Editor’s Note: And here is the third in Bria LaVorgna’s series of “Darth Vader” reviews…
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a comic book company in possession of a hot property must be in want of a crossover. “Vader Down” builds upon ten months of careful storytelling in the main “Star Wars” and “Darth Vader” books and then drops the proverbial microphone. The crossover is a collaborative effort with the Star Wars team (Jason Aaron, Mike Deodato, Frank Martin Jr.) and the Darth Vader team (Kieron Gillen, Salvador Larroca, Edgar Delgado) switching off every other issue to tell an incredibly badass story.
After some effort, Vader has finally tracked Luke Skywalker to the planet Vrogas Vas, the site of a former Jedi temple. Although the Rebel Alliance thinks they have the upper hand, Darth Vader makes short work of three squadrons worth of fighters, intent on his mission. Star systems away, Leia learns that Vader’s fighter has been shot down and decides to seize the opportunity to strike both a fatal blow to the Empire and take revenge for Alderaan.
Vader Down has the distinction of doing something that only Siege of Lothal has done before it in recent memory: make Darth Vader absolutely terrifying. There is little more unnerving than the final page of the first issue where Vader is surrounded by rebel soldiers and says, “All I am surrounded by is fear and dead men.” He’s not wrong. (Spoilers: It doesn’t go well for the rebels.)
This book also serves as an incredible showcase for Leia Organa. We get to see her as both a leader in the Rebellion and as someone who still carries the grief and guilt about Alderaan with her every single day. This is someone who believes so strongly in the cause that she’s willing to give everything to see it succeed. It’s a chilling moment within the comic and a defining piece of characterization for her.
Aaron and Gillen do far more than succeed in really nailing two of the iconic, main characters. Everything about Vader Down feels like a Star Wars story. There are space battles and lightsaber duels. There are moments that will make readers laugh out loud and others that will make them gasp. Readers get the face-offs and encounters that they’ve been waiting for since Marvel first took back the reins. Everything about these six issues is fun yet carries weight. It is fundamentally Star Wars in a way that not much else is.
The only flaw in this book is a continuity error between Star Wars #13 and Darth Vader #14. Dr. Aphra’s black and red jacket changes into a red vest between issues when there’s no chance for her to have changed but the rest of the book is so damn good that it doesn’t even detract.
Vader down gets a 10 out of 10. If there’s one Star Wars comic you should pick up, it’s definitely this one. It’s available wherever comics are sold and can be ordered online now.
Bria LaVorgna is a geek who doesn’t remember a time when she didn’t love Star Wars and thrives on the nerdy life.You can find her on Twitter.