This is the first part of a review of Star Wars: Darth Vader by Kieron Gillen (writer) and Salvador Larroca (art). The events of this graphic novel take place after the Death Star’s destruction by a young Rebel pilot named Luke Skywalker, i.e. between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back.
Darth Vader uncovers a plot to usurp him orchestrated by…the Emperor? Turns out Palpatine isn’t happy with his disciple, and is searching for his replacement(s). Is Vader’s time with the Empire coming to an end? Anyone familiar with the first trilogy knows the answer, but it’s still fun to watch him spar with his doppelgangers in a series of fast-paced issues.
Darth Vader himself is cold, calculating, and methodical. It’s interesting, but in many ways he reminds me of Judge Dredd. In this volume, it’s revealed that he can also be subtle. He has no choice. When the one person more powerful than you is your boss, you need to be sneaky. Many of Vader’s victims get what’s coming to them, but an equal number have done nothing but be unlucky enough to get in his way. If there’s one thing this series drove home for me, it is that Darth Vader is not redeemable.
The first half of the graphic novel climaxes in a close encounter with our favorite band of rebels, Skywalker, Solo, and Leia. The creative team gifts us with grotesque parodies of our lovable heroes and heroines. Triple Zero and BeeTee-One are murder-Droids, Black Krrsantan is a homicidal Wookie, and Dr. Aphra is Han Solo. I read these issues knowing that nobody important would die, but still had a lot of fun.
If Vader is the bad-ass, his counterpart is Dr. Aphra, who throws in her lot with him early and becomes his cat’s paw, despite knowing that her lifespan is limited to her usefulness. Aphra is the most interesting character in this graphic novel. She reminds me of a Han Solo who shoots first and always makes the wrong choice. Despite having the glimmerings of a conscience, she is as bad as Darth Vader.
Interestingly, of the two I find Vader to be the more sympathetic character. If someone is going to kill me, I’d prefer they just get it over with and not mope about it. Accept what you are; maybe even lean into it a little! Final verdict: this is the best Star Wars comic I’ve ever read and as such is highly recommended.
Abandoned Places 