It’s crossover time as we he hit the halfway point of the series. Vader has his prize – – Luke – – in sight, but getting to it is not going to be easy, especially when some famous faces find out his plans.
Cover by Mark BrooksWritten by Jason Aaron and Kieron Gillen
Illustrated by Mike Deodato Jr. and Salvador Larocca
Colored by Edgar Delgado and Frank Martin Jr.
Lettered by VC’s Joe Caramanga and Chris EliopoulousCollects Star Wars: Vader Down #1, Star Wars #13-14 & Darth Vader #13-15.
Two of the biggest titles in comics collide in the first crossover of the new Marvel age of STAR WARS! When Darth Vader accidentally finds himself facing off against the rebel fleet on his own, he is sent crashing onto a nearby planet. Will the rebels seize this opportunity to put an end to one of their greatest enemies — or will they be made to feel the full power of the dark side? The Sith Lord may be down, but he isn’t out! All your favorites are here, old and new, good and evil: Luke! Vader! Leia! Aphra! Han! Threepio, Artoo, Triple-Zero and BT-1! And in a hair-raising battle of the Wookiees, Chewbacca versus Black Krrsantan! ROOOARRGH UR ROO!
Editorial Note: The best way to read this crossover is in trade paperback, but if you want to read the singular issues, they are (in order): “Vader Down” #1, “Star Wars: Darth Vader” #13, “Star Wars” #13, “Star Wars: Darth Vader” #14, “Star Wars: 14″,”Star Wars: Darth Vader” #15. This week’s review will focus on the first three of those titles.
Lord Vader is flying high, literally and figuratively. With help from Aphra, he’s found where Luke Skywalker is hiding: the planet Vrogas Vas. Unfortunately the planet is a fully staffed rebel base, so they don’t take too kindly to their new visitor. And Luke’s ready to take up arms with the rebels, not realizing that their enemy is also his blood.
Because this is a crossover event, it’s also an opportunity to bring out the big names: Han, Leia, Luke, Chewie, among others. Jason Aaron, the then-writer of the main “Star Wars” series joins forces with Kieron Gillen (from “Star Wars: Darth Vader”) on this crossover in the one-shot setting up the event “Vader Down,” and both receive story credits in the other issues of this crossover. The joining of forces ensures that the cameos are not just gratuitous, that they make sense in the larger plot. And it’s fun seeing Han and Aphra, two characters with similar moral codes, go up against each other. You get to see these two like poles repel, but you also see the potential of them working together: further crossover/spinoff potential. (If you remember last year’s “Star Wars: Doctor Aphra” reviews, you will recall that Han did make an appearance, but like here, it was only specific to that story arc.) The downside of these crossovers is that they limit character development, since Gillen and Aaron have a larger cast of characters to craft. We’re at the halfway point of this series, and we still don’t know too much about Doctor Aphra besides what’s on the surface. Perhaps it was at this point that the decision was made to give her her own spinoff series, to let the readers get to truly know her and her motley crew.
There’s a new artist in the ranks with the crossover: regular “Star Wars” artist Mike Deodato, who provides the art on the “Vader Down” one-shot as well. Last week I discussed at length how a co-artist would take the hyper-detail of Salvador Larocca to new heights, and that theory is all over this event. Deodato’s experience on the main “Star Wars” series shows his effective command of action, making it fluid and three dimensional. This comes in handy in “Vader Down” as there’s a lot of action to set up the main conflict of the arc (Vader and Luke’s crash landing on Vrogas Vas). And the action doesn’t skimp on detail either; Deodato still puts in the time to give these moments detail without getting too hyper-aggressive in his pencils. In fact, it was in reading the first part of the crossover event that I realized my frustrations with Larocca’s art uncovered one of the great strengths of it: his ability to show destruction. Combine the two together on an issue and you’ll have a masterclass in how to execute action in the two dimensional medium.
Continued belowThere’s also a moment of very creative panel layout in “Vader Down” that combines both a splash page for the action and smaller panels to show close up character reactions as this action is happening (the heart of the space battle that brings Vader and Luke on to Vrogas Vas. Combining the high stakes and fast paced action with a more intimate character moment brings the reader in to the moment in two different perspective, enhancing the stakes and investing the reader even more in the story.
If Deodato falls down in anything, it’s in facial work. He gets the looks of Han and Leia right in the “Star Wars” issue, but his Aphra as depicted in “Vader Down” looks inconsistent when compared with the “Star Wars: Darth Vader” series. It does improve as we get to “Star Wars” #13, so it looks like he’s done his homework on Larocca’s art, which has always excelled in facial work. And that’s thanks to Larocca’s attention to detail, something Larocca gets very right in all three issues. Han and Leia in the comics render very well to their real-life counterparts, and soft shading adds that additional depth.
And finally, I have to offer high praise to Mark Brooks for cover work on this series that shows Vader’s influence and power. Although this volume is titled “Vader Down,” from cover to final page, it’s clear that Lord Vader may have the odds stacked against him, but it’s nothing he won’t be able to handle. Confronting Luke, on the other hand – – that may be a different story.
Next week we look at the second half of ‘Vader Down’ which includes “Star Wars: Darth Vader” #14, “Star Wars: 14″,”Star Wars: Darth Vader” #15.
If you want to read along with me this summer, you can pick up the single issues or trades of “Star Wars: Darth Vader” at your local comic shop (be sure to wear your mask and social distance while you’re there!), or digitally on Marvel Unlimited or Comixology Unlimited. All single issues and trades of the series are available on Marvel Unlimited and Comixology Unlimited. If you’re a trade reader, don’t forget to check your local library’s print and digital catalogues for these books!
