anthology book with all sorts of tales done in a similar kind of style. Gillen's story is solid throughout here, brisk but without feeling like a fast read, and it has some great little bits of humor and nuance. What truly takes it to the next level is Yu's artwork. It is so beautifully illustrated with great style and little bits of detail that just captures my attention that it warrants a second reading right away just to soak it up. From the opening page alone you know you're in for a visual treat. Yu's layouts are solid and while there isn't much that goes truly creative or surprising, the end result is something that has a wonderfully polished and effortless flow that makes it a thrill to take in panel after panel. Read Full Review

Keiron Gillen might as well have titled this issue 1 Reason Why the Dark Side Really is as Bad as You Think. The Prince of Darkness himself is one-upped by the Dark Lord of the Sith. Far better than the virginal birth and messianic prophecy shoehorned into the prequels, Gillen demonstrates the right way for Star Wars to appropriate and integrate ancient theology into modern mythology. Read Full Review

A great jumping-on point for new readers, Darth Vader Annual #1 is a perfect microcosm of Gillen's excellent ongoing series. Read Full Review

Fans are paying for the visuals and not the story with this book. It looks terrific, but some tightening could have had this been a regular issue of the Darth Vader monthly. Read Full Review

If youre reading Darth Vader or even if you just want a single Vader story to read, you should really pick this up. Theres enough original material to warrant the price of admission. The story that the Vader series is telling isnt advanced in any way, but were fine with that. Read Full Review

Darth Vader: Annual #1 is an excellent chapter for both Star Wars fans and newcomers alike. In the presentation of the Sith Lord and Empire's greatest enforcer at the height of his powers, Gillen's Shakespearean eloquence gives credence to the character's resurgence as one of the greatest and most feared dark lords ever, from the height of the Empire's reach to the would-be rebellious counterparts. The Force is indeed in great hands with Gillen. Read Full Review

All told, "Darth Vader Annual" is an excellent one-shot that gives the reader a clear, condensed idea of what awaits in the ongoing series. Read Full Review

Darth Vader Annual #1 features a tight, action driven narrative bolstered by dark, gritty visuals. The story's over quick and doesn't shake any foundations " but packs a punch. Recommended. Read Full Review

The juxtaposition of a dark tone with humor may not be something one would expect in a story about Darth Vader, but that may be why this annual works so well. Even more important, it stays true to its roots. Many fans worry that these Expanded Universe stories will stray from Star Wars' core values, but those fears can be cast aside as long as Kieron Gillen is writing Darth Vader. He understands this world and how to tell stories in it. This book is absolutely worth its $4.99, so pick it up and read it while waiting in line to see The Force Awakens. Read Full Review

Darth Vader Annual #1 is yet another solid one-shot tale, with Vader's mission to remind the galaxy of the Empire's might. Despite the pacing being rather quick, it also gives some symbolic moments as well as the odd bit of light humour, making it a good place for new readers to jump on. Read Full Review

DARTH VADER ANNUAL #1 is missing some of the charm of the main DARTH VADER series. It includes Triple-Zero and Beetee, but Aphra is missing (not sure how that makes sense). They aren't as funny or interesting here as they have traditionally been, which is a shame because this book could have benefited from their humor. DARTH VADER ANNUAL #1 is worth a read because of Vader's connection with Trios, even if it is missing a lot of what makes the proper title so much fun. If you're feeling STAR WARS fatigue however, or don't care to blow your money on a book that won't wow you, this is a book you can safely pass on. Read Full Review

This one-shot issue doesn't have much to add to Kireon Gillen's larger Darth Vader saga, but it does retain much of the series' usual entertainment value. Seeing Vader dominate his enemies and his droids revel in death and torture will always have a certain appeal. This issue also shows that Leinil Yu has strong potential with the Star Wars franchise, as long as his future issues place more emphasis on fleshing out environments and background details. Read Full Review

Most annuals aren't worth either the time or cover price, but for fans of the character Darth Vader Annual #1 may well be worth a look. Read Full Review

As much as I enjoyed this comic with some mild enthusiasm, I'll probably forget about it by tomorrow morning. An annual comic featuring one of my favorite all-time villains and two of my favorite Star Wars comic book henchmen should be memorable. This one is not. Read Full Review

The "Darth Vader" annual is a fine read. It's thirty pages for five dollars and you get a lot of Vader cutting down some characters that won't play nicely with the Empire. This comic isn't anything you haven't seen before, but if you read it you will most likely get some entertainment. The artwork provides some epic Vader images but struggles with details in a number of spots, which usually smells of a rush-job. This is a decent comic book to check out but nothing memorable. Read Full Review

A fun, quick read.

Vader is a badass

Writing-3.25/5
Art-2.25/5
Story-4.75/5
Verdict-3.41/5

Story not quite as engaging as it's counterpart (Star Wars Annual #1), nice little plot twist in the middle but otherwise relatively straightforward and predictable with the conclusion. Main gripe is the artwork and the lack of details, especially on the background of the panels. Swaths of blank, washed over with a single color.