SWNN Review – Star Wars Vader Down #1
After what has been a fantastic second run so far for the titular Star Wars comic series and a mediocre second run of the Darth Vader series (which started off strong but lost a little steam in its second arc), the two series come together in Marvel’s first ever Star Wars crossover comic event, that puts Darth Vader on a collision course with the Rebel Alliance! Read on for the full double review of the first issue in this event with Kyle and Hard Case.
(Kyle) Pardon my language but…holy shit! What a comic! This series, from a story by writers Jason Aaron (Star Wars and is the writer of this issue) and Kieron Gillen (Vader), with art Mike Deodato and Frank Martin Jr., will be hard to top. These folks have set the bar very high for the subsequent issues of Vader Down. Part 1 will keep you clasping your book, nervously turning your pages, worried for the next poor soul who crosses paths with the Sith Lord.
(Hard Case) Wow, I agree, Kyle…this may just be my favorite issue in Marvel’s run to date. I loved everything about this comic. The action was gripping. The feels were intense. Vader, as expected was an unstoppable force of…well…the Force. Don’t let the title of this crossover event fool you…Vader doesn’t go down easily.
(K) Even though this review will contain some minor spoilers, we’ll try to be a little sparse on the details here – because ultimately, you are going to want to experience this issue for yourself. This is the best and worst of Vader, and there is no more fooling around for him. He’s not looking over his shoulder to see what Imperial Officer may be scheming to throw him under the bus and gain good graces with the Emperor. Hell, I doubt Vader even gave his master, Darth Sidious, a second thought as he pursues his target. Vader is determined, never desperate, to find his son – and in this issue, his search leads him to a planet called Vrogas Vas.
(K) We have seen a somewhat, for lack of a better expression, neutered Vader. Forget that Vader. This Vader has come to Vrogas Vas looking for a fight, and who better to meet him there then a fleet of Rebel fighters. There is nothing about a single TIE Fighter taking on multiple enemy ships that bothers Vader. If Luke is there, Vader will push through anything. Frames of this dogfight are plentiful and the artwork here is so phenomenal. The synergy between story and medium in which it’s told is something to behold here, friends.
(K) It would not be Vader Down without the eventual crash. Nothing is being given away by this frame other than it is father and son, diametrically opposed, crashing to the surface. The fight has moved to a ground battle. Vader does not mind.
(HC) I thought it was really amazing to see Vader’s skills as a pilot really brought out in this issue and what Luke had to do just to stop his unending rampage of vessel destruction was unexpected and surprisingly satisfying. How deadly is Vader in his TIE? Just take a look at the frame below…it doesn’t get more chilling than that, and it puts Vader right back where he belongs, at the top of the frickin’ food chain.
(K) Of course, Luke’s friends get wind of the situation and are not about to leave their friend alone to take on Vader. Han Solo is one foot out the door until he hears about Luke’s dire situation. It was touching to see this side of Han. It often seems he gets the short end of the stick, in terms of characters we see evolve. Han really does have a good person trying to get out and show himself to the galaxy. It should be pretty cool to see what these folks add to the arc.
(K) Meanwhile, Vader is still kicking ass on the planet. This is Darth Vader, in all his glory. Take it in folks. It does not get much better than this. If you do not feel the inner nerd inside of you jumping up and down with excitement as you turn each page with Vader taking on every….wait, we agreed, we are not going to spoil this for you.
(K) Oh yeah…I guess we know what Luke was doing on the planet. The ruins of a Jedi Temple. Best guess is the next issue we see a lot more of this place.
(HC) I thought seeing the glimpse of the temple was really cool, and I’m hoping we see more of it in a future issue. But there’s no time for training when Vader is just over the hill decimating your fellow soldiers. I absolutely loved that line he gave to the rebel troops after they had him completely surrounded: “All I am surrounded by is fear…and dead men.” That line was frickin’ epic.
(K) Again, if the above frame doesn’t get you down to your local comic shop to throw money at the clerk and get this book into your hands…
Anyways, enough said. This is the first part of six issues that will crossover the already excellent Vader and Star Wars series. This is Star Wars at it’s finest. I can’t think of a better way to pass the time and build up your excitement for The Force Awakens.
(HC) I just have one question…what the heck is Nicolas Cage doing in Star Wars?
As always, remember to support your local comic shops. Share your comments on the issue in the comment section below or stop by the Cantina to get a little sweaty with some other comic fans. May the Force be with you…always.
Jordan Pate is Co-Lead Editor and Senior Writer for Star Wars News Net, of which he is also a member of the book and comic review team. He loves all things Star Wars, but when he's not spending time in the galaxy far far away, he might be found in our own galaxy hanging out in Gotham City or at 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, NY.
Well written! Very excited now!
Vader takes down an squadron of ships by himself and entire battalion of troops by himself? Come on, new Star Wars canon. First Chewbacca using two lightsabers in combat and now this? You are getting ridiculous.
If Disney’s aim was to make the shittiest aspects of the old EU look great by comparison, You have to admit they are doing a helluva of a job.
Everyone has their opinion and I respect that, but just out of curiosity – have you guys read the issue?
I did read both issues and understand the circumstances of each but these little things don’t give with what happened in the movies. If Vader was able to manipulate starfighters the force, why didn’t he capture be Millenium Falcon in ESB when it was fleeing Bespin? Why didn’t he do that during the Death Star battle in the first movie? He’s at a Starkiller level of rediculousness in this issue. I understand he’s the most powerful force user in the history of Star Wars but the movies never showed a Vader like this.
I see your point given the movie references, and what you say makes a lot of sense. However, I guess it could be argued that he really only was in his fighter in the first movie and pretty much decimated the rebel fighters on his own in that dogfight. He really is never put in that situation again in the films and we never see him in an all out ground battle. I see your point, but just because we didn’t see it happen, doesn’t lessen the possibility. Anakin is showcased to similar power levels in the Clone Wars series and it seems that Vader’s abilities have maintained consistency with that version of Anakin in the new Canon. Lords of the Sith was similar to this issue of Vader Down in that sense as well. Regardless of how he was in the films, this incarnation of Vader is what I want to see as a fan, and I’m glad their giving him to us. 🙂
“why didn’t he capture be Millenium Falcon in ESB when it was fleeing Bespin?”
Possibly for the same reason he didn’t levitate Luke after he jumped.
He doesn’t manipulate the starfighters he manipulates the proton torpedoes being shot at him. The rest is just him dodging and shooting like crazy in this comic.
well on bespin vader was dozens if not hundreds of miles away from the falcon in his star destroyer. and if vader’s force powers were strong enough to overpower a ship’s engine that can propell a vessle faster than the speed of light in less than a second (an ungodly amount of power) that would be ridiculous.
force users unconsciously project an aura that protects them from the force abilities of others. remember A New Hope when vader easily and single-handedly fought off the attacking star-fighters. (the death star only launched three fighters after all and the stations turbo lasers stopped firing, the defense was all vader and would have worked if not for luke) the only reason the death star went boom was “the force is strong with this one”.
The sith get their power from desire, and pain and fear. The sith believe in survival of the fittest. That the only way to claim freedom, the only way to find meaning in life is to face adversity and conquer it. dureing this entire ‘vader down’ issue, vader is relieving the most painful parts of his life, facing an insurmountable struggle, being challenged as a father and a human and a sith and a jedi and a warrior… how could vader not be at the top of his game? there are only two sith in the whole galaxy and all of the dark side is contained within them. Two masters, both the greatist force users ever to exist. vader vs farmers in stolen starfighters? easy win to vader.
go read Lords of the Sith, a new cannon novel for more precedence for this kind of vader
I meant the part at the end of the film where Vader is on the star destroyer and the falcon is flying along side it.
I’ll torrent it just to see how it fits together with the new canon but I won’t pay actual money for it. Marvel comics has been circling the creative drain for awhile and not just Star Wars either.
The use of “feels” as a noun should be outlawed.
This issue was so on-point! I can’t believe how much better these Marvel comics have been lately. The finale of the second story arc of the Star Wars series was just phenomenal. And the art…WOW. I can’t get enough.
I really want to read this but I’ll have to wait for the trade with Vader down nevertheless very excited to read this.
This issue was great as far as story goes, but I wasn’t 100% on board with the art. Certain ships and backgrounds had that 90s era CG cartoon look to them, which was really jarring after all of the gorgeous illustrations we’ve seen in the Marvel stuff so far. And what’s up with Leia’s look here? She’s pretty much in her ESB getup for all of the mainline Star Wars series, but here she’s like an exaggerated superhero version of herself from ANH. I hope Immonen and/or Larocca straighten this stuff out. Narratively speaking, though, top notch.
I was surprised to see Leia sporting the buns again as well. I actually really enjoyed the artwork in this issue, though. It was cool seeing a different artist’s take on the characters, and I thought the action was well-handled. But Immonen’s work on SW has been excellent and I like the smooth and rich look to Larocca’s work on Vader as well (although his attention to proportion and force action has thrown me off a little along the way), so I look forward to getting back to those guys. I also thought the narrative was top notch, and I’m excited to see where they go over the next five issues. Kyle and I were discussing the event yesterday and he mentioned that he just hopes they don’t upstage the ESB with another Luke/Vader confrontation. I have to say I agree, and I’m curious to see if the writers can handle this story in a way that is both entertaining and significant while not overstepping their creative bounds and overshadowing the significance of the films.
Cool! I like it. Does it take place before or after the second Star Wars arc?