There are a lot of comics out there, but some stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This,” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week, we return to a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, and see what happens when the droids decide to turn against their human overlords in “Dark Droids.”
Who’s This By?
“Dark Droids” is written by Charles Soule, who’s been writing the main “Star Wars” comics for the past few years, as well as runs on “Darth Vader,” “Poe Dameron,” and “Lando.” For the non-“Star Wars” side of Marvel, he’s the writer behind “Death of Wolverine,” as well as acclaimed runs on “Daredevil” and “She-Hulk.” On the DC side, he’s written comics like “Superman/Wonder Woman,” “Red Lanterns,” and “Swamp Thing.” Outside of the big two, readers may also recognize him as the writer of “Eight Billion Genies,” “Undiscovered Country,” and “Curse Words.”
The illustrations come to us from Luke Ross, who’s also experienced illustrating the “Star Wars” comics, with his name in the credits for “Darth Maul,” “Obi-Wan,” “Yoda,” and many more. He was also the artist for “Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown,” “Totally Awesome Hulk,” and “Hercules: Still Going Strong.:
Alex Sinclair provides the colors, whose work you can also see in “Avengers Inc,” “Ultimate Invasion,” and “Venom.” He also worked as a colorist on “Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca” and several issues of “Darth Vader,” so this is far from his first time working on “Star Wars” comics (and his experience shows across every page).
So it’s a team used to bringing the “Star Wars” comics to life, and they’re all quite good at what they do.
What’s it All About?
Droids are a common and beloved part of the Star Wars franchise. From popular characters like R2-D2 and BB-8 to side characters like the mouse and gonk droids, they’re part of the flavor and worldbuilding that makes the series so renowned.
But every fiction featuring artificial intelligence runs the risk of a robot uprising sooner or later.
“Dark Droids” follows on the heels of the “Crimson Reign” and “Hidden Empire” storylines and some major events in the “Doctor Aphra” comics. It features an ancient AI that reawakened and is now basically trying to assimilate the galaxy, first through the droids, then through people. And so far, it’s doing a good job.
We’ve seen this AI slowly take over droids across the Empire and Rebellion alike, including even C-3PO (or See-Threepio, as the “Star Wars” comics all feel the need to spell out the names of droids), cause havock within both groups, and even toss R2-D2 out an airlock. At the same time, we’re now learning about a group of droids that have gained true sentience and a sense of self, who are trying to help other droids achieve the same and fight back against this rogue intelligence.
It’s a different kind of Star Wars story, but one rooted in a major part of the franchise, which introduces intriguing new ideas and twists on familiar concepts.
What Makes it So Great?
“Dark Droids” continues the “Star Wars” stories and crossovers that Charles Soule has been writing for years, filling in the space between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi with epic storylines involving a plethora of characters from across the Star Wars universe.
The story gives us a new take on droids, moving them to the center of the story and putting major characters in harm’s way. Even though we know the status quo will be restored before the plot reaches the point where Return of the Jedi begins, there’s still a lot of wiggle room for Soule to work with, and work with it he does.
“Dark Droids” is, as the name suggests, a darker story, with a large body count and even a fair amount of body horror (primarily starting in issue 3). But it’s a horror that’s handled well, exploring how far cybernetics in Star Wars can go and making the event’s antagonist feel like a real threat.
Luke Ross’ artwork is also very well-suited for this story. His style is perfectly suited for the “Star Wars” comics, capturing the designs and aesthetics nicely and with an excellent balance of detailing, as well as a sharp eye for action. Both the classic droids and the new ones designed for the comic look great, with unique designs that match the setting, but he also brings the human (and alien) characters to comic book form wonderfully well.
Continued belowThe action in “Dark Droids” is often accentuated with distinct panel designs, lighting effects, and action lines that add to the impact and carry our eyes across each panel, as well as emphasizing the explosions. Some scenes get added effects, like Vader cast in shadows, save for the glowing of the Force, creating a dramatic and frankly awesome scene.
This is helped by the colors by Alex Sinclair, which captures the dark mood of this storyline and adds great effect. The ominous purple glows that accompany the possessed droids create a sense of unease, but the lighting effects throughout the issue accentuate the drama and tension. The way that darkness contrasts with the “thinking droids” in their brighter shades helps them stand out, while the color work also makes the red shades of the Dark Side all the more impactful.
Where Can I Read it?
“Star Wars: Dark Droids” issue 3 is available in stores now, and can be found at your friendly local comic shop, as well as online on Marvel.com and Comixology. You can read the previous two issues in paperback, along with the tie-in issues, including “Star Wars,” “Darth Vader,” and “Bounty Hunters” #37 and on, “Doctor Aphra” #35 and on, and “D-Squad” #1. You can also catch up on all of Charles Soule’s “Star Wars” comics up to this point in paperback form, with volume 6 being the latest.
