Fear and loathing on Lokud 7.
Creative Staff:
Story: Dennis Hopeless Hallum
Art: Geraldo Borges
Colors: Marcio Menyz
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
What They Say:
NIGHTMARE ON THE OUTER RIM! A backwater jungle planet teeming with poisonous plants. The search for a device that can track the REBELS. A psychedelic nightmare triggered by the local flora — with a terror known as DARTH VADER!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The Dark Visions series draws to a close with this issue and it’s one that I’m mostly okay with ending. It’s the right kind of series but came at a time (and with complications) where we have months of an anthology series already out there with the Age Of material and doing that just for Vader after two ongoing series feels like a bit much. Hallum did a solid job with it and as expected some work better than others. This one works well enough even though it goes with less of Vader than one might like but it had some really strong visuals from Marcio Menyz that more than makes up for it. The main thing that comes from Vader at this point is that we know that of those that are aware of him, his reputation alone is enough to fear him with.
The premise for this story is straightforward as Vader and the Stormtroopers that he’s with are on Lokud-7 where they’re hunting after a group of Rebels. These Rebels have picked up intelligence that can help deal with the Armada in the sector, effectively crippling it, and that can’t stand. Vader comes across as more tense than usual as even just some casual minor information out of a trooper has him nearly slicing his head off. But the reality is that this world is only good for hunting and drinking, so it makes sense to go after the bars as that’s where the rebels may try and hide. The bar that it focuses on here has an owner that lets anyone come in, knowing it features both Rebels and Troopers alike, as long as they’re in civvies and weapons are stored upon entry. This also makes it easy for the Rebels that stole the data to lay low and blend in for a while.
The problem, of course, is Vader. When the weapons (and the intel data card) get stored by the owner, that’s when he comes in slicing up the place with Troopers at his side. And with nobody armed, it’s a bloodbath. You feel for those caught up in it all around since they’re unable to defend themselves but you also can’t blame the owner for grabbing the closest stuff and running like hell – which includes taking the data card. What’s interesting is that we get the owner on the run knowing Vader is behind him and the fear in his mind, possibly combined with some hallucinogenics in the air, has him seeing everything coming alive and after him in this terrible swamp. It gets weird and outlandish but in all the right ways, particularly because of Borges’ artwork.
In Summary:
There’s not a lot of story here, truth be told, but it is a fun kind of one-off book that delivers a brief self-contained work that does hit some good spots to it. Vader’s more than just the reality, he’s the sense of dread and fear of what the Empire can be for many that even the mention – never mind the presence – of him can shake a world. Hallum keeps things moving here but it’s the kind of light piece where other than Vader being the name character, it’s just a lot of bodies moving and dying before it all gets wrapped up. I enjoyed this series overall but kind of hope we get some downtime from Vader for a bit or a proper ongoing once again to deal with the character and his machinations.
Grade: B
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Marvel Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: June 12th, 2019
MSRP: $4.99
