– Spoiler Review –
The sense there’s no returning to the series normal of Vader trying to usurp his Master again continues in Darth Vader #44 (Vol. 3).
While my feelings on this series are well-known at this point, I left the end of last issue sort of hopeful, as there was a sense this Schism Imperial storyline was heading towards something big, something that would change things for good for the series. While issue #44 takes a small step backwards, focusing on Fabarian’s role in the Imperial Schism (in case you forgot he was part of it, like I did when the issue started) to better explore what he’s bringing to the situation: a way in to steal more droids for Vader and the Imperial Schism’s efforts, reminding me of him gaining a droid army from Doctor Aphra in the first Vader series. Though issue #44 focuses on Fabarian quite a bit, and uses the M.A.R. Corps’ situation for a creepy effect (despite still avoiding giving us anything worthwhile about them), at one point it reveals something which helps continue my sense whatever comes next, there’s no going back, there’s no more Vader scheming against the Emperor after the Schism enacts their plan: Vader knows the Emperor knows about his schemes and the Emperor knows Vader knows, meaning these two certainly feel set for a big showdown. Given we know from the comic solicitations the Schism will be taking the fight to the Emperor on Exegol like Vader tried earlier in this series, and this sense of no return permeating events, I feel like we’ll finally get to see the submissive Vader who talks to Luke on the forest moon of Endor before taking his son before his Master. If there’s any end goal for this third Vader series, this would be it, and hopefully that’s exactly where this storyline ends up.
I did enjoy seeing Fabarian’s journey to some extent, as of all the Schism Imperial members he was the lowest rank so it was neat to see someone at the smaller end of things come to terms with making a little more chaos to have order, while his story actually acknowledges the whole Dark Droids storyline even happened, but it didn’t feel like it brought anything new to the table and overall it felt a little too convoluted for its own good. As for the M.A.R. Corps, which the acronym was revealed to simply stand for machine-augmented rebels (always assume the path of least resistance), we still don’t know any of their capabilities, what successes they’ve had, or anything else about them, but their creepy situation is taken up a few notches as those with the Force start to hear them screaming in agony and pain over their situation, trapped in their own minds as a droid controls their bodies. For Sly Moore, this is unpleasant, but for Vader, while ZED-6-7 knows he’s sensing it at a greater strength than Moore is, he questions whether the Sith Lord cares, though the final image of the issue, of the M.A.R. Corps screaming against the backdrop of the galaxy as Vader’s helmet stares out into the abyss, leaves readers to wonder if he’s basking in the pain or is just sharing in it as he feels it too given his situation.
Adam Gorham is joined by Paul Fry on art, and thankfully their styles gel well together, while Federico Blee and Joe Caramagna remain on colors and lettering, respectively. The opening few pages, when we flashback to the craziness of the droid scourge and how it was affecting the citizens of the galaxy, one aspect I felt the entire crossover missed sorely, the team really makes it feel utterly devastating and chaotic. Caramagna has his way with the panels, tons of sound FX for blaster fire, with big word bubble breaking screams add an unavoidably deadly edge to the droid onslaught. Blee’s colors, sort of sepia toned to denote the flashback, are heavier with the reds and oranges, apocalyptic describing the events the best because of his work. The second page, after an explosion rocks the area once the protocol to scorch earth is activated, Gorham gives it a great sense of emptiness to it, the bright colors gone and the cooling aftermath of the explosion remaining, like the aftermath of a world-ending bomb. This is a great juxtaposition and symmetrical planning to Fry’s work in the final two pages, as the first of the last two is like the second of the first two, the quiet casualness of the team talking about the plight of the M.A.R. Corps locked in their own brains mimicking the quiet after the explosion. Fry is building into the final page, which mimics Gorham’s first page, which isn’t as chaotic but is in its own way, to the point the lack of SFX from Caramagna is the same as him littering the panels with them, as the silent screaming of the M.A.R. Corps, the agony plain on their faces, and the lack of seeing Vader’s helmet’s eyes, is chilling enough on their own.
Here are a few other things:
- Rey Skywalker, by Marguerite Sauvage, graces the Women’s History Month variant cover, as seen above! Also on variants is Star Wars Rebels 10th anniversary artwork from Caspar Wijngaard
- As I mentioned earlier, the comic solicitations have shown these plans are going big, taking the Schism to Exegol, and we’ll know more about that when the solicits for June’s comics drop later on in the week of this publishing.
While Darth Vader #44 (Vol. 3) keeps the sense there’ll be no going back after the Schism’s plans come to roost, it still exposes the lingering issues with underdeveloped aspects of how we’re getting there.
+ Something still feels different this time, hopefully
+ Liked a little Dark Droids consequences
– M.A.R. Corps still getting the very short end of the stick
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 | #43