Comics Star Wars: Darth Vader – Black, White & Red

https://www.starwars.com/news/marvel-star-wars-darth-vader-black-white-red-reveal

Is the dark side stronger? Darth Vader certainly seems to think so.



StarWars.com is thrilled to announce a new Marvel miniseries featuring the Dark Lord of the Sith, Star Wars: Darth Vader – Black, White & Red, with your first look at the cover of issue #1 from artist Alex Maleev.




The four-issue comic anthology — an extension of the popular Black, White & Blood series that has followed the histories of other fan-favorite characters like Wolverine, Deadpool, and Moon Knight — will include stories written and illustrated by a team of renowned authors and artists, including a four-part story penned by Jason Aaron. Aaron previously wrote the first installment in the relaunch of the Star Wars flagship comic series in 2015 and the Sith-centered Vader Down the following year.



One Vader quote from the spinoff ranks among the writer’s all-time favorite lines: "All I am surrounded by is fear. And dead men."



“That moment from Vader Down is still one of my favorite things I've written during my time at Marvel,” Aaron tells StarWars.com. “I loved getting to let Darth Vader cut loose with all his power in such an epic way. I couldn't pass up the chance to revel in the dark side again and put Vader in an even more perilous situation... and then see how he carves his way out.”



In Star Wars: Darth Vader – Black, White & Red issue #1, Vader returns to his vile ways with a trio of tales penned by Aaron, Peach Momoko, and Torunn Grønbekk, with art by Momoko — in her debut as an interior artist for a Star Wars comic, — Leonard Kirk, and more. “It is always a treat to draw anything for Star Wars,” Kirk tells StarWars.com. “It is a double treat to draw anything for Star Wars featuring Darth Vader. And it is a triple treat to draw anything for Star Wars featuring Darth Vader at his Sithiest, nastiest, most vile and violent.”



The series will also mark Grønbekk’s debut in the galaxy far, far away. "Darth Vader has always been my favorite part of Star Wars — make of that what you will!” she tells StarWars.com. “To say that I am excited to make my Star Wars debut writing the most iconic pop culture villain in history would be the understatement of the year. It's been a joy to create a story that not only gives you a glimpse of the gritty reality of the Star Wars universe but also showcases Vader at his most cunning and violent."



Check out the variant covers for issue #1 from Jim Cheung and Gabriele Dell’Otto, as well as the solicit text for these intriguing new chapters in Darth Vader’s twisted tale.





STAR WARS: DARTH VADER - BLACK, WHITE & RED #1
JASON AARON, PEACH MOMOKO & TORUNN GRØNBEKK
Art by LEONARD KIRK, PEACH MOMOKO & MORE
COVER BY Alex Maleev
VARIANT COVER BY Jim Cheung

THE DARK LORD OF THE SITH LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE!

• Following the successful Black, White & Red series produced by Marvel Comics, DARTH VADER now takes the spotlight for tales of terror by some of the industry’s most talented creators!

• PEACH MOMOKO will spin a story only she can bring to life!

• PLUS, the return of JASON AARON to the world of STAR WARS with Part One of his Vader tale spanning all four issues!

 

Ooooh sounds good

 

More Star Wars from Jason Aaron will be a treat for sure.

 

I find it hard to get into these series when it’s just a bunch of short stories together in each issue. I tried reading Elektra BW&R and lost interest after the first issue. I’ll be impressed if this isn’t just another forgettable miniseries.

 

In the first image, Vader looks very much like Christian Bale's Gorr the God Butcher from Thor.

 

The general net response doesn't look to be what Marvel expected.

"Another goddamn Vader book? Pass."

 

That Alex Maleev cover is actually better than the variants. He'd be a perfect choice for any dark side-themed series. Charles Soule writing a Darth Sidious limited (or ongoing! why not?) series with Maleev on art is somewhere at or near the top of my fanciful Star Wars "dream projects" list.

 

Peach Momoko ! I love her art so much ! And her writing is pretty good too (I just finished Demon Days and I loved it)

After Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Wolverine and even Moon Knight, Vader Black, White and Red was only a matter of time

 

Solicit for issue #2, via Bleeding Cool:

Spoiler: issue #2

STAR WARS: DARTH VADER – BLACK, WHITE AND RED #2
JASON AARON, DAVID PEPOSE & MORE! (W) • LEONARD KIRK & MORE! (A)
COVER BY ADAM KUBERT • VARIANT COVER BY DECLAN SHALVEY
VARIANT COVER BY SALVADOR LARROCA

JASON AARON CONTINUES HIS RETURN TO THE GREATEST VILLAIN IN THE GALAXY!
• Along with artist LEONARD KIRK, these two titans of comics tell a tale of horror and intrigue!
• PLUS, David Pepose makes his STAR WARS debut!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

 

https://www.starwars.com/news/marvel-star-wars-june-2023-preview

Spoiler: Issue #3 solicit

STAR WARS: DARTH VADER - BLACK, WHITE & RED #3
JASON AARON, DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON & MARC BERNARDIN (W)
LEONARD KIRK, DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON & MORE! (A) • Cover by MIKE DEL MUNDO
Variant Cover by CARMEN CARNERO • Variant Cover by NIC KLEIN

DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON HELPS BRING DARTH VADER TO LIFE LIKE NEVER BEFORE!

• MARC BERNARDIN brings us along with Vader on a mission you won’t soon forget!

• PLUS: The penultimate chapter of JASON AARON & LEONARD KIRK’s Vader deconstruction!

 

When the blurb includes Daniel Warren Johnson, it doesn't need to do much at all.

 

The blurbs seem to be advertising with who is behind each issue, but I am too unfamiliar with the general modern comics industry for that to be a draw. Are these big names?

 

Yes.

 

Some interior art for issue #1, via Marvel.com:

Spoiler: issue #1

 

The Darth Vader comics on this second run of Marvel have been pretty damn good. I feel that Vader was done just like Anakin before that during legends. Anakin was the ultimate jedi hero and Darth Vader was the ultimate baddie that regardless of what the Emperor thought could not replace because there was no other than can match vader on sure power. The ying/yang.

 

Vader comics aren't usually my thing, but the creator-driven angle of this series appealed to me. I thought the first story was pretty stale (though I suppose I shouldn't judge until it's complete) but the other two were great. Peach Momoko's creepy twist on fighter pilot slang was probably the highlight for me.

 

https://www.starwars.com/news/darth-vader-black-white-red-2-preview

Spoiler

 

Starting issue #1. I hope it's good. The art looks pretty good. Vader works well for the black, white, and red treatment, as you'd expect.

These series have been hit or miss for me. Some really good, some just...there.

Don't let me down, Jason Aaron. Aaron would actually be an awesome choice for a Vader ongoing series.

I assume these stories are cannon? Do we know? Is Vader the busiest person in all of Star Wars? Lol. He's like the Star Wars Wolverine, just everywhere.

 

Yeah, they're all canon.

How do they all fit together? Well, I'm sure someone has worked it out but that person isn't me.

 

Aaron & Kirk's "Hard Shutdown," is

Spoiler

a pretty decent story but nothing we haven't seen before and nothing to write home about. A science-type person gets the upper hand by shutting down Vader's armor/suit/life support constume...or whatever you want to call it. The science guy, who apparently is also a cyborg, employs Vader kryptonite by invoking the word "Padme." It ends on that "cliff hanger." I'm sure Vader will Force-magic his way out of the situation. I will say the uncolored art, except for some interesting uses of red, is quite effective and adds a lot, actually.

Momoko's "Inescapable" is beautiful but confusing. I have no idea what's going on.

Spoiler

If it's meant solely as abstraction, that is fine with me. But I was hoping for some kind of frame to help make sense of it. A dream?

One story to go.

 

Gronbekk & Klaus's "Dissolution of Hope" was pretty decent. Again, the involored art is super interesting. It just works.

Spoiler

The story explored shady act of rebels. Indescriminate killing in the name of justice. I also thought use of Vader as a show of prestige at the start of an upper class part interesting. The resolution of Vader stopping these rebels is same old, same old. But it raises the question of who the actual bad guys are.

Overall, the I was hoping for more from the comic. 3.5/5

 

The 2nd issue was about the some. Perhaps even a little worse than the first.

Jason Aaron's story is a bit disappointing. Super predictable.

Spoiler

We've had several stories where someone tries to defeat Vader by immobilizing his cybernetic parts and Vader of course wins because of the Force.

3.5/5