Comics Darth Vader #15: Vader Down, part 6 (of 6)

One of the reasons why I think Aphra getting caputured may have been something she was planning on her own was because I think Vader's plan might have strictly involved her crashing the ship.

 

I loved that Vader was not mad at Aphra at all because the mission was not a complete... success. Ok, he was threatening her, but he always does that with everyone great characterization as mentined above! The man must have a soft spot for young females who speak too much but try their best to help him. Sure he shows more patience towards them than towards some half-witted admirals .
LOL, the whole situation was a bit "too much coincidence" for even to Han ("You must have a guardian angel" - while Vader is standing on that cliff, his cape is billowing in the wind

I loved that Leia stays with Vader waiting for the opportunity to blast him (and maybe a bit fascinated by the duel), yes her characterization was also perfect (better than Luke's, but I admit I prefer her style to her brother's anyway).


Fan service or not, I loved the whole series! Seriously, I'm less interested in to where Vader is going, or in the big story arc, because we all know what will happen, there can be no real surprises there. But this little encounters, situations, interactions or just missed interactions, all of them with perfect characterization ( ) can make my day anytime!

 

I enjoyed Vader Down but I thought this issue was anti-climatic. It had its moments though, like with Leia. Looking forward to seeing what happens to Aphra now.

 

Shouldn't this be stickied? That hasn't been updated in a while.

And I, for one, was very disappointed that Karbin didn't outlast the arc. And what was with his pseudo-Imperial guards? Very lame that they went unelaborated on. Reminded me of the DE sentinels, in a cool way.

 

Pretty sure no one even really cares anymore.

 

Grievous with Ackbar's head? Stang, I sure do miss Dark Horse.

 

I liked this crossover just cuz we got to see the DV cast interact with the SW book main cast so it was basically a way to see how the characters would play off of each other. Also Vader crushed an engine in a shuttle taking off which was fun. Karbin almost put the pieces together that there was something more that why Vader was interested in the Rebel pilot but Vader kills him at that moment. Seeing Aphra spend time under interrogation with our SW heroes should be fun, I'm sure she's going to escape. Or, hell, maybe Vader breaks her out.

Big character moment for Leia, actually. Ever since Star Wars #1, she's been pretty hardcore about military engagements so, at this moment when Threepio is asking for help, she relives the destruction of Alderaan and sees (Force vision?) her friends killed by her obsession so she decides to escape from it all instead of focusing on a target and losing more resources and friends. The mission changes from "kill Vader" to "save Luke Skywalker" So she's the one who knocks out Aphra and saves her friends, who she is probably just starting to come around to view as friends.

 

The whole crossover was underwhelming and boring. All these characters constantly bumping into each other, fighting, passing out, conveniently sneaking off despite the wide expanse of land and sand, Darth Vader being around another of the big 3 like it's no thing and happens every week. At least one of those silly lightsaber wielders met their end.

 

This issue (and the issue in Shattered Empire where they went to Naboo) really helped me like Leia's character more. In the new canon, I have really enjoyed seeing Luke and Han. But Leia has been so underwhelming, especially in this series. (Well, Star Wars.) This really helped me like her character much more.

Likewise, the Vader comic (and other media released with him like LOTS and Rebels) have led me to enjoy Vader more. Probably because I am a younger fan then some people (well, 20...) but the older characters really never interested me. I loved Maul, Ahsoka, and Kanan, but Luke and Vader always made me kinda bored. With these comic series, and this arc in particular, I have really grown on all of these OT characters.

I am really excited to see what happens with Aphra now. I guess she will be in the Star Wars comic, as opposed to the Vader comic for the foreseeable future?

 

Yes, how terrible for those of us who like cool action sequences. The tragedy.

 

Sad thing is they are not even really compelling action sequences, I mean nothing can actually happen to the main cast anyway and there is only so much “fun” to be had with Vader killing several thousand people without any effort.

 

To be fair to the story and artists; they repeatedly showed that the area was filled with valleys, mountains, crevices, hills, etc, so it's not like they were just all out in the open.

A big part of the action between Aphra and Solo relied on the fact that there was more than enough cover for Aphra and Solo to set up ambushes and choke points. In the middle of this are several sandstorms whipped up by nature and the fights plus ships and such throwing up sand.

 

Han and Aphra running into each other whilst being swarmed by space-bees is actually one of my favourite moments of "Vader Down" because Star Wars comics, sadly, rarely, engage in some bona-fide humour, which is a huge aspect of Star Wars, but a total slapstick gag. Rare in Star Wars comics which focus more on boom but it was fun to see a bit here.

 

Cool action sequences? There's one thing both those artists don't deliver well, unfortunately, for me. Salvador's artwork is very stiffed and awkwardly, blatantly taken from photos/stills, and while Deodato is a little better...both are a let down to me compared to a lot of the artists available on the Marvel roster, and especially seeing Cassaday, Immonen, Noto, and Maleev on Star Wars titles so far.

Maybe I've been spoiled after enjoying the crap out of Doug Wheatley on Dark Times, or Gabriel Hardman on Legacy II...now those are two I'd love to see on Star Wars titles again, Mike Mayhew is back with Star Wars 15...

 

They're not SW but if you want more of their art consider:

King Tiger - trade out in March - Wheatley
Invisible Republic - V1 is out now, V2 is due April/May - Hardman

 

Anybody know the name of this class of Imperial guardsmen that surround Karbin:

 

I'd like to know that as well. Haven't seen them elsewhere, but I think they look really cool.

 

yea, they're in a couple of panels guarding him in the background.

 

Maybe they're newcanon Sovereign Protectors? Or Sun Guard?

 

That or Imperial Sentinels perhaps?!

 

I'd love for them to be straight up Sun Guard.

I wish they'd do something to make his face look less like a crappy rubber mask. Loved the Mon Cal's faces in TCW and in Legacy.

I love seeing Vader be such a monster.

 

The Darth Vader comic series is the only Disney comic series I've read so far, and is it just me or did the artists take frames from the films and trace them, or put a 'comic book drawing' filter on them?

Just about every face shot of Han, Luke, Leia and Grievbar (and probably Vader, 3P0 & R2 for that matter) are straight copy/paste from the films.

Just like with TFA, it feels like they're going out of their way to hit the nostalgia button, so much so that it takes me out of the story a little.

(or they're just lazy?)

 

Nope, it's not just you. I love the story in this series, but because of the art I'm somewhat glad it's ending in 3 more issues.

 

Don't make me post side-by-side examples.