SW7N Review: Marvel’s Darth Vader #9

Dart Vader #9That poor, poor Darth Vader. The Sith Lord just can’t seem to catch a break. His new issue, and in my opinion a very mediocre one, just had to arrive the same day as Shattered Empire #1 knocks our socks off (see our special review tomorrow). There are some things to say, though…

 

 

I did enjoy watching Vader pull a bait and switch on some Rebels who thought they finally had the Dark Lord in their crosshairs. It seems as if Vader is doing if for little more than distraction, as he casually kicks back atop his personal TIE, talking with Thanoth. Each little glimpse we get into Vader’s world makes me wonder more and more why he wasn’t tossing old Sheev down an endless hole much sooner than the Battle of Endor.

 

Dart Vader #9

I really like Thanoth. The old man is no BS and doesn’t care much for Vader’s opinion of anything unless it involves Imperial protocol or the facts. Thanoth is starting to find the trail of the criminals Vader has been utilizing to create a fortune for himself and also stir up trouble for Imperial colleagues that have been getting in the way of his good graces with the Emperor.

 

Thanoth and Vader end up below the surface of Anthan Prime, catching up with a platoon of Storm Troopers taking in a “barely legal” droid fight. What do you know? Morris and Aionin, the two cyborg twins Vader tangled with before, are kicking some droid ass and ready to turn on anyone at a moment’s notice. Vader does some interrogating of his own as to where a mysterious arms dealer who calls themselves “The Dragon” is. When Thanoth realizes these evil, cyborg children are in control of the planet, terrorizing its population for no other reason than control, he is furious and wonders why Vader is not so. Darth Vader is just sitting back for the ride and waiting to find out what Thanoth is going to do next.

 

Dart Vader #9

Another highlight of the book was the last exchange between the two Imperial pawns. Thanoth has no illusions about Darth Vader. Whether or not he knows Vader is an angry dog on the Emperor’s leash does not seem to concern Thanoth. Thanoth makes clear that he bleeds Empire.

 

Oh…hi there Doctor Aphra. You’re here too? What are you up to with all those credits? You’re buying information about someone called Commodex Tahn. Everyone seems to think you are paying WAY TOO much for that information. Oh, I see. It’s about a mortician…on Naboo.

 

Dart Vader #9

So, I will just be honest with you. Even if you have been following the Vader series, this is not a must-have issue. If you are going to continue to follow the Vader series you will eventually have to buy it at some point, but I really think you should save your pennies for other series that seem to have more pressing follow-ups. It’s not a bad issue, just tepid.

 

 

You can order a digital copy at Marvel.com or at Comixology.comor visit the nearest comic book store.

 

 

Darth Vader #9

 

+ posts

Kyle Larson lives in Portland, Oregon. When he's not running trails, he's reading and writing.

Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson lives in Portland, Oregon. When he's not running trails, he's reading and writing.

13 thoughts on “SW7N Review: Marvel’s Darth Vader #9

  • September 10, 2015 at 5:28 pm
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    Whats up with the long necked troopers in that first picture..

  • September 10, 2015 at 5:39 pm
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    #9

  • September 10, 2015 at 5:40 pm
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    “it seems as if Vader is doing if for little more than distraction”

    No. Read it again. Vader did that to provide himself with an alibi.

    • September 10, 2015 at 6:31 pm
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      While you are correct (that is exactly what Vader was doing), I agree with Kyle’s sentiment that at first I was thinking, “So this is what Vader does for fun…”. It’s not clear until his conversation with Thanoth what his motivations were in leading the Rebels into a trap and slaughtering them.

      • September 10, 2015 at 7:07 pm
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        If you’re saying that Kyle said that to avoid spoiling anything, I apologize!

  • September 10, 2015 at 6:22 pm
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    is this a vader series or a series featuring vader? because… dr. aphra… has to go before ESB. And… why is her in the picture featuring the next coming issue?
    Not that I’m sexist or what… just if you want a series with her as the lead call it dr. aphra series…

  • September 10, 2015 at 6:34 pm
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    I thought this issue was mediocre at best and the art work has been slipping as well. But I guess this is to be expected for an ongoing series with quickly approaching deadlines. However, the end of this issue was actually very intriguing. It’s not explicitly clear why Aphra needs that information, but I have a feeling it has something to do with the dead body of an ex-Jedi’s secret wife.

  • September 10, 2015 at 6:35 pm
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    The best panel is Darth Vader sitting on top of his TIE fighter while talking with Thanoth.

  • September 10, 2015 at 6:48 pm
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    I actually thought this issue was pretty good. I can’t get enough of the killer protocol droid. Also, I think it’s great that DV is obviously going to investigate Padme’s body to see if she was still pregnant when she died. (Why else track down a Naboo mortician?) It’s all good stuff.

    • September 10, 2015 at 6:52 pm
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      Triple-Zero is awesome…it was cool to finally imagine a droid pulling people’s arms out of their sockets when they lose. 🙂

  • September 10, 2015 at 7:55 pm
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    this series makes him seem kinda weak. not he best story for darth vader…

    • September 11, 2015 at 12:39 am
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      it was good up to 6 or 7, then took a dive. if i was Vader, i’d crush his head with the force the moment he spoken to me. Vader is weak sauce now.

  • September 11, 2015 at 4:42 am
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    After reading this issue (and No 5 & 6), I am becoming more and more convinced we are seeing the origins of The Knghts of Ren in the cyborgs. They are more ruthless than the Sith. Them lacking human emotion seems to give them a ruthlessness that is completely detached from any human weakness, unlike the Sith. This makes them more dangerous and a greater threat for the new trilogy. As we know, JJ has already confirmed that Kylo Ren is not a Sith. I can’t see how the puzzle pieces aren’t coming together to point to this.

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