Canon Comic Review: Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith #21

– Spoiler Review –

Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith issue #21 has a lot to unpack as it heralds us into the real meat of the series’ epic 7-part arc, “Fortress Vader.”

Creepy Beyond Imagination Darth Vader Dark Lord of the Sith Issue 21 — Sorry for the nightmares

Writer Charles Soule has stated that “Fortress Vader” is split into three acts, with issues 19-20 as ACT I, 21-22 as ACT II, and 23-34 as ACT III, with issue 25 serving as a coda for the entire arc. This issue certainly feels like part three of the arc but also the beginning of a new ACT, as it leans on what has come before but propels us into the next part of the story. Fresh off another successful Jedi hunt, and having killed two Inquisitors because they were formulating a coup, or so Vader says, the Sith Lord who is more machine than man has asked for a planet and his Master has given it to him, along with a few other gifts. One of them is Padmé’s ship from The Phantom Menace (the film’s 20th anniversary is next year!), something we’ve known Vader has due to its appearance in the first Vader series, set post-A New Hope. But in that series, it’s still shining and gleaming, so it came as quite the surprise that Vader strips and damages the ship, leaving it bare, twisted, and disgusting…an outward sign of his inner turmoil. The when/how he restores the ship isn’t as pertinent as why he strips it here, as the issue starts with him seeing a vision of his younger self, the one who boarded the ship all those years ago, but whose face is morphed into Vader’s mask; It’s a chilling, freaky image to begin with, but it also is teasing the metaphysical and creepy path this story is about to turn down. All Vader sees at this moment when he regards the ship is a stark, shining reminder of the potential that’s been wasted, and the demented vision of his younger self foretells his fall to becoming the monster he is today as unavoidable, so he desecrates it to show it who is the boss; however, the simple fact he lets it get to him like that shows he’s still a slave to the turmoil and emotions inside, only stripping away the surface but the leaving the true rot, the innards, intact.

While we already know Vader’s castle will be built on Mustafar, above the spot where he bled Kirak’s kyber crystal to create his Sith lightsaber, the story about why he chooses to build it there, as well as how it’s designed and how it gets built, remains to be seen. Dark Lord of the Sith issue #21 begins to take us down that path, first revealing he chose the planet because he wants to study the power of the dark side “locus” where he bled his crystal. Back in that amazing issue, with the bleeding becoming one of my top 5 moments of the 2017, as Vader attempts to bleed the kyber, it reveals to him an alternative reality where he gives up his Sith-ly ways, destroys the Emperor, and fulfills the prophecy of the Chosen One. When Vader tells Palpatine about his interest in the locus’ powers, his manipulative, insightful Master immediately understands Vader wishes to see if the locus can be used to return Padmé to him. Could Vader be attempting to see if the locus will reveal the power to undo death? Or is he hoping to unlock a way to revisit the vision he saw, as a way to get lost in the alternative reality, one where Padmé lives? How to destroy/stop such visions so he can’t be reminded of what he’s lost due to his actions, much like him killing the two Inquisitors might’ve had more to do with their romantic connection, as his experience with such emotions leaves him to believe it only ends in destruction, than them creating a coup? Or maybe to find a way to project his own visions, in an attempt to blind Palpatine and kill him? I could be way off with any and all guesses, though the possibilities for what Vader wants to scour the locus for is rife with options and I trust this creative team with whatever direction they’ll take it.

As for the ultimate design of Vader’s castle, Palpatine has recommended his Imperial Palace re-decorator, Colonel Alva Brenne. I really liked Brenne, which is why it was a bit disappointing she didn’t last the issue, though it’s not Vader’s fault (more on that in a bit). Brenne obviously doesn’t get much information from Vader, but she claims to have dealt with the strong, brooding, silent type before and believes she can use details like Vader’s insane atmospheric entry of Mustafar without shields and his desire to understand a deep mystery to help her craft his ideal Castle. The problem with Palpatine assigning Brenne to Vader’s aide is that only a Sith can delve into another Sith’s mind and get to crux of what will appease their dark purpose and innards. Palpatine only has had success with Brenne because he wasn’t looking to build a castle/hideaway where he could study the deeper, darker secrets of the Force, something he’s already done, but rather that he’s vain and wanted to rub his victory in the face of the Jedi/erase them from the public’s conscious, as she helped him build a showy reminder of his triumph and power, while removing the traces of the ones he trampled to get here. Brenne, not being a Sith, is perfect for helping ol’ Sheev with his designs, but she’s just not cut out to help Vader and his more personal quest, especially after her first design is a radical, gaudy, block-like thing. Taking his denial in stride, she returns to the ship, only to scream in terror and wind up dead. This is the fault of Sheev’s final gift to Vader: the helmet of an ancient Sith, Lord Momin!

Lord Momin’s helmet was originally introduced in Soule’s first Star Wars comic, the excellent, classic, Lando miniseries in 2015, where the helmet slowly took over members of Lando’s crew and turned them against one another. It was a cool, intriguing ancient Sith artifact, and it seemed like we were destined to never see it again, considering the ship it’s on explodes by that series’ finale. But by going back in time, the possibilities we could be dealing with Momin again began in issue #10 of this series, as the helmet was seen in Jocasta Nu’s secret vault, and then the solicitations for October showed issue #22 would reveal Momin’s tale. For now, issue #21 has Momin take possession of Brenne’s Lieutenant, then killing her and conjuring up a design for Vader’s castle moments before Vader kills the Lieutenant, thus robbing Momin of a body. The design Momin creates, intriguingly enough, is the one seen in Rogue One! When Palpatine offers the helmet as a gift, he reveals Momin could assist Vader with his needs, as the ancient Sith was more of a creator than a destroyer, which he only learned because the mask told him, so you know Sheev understands the pluses, and severe minuses, of dealing with Momin, of course making his latest gift his latest test for his Sith apprentice. I’m curious to see how detailed issue #22 gets with revealing Momin’s backstory, as well how pivotal a part he’ll play in the issues ahead.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, plenty of times, Soule’s ability to connect past, present, and future, makes for truly delectable reading, while he manages to keep a consistent tone and quality almost unmatched in SW comics to date (besides Doctor Aphra, of course). And the art team on this incredible journey with him, Giusppe Camuncoli (layouts), Daniele Orlandini (finishes), and David Curiel (colors), is what ultimately makes this issue (and series) shine. The blazing hot entry into Mustafar was a sizzling ride, the creepy Anakin/Vader thing is on its way to becoming regular nightmare fodder, while I’m intrigued as all hell about these lava rings encircling outcroppings where the natives live. Gorgeous, fiery art for a hell-ridden arc!

Here are a few other things:

Soule has a suggestion for the creepy Vader/Anakin hybrid: make it into an action figure for the kids! (jokingly, of course).
Speaking of that errie image, I have to wonder if this is something Vader is seeing or something Momin is making Vader see, considering the helmet is in the room when Vader sees it.
Considering he’s deep into his second novel, with his first, The Oracle Year, being a real, entertaining, must-read, Soule’s not updated his site with Weekly Release notes but if he has any soon I’ll be sure to update and link to it here!
While we only spend two pages with some local Mustafarians, one a religious (?) leader named Father Kkkt, who raises a strange rod out of the lava seemingly with the Force, the other named Zzzs, both of whom wonder if Vader’s fiery ship heralds lifefire or endfire. I’m more curious if everyone has such ridiculous names or not! But seriously, I wonder how the locals will play into whatever happens between Momin, Vader, and the building of his castle.
Something less frightening and dark with Vader’s Castle? In my 40th anniversary post, I discussed how it’s time for a Star Wars-themed miniature golf course and one of the holes is based around Vader’s Mustafar home.

Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith issue #21 will haunt Vader and readers alike, making for another excellent entry in the series.

+ Opening nightmare image (thanks a lot, art team!)
+ Momin’s contributions
+ Setting up plenty of intriguing, exciting new threads for the rest of the arc

– Bye Brienne…I mean Brenne of Architecture

Canon Comic Review: Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith #21

+ Opening nightmare image (thanks a lot, art team!)

+ Momin’s contributions

+ Setting up plenty of intriguing, exciting new threads for the rest of the arc

– Bye Brienne…I mean Brenne of Architecture

Check out the rest of our Canon Comic Reviews here!

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+ Opening nightmare image (thanks a lot, art team!)

+ Momin’s contributions

+ Setting up plenty of intriguing, exciting new threads for the rest of the arc

– Bye Brienne…I mean Brenne of Architecture

Check out the rest of our Canon Comic Reviews here!

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