GONK reviews this week’s Star Wars comic: Can Vader turn the imprisoned worst scum in the galaxy into his own fighting force?
Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison builds up toward its conclusion in Issue #4 (of 5) (Dark Horse profile). It starts off with some action, then dives into character interaction, adding a fourth perspective to the triangle that is Darth Vader, Moff Trachta, and Lt. Tohm as they plot to restore Palpatine’s reign after a traitorous General has deposed the Emperor. I’m going to try to keep it less spoilery than my normal reviews.
In the Jedi’s secret prison, the trio have freed the inmates (half of whom were captured by Anakin Skywalker), hoping to turn them into a private army loyal to the Empire. With the original defenders of the Prism dead, this leads to a bloody free-for-all. In the end, an army of former Separatist agents and assassins and dark Force-users are chosen, and Tohm gets another lesson in the difference between Vader and Trachta. One of the inmates, a Force-wielding assassin latches onto Tohm, and we learn her backstory, as well as more of the lieutenants’. And their opponent back on Coruscant, General Gentis looks to consolidate his power by grabbing a new weapon of the Empire.
At first I thought the art was a bit draft-quality, but really it is just the color washes of the first half of the book, where the action all takes place in one oddly lit area. (The use of multiple colors returns once we shift away from this scene) Agustin Alessio highlights the chaos of the prison riot with angular panels. There is a stunning full panel of Vader wading into the disorder, though my personal favorite is Vader slamming down a dark Jedi after grabbing him in mid-air. Haden Blackman sets up a strong difference between the two Imperial leaders – Vader as the violent warrior, while Trachta is the speech-maker, rallying the survivors into Imperials, and Tohm is in the middle… but it is Tohm who brings the assassin Volta into the fold (speechifying), and then putting down the seriously injured (blunt instrument-ing). I enjoyed how Blackman provided some background to some of the prisoners, to paint a bigger picture to the people in the Separatist cause.
As the “middle issue” that builds up to the finale, the final build-up isn’t quite there. We see Gentis’ aims, and we have the army, but the whole “let’s go” is not large in scope, but rather personal – just between Tohm and his new ally, Volta. But we see something new in Tohm – some ambition of his own, as he shifts from just wanting to be worthy of serving Vader to his own larger dreams. I almost feel like this series could use two more issues instead of one to wrap things up. Maybe that means I’m hooked by Tohm’s tale. or maybe just want more cool action of these characters bringing it onto their foes. Some of both, I think.
Live from Orlando, I’m at Star Wars Celebration VI this week! Come play in the Bounty Hunt!