Vader – Dark Visions has been quite an entertaining spin on Star Wars comics. Dennis “Hopeless” Hallum has approached each story in a different way, giving readers a taste of how Darth Vader’s legacy and persona affect outsiders. In this final chapter of the miniseries, we see Darth Vader as a nightmare haunting a man who just wants to make his way comfortably in the galaxy. Fat chance when you have something Vader wants.
So what’s it about?
The official summary reads:
A backwater jungle planet teeming with poisonous plants.
The search for a device that can track the REBELS.
A psychedelic nightmare triggered by the local flora – with a terror known as DARTH VADER!
Why does this matter?
This series is easily accessible for anyone who wants a unique story and doesn’t want to read a thousand issues to enjoy it. It’s also cleverly done capturing different aspects of Vader and how he’s perceived further defining the characters incredible power and the fear he instills in others.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
Duck!
Credit: Marvel Comics
This issue captures how relentless Darth Vader is when he needs to be. It opens with Vader and a Stormtrooper going over how important stolen intel is to the Empire, so they must track it down. Problem is they’re on a rather dangerous planet filled with aliens ready to eat and kill you. As the story progresses Vader doesn’t let a little man-eating plant to get in his way.
Geraldo Borges is on art with colors by Marcio Menyz and letters by the great Joe Caramagna. All together they capture the intensity of Vader well be it in how quick he strikes and how little he cares if bystanders and even his own Stormtroopers get in his way. The coolest aspect to the story which hinges heavily on the art working is a sequence involving some mind-altering venom. A character sees things that aren’t real, nightmares so to speak, and what he sees when Vader is close by is horror. One can surmount the character seems a flowing dragon sprouting from Darth Vader’s lightsaber because of Vader’s reputation. There are some vivid horrors this man sees that are chilling. Plus there’s one that seems like a nod to Predator. I’ll say no more on that!
This dude is about to have a very bad day.
Credit: Marvel Comics
It can’t be perfect, can it?
Darth Vader as a nightmare is a cool concept that works well here, although it does take the attention off Vader himself and the perception folks have of him. As I said above you could surmise what you see under the influence of a fear toxin gives a sense of their interpretation of the man himself, but it requires the poison to work taking the attention off perception a bit and onto the properties of the toxin.
Is it good?
Darth Vader is portrayed as a living nightmare in this great climactic issue. The series has captured many different outside perceptions of Darth Vader well and it’s fitting it ends on a man who sees him as a living nightmare.
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