Tag Archives: Darth Vader

Review: Darth Vader #2

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How do you follow up a solidly good first issue that teased at plenty of future plot points? By focusing the second issue on just one of them. Darth Vader #2 by Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca is out today in which the creative team does precisely that. After the disaster of the Death Star’s destruction, Vader is in disgrace and now must follow the commands of Grand General Tagge as a part of the grand plan to strike back against the Rebellion… one corvette at a time. (Spoiler Alert: Vader does NOT win Coruscant’s Next Top Model in this issue. Sorry.)

Surprisingly, this series is turning out to be very character driven which is something I wouldn’t necessarily expect from a book about Darth Vader. As proven with the previous issue, Gillen definitely knows what he’s doing with Vader but the character that really stood out to me in this issue was Tagge. (That’s Grand General, by the way, not just General.) With the exception of Palpatine, it floors me that anyone in the Empire would have the balls to speak to someone as imposing as Darth Vader like Tagge did. If you thought how Tarkin acted in A New Hope was impressive… just read issue #2. This is a characterization that seems like it will pay off further down the line along perhaps before Vader discovers more about the Rebel pilot’s identity…

On the art front, Larroca continues to draw a pretty darn good Vader. He’s got a great eye for detail that translates to not just the iconic costume but also to things like holograms or distant ships through a viewport. Also, I’m not sure who’s having more fun with all these explosions: Gillen writing them or Larroca drawing and Edgar Delgado coloring them. Artistically speaking, having Larroca on interior art and Adi Granov on covers is a winning combination for this book.

Can we start spelling poor Kieron Gillen’s name right in the opening credits though?  This is two issues in a row now where they’ve gotten it wrong.

Darth Vader #2 is another solid showing from the creative team and I’m definitely excited for the next issue.

Review: Darth Vader #1

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The Second Marvel Era continues on Wednesday with the release of Darth Vader #1 by Kieron Gillen with art by Salvador Larroca. Gillen leaves no time for readers to wonder “Well what happened when—” as this ongoing Vader story picks up not just shortly after the Battle of Yavin but directly from the pages of Star Wars #2. Long time Star Wars comic readers have seen Vader on the page plenty of times but how does Gillen handle one of the most iconic bad guys?

One of the neatest things about the Lucasfilm Story Group is that it’s giving readers experiences like this and rewarding those who swing by their local comic store every week. Again, this book ties in directly with the first two issues of Star Wars and yet provides enough context that a reader wouldn’t be lost if they hadn’t read the other book. That said, Gillen’s certainly telling his own story here. He’s writing a Vader who’s definitely a man in the doghouse with the Emperor and who needs to solve the mystery of the Rebel pilot. He’s also writing a story that takes into account the galactic political ramifications of the Death Star’s destruction, something that I hope continues in future issues.

It’s difficult to discuss the storyline without delving into spoiler territory. Gillen doesn’t have the same cliffhanger flair as his fellow Star Wars writer Jason Aaron but he does leave enough hints throughout the pages to keep readers intrigued. I didn’t find this to be the strongest #1 especially in the wake of some other books that Marvel’s released recently but I definitely enjoyed it. Regardless, I’m interested to see where Gillen takes this story and whether or not Vader will continue to weave in and out of the main book especially once he discovers Luke’s identity. I’m also interested to see whether Palpatine continues to play a role in the book and whether it will expand.

On the art front, I really enjoyed Larroca’s work and have been a fan of his ever since his work on Invincible Iron Man. Having to routinely draw an outfit like Darth Vader’s isn’t the easiest of tasks (Iron Man must’ve been good practice.) but he does it well. Larroca also draws a particularly great Emperor Palpatine   Edgar Delgado’s colors are a nice compliment to Larroca’s lines. Another highlight of the book is when Gillen’s writing steps back and lets Larroca’s work do the storytelling on its own for several pages. Clearly this is a writer/artist team that collaborates well together.

Darth Vader #1 is a solid start for the Sith Lord’s ongoing series and gets a recommendation from us. You can preorder the comic from Marvel here for its release on February 11th.

Thank you to Marvel for providing us with a copy of the issue in advanced for review purposes.

New Darth Vader Jewelry from Her Universe

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her universe darth vader necklaceToday Her Universe released a new Darth Vader jewelry collection, designed by Sparkle Factory, the designers of Her Universe’s R2-D2-themed “My Hero Collection” that was released earlier this year.

The Darth Vader collection features earrings, necklaces, a bracelet, and a ring, bearing either the likeness of Vader’s mask or the Imperial emblem. Each piece is made from black hematite and one necklace incorporates Swarovski crystals as well. You can read more about them here.

The pieces run from $40 to $85 USD and are available for purchase on Her Universe’s site.

Review: Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows

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It’s another Vader graphic novel as the collected edition of Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows hits shelves today.  Tim Siedell on script and Gabriel Guzman on art take us on another galactic adventure with the newly named Dark Lord of the Sith… or do they?

Darth Vader’s rampage across the galaxy after the fall of the Republic continues as he seeks out the remaining Jedi and rebels to destroy them.  It’s through the eyes of a deserter clone trooper returned to the fold that we some of this as he comes to serve as one of Vader’s most trusted stormtroopers.

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Review: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin

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If you’re looking for a Vader story that doesn’t go too deep and has a high body count, then this week’s Star Wars hardcover release will be right up your alley.  Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin, written by Tim Siedell with art by Stephen Thompson and Ivan Fernandez, is an enjoyable enough tale even if it’s not precisely groundbreaking.

A father is heartbroken over his son’s death at the hands of Darth Vader so he hires eight assassins to try and enact revenge for him.  All of them fail.  He pays a high price to hire the titular ninth assassin who follows Vader to a more distant planet to track a dark and powerful force that seems to be blocking their senses.  Darth Vader will have far more to deal with than he anticipated.

It’s a decent enough read if you’re looking for a Vader centric book.  That’s actually the strength of the book or at least one of them.  (The other strength would be the Emperor but that’s diving into spoiler territory.)  It’s absolutely a Vader story.  It only briefly dives deeper into his psyche with a handful of pages where he’s hallucinating but they’re very well done.  While the overall story isn’t terribly involved, it’s a neat look at the idea of choice.  Plus, of course, we get to see Vader kill people.  A lot of people.  It’s not rocks fall and everyone dies; it’s Vader happens and everyone dies.

The Ninth Assassin never really does anything beside stalk Vader.  Slightly off panel, we see him kill a heck of a lot of people but other than that, he’s just a masked character who ultimately fails at his task.  Other than that, readers get to learn nothing about him.

The artwork is serviceable and decent enough although not remarkable.  The best page is the one where they come out of hyperspace mostly for how the glow of hyperspace was drawn and colored.  The Ninth Assassin also has a neat looking character design.  My one main critique is that occasionally Vader’s proportions look a little bit off.

Overall, it’s a decent enough book but it’s not new or exciting.  The plotline where Vader tracks down the potential traitors is intriguing enough to catch your interest and keep you engage with the story.  If you want more Vader then pick up the book.  If you’re interested in seeing Vader as he’s still in the first few years of transitioning from being Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader than this is probably a book you should pick up.  However, if you’re looking for a book with tons of layers and lots of fully developed characters than this is probably one you should skip.  Again, I’m not saying that this is a poorly done book as it’s certainly enjoyable enough.  It’s just likely not everyone’s cup of tea.

I give Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin a 3/5 and only casually recommend it.