This Star Wars Comic Should Be Required Reading Alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi

The first two installments of the highly-anticipated limited series "Obi-Wan Kenobi" arrived on Disney+ on May 27, 2022, to the delight of "Star Wars" fans across the globe. Not only is it great to see Ewan McGregor back as an older, changed Ben Kenobi and Hayden Christiansen as a vengeful Darth Vader, but it's exciting to see how the galaxy has changed in the decade since the events of "Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith." For proof of this drastic shift, look no further than the media set before "Obi-Wan Kenobi."

To prepare for "Obi-Wan Kenobi" properly, you'll want to check out a fascinating list of projects. Naturally, the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy is a must since it reveals how Obi-Wan and Anakin met, bonded, and how the latter fell to the dark side to become Darth Vader. "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" takes this a step further by exploring the two Jedi's friendship during wartime, as well as how the Galactic Republic became susceptible to the Sith plot to take over. Of course, these examples span screens big and small, so what about written materials?

Given how many different "Star Wars" writings have come to fruition over the years, it should come as no surprise that there's a comic series that blends perfectly with "Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Though "Obi-Wan Kenobi" is very much about the title character, Darth Vader is just as important to the overall story. As a powerful Sith, feared Imperial figurehead, and Kenobi's former padawan, this only makes sense. If you'd like to know more about where he is in all facets of his life by the time of "Obi-Wan Kenobi," then the "Darth Vader" comic line by Charles Soule is just the thing for you. Released from 2017 to 2018, the run covers Vader's exploits from 19 to 12BBY, and suffice to say, things get wild along the way.

Throughout "Darth Vader," the Sith Lord has to endure challenges big and small in addition to those internal and external. He lays waste to all foolish enough to oppose him and even comes into conflict with his master, Darth Sidious, all while working through the trauma of his life up to this point. "I think there are certainly moments in Vader that are very dark and very brutal from both a psychological and a physical perspective. But I think it's still done, in such a way, that it still feels almost cathartic," Soule told StarWars.com, explaining that he wanted to make his version of Vader different from anything we'd seen before.

Charles Soule's take on Darth Vader is incredibly intriguing and fleshes out parts of the character that other pieces of media haven't. The events of the "Darth Vader" series and the progression he goes through within it couldn't complement "Obi-Wan Kenobi" better.