One of the best things to come out of the return of the Star Wars license to Marvel Comics two years ago was the amazing Darth Vader solo title by writer Kieron Gillen and artist Salvador Larroca. Sadly, the series came to and end last year, and Gillen created a new Star Wars series about the character he introduced within the pages of Darth Vader, Doctor Aphra. This still left fans of everyone’s favorite Dark Lord of the Sith wanting more. Well Vader fans, you are in luck, because Marvel has announced a new Darth Vader solo title for 2017, and this one will fill in some blanks of the character’s history.

Get ready for June’s all-new Darth Vader #1, which will kick off an ongoing series from the creative team of writer Charles Soule (Poe Dameron, Obi-Wan and Anankin, Lando) and artist Giuseppe Camuncoli (Amazing Spider-Man) who will take us back in time to moments after the “birth” of Vader in Revenge of the Sith. In fact, the new series is set mere seconds after we last glimpse Vader with the Emperor in that particular film, right at the dawn of the Galactic Empire.

Among the iconic moments in Star Wars lore we’ll get to see in this new series are the construction of Lord Vader’s red lightsaber, the fallout of Order 66, the beginnings of the Inquisitor program (from Star Wars: Rebels), and the rise of the Empire as it quickly bends the galaxy under its control. Join Vader as he learns a new way. The way of Darth Sidious…the way of the dark side.

Marvel editor Jordan D. White said in a statement “I’m so excited that we get to tell more stories about the best villain of all time…and this time, we get to show his very first steps into the Dark Side. I was blown away by some of the stuff we plan to show in this series…and I think readers will be, too—from hardcore Star Wars fanatics to those who want to see more of that deadly threat from the end of Rogue One.  Charles has an evil streak in him that readers might have seen whenever he’s written Palpatine in the past. Now, that comes front and center.”

In an interview with StarWars.com, writer Charles Soule talked more about the series, saying “In my head, I call this book Vader: Year One. While the Sith Lord does exist prior to the start of this book, during the final act of Revenge of the Sith, I think this is where his story really begins — at least in the form most people think of when they visualize Darth Vader. As far as what’s going on in his head, here’s my description of his mindset from the original series pitch: “Vader, on some level, knows that he is a monster — he has to know this, because he still has that famous spark of good left somewhere deep inside him.”

He added “Vader knows (again, probably unconsciously) that the moment he allows himself to even consider a path that isn’t complete and utter darkness, he’ll fall — and he’s right, as we see in Return of the Jedi. So, he doubles down on the dark side as almost a coping method. So…not a lot of singalongs in this book.” Soule summed it all up by saying “the series is very metal, if that doesn’t sound too bizarre (or too on the nose, considering the main character is more machine than man).”

Darth Vader #1 is set to hit comic shops this June. You can check out the covers for issues #1 and #2 in our gallery below.

Are you excited to learn all about the Dark Lord of Sith’s earliest days? Let us know down below in the comments.

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Images: Marvel Comics / Lucasfilm