Lucasfilm and Insight Editions are about to release Star Wars Icons: Vader, a nearly 500-page deep dive into the character’s design and legacy, written by Anthony Breznican with a foreword from Hayden Christensen. It’s due out October 20, 2026 — but sneaker artist Javornie Brathwaite beat the publishing world to the punch with a tribute of his own, back in 2024.
What is the commonality between Mr. Mertle from The Sandlot, Mufasa of The Lion King movies, and Thulsa Doom from Conan the Barbarian? The late, great James Earl Jones brought them all to life. To honour his legacy and pay homage to one of his most iconic voice roles ever, Javornie Brathwaite of @jsbthecreator created a custom “Darth Vader” Air Jordan 4 design that you definitely need to check out.
A Closer Look At The Sneaker
Like the infamous villain himself, the Star Wars shoe features a sleek, predominantly black colourway. But to give the shoes a sleek and glossy look akin to their muse, Brathwaite covers nearly all of the design in black patent leather. The sneaker artist also keeps the inner lining, netting, and laces all in the same shade for a unified appearance.
The only major contrast to this dark palette is pops of red on the sole unit, which pay homage to the evil character’s lightsaber of the same hue. However, you’ll also find Darth Vader graphics on the tongue in a light grey shade.
Finally, Brathwaite adds a tiny replica of the character’s control panel unit to the right heel while adding the Star Wars logo on the opposite shoe. And on the insoles? There are two images of the beloved Star Wars character to top off this magnificent tribute. The Force is indeed strong with this custom.
Who Is Javornie Brathwaite?
This “Darth Vader” Air Jordan 4 is a custom concept, not a confirmed Nike or Jordan Brand release. Brathwaite, who creates under the handle @jsbthecreator, has built customs before that have gone up for sale — his current lineup at jsbthecreator.com/shop includes one-off Nike Dunks, Jordan 1s, and Air Force 1s priced between roughly $110 and $440. It’s not confirmed whether this specific Vader pair has been offered for sale, so treat it as a concept until Brathwaite says otherwise.
Is This Darth Vader Air Jordan 4 Custom For Sale?
If you’d like to pick up this endearing homage to James Earl Jones and his iconic persona, be sure to follow Brathwaite’s Instagram for updates on the release. Keep checking back because there is promise of more news “coming soon”.
In the meantime, his active shop shows he does bring select customs to market, so it’s worth checking there directly for future Vader availability.
More James Earl Jones and Star Wars Tributes Worth Checking Out
If Vader’s legacy is what drew you in, Fortress of Solitude ranked the best Star Wars fight scenes of all time, including Vader’s most iconic lightsaber duels.
In the meantime, you can enjoy more of this gifted sneaker artist’s creations here on our site. Highlights include his fierce Air Max 1 inspired by “Kill Bill,” and stunning Nike Dunk Lows based on the villainous “Carnage” character.
