– Spoiler Review –
In Darth Vader #35 (Vol. 3), artist Raffaele Ienco rejoins the series, but we also see the return of…Doctor Aphra?!? The rogue archaeologist and the Sith Lord didn’t part on the good terms, again, so will he take his revenge or find a use for her once again? Find out in my review!
With all the series in this era taking place at the same time, roughly, it’s gotten a little confusing lately as characters find themselves crossing over while they have new or unfolding stories in their own series. If readers have only been checking out this series, it won’t seem odd to see Chelli Lona Aphra here, but those tuning into more might be, so thankfully this issue helps clarify things a bit. In Doctor Aphra #32 (Vol. 2), she has a memory of her and Ochi of Bestoon dealing with Vader and his exploding connection to the Force, but she’s with Luke Skywalker at the moment and we didn’t see anything like this in-between, but that memory happens this issue so it’s clear this mini two-issue crossover for her in the Vader series takes place prior to her ‘teaming’ up with Luke. It was clear they already had this mapped out, but it’s nice to finally see the pieces putting it together for readers.
If you don’t already know, Aphra and Vader have a unique history, as she once worked for him to grow a secret army and track down the Rebel pilot who destroyed the Death Star as Emperor Palpatine was breathing down his throat for its destruction, and he killed her afterwards…or at least he thought he did (during his 2015 comic series). Vader resurfaced in her life some time later, relying once again on her skills to this time help track down the Rebellion’s hidden base, but she snuck out of his employ by laying him low on Tython (in her 2016 comic series). They haven’t dealt with each other much since then, though he caused her a panic attack when she saw him again at a distance (in the War of the Bounty Hunters crossover event), and later they fought while she was possessed by an ancient AI, which he inadvertently helped dispel when trying to kill her, but she managed to get away again (as seen in the Hidden Empire event/her 2020 comic series). It’s always been a will-he-won’t-he-kill-me type of working relationship, and this latest interaction is no different. To have her back in the Darth Vader series, seven years later and two of her own series since, is fun reminder of where this all started, while Greg Pak captures both Aphra’s energy and their tenuous working relationship.
Why has Vader come calling for Aphra again, despite everything? Well, with his control over the Force on the fritz, violently exploding from him due to events in Hidden Empire, which this issue fills readers in on, he’s looking to see if she can figure out something which can help him with the outbursts, referencing her efforts in Doctor Aphra #40 (Vol. 1) with the kyberite confessional. At first, Aphra’s understandably stammering, especially after the panic attack she had previously, though with a little encouragement from Ochi of Bestoon, she reminds him how useful she’s been in the past, though when he mentions the confessional trapping, she’s hoping to wash that whole moment under the bridge. Realizing he needs her, she’s more comfortable in their interactions, taking him to Ringo Vinda with what might just be the right item to help. After Vader hilariously throws Ochi into a trap-infested entrance to an old doctor’s Separatist laboratory, they find the Zaly Shield. Named by the aforementioned Doctor Istan Zaly, the shield is made of kyberite, the same material in the confessional she trapped him in, and kyberite is like the opposite end of the magnet to the kyber that grows in it, channeling and guiding the Force whereas kyber concentrates it. Thus, the shield can help amplify Force abilities, though Aphra suggests it’ll help him direct his outbursts, which he immediately attempts to use on her but she smartly put safeguard on it so he can’t use it against her, while reminding him she’s more useful to him and Ochi anyways.
However, he once again has a bit of a reason to want to kill her, beyond the usual reasons, as she stumbled into his private meditations aboard the shuttle to Ringo Vinda. Last issue of Darth Vader (Vol. 3) saw the long-running story of Sabé’s return to Vader’s life reaching its seeming conclusion, with her death at his hands, but while she might (I’m totally convinced she’s dead) be gone, she’s not forgotten. In the previous issues, he claims she’s having a vision in an attempt to make her choose him for good, but it’s his vision and she’s just able to see it, which shows Vader’s thoughts on Padmé, Luke, and the potential good still inside Vader, somewhere. As Ochi, Aphra, and Vader make their way to Vinda, the Sith Lord meditates and Aphra makes a comment on it, with Ochi warning her away, but she’s too curious for her own good and finds herself sucked into the same vision, hearing the line about how Sabé believes there really is still good in him, like Padmé said all those years ago before she died. She stumbles back out, Vader none-the-wiser, but in the final pages of the issue, we see he sensed her in his thoughts, pulling her in to them again to show her he knows, so she tries to claim she didn’t see much anyways. She’s saved by the sudden appearance of some deadly droids, including another iteration of Gee-Ninety, the big ball droid, though I’m curious if this is related to the Droid Crush or something else…Sabé’s return?
After a little break from the series, stalwart Raffaele Ienco returns, this time alongside Federico Blee as colorist, and Joe Caramagna on lettering still. Ienco has never drawn Aphra before but I like what he brings to the table, as he gives her some expressive reactions to moments, be it exaggerated eye-rolls or hand gestures, which feel fitting for her more animated, up-beat vibe compared to grumpy and brooding Vader and Ochi’s more slapstick-like countenance. It’s been a while since Vader and Aphra have been so close to one another and he wasn’t trying to immediately kill her, so we see both the juxtaposition of the two and how they can be similar in ways. Juxtaposing is how dark and stormy Blee makes Vader’s black suit look, making Ienco’s Vader feel extra broody, while Aphra’s white shirt, aviator cap, light pants, and red/black vest are bright, making her feel bubbly in comparison. As for how they can be similar, Ienco draws both with some dramatic poses and actions, be it Vader holding the shield, looking down at it, his staff in the other hand while Aphra stands in the background, one hand on her hip and the other pointing at him because she doesn’t think its weight is going to be a problem for him, or him looming over her, his ridiculously big staff held by his side, asking her what could hold back his outbursts and the next panel Aphra’s looking dream-y eyed, being asked to use her knowledge to help the Dark Lord again. I liked the page of Vader’s outburst of the Force in the beginning, with the red lines emanating from his raised fist and passing through the two panels above it, causing the reader to start with his fist and work their way around, Caramagna’s SFX rolling across the top of the page to show the power of Sith Lord’s blast. The snaking, wispy red mist of Vader’s vision Aphra stumbles into and takes up most of each panel, was a cool continuing of the work from last issue with the visions. My favorite sequence of the issue had to be Ochi being thrown into the lab’s pit, Caramagna helping chart the journey of his long tumble as he bounces off the steps around the edge of the pit, how intense the electricity trap is jolting his body, the amount of bullets coming his way from guns, and the size and ferocity of the poisonous darts being shot at him brings a lot of comedy to an already funny issue thanks to Aphra. That Ochi is sort of stumbling in the back as Aphra and Vader casually stroll down the stairs, her not even regarding him as he mentions he’s not feeling good after being jabbed with a dart, and him struggling behind them to get out an antidote vial and save himself, was the icing on the comedic cake with the scene, especially as Vader pays Ochi even less mind.
Here are a few other things:
- Pride Month is here and the variant covers have made a glorious return! Magna Tolvan, a current ex of Aphra’s, graces this issue’s cover, as seen above.
- Ochi and Aphra’s interactions are about as funny as you’d imagine, and while I know it’ll be short lived, I’m almost looking forward to these two bickering with one another than anything else.
Darth Vader #35 (Vol. 3) hasn’t quite left Sabé behind, and maybe for good reasons, but the injection of chaos that is Dr. Aphra is a refreshing jolt the series needed as it clears up some story ahead of the upcoming crossover.
+ Chaos injection with Aphra’s Vader series return
+ Comedic timing helped by art, especially Ochi’s big sequence!
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.
DARTH VADER (VOL. 3)
Dark Heart of the Sith: #1-5 — Into the Fire: #6-11 — War of the Bounty Hunters: #12-17 — Crimson Reign: #18-22 — The Shadow’s Shadow: #23-27 — Return of the Handmaidens: #28-32 — Unbound Force: #33 | #34