In modern comic publishing, it's common (and expected) for individual comic book issues to be collected into compilations of trade paperbacks and/or hardcovers, as well as other special compilations. Unlike the individual source issues, the collected editions typically stay in print for long periods and are less 'collectible.' If individual issues are out of reach or are not of interest to you or if you just need reading copies, the following collected editions of Darth Vader comic books are the most recent in-print editions and are the perfect alternative to get started right away with Darth Vader. The following compilations are presented in a chronologically-based suggested reading order with softcover editions before any hardcover editions (unless the only in-print editions are hardcover--these are integrated into the softcover list).

The first appearance of a character in comic book form is often the most valuable issue featuring that character. It's a nice place to get started in Darth Vader, if it's within your budget. Of only trivial interest perhaps, the first issue of STAR WARS [1977] was published on 12 Apr 1977, over a month prior to the 25 May 1977 movie debut.

• STAR WARS [1977] #1  (1st appearance of Star Wars; 1st appearance of Darth Vader)

Series beginnings are always great places to get started in comic books. Here is the Main Publication History for Darth Vader comic books. Darth Vader is one of the most important characters in the Star Wars saga and has had a virtual multitude of comic book appearances. While he is a prime plot device in many stories that take place between Order 66 and The Return of the Jedi, there are suprisingly few stories centered on him. Dark Horse proved Vader could be the star of his own story with the STAR WARS: VADER'S QUEST [1999] mini-series, but the wildly popular PURGE [2006] one-shot was a bigger hit. Dark Horse followed up with more Purge tales and then a series of mini-series carrying Vader's name. This paved the way for Marvel to grant him his own self-titled, ongoing series, DARTH VADER [2015]. This series masterfully explores the time right after Episode IV, and a follow-up ongoing series explores the time right after Episode III. The list in this section contains only series where Darth Vader was a key, 'headline' character, but contains both Legends and New Canon series.

• STAR WARS: VADER'S QUEST [1999] #1-4   (Legends)
• STAR WARS: PURGE [2005] #1   (Legends)
• STAR WARS: PURGE--SECONDS TO DIE [2009] #1   (Legends)
• STAR WARS: THE FORCE UNLEASHED [2008-SC]    (Legends)
• STAR WARS: PURGE--THE HIDDEN BLADE [2010] #1   (Legends)
• STAR WARS: THE FORCE UNLEASHED II [2010-SC]    (Legends)
• STAR WARS: DARTH VADER AND THE LOST COMMAND [2011] #1-5   (Legends)
• STAR WARS: DARK TIMES--OUT OF THE WILDERNESS [2011] #1-5   (Legends)
• STAR WARS: DARTH VADER AND THE GHOST PRISON [2012] #1-5   (Legends)
• STAR WARS: PURGE--THE TYRANT'S FIST [2012] #1-2   (Legends)
• STAR WARS: DARTH VADER AND THE NINTH ASSASSIN [2013] #1-5   (Legends)
• STAR WARS: DARK TIMES--A SPARK REMAINS [2013] #1-5   (Legends)
• STAR WARS: DARTH VADER AND THE CRY OF SHADOWS [2013] #1-5   (Legends)
• DARTH VADER [2015] #1-25   (New Canon; 1st ongoing series)
• STAR WARS: VADER DOWN [2016] #1   (New Canon)
• DARTH VADER ANNUAL [2016] #1   (New Canon)
• DARTH VADER [2017] #1-25   (New Canon; 2nd ongoing series)
• STAR WARS ADVENTURES: TALES FROM VADER'S CASTLE [2018] #1-5   (New Canon; creepy Halloween special anthology weekly mini-series)
• STAR WARS: VADER--DARK VISIONS [2019] #1-5   (New Canon; anthology mini-series exploring the legend of the Sith Lord from different characters' perspectives)
• STAR WARS: AGE OF REBELLION--DARTH VADER [2019] #1   (New Canon)
• STAR WARS: TARGET VADER [2019] #1-6   (New Canon)
• STAR WARS ADVENTURES: RETURN TO VADER'S CASTLE [2019] #1-5   (New Canon; sequel anthology mini-series)
• DARTH VADER [2020] #1-   (New Canon; 3rd ongoing series)

In addition to his Main Publication History, Darth Vader has made a multitude of appearances in Star Wars comic books. While there is little utility to be gained in an exhaustive list of these appearances, here are a few small gems hidden among his countless cameos you could hunt down to get started in Darth Vader comic books. Darth Vader plays a fairly significant role throughout the STAR WARS: DARK TIMES [2006] series and its three follow-on mini-series (two are listed in the Main Publication History), as well as the STAR WARS TALES [1999] anthology series. Both of these series are Legends, but they are definitey worth checking out to get more Darth Vader among some other quality Star Wars material.

• CLASSIC STAR WARS: DEVILWORLDS [1996] #1   (contains a 6-page Darth Vader story by Alan Moore (Legends))
• STAR WARS TALES [1999] #1-2   (EXTINCTION, hunts down a Jedi (Legends))
• STAR WARS TALES [1999] #3-24   (sporadic appearances throughout the rest of this anthology series (Legends))
• STAR WARS: EMPIRE [2002] #14   (THE SAVAGE HEART, in a unique tale, Vader becomes a wild animal pack leader (Legends))
• STAR WARS: EMPIRE [2002] #19   (TARGET: VADER, becomes a target himself while strong-arming underworld contacts for Alliance information (Legends))
• STAR WARS: DARK TIMES [2006] #1-17   (appearances throughout this series (Legends))
• STAR WARS ADVENTURES [2009-DIG] VOL 04: THE WILL OF DARTH VADER   (reluctantly teams with a wisecracking smuggler to destroy a Rebel base (Legends))
• STAR WARS ADVENTURES: TALES FROM VADER'S CASTLE [2018] #1-5   (spooky anthology stories connected to Vader's castle)

This section contains a curated list of some of the best storylines for Darth Vader, any one of which can be a good place to get started. Entries here may be from series where Darth Vader was not the headline character of the series. Also, entries in this section come from both Legends and New Canon.

A key issue can be an acceptable place to get started with Darth Vader, but they are more of a collector's checklist, as they can carry high price tags.

    *As an eBay Partner, I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure

• STAR WARS [1977] #1   (1st appearance of Star Wars; 1st appearance of Darth Vader)
• DARTH VADER [2015] #1   (1st issue of this series)
• DARTH VADER [2015] #3   (1st appearances of Doctor Aphra, 0-0-0 (Triple Zero), BT-1 (Bee Tee))
• DARTH VADER [2017] #1   (1st issue of this series)
• DARTH VADER [2017] #3   (1st appearance of Kirak Infil'a)