Dark Horse published "Star Wars: Purge" in 2005, a one-shot that picked up in the aftermath of Order 66, a.k.a. The Day The Jedi Died. The comic followed Darth Vader as he searched Coruscant for stray Jedi, hoping that one would lead him to his former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Today brings the release of a second "Purge" one-shot, subtitled "The Hidden Blade." The story opens on a remote, newly conquered world. Emperor Palpatine has dispatched the Dark Lord of the Sith to oversee the production of AT-AT walkers as the Imperial garrison consolidates its strength in the face of continuing assaults from the planet's indigenous people.
When Vader picks up faint traces of a Jedi, he's faced with a choice: stay with the garrison to lead the defense or disobey the Emperor's command and head out to find the rogue Force-wielder.
"The Hidden Blade" is short and sweet. The story is a little predictable, but it twists in some thoroughly entertaining directions. Credit for this goes to writer Haden Blackman, who also wrote the excellent storyline for the 2008 video game "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" (on which he also served as project lead).
On the visual side, Chris Scalf's artwork is exceptional. He's been the artist on several of Dark Horse's "Star Wars: Legacy" comics, but the look is markedly different here. The images favor realism over caricature, and their painting-like quality ends up serving the story well. It gives everything the dream-like quality of a memory — which is appropriate, given the story serves as a lesson of sorts in Vader's early training as a Sith.
"Star Wars: Purge - The Hidden Blade" is on shelves today.
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