The writer of Marvel's newly launched Star Wars: Darth Vader comic series says the comic will have a connection to last year's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Writer Greg Pak spoke at Comic-Con@Home, hinting that the new series, which takes place decades before The Rise of Skywalker, will have direct ties to the film. "I'll just say that at the end of our first arc, Vader claims to have settled all of his previous business," Pak said. "But the Emperor knows better. Vader is going to suffer a terrible punishment and undertake a new journey/quest and there are key elements that will tie into Episode 9 in a huge way."

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In the first two issues of Darth Vader, the Dark Lord is still trying to come to terms with the loss of his beloved Padme. The former Naboo leader died of heartbreak after Anakin Skywalker turned to the dark side of The Force and swore his allegiance to the newly self-christened Emperor Palpatine, as seen in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Palpatine met his apparent end in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, but found a way to return in The Rise of Skywalker.

The nature of Palpatine's return was never explained outright, but it was clear the former Emperor had brought about his own resurrection through a combination of Sith learnings and cloning technology. In previous Star Wars continuity, Palpatine had already found the means to clone himself, as seen in 1992's Star Wars: Dark Empire mini-series from Dark Horse Comics.

Whether Vader somehow aids Palpatine in his eventual rebirth, or whether the exact secrets of Palpatine's return are revealed, remains unknown.

After a coronavirus-induced hiatus, Star Wars: Darth Vader #3, by Pak, Raffaele Ienco, Neeraj Menon and Joe Caramagna goes on sale July 29.

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via GamesRadar+