A most devastating gift.
Creative Staff:
Story: Kieron Gillen
Art: Leineil Francis Yu, Gerry Alanguilan
Colors: Jason Keith
What They Say:
The planet Shu-Torin has gone against the will of the Empire. It’s time for Vader to bring them in line. A great, evil jumping-on point for fans of the Dark Lord!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
While I’ve been thoroughly loving (nearly) every Star Wars comic that Marvel has put out this year, I had a real wariness when I saw the arrival of annuals. The main series annual was a fun little adventure but one that also just felt weak in terms of scope and execution. Since the Darth Vader series has been the stronger of the three ongoing books I had higher hopes for it and thankfully the team here did not disappoint. With an extended page count, top shelf artwork that’s stylish but familiar, and a solid placement within the timeframe to show what was going on, it’s the kind of standalone story that I enjoy a whole lot. This could easy have been expanded just a bit and worked in the main series itself, which is what reinforces that enjoyment.
The premise works well as it takes place within the time period not long after the destruction of the first Death Star and deals with the idea of how some planets and ruling elite would see it as a chance to escape from the yoke of the Empire. Vader is sent to deal with the king of Shu-Torun, a world whose primary value to the Empire is the ores it generates, presumably for the construction of the second and far more massive Death Star. With heightened quotas now after the destruction of the first, there’s obviously a struggle and Vader’s arrival is all about motivating the elite to do what needs being done. What works surprisingly well here is that while Vader is front and center with this, he also comes with the two droids (no Aphra) and they have some delicious sequences throughout that really does reinforce that Gillen must absolutely love writing them.
Working between the droids plans to poison the rulers and Vader’s more forward approach to meet the King only to be waylaid by an attack by insurgents, the book has a great dynamic and just keeps moving. Though I loved the banter with the droids and some of Triple-Zero’s lines, it’s watching Vader’s no-nonsense approach to dealing with the locals that makes it engaging. He gets tied to the third child of the king, Princess Trios, who essentially guides him into the traps that are laid out as is her duty. This proves interesting because you can see how Vader understands her position, if he really thinks to some of what Amidala had to go through years before, but also won’t take any crap from her in the end as he ensures that she is fully compliant. It’s a fascinating piece to watch unfold, from him dealing with the forced dancing sequence to an escape from a massive trap, but the most brutal thing of all is the gift he imparts to her at the end to remind her of her true position; a piece of Alderaan. While the Death Star is destroyed, we know the second has been under construction alongside it and this is a chilling reminder of what resistance could result in.
In Summary:
I now find myself wanting a monthly or quarterly anthology book with all sorts of tales done in a similar kind of style. Gillen’s story is solid throughout here, brisk but without feeling like a fast read, and it has some great little bits of humor and nuance. What truly takes it to the next level is Yu’s artwork. It is so beautifully illustrated with great style and little bits of detail that just captures my attention that it warrants a second reading right away just to soak it up. From the opening page alone you know you’re in for a visual treat. Yu’s layouts are solid and while there isn’t much that goes truly creative or surprising, the end result is something that has a wonderfully polished and effortless flow that makes it a thrill to take in panel after panel.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Marvel Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: December 16th, 2015
MSRP: $4.99
