It’s rare to see Darth Vader lose a fight, let alone have his back against a wall with an enemy at his throat. But here we are. In this sixth, penultimate issue in the story arc, Darth Vader is at war on the volcanic planet of Mustafar.
So what’s it about?
Read our preview.
Why does this matter?
Charles Soule has written quite a series, tapping into Vader’s vulnerable humanity and also tying together events that make sense. In this final story Vader has good reason to be angry at the Emperor, but will he survive Momin’s final assault?
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
Time to break out the electric guitar!
Credit: Marvel Comics
If you’ve ever wanted to see Darth Vader in a full-blown war this is your chance. It’s a foot battle on a lava planet and Vader’s chances look slim. Soule shows off Vader’s inability to fear defeat and his resilience under intense situations. Over the course of Soule’s run we’ve seen Vader nearly vanquished quite a few times and Momin gets very close indeed to killing Vader for good. The action is intense, there are lightsaber battles and Force pushing things throughout and this issue is yet another example of how the comics can reveal the abilities of the Force in exciting new ways.
This issue also dips into the Dark Side and how it may be even more powerful than we thought. Momin has tapped into something Darth Vader certainly has never uncovered and there’s a tip-off by Momin that there may be even more to it than we may have ever imagined. The Force has been likened to magic, but if this arc has taught us anything it may be closer to an honest religion and gods.
The art continues to be by Daniele Orlandini on finishes and Giuseppe Camuncoli on layouts and it capitalizes on the war scenes nicely. Vader looks like a general in the middle of battle with no fear and incredible command. Lightsaber battles and Force pushing objects continues to impress by showing the weight of each stroke and each item lifted. It’s not as simple as one might think which helps convey there is a real toll taken to do the things a Sith can accomplish.
Let’s go!!!
Credit: Marvel Comics
It can’t be perfect can it?
I wished for more answers from Momin’s dialogue, which serves more as a wrinkle to stick inside Vader’s mind for later more than anything else. Luckily there will be some answer as to Vader’s ability to connect with Padme by next issue, but I will say how Vader gets to this point is a bit cheap. Momin should be far smarter than to be duped as he is here, but maybe it’s not the end of him just yet.
Is it good?
An action-heavy issue that promises a huge return on Soule’s last issue in two weeks. Darth Vader is a must read series to the bitter Sith end.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.