Star Wars' Best Dark Side Stories: Marvel Comics vs. Movies

It's Time We Admit Star Wars’ Greatest Dark Side Stories Aren't in the Movies

Kylo Ren and Sith Lords In Background Custom Star Wars Image

By Kevin Erdmann Published 33 minutes ago Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero. With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention. Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Legacy of Vader

It's no secret that Star Wars has some of the best villains of all time. However, the time has come to admit that most of the deepest and most dynamic dark side stories are not found on the screen.

Instead, it’s canonical comics from Marvel, like the ongoing Legacy of Vader series, that are providing some of the most immersive stories surrounding the dark side and some of Star Wars' most compelling foes. To that point, Marvel actually has a super solid track record when it comes to the dark side.

Marvel's Legacy of Vader Series Has Done Wonders for Kylo Ren

Kylo Ren With New Lightsaber Star Wars Custom Image

Launched in February 2025, Star Wars: Legacy of Vader follows Kylo Ren in his new role as the First Order's new Supreme Leader while he digs into his grandfather’s legacy between the events of The Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker.

Although it's not yet complete, writer Charles Soule and artist Luke Ross and thus far woven an impressive tale as Kylo/Ben Solo struggles between the light and dark sides of the Force, revealing just how much Vader's past has warped his very identity.

As seen throughout the new Star Wars series, Kylo Ren's journey has taken him to Mustafar, Tatooine, and even Naboo, walking in the steps of his grandfather while guided by Vader's still-living castle caretaker Vaneé. Every step of the way, Kylo confronts the ghost of Vader and his shadow as Ren is determined to forge his own powerful dark side legacy.

Marvel's Track Record With Star Wars Villain Stories Is Unmatched

Darth Vader Star Wars Comics Custom Image

Legacy of Vader is by no means an anomaly for Marvel Comics. It's simply just the latest in an impressive line of great (and canonical) villain-led series that first began with Kieron Gillen's 2015's Darth Vader.

Taking place between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, 2015's Vader series not only gave us the moment when Darth Vader first learned he had a son (who was also the pilot who blew up the Death Star), but we also got to see his first of many attempts to betray Palpatine between movies.

The 2017–2018 Star Wars: Darth Vader run by writer Charles Soule and artist Giuseppe Camuncoli dropped readers straight into a grieving Anakin’s transformation into Vader. It explored his first steps into darkness, the creation of his Sith lightsaber, his fortress, and his failed attempt to resurrect his deceased wife.

The series gave Vader so much depth into his early internal conflict, not just rage, but intense regret, with the belief that there was no other path for him now but the dark side.

After that came 2019's The Rise of Kylo Ren (also from Soule), chronicling young Ben Solo’s corruptive descent before The Force Awakens. It contextualized Kylo’s emotional collapse better than any of the sequel films, showing how he was manipulated and pushed away from his uncle and right into the arms of Snoke (Palpatine's proxy).

2020's Darth Vader series by Greg Pak showcases the Dark Lord's journey between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, showcasing how Vader handled his son's rejection, his search to uncover the truth behind his wife's demise and the birth of his son, Palpatine punishing him for his defiance on Mustafar, and even Vader discovering his master's true power on Exegol.

We also got to see the last time Vader tried (and failed) to overthrow his master, only to bend the knee until his son led him back to the light.

These are just a handful of the biggest dark side, villain-led series from Marvel Comics, expanding on what we've seen on the screen by leaps and bounds, ensuring that anyone who sleeps on them is absolutely missing out.

Lucasfilm Needs To Be Taking Notes For Future Star Wars Projects

Darth Maul with his lightsaber ignited in Maul Shadow Lord

What's incredibly exciting is that we have the upcoming animated series Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord releasing in 2026, a major project for Lucasfilm as the first animated project to be led by an outright villain. This should be a great start, generating the hope that Star Wars might finally start leaning more into darker, villain-focused stories on screen.

Marvel’s Star Wars comics prove that fans can and will invest in darker and more sinister narratives if they’re built with care and engaging depth.

If Lucasfilm looks more to Marvel’s proven track record, they’ll find a solid blueprint that's already proven to work: point the lens inward. The darkest corners of the dark side belong to those who are incredibly broken, wrestling with their own ghosts, regrets, and traumas (Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, even Maul).

That's the angle and how to hook the audience. Once that foundation is set, the rest is easy (you just throw in some epic lightsaber sequences and brutal displays of power).

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader Created By George Lucas Franchise Star Wars Died Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi Race Human Movies Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story TV Shows Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi, Ahsoka
Conceived by the will of the Force itself, Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring the Force into balance. Anakin struggled to balance competing attachments to the Jedi Order and his wife Padmé Amidala, and ultimately fell to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. For years he served as Palpatine's right hand man, but he was ultimately redeemed by the faith of his son, Luke Skywalker. Now a Force Ghost, Anakin continues to act as an agent of balance.
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Ben Solo/Kylo Ren Created By J.J. Abrams, Michael Arndt, Lawrence Kasdan Franchise Star Wars Died Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise Of Skywalker Race Human Movies Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker TV Shows Star Wars: Resistance
The son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Ben was manipulated by Palpatine through the Force for most of his life, influenced toward the dark side of the Force. A misstep by Luke Skywalker ultimately left Ben feeling he had no choice but to embrace the dark side, and he became Kylo Ren, a key figure in the First Order. Kylo Ren's heart remained deeply divided, however, even after he ascended to become Supreme Leader of the First Order. He was ultimately redeemed by Rey, with whom he shared a remarkable Force bond, and by the love of his parents.
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Darth Maul Created By George Lucas Franchise Star Wars Died Star Wars Rebels Race Zabrak Movies Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story TV Shows Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels
Palpatine's apprentice, Darth Maul was nothing more than a tool to winnow down the ranks of the Jedi ahead of Darth Sidious' true plans. Discarded after he was defeated by Obi-Wan Kenobi on Naboo, Darth Maul swore revenge against all those he blamed for his past struggles - Jedi and Sith alike. Maul tended to operate within the shadows, running various syndicates, and even established himself as a true rival for Palpatine on at least one occasion. He was eventually killed by Obi-Wan in a duel on Tatooine.
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