Darth Vader (2020) 23

For other uses, see Darth Vader 23.

Darth Vader 23 is the twenty-third issue of the 2020 canon comic book series Star Wars: Darth Vader. The issue was written by Greg Pak, illustrated by Raffaele Ienco and Carlos Lopez, and published by Marvel Comics on June 1, 2022.

Publisher's summary[]

"THE SHADOW'S SHADOW'S SHADOW" An epic new story begins as DARTH VADER embarks upon a new mission in partnership with a sworn enemy – but who's leading whom to doom? And what happens when the QUEEN'S SHADOW learns the deepest secret of the Dark Lord of the Sith? Plus: the shocking return of a face from Vader's most distant past!

Plot summary[]

THE SHADOW'S SHADOW

Darth Vader has revealed to Ochi of
Bestoon and Sabé that he has been aware
of Ochi's traitorous ways and is using him
as a pawn in his battle against Crimson
Dawn.

Now Sabé has potentially revealed a
secret of her own: She may know who
Vader really is….

Continuity[]

In one panel Tauntaza is mistakenly referred to as a male despite multiple other mentions of them in the issue stating they are female.

Media[]

Cover gallery[]

Appearances[]

This in-universe list is incomplete. You can help Wookieepedia by expanding it.

By type

Characters	Organisms	Droid models	Events	Locations
Organizations and titles	Sentient species	Vehicles and vessels	Weapons and technology	Miscellanea

Characters

Aira (First mentioned) (Indirect mention only)
Padmé Amidala (Appears in hologram) (In flashback(s))
Kitster Banai
Em-Sevenbee (First appearance)
Gabredor III colony's protocol droid (First mentioned)
Loriach
Ochi
S'ira
Sabé
Ankala Sahm
Darth Sidious (Mentioned only)
Shmi Skywalker (Appears in hologram)
Tanka
Tauntaza (Mentioned only)
Tonra (In flashback(s))
Unidentified human colony member (First appearance)
Darth Vader
Beilert Valance
Wald
ZED-6-7
Chilla Zin

Organisms

Insect (In flashback(s))
- Butterfly (In flashback(s))
Tangor (First appearance)
Unidentified six-legged horned creature (In flashback(s))

Droid models

Analysis droid
- SP-4 ISC
Astromech droid
- R-series
Forensics droid
Medical droid (Wreckage only) (In flashback(s))
- Midwife droid (Wreckage only) (In flashback(s))
  - Chroon-Tan B-Machine (Wreckage only) (In flashback(s))
Protocol droid (Mentioned only)

Events

Imperial Era
- War against the Sith
  - Attack on the science colony (First mentioned)
Republic Era (In flashback(s))

Locations

Bestoon (Mentioned only)
Gabredor III (First appearance)
- Gabredor III colony (First appearance)
Mid Rim Territories (In flashback(s))
- Chommell sector (In flashback(s))
  - Naboo system (In flashback(s))
    - Naboo (In flashback(s))
      - Lake Country (In flashback(s))
      - Theed (In flashback(s))
        Tomb of Padmé Amidala (In flashback(s))
Outer Rim Territories
- Arkanis sector (In flashback(s))
  - Tatoo system (In flashback(s))
    - Tatooine (In flashback(s))
      - Mos Espa (In flashback(s))
        Slave Quarters Row (In flashback(s))
- Oro Sankeria
- Polis Massa (In flashback(s))
  - Polis Massa Base (In flashback(s))
- Spice Triangle (In flashback(s))

Organizations and titles

Assassin
- Master Assassin
Crimson Dawn
Galactic Empire
- Galactic Emperor (Mentioned only)
- Governor (Mentioned only)
- Imperial Military
  - Imperial Army
    - Stormtrooper Corps
      - Stormtrooper
  - Imperial Navy
- Imperial Officer Corps
  - Imperial officer
Galactic Republic (In flashback(s))
- Senator (In flashback(s))
Jedi Order (In flashback(s))
- Jedi (In flashback(s))
- Padawan (In flashback(s))
Handmaiden (Mentioned only)
Lord
Naberrie family (Appears in hologram) (In flashback(s))
Officer
- Captain (In flashback(s))
- Lieutenant Commander
Pilot
Racer (Mentioned only)
- Podracer (Indirect mention only)
Revengers
Royal House of Naboo (In flashback(s))
- Royal Naboo Security Forces (In flashback(s))
  - Naboo Royal Handmaidens (Mentioned only)
Sith
Skywalker family
Sniper
Valance family

Sentient species

Vehicles and vessels

Repulsorcraft
- Podracer
Starship
- Capital ship
  - Executor (Mentioned only)
  - Star Destroyer
    - Imperial-class Star Destroyer
      - Imperial II-class Star Destroyer
        Tauntaza's flagship (First appearance)
- Shuttle
  - Abecederian line
    - Lamnda-class T-4a shuttle
- Starfighter
  - TIE fighter series
    - TIE/ln space superiority starfighter

Weapons and technology

Miscellanea

Braid (In flashback(s))
- Padawan braid (In flashback(s))
Clothing
- Cape
- Imperial military uniforms
  - Imperial kepi
- Padmé Amidala's wardrobe (In flashback(s))
  - Summer meadow dress (In flashback(s))
- Robe (In flashback(s))
  - Jedi robes (In flashback(s))
Cloud (Mentioned only)
Colonist (Mentioned only)
Cyborg
Death
Entry ramp
Fire
Flagship
Force-sensitive
Forest
Homeworld (In flashback(s))
Language
- Binary
- Galactic Basic Standard
- Huttese
- "Kriff"
Laser
Parent
Planet
Plant
- Tree
Refugee
Season
Slavery (In flashback(s))
Smuggling (In flashback(s))
Species
Time
- Standard day
- Standard decade
- Standard week
- Standard year
Youngling (In flashback(s))

Collections[]

Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 5 — The Shadow's Shadow

Sources[]

A Tale from Obi-Wan's Youngling Days and More from Marvel's May 2022 Star Wars Comics – Exclusive Preview on StarWars.com (backup link)

Notes and references[]

↑ ^1.00 ^1.01 ^1.02 ^1.03 ^1.04 ^1.05 ^1.06 ^1.07 ^1.08 ^1.09 ^1.10 Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020) #23 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
↑ The events of Darth Vader 23 take place after the Escape from Cloud City and before the Rescue of Han Solo, which are dated to 3 ABY and 4 ABY, respectively, by Star Wars: Galactic Atlas.

External links[]

Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020) #23 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)

Trade paperbacks
Dark Heart of the Sith:	1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5
Into the Fire:	6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11
War of the Bounty Hunters:	12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17
Crimson Reign:	18 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24
The Shadow's Shadow:	25 · 26 · 27
Return of the Handmaidens:	28 · 29 · 30 · 31 · 32
Unbound Force:	33 · 34
Target Aphra:	35 · 36
Dark Droids:	37 · 38 · 39 · 40 · 41
Rise of the Schism Imperial:	42 · 43 · 44 · 45
The Razing of Exegol:	46 · 47
Phantoms:	48 · 49 · 50
1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10
Related media
Darth Vader (2015) · Darth Vader (2017) In Service to the Empire · Revelations (2022) · Revelations (2023) Free Comic Book Day 2023

[edit]

Star Wars: Crimson Reign

Crossover
1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5
Star Wars:	19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24
Darth Vader:	18 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24
Doctor Aphra:	16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21
Bounty Hunters:	18 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24
Trade paperbacks
Crimson Reign
Crossover: Star Wars Vol. 4 · Darth Vader Vol. 4 Doctor Aphra Vol. 4 · Bounty Hunters Vol. 4
Related media
War of the Bounty Hunters · Hidden Empire Han Solo & Chewbacca 3

[edit]

In other languages

[Marvel-1] 1.00 ^1.01 ^1.02 ^1.03 ^1.04 ^1.05 ^1.06 ^1.07 ^1.08 ^1.09 ^1.10 Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020) #23 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)

[Date-2] The events of Darth Vader 23 take place after the Escape from Cloud City and before the Rescue of Han Solo, which are dated to 3 ABY and 4 ABY, respectively, by Star Wars: Galactic Atlas.

[1]

Wookieepedia