– Spoiler Review –
Darth Vader #43 (Vol. 3) offers some much appreciate clarity and a great sense of forward momentum, though it still offers up something very intriguing but doesn’t linger on the repercussions.
While Vader either alone or amassing a crew to help him overthrow the Empire is old hand in Darth Vader (Vol. 3), issue #43 offers the sense of something greater, like we’re heading somewhere big and we can’t come back from it, and this is not just because other series in this era have ended/we’re running out of runway before Return of the Jedi. It all begins with the opening part of the issue set a month before, exploring the development of the Schism Imperial by Sly Moore, which leads into their first big action now that Vader himself is on board. Vader teaming up with a group of Imperials and going after something as deadly as the death machine Governor Tauntaza used a few arcs back, among other ways to go after the Emperor, makes this really feel like the biggest push yet out of all his attempts since Luke Skywalker turned down his offer. At some point, as it’s what we’ve been building up to, we’d have to get to a downtrodden Vader saying there’s no point to resist the Emperor to his son, and a Moff like Jerjerrod being terrified when the Emperor’s name is mentioned when we’ve seen previous Moffs be a little more independent, so since it feels like the Schism Imperial is trying to go big here, this being a very public failure and reminder of the Emperor’s strength just feels right. And once again, this is despite my feelings towards this series, as while this would mean we are close to the end, that’s not quite why I’m getting the sense of finality.
Going back a month and seeing Sly Moore recruit Governor Tauntaza, Admiral but now Captain Corelque, and Agent Fabarian (a new character who is giving Syril Karn-vibes from Andor), really clarified the group and how/why they’d think it was worth a shot. Reiterating what happened to each character, how Vader exposed the chaos within the Empire despite the Emperor claiming it was built for order and they were beaten down by the Sith Lord’s machinations, gives us motivation for their scheming, while Moore’s idea of laying in wait until the right time to strike offers a more credible possibility for their plans than the big and showy team-up with Crimson Dawn she was originally wrapped up in, somehow. The switching of art styles and some inconsistencies made the reveal Corelque was the Black Imperial officer with the metal lower jaw as seen in the finale of Darth Vader #41 a surprise, especially since last issue we saw him without it in a holo Sly was holding yet not now he has it for sure in this issue, while the coloring isn’t totally as clear he’s Black now, but I guess it’s him and he did survive his Star Destroyer’s destruction. Either way, we focused more on Tauntaza this issue and I quite enjoyed it, seeing her be defiant to Vader when he shows up with Sly to activate her within the Schism, as of all the people, being convinced to work with Vader would be the hardest since she sort of beat him and she knows how much more powerful the Emperor is. The horrified look on her face when she sees what Vader’s done to the M.A.R. Corps cyborgs says a lot about how differently she feels about his methods this time.
Their first order of business? Reclaim Tauntaza’s death machine, the one which was killing anything living within its radius, which is currently being brought back to life by…the Rebellion?! Beyond Kitster Banai and Wald returning, recruited to help the Rebellion rebuild it alongside one of the original scientists, no one goes named in the segment and Vader makes swift work of everyone to retake the project for themselves. There’s some huge implications for the Rebellion being willing to use such a devastating machine in the fight against the Empire, to the point I almost doubt leaders like Leia, Mon Mothma, or Ackbar were in on it. So who was this general? What made him so willing to use such a terrible weapon? And to order Kitster, Wald, and the scientist to death instead of letting them be captured? But if the leaders of the Rebellion were in on it, why would they be okay with it? Who ordered it? Is there a reason for this program behind an excuse to get it back in the Empire’s hands? Vader and his team make quick work of everyone but Kitster, Wald, and the scientist, whom Tauntaza oversees since she knows if he’ll make a bad modification, so all these questions and all the implications are left in the dust by issue’s end. Will we get flashback to explore the origins of the death machine’s rejuvenation or will this be all the time that’s spent on the Rebellion’s involvement with it? At this point, I’m not sure either way, so while having the death machine certainly aids the feeling of things being really big this time around, I’m disappointed we haven’t, and might not, get into some of the juicier details of its past.
On art we have Adam Gorham (who recently revealed his final issue for the series is #45), Federico Blee on colors, and Joe Caramagna lettering. As the Imperials begin the attack on the Rebellion’s facility reviving the death machine, the General is making a hasty exit, initially unable to look Kitster, Wald, and the scientist in the eye when he gives the order to have them killed so their knowledge can fall into enemy hands, with Gorham work on the general’s hung head helps make this almost feel like a tough call, yet in the next, skinny panel, he’s looking all heroic again, sure of his decision and purpose. But the next panel…oh my word what a wonderfully cool image! As the General hits the button to exit the room, the door swooshes up to open, the General looking back at the group, even more assured in his choice, but behind him Blee washes the next room in red, making the visual of Vader’s chest to lower helmet look like a shadow, like a monster from another world, with Caramagna letting us in on this visual all comes from the ignition of the Sith Lord’s deadly blade. It’s my favorite panel of the issue and of Gorham’s time on the series so far. Another highlight is the sequence when Tauntaza makes short work of the M.A.R. Corps, Caramagna not holding back to showcase how brutal her beat down is, giving her powersuit a lot of might behind it, but the next page, as Vader slices and dices through it, pulling her out of it, brings that assumption to an end, with the sound FX for his cuts and usage of the Force to take her out of the suit far larger and deadlier looking than hers the page before.
Here’s a few other things:
- Adi Gallia graces the cover for this issue’s Black History Month variant(seen above) and she should be featured in the upcoming The Living Force novel, out April! Chopper and Ezra Bridger grace the 10th Anniversary of Rebels cover, while Rey will be featured on March’s Women’s History Month variant! Lots of cool variants out there these days.
- With Doctor Aphra (Vol. 2) and Bounty Hunters at an end now, only Vader and Star Wars (Vol. 2) remain for this era, with SW writer Charles Soule seemingly hinting he has tons of tibanna gas in the tank when it comes left for stories…is the same true for the Vader series? Regardless, I hope Star Wars comics as a whole get a big hint at what they’ll be doing next after this era is over soon.
Greg Pak’s Darth Vader #43 (Vol. 3) takes a step in the right direction by feeling more focused and energized than it has in awhile, gearing up for something big.
+ Something feels different this time, hopefully
+ Forward momentum is a plus
– Will we ever know who/why the Rebellion was willing to revive such a weapon?
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 | #35 | #36 — Dark Droids: #37 | #38 | #39 | #40 | #41 — Schism Imperial: #42