Canon Comic Review: Dark Droids – D-Squad #2

– Spoiler Review –

R2-D2 desperately needs to save his friend C-3PO, to the point he’s left making deals with notorious murderbot Triple-Zero in Dark Droids: D-Squad #2!

Left to its own devices and no longer needing to support a backup story, Dark Droids: D-Squad really shines in its second issue, as Artoo’s plight to save his friend, and the lengths he’ll have to go, take center stage. Writer Marc Guggenheim front loads the issue a bit with dialogue (which only half we can truly understand), expository in nature that Triple-Zero calls out in a fun meta joke, but it’s more than worth it as he’s captured the murderous droid’s voice and the tone of this miniseries emerges alongside it and what all entails during the issue. Triple-Zero’s reluctance to help Artoo, especially since his companion, BT-1, has unlocked new levels of death and destruction thanks to the Scourge taking over some time after the events of Darth Vader #36 (Vol. 3), is very fitting, though even he can see the benefit of autonomy compared to being one of the Scourged hive and comes around to helping Artoo. Their plan is audacious and hilarious, as it sees Artoo as bait to draw out Bee Tee, resulting in a wild chase through city streets brough to life by an art team seemingly made for this series, and the ending uses a podracer to finally stop Bee Tee! There’s an Ocean’s Eleven energy to the issue even before this, from Artoo and Triple-Zero chatting to when they first spot Bee Tee rampaging after a cyborg human, but it really kicks into high-gear when IG-88 shows up shortly after they stop Bee Tee, followed by all of them running into 4-LOM! It’s a verifiable who’s who of droids in Dark Droids: D-Squad #2 and Guggenheim and the art team of Salva Espín, Israel Silva, and Joe Sabino make it a blast to watch them all begin to collide.

IG-88 ‘s here to claim a bounty on the two murderbots, still outstanding from their actions on Milvayne (as seen in the first Doctor Aphra series), and Triple-Zero talks Artoo into trying to help him avoid capture, as how can he assist with saving Threepio if he’s in IG-88’s capable hands, and the two attempt to take out the formidable assassin droid with their limited resources. It’s another funny scene, especially with how it ends, leading to a failed attempt to escape the bounty hunting droid and Artoo forced to work with IG-88 as he takes Triple-Zero and the still powered down Bee Tee. Almost out of the city, they get stopped by 4-LOM, who recently escaped the Scourge thanks to his friend Zuckuss as seen in the events of the Bounty Hunters #38 (which is ending in January), and he’s actually after Artoo!? Just when you think that’s enough for the issue, the cyborg Bee Tee was after earlier? He reappears, but he’s Scourged as well! If you’ve been reading the main miniseries, or any of the other series at this moment, then you likely already knew the Scourge affecting all these droids has managed to make the jump from droids to organic minds thanks to cyborg interfaces, but if you’re just here for the droid-tastic fun, for all fans this is still a great reveal as it might just be what Artoo needs to get this group together and focused on helping Threepio or at least stopping the Scourge! This moment is also a great continuation of a thread from Dark Droids #2, where Scourged Threepio says he wouldn’t be able to take over Artoo’s mind initially but would revisit the opportunity, and I suspect the methods to take over cyborgs would help him with Artoo’s strong independence streak. Regardless, I’m just looking forward to these droids all interacting with one another more in the upcoming two remaining issues!

As mentioned earlier, it’s Salva Espín on art, Israel Silva for colors, and letterer Joe Sabino once again bringing this series to life and the whole team really makes the madcap energy work. Silva’s colors continue to be very bright, shining lots of light on the antics of these droids, literally making them shine in the process, and it immediately sets this feeling of ease for readers so, despite Triple-Zero’s many feelings on the joys of murder, there’s a sense of lightness to everything, accentuating the humor in Guggenheim’s writing and some of the silly and exciting aspects of the various action scenes. The whole sequence of Artoo getting Scourged Bee Tee’s attention and their resulting chase, right up until the podracer finale, is just so well-done by the entire team, with Sabino, who carries most of the issue thanks to his lettering for the astromechs, giving everything that final bit of personality. In fact, most of the chase scene is so chaotic thanks to Sabino’s sound FX popping up all over the place, be it as Bee Tee unleashes his deadly arsenal at Artoo, who scuttles around trying to avoid being hit, or as the two droids yell and likely swear at one another as the pursuit continues. My favorite part of the sequence is when Artoo grabs Bee Tee, who’s flying around behind him, with his suction cup string and begins to drag him along with him, smashing the deadly astromech against a road sign and dragging him on his dome. Scourged Bee Tee’s questioning dialogue when it first grabs hold of him, followed by Artoo’s excitement and the other’s bleeting surprise, and lastly the “dink” and “donk” SFX as he collides with the sign and the ground, even more angry bleeting to follow. The sky is full of yellows, oranges, and even fuchsia, keeping the tone funny and light, and Espín makes some great poses for many of these moments, from the image of Scourge Bee Tee on his dome, scratching the ground behind Artoo, who wheels ahead as if this is totally normal, while the image of Scourged Bee Tee initially hitting the sign and then the ground on his dome has a lot of solid impact feeling to it. When Artoo wheels into the factory where they staged this plan, he’s swivelling his head, expecting Triple-Zero to be where they discussed for the final part of the plan, followed by a shaky, concerned “wooo…” as he realizes he’s alone for now, brings out some great laughs. Besides the laughs, I really like Espín’s way of showing something is Scourged, beyond the purple color, as he gives it like a lightning-like effect, really highlighting what’s happening to the droid or cyborg.

Dark Droids: D-Squad #2 locks its s-foils and flies with plenty of humor and fun.

+ Funny and exciting action sequences

+ Capturing Triple-Zero’s dark humor

+ Lots of laughs and energy thanks to art team

Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Bluesky, Twitter @MynockManor, and Instagram @mynockmanor.

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