#also just in case i'm not that smart to remember all authors wookieepedia is such a great page for this :3

[cienie-isengardu]

Hi! Sorry if this has been asked before, but I was just wondering if you could recommend any specific Legends comics/stories that show Anakin's/Vader's relationship with his men? I know the 501st were loyal to Anakin and Vader later on, but I haven't really read any stories that show it, and I want to start delving into more Legends content. Thanks so much!

Hi there! I will do my best so here some recommendations:

Anakin

To be honest, we have only glimpses about Anakin’s life and though the period of prequels were full of clone wars stories, the Legends sources in general did not focus much on Skywalker’s relationship with men serving under him or working together on missions (as most was about Anakin and Obi-Wan, the unseparated team). Still, it seems to me like every major book, even with such limited focus, had Anakin come to rescue clone troopers or worry about them or in general be respected as a great warrior.

The Clone Wars by Karen Traviss (2008) and Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth by Karen Miller (2010) although tied to The Clone Wars TV animated series as far as I know are counted as Legends and like the show, explore Anakin’s relationship with clones and his padawan. Obviously, clones aren’t the main heroes, but there is a lot good examples how Skywalker and clones worked together (I especially like the battle and post-battle few chapters in the Gambit, a lot to analyze just by how Anakin addresses his men in contrast to some other characters, about what I talked more here).

From the unquestionable Legends sources I would recommend:

Jedi Trial a book written by David Sherman and Dan Cragg (2004) is the closest to showing us Anakin in a military setting (as in, not only leading troops during battle but also learning how to be a proper officer). Like I said, the prequel era did not focus much on Anakin’s relationship with people who weren’t Obi-Wan, Padme or even Palpatine so we don’t get closure similar to what was seen in The Clone Wars novels between him and Rex for example and sadly, most clones aren’t even named by narrative. But here is Grudo, an alien sergeant who was guiding Skywalker how to serve in the army and clone troopers got some interesting spotlight too. 

Labyrinth of Evil a novel written by James Luceno (2005) is another good book to recommend but sadly, only like first 10 chapters is focused on military mission in which Obi-Wan, Anakin and clones take part together because rest of story is greatly about Kenobi-Skywalker solo job. Still a pretty nice source and hey, Cody debuted here, that counts for something, right?

(And again, there is not much Anakin’s extensively inner thoughts about clones like in TCW books but I guess this is how the novels were written in 2002-2006)

Honorable mention: 

Revenge of the Sith by Matthew Stover (2005). Beside the opening Battle of Coruscant, Anakin was pretty isolated from clones (his men) as he was trapped in conflict between Jedi Council and Chancellor Palpatine, but the book brought on two separate occasions an interesting mention of Anakin made by Cody (about which I talker more here and here if you don’t feel like reading the whole novel). Beside that, the book in general is one of the best Star Wars books in my opinion.

From comics definitely worth reading is Star Wars Republic comic series, the issues about Anakin, Kenobi and ARC Alpha-17. Since the plot was heavily focused on Obi-Wan and Alpha’s time in enemy’s captivity, it usually overshadows Anakin and Alpha friendship, but Skywalker for sure had his part in character development of Alpha.

ARC trooper Alpha was introduced in Star Wars: Republic issues: 50-52, 55, 60, 62, published in 2003-2004) and later showed up in Obsession #3-5 (2004-2005).

VADER

Vader’s relationship with other characters in general are more tricky because 

A) he is the Sith Lord perfectly aware that sentiment gets you killed and not many people will not  betray him (thus not all stories have a happy end for his men) and 

B) the focus (like with stories about Anakin) is on the great action, plot, solo missions to find Luke or destroy the Rebellion or survive whatever Palpatine/political rivals / enemies / other imperials are planning and so on. Because of that, Vader's men usually play second roles and have limited appearances in books and comics and like I said in the previous point, often does not survive to the end of the storyline.

Forgive me for this little warning, I just don’t want to raise anyone’s hopes too much. In general, we could separate Vader’s men into smaller groups: 501st Legion & stormtroopers as a whole, his agents/spies (sometimes dragged into service because of circuments) and people who aren’t working directly for Vader (as you know, his trooper or agent) but were recruited by Dark Lord due to their skills that Empire could use and benefit from. 

 The stories with a main focus on Vader and his men are few and between in the scale of 40+ years of star wars but here we comes:

Vader Adrift - a short story written by Ryder Windham (published in the Star Wars Insider Special Edition 2012). One of my favorites to be honest. I don’t want to spoil much, so I will just say Vader met a clone veteran, Contrail.

Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows a five-issue miniseries written by Tom Siedell and published by Dark Horse Comics in 2013. Told from veteran clone trooper’s POV the comics explore his relationship with Darth Vader and what it means to work for Lord of the Sith / Empire. At times pretty brutal and dark, but then again, the action takes place in dark times.

Darth Vader and the Lost Command - another five-issue miniseries published by Dark Horse Comics, written by Haden Blackman in 2011. The story overall is focused on Vader’s love, guilt & grief about Padme but there is commander Voca (clone trooper).

Shadow Stalker - the older comics from 1997, written by Ryder Windham that focuses on Vader’s agent, Wrenga Jixton doing a mission for his boss. Wrenga himself was introduced in the Shadows of the Empire comics version, but this one can be read without knowledge from other sources. Lemme say, I really like Wrenga and his deal with Vader and habit of testing Lord of the Sith’s patience for no other reason that he could. Definitely worth reading.

In His Image and the sequel, A Two-Edged Sword, written by Karen Traviss and published in Vader: The Ultimate Guide (2005) and Star Wars Insiders #85 respectively features an imperial officer Erv Lekauf, Vader’s personal aide. The main subplot is of course Vader and Palpatine (Sith)’s relationship but Lekauf got his spotlight too. 

Resurrection - another older comic story that appeared in Star Wars Tales 9 and was written by Ron Marz [Dark Horse Comics, 2001]. Vader and his stormtroopers get a few interesting pages. 

Dark Times - a comics series run of overall 32 issues published in 2006 that continued in a way Star Wars Republic. The main focus is on Jedi survivor of Purge but here and there was also focus on Vader in the first months/years of the Empire and shows a bit of his relationship with clone Commander Vill, and later more of it with Lieutenant Gregg and Bounty Hunter (forced into cooperation) Falco Sang. Gregg and Sang were even considered by some imperials “Vader’s pets” and I will not lie, Falco was my favorite, especially in regard to his relationship with Vader. I feel bad for commander Vill though. Also, this is a story set in Dark Times and some issues had its brutality / dark themes.

(I’m linking to their wookieepedia pages, for eventual easier search for the right issues and arc they were part of. )

Here a list of some sources that aren’t per se about Vader’s men (as in: stormtroopers or his agents) but an “imperials” who were working with the Dark Lord due to orders / circuments. 

Purge ��� The Tyrant's Fist issue 1 and 2 written by Alexander Freed and published by Dark Horse Comics in 2012. The story shows us Oniye Namada, a (female) major ISB tasked to work with Vader to eliminate Jedi. Personally I do not agree with some elements in regard to Vader and his treatment of (clone) troopers but it is worth checking out if you have a chance. 

Star Wars (2013) #13 and #14 by Brian Wood showed Ensign Nanda's POV, a female imperial who served under Vader on his personal quest. Maybe not really one of Vader’s men but for sure an interesting source. Also pretty brutal.

This run also has Birra Seah who for a time being was one of Vader’s men but sadly, I read the comics a long time ago, so my memory about her role beside few scenes is blurry (just in case, linking to wookiepedia page for more informations about issues in which she showed up).

Walking the Path That's Given - a comics published in Star Wars Tales 21 and written by Jeremy Barlow and Shane McCarthy, features ex-CIS starfighter ace Nas Ghent recruitmed by Darth Vader to create the an elite Imperial squadron. Not much focused on Vader (like 2-3 pages if I remember right) but Nas was one of the people under Vader’s personal protection. I absolutely like this issue. 

Empire 14: The Savage Heart published by Dark Horse Comics in 2003 as a one-shot about Vader and his pack of animal predators. Seriously, I love this story but since it is not strictly about  Vader’s men it gets only an honorable mention of.

If you will want something from the classic (definitely an older, pre-Prequel era) of Star Wars comics lemme know but  think the list above should be enough for a start 😋 I always admired Dark Horse’s star wars so hopefully you will find something for yourself and have a great time exploiting Legends!