Marvel’s first wave of Star Wars comics is arguably some of the best work the publisher’s ever done with the iconic franchise, thanks to Jason Aaron and Kieron Gillen. Aaron crafted a compelling tale that helped to bridge the gap between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, while also pushing the core trio of Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa and Han Solo in new directions. Gillen’s work on Star Wars: Darth Vader helped reinforce the Dark Lord of the Sith as a terrifying force to be reckoned with, while also introducing a fan-favorite character in Doctor Aphra. It’s fitting, then, that Star Wars Modern Era Epic Collection: The Screaming Citadel features the best of Aaron and Gillen’s work.
The Screaming Citadel isn’t the first time that both writers have joined forces; that honor goes to the superb Star Wars crossover Vader Down, where Vader finds himself being boxed on a moon by Rebel forces. It does mark a significant shift in genre, as Vader Down was more a Fugitive-style action blockbuster while The Screaming Citadel runs full tilt into cosmic horror. The story begins when Luke, still seeking out the path to becoming a Jedi, encounters Aphra. It turns out that Aphra has a crystal in her possession that might have belonged to a Jedi, and she strikes a deal with Luke: if he comes with her to meet the queen of Ktath’atn, she’ll help him unlock it. What neither of them know is that Ktath’atn’s queen drains the life force of those who come to her planet, and Luke’s provided the ultimate meal.
This leads to some horrifying imagery courtesy of Marco Checchetto, Salvador Larrocca and Andrea Broccardo, as The Screaming Citadel runs through issues of the main Star Wars title and Star Wars: Doctor Aphra in addition to a one-shot. Checchetto helps set the tone, displaying Ktath’atn as a world shrouded in darkness and rain while its queen has ghostly pale skin and blood red robes. If that wasn’t enough, the story introduces parasites that dig into people’s brains and control them, and a massive armored behemoth that’s reminiscent of the Mountain from Game of Thrones. Suffice it to say, Luke, Aphra, and their friends are in for the fight of their lives.
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The Screaming Citadel also features some great character moments, especially between Luke and Aphra. While she remains the utterly amoral archeologist fans grew to loathe or love in the Darth Vader solo, she has a fun rapport with Luke and seems genuinely affected when Ktath’atn’s queen starts to dig into his mind. Luke, for his part, is willing to defend Aphra to his friends and remains unbroken in the face of the immense horrors he witnesses. Aaron and Gillen understand that what makes Luke such a great character is the fact that he refuses to give up on others, even if they’re morally bankrupt characters like Aphra.
The rest of this Epic Collection features the end of Aaron’s run on the main Star Wars title, which is a collection of character vignettes that tie up loose ends including rescuing C-3P0 from Imperial clutches and the Rebels searching for a new base. It dovetails nicely into the beginning of Gillen’s run, “The Ashes of Jedha,” where Luke, Han and Leia travel to the devestated moon of Jedha from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Gillen manages to flesh out certain aspects of Rogue One, particularly when Leia encounters Saw Gerrera’s Partisans and learns that there’s no price they won’t pay to beat the Empire. He also shows that he has a handle on the iconic characters, particularly Luke. I would also be remiss if I didn’t highlight the excellent story in Star Wars Annual #3, where Jason Latour and Michael Walsh deliver a great Han and Leia tale that sows the seeds for their budding romance in The Empire Strikes Back.
While the character work throughout The Screaming Citadel is excellent, the art is rather hit or miss as Larroca tends to rely on traced images for certain characters. This has the effect of a cut and paste job, as certain proportions don’t match and the more realistic facial images feel out of place with the rest of the book. Larroca’s turned in great work before, particularly during Gillen’s Darth Vader run, so it’s disappointing rather than rage inducing. In contrast, Andrea Sorrentino brings his iconic style to a standalone story focused on the Tusken Raiders, and Walsh’s art pins Han and Leia on a frozen wasteland where bounty hunters are trying to kill them.
Star Wars Modern Era Epic Collection: The Screaming Citadel thrives in its character moments, whether it’s the horror-filled atmosphere of the titular location or the wreckage of a moon. It’s also a reminder that the galaxy far, far away still has plenty of life in it, especially in comics form.
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