Star Wars: Darth Vader #24

Part of Marvel's 2022 Crimson Reign crossover, this installment of Greg Pak's Darth Vader series carries the intriguing title "Old Friends" — which feels loaded given the two figures squaring off beneath the Dark Lord's looming helmet on Paul Renaud's cover. A red-and-white armored warrior faces a white-caped woman cradling a heavy blaster, both standing on an Imperial crest bathed in crimson light, with Vader's massive visage dominating the space above them like a silent, omnipresent threat. It's a tense, beautifully composed standoff that sets a mood of dangerous alliances and uncertain loyalties, brought to life inside by the creative team of Pak, Marco Castiello, and colorist Carlos Lopez.