The power of the Dark Side!
Creative Staff:
Story: Charles Soule
Art: Giuseppe Camuncoli, Daniele Orlandini
Colors: David Curiel
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
What They Say:
“FORTRESS VADER” – PART 6 The FORTRESS will stand, but at a terrible cost. The fire will come to MUSTAFAR, and all will burn. The final design is revealed, woven from war, treachery and pain.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The penultimate installment of this series brings us to a big place and really reinforces some ideas of what went into the formation of the fortress on Mustafar. Charles Soule has done a lot of good stuff with his Star Wars works so far and this one cements it all the more in terms of power and, in a weird way, majesty. It doesn’t hurt that we also get some great artwork and fantastic layouts from Camuncoli and Orlandini while Davie Curiel really goes all out with the color work here as the reds and so vibrant and the use of yellows throughout hits such a sweet spot for all that Mustafar is. It’s a gorgeous looking book.
The way everything has shifted here to this moment where Vader, forced outside of the fortress, must face off against the local horde that sees nothing but danger in what the Empire is doing here. The Imperials are actually getting overwhelmed as there’s no clear leadership at the moment and are orchestrating a retreat until Vader shows up. The power he has to rally them is well-executed here and the turning of the tide is fantastic – at least until the locals create a fiery tide that wipes everything except for the fortress away. This is a lot of fun to watch unfold with the layouts here, though I’m still somewhat unenamored by how Vader is able to protect himself through all of this as it just doesn’t click for me. But watching him resurface and orchestrate a total victory over the locals in a brutal way truly establishes this world as his own.
The real fight is within, however, as Momin has cemented his position more. The fight itself is one that’s fairly standard when you get down to it but I just love the way the narrative flows here. Momin is naturally overconfident and we know Vader lives but I really like how he does what he can to get under Vader’s suit by talking about how Palpatine has hoarded information or knows nothing and that he’s but a child in his understanding of the Dark Side. It’s all sharp and in a lot of ways pretty accurate but Momin misses out on the single-mindedness of Vader ne Anakin in going after what he wants. The fight unfolds in a really great way with the artwork and power of it all but it’s Momin’s words and Vader’s intensity that really drives it as he’s ever closer to his goal.
In Summary:
Darth Vader works through this penultimate installment in a great way. I love the layouts and the double-page aspects of them as it gives it a really rich and powerful feeling, particularly with how the locals are dealt with. The color design for the book is fantastic and I find myself really wanting to have a book focusing on Momin’s story to see what the galaxy was like back in the day and his position within it. The focus on Vader is strong here, of course, and seeing the way he’s pursuing his goal at all costs and cementing more of his own power is thoroughly engaging. Good stuff all around and a reminder of just how much I’m going to miss this run.
Grade: A-
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Marvel Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: November 28th, 2018
MSRP: $3.99
