As “Star Wars: Vader Down” wraps up, we leave with some unanswered questions that could well propel the back half of this series.
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 last three of those titles.
Crossovers are a tricky event to pull off. You have to find an effective way to invest readers from two different titles into each of the series, and ensure that the story you are telling does not disrupt the existing continuity of either one. While I can’t speak for the volume of “Star Wars” that this crossover event uses, on paper this event does fit well into the continuity of the “Star Wars: Darth Vader” series. In fact, it fits in so well I am left wondering why borrow the “Star Wars” series at all? Was it just to have enough room for proper storytelling? Borrowing characters from the main series? I’m left wondering if there were more effective editorial means to tell this story than what we got, an event that’s spread out over two series plus a one-shot in an order that can leave the less than diligent comics fan confused. (Hence my editorial note above.)
But as we see from other Marvel titles, that’s the Marvel way, and you can draw your own conclusions about just why such decisions were made. (Suffice it to say that my theory is: money talks.)
So where did we leave things off? Good and evil come face to face as we kick off the back half of this crossover event, as Han and Doctor Aphra faced off on Vrogas Vas, and Leia and Vader came face to face just as C-3P0 informs Leia that her brother is safe. Leia knows that she and Luke both cannot fly off the planet alone, so she positions herself as sacrificial lamb to ensure Luke’s safety. Luke, meanwhile, is exploring a Jedi temple on Vrogas Vas and getting more questions than answers about his abilities and heritage. A rescue operation for both Skywalker siblings is underway, but this isn’t going to be an easy one to pull off. And when Vader’s secret plans for Luke end up known to someone dangerous allied with the Empire, what will they make of this news?
The back half of this crossover is several simultaneous fights on Vrogas Vas. Luke and stormtroopers. Leia and Vader. Vader and Commander Karbin, revealing that the Empire’s caught up with their rogue Sith and they may not be too thrilled about Vader’s personal plans above the Empire’s goals. Han and Aphra (again). Chewie and Black Krrsantan, the latter of which shows up to thwart the Millennium’s rescue attempt. It’s a lot to manage all at once, and the team of writers we have do well to blend all this chaos into an effective story. Readers will no doubt enjoy seeing Wookie versus Wookie, along with two very similar but very different protocol droids face to face. Thankfully, there isn’t too much time on these fanservice moments, but just enough to provide the wink and the smile to the reader.
Continued belowThe matchups that matter are the ones that get the most page time, such as Chewie versus Black Krrsantan, a fight intended as a distraction for the Empire but gives the reader a chance to see just how vicious Black Krrsantan really can be. I do question why there is such space given to this particular battle when its intention is to be a distraction so Aphra can find Luke, but I won’t turn my nose up to some character development, particularly for someone that we haven’t seen too much of to this point. Like with Aphra, I wonder if it is in this moment that Marvel realized that they had more to Black Krrsantan’s story than they had room to tell, leading to a more starring role in the “Star Wars: Doctor Aphra” spinoff, including an entire annual devoted to his backstory.
It’s in the heart of the Chewie-Black Krrsantan battle (in “Star Wars” #14) that we see yet again the skill Mike Deodato Jr. has in action shots. As discussed last week, the mix of perspective, creative panel work, and fluid, broad pencils and inks give a life to these moments that Salvador Larocca has yet to demonstrate. But Larocca has his chance to show off in the previous issue of the event (“Star Wars: Darth Vader” #14), which is a mainly conversational and character-driven issue, a break before the action kicks back into high gear. And in our finale, he and colorist Edgar Delgado provide a showdown between an armless C-3PO and Black Krrsantan that once again hits home that this Wookie is someone that you never want to anger.
Does Luke escape the clutches of the Empire? Yes, and the Millennium Falcon crew also get the added bonus of capturing Aphra after her last gasp at capturing Luke blows up in her face. (Or rather, gets punched to oblivion.) Could some time with the Rebellion be the impetus to have Aphra leave Vader’s employ? And what to make of what Luke found in the Jedi temple, the voices telling him he’s unprepared for what comes next? The final shot of this arc, with Vader watching the Falcon fly through space while Luke ponders these thoughts, suggest that no one aboard there knows what will be coming for them next, except maybe the titular character. Darth Vader is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans, to borrow from a classic song.
We’re now on the other side of this series, and it’s not 100 percent clear where things will go. And that uncertainty is what will keep me coming back week after week.
Next week it’s time for this volume’s only Annual, “Star Wars: Darth Vader Annual” #1.
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!
