– Spoiler Review –
In Return to Vader’s Castle #3, “Bop Sh-bop, Little Sarlacc of Horror,” Asajj Ventress finds the creepy source of a spat of disappearances in Level 1313, while the framing story in the Castle raises its stakes and scares accordingly.
Asajj Ventress’ time as a bounty hunter in the underworld of Coruscant is ripe with stories, as the ex-Sith combines her old, wicked history with her newfound honor as she treks across the shady depths of Level 1313 making her own way for once. She’s also a character totally fitting for frightening stories, considering her Force-witch filled history, while her outfit during this timeframe is both functional and intimidating. Recruited by a crime lord to solve disappearances all across the level, Ventress quickly uncovers the source: a hungry, growing baby sarlacc! Baby sarlaccs, introduced in the Galaxy’s Edge miniseries’ first issue, are even creepier here than when Han and Chewie dealt with them, as this issue shows them as creepy, mobile tentacles reaching from the dark for their latest prey. How Asajj deals with them, and uncovers their source, and makes sure she’s paid really highlights writer Cavan Scott’s understanding of the character, something he proved rather handily in audiobook (and now hardcover) Dooku: Jedi Lost. This story, as short as it is, makes me miss the character even more, and it was a great way to have the character as part of this Halloween fun.
The framing story definitely picks up now that Hudd is loose and trying to find his way out, accidentally activating Vader’s training droids, making his escape from the creepy Vaneé, and his scythe (!) all the more difficult, which makes me very curious how this could ever end happily. In fact, I was a little surprised, but ultimately delighted at some of the darker, more violent happenings this week, as some gruesome moments are depicted directly in several panels, like Hudd recounted some of his torture and when Ventress allows a sarlacc to eat someone(s). They’re all the more spooky thanks to the two art teams this week. Of course Francesco Francavilla works on the framing story, and he continues to be hauntingly good, elevating some of the younger skewing humor from Hudd attempting to escape; while Nick Brokenshire’s style put Level 1313 in a new light, literally, as his colors are brighter than we’ve ever seen the underworld, but I enjoyed the color palette overall, while a lot of his poses and postures for Ventress were scream Ventress’ apathy and confidence.
Here are a few other things:
- The next issue deals with Jabba the Hutt and, from its title and one of the variant covers, the super weird and scary (at least to me as a kid, a kind of still to this day) B’omarr Monks aka the brains attached to spider-droids as seen in the background in Jabba’s Palace in Return of the Jedi! My skin’s crawling already thinking about where this one could go!
Return to Vader’s Castle #3 finds Asajj doing what she does best, fitting effortlessly into the Halloween fun.
+ Asajj Ventress being Asajj Ventress about everything
+ Baby sarlaccs are true terror, indeed
+ A little darker vibe
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
RETURN TO VADER’S CASTLE
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IDW’S STAR WARS ADVENTURES:
Tales from Vader’s Castle (miniseries) | Annual 2019