Review: Darth Vader Lays Waste to Qi’ra’s Allies in Marvel’s ‘Hidden Empire’ #3
Qi’ra is back! Or rather, her associates are back. The third issue of Hidden Empire saw less of Qi’ra and more of Darth Vader and Chanath Cha. This issue wasn’t horrible or simply “bad” in terms of an individual comic, but it was a bit frustrating of a read given how long this storyline has been stretched out, and there are only five issues within this arc.
Qi’ra has become a fan-favorite character as we have seen more of her story fleshed out since we met her in Solo: A Star Wars Story. She’s compelling, brilliant, and unbelievably charismatic. Since the Hidden Empire arc is the final phase in her trilogy, I expected each issue to be like the previous one. It followed a few character storylines, but each interlaced with Qi’ra’s story, which we got to see play out.
Issue #3 felt like a Darth Vader comic that somehow got mixed up in Hidden Empire. Throughout these reviews, I have consistently reiterated how I am giving Soule the benefit of the doubt given he is Charles Soule, but I remain worried Qi’ra’s story will end as a mere footnote in the already well-developed arcs of Vader and Palpatine. Issue #3 didn’t do much to quell those concerns, and even added some new ones. There are only two comics left in this final installment, and we only were with the driving force of all of this for the last handful of pages. I was happy with this as these closing comics should give us more and more Qi’ra as her clock is ticking. Each one should feel like a Qi’ra story, and this one did not. Perhaps it will flow together much better once we get the whole Hidden Empire story, but I was a bit thrown off here. Let’s get into more of what happened.
Spoilers ahead…
Beginning in the usual way, the comic opens with an image of the hooded figures listening and hearing what the Archivist has to say about the story of Qi’ra. This time, we learned one of them had spent time with Darth Vader on multiple occasions. I am not much into speculating on these things, but my mind has been spinning as I think about who it might be.
The description of what being in Vader’s presence is like was riveting. The Archivist compares it to how you feel when an animal devours its young. Vader always sells, and perhaps that is part of the reason he is so involved here. While I wasn’t particularly fond of just how much time was spent with him, Chanath Cha and co. I will say any story with Vader is somewhat intoxicating.
Chanath Cha and her group of “Orphans” confront Vader to attempt to save the Archivist and Kho Phon Farrus. For years, Cha has eagerly awaited her chance to kill the Sith Lord who tore her family from her. Now, she finally has her chance. The group of Orphans consisting of Cha, the droid LadyBright, the sharpshooter Imara, and the fierce Sear, take on Vader with an incredible strategy.
LadyBright hits him with a blast that distorts his senses, followed by a quick shot from Cha with something containing some sort of toxic acid. It was a brilliant approach. Vader was stunned, and to save himself, he desperately lashed out with the Force to send the group flying back. After doing so, he escaped into the water to rid himself of the acid.
The group knew Vader wouldn’t be down for long, and the Archivist makes it clear no one can go anywhere without the Fermata Cage. Remember, the Fermata Cage is the key to Qi’ra’s plan to destroy the Sith. The leave it behind would be to ensure doom for them all. With this knowledge, they have to split the group up. It takes some time to get the Fermata Cage aboard Cha’s ship, and she splits the group up to buy time. LadyBright, being a droid, is the only one capable of warding off the Fermata Cage’s power. The droid must be the one to carry it to the ship. Along with Kho Phon Farrus and the Archivist, Cha sends Imara with them too. They begin escaping while Cha and Sear attempt to stall the oncoming Vader.
Once Vader arises, he tells the group they will die just like Qi’ra and the others. Unfortunately for our group, their emotions give away the fact that Qi’ra lives. After sensing this, Vader sinisterly replies to them about how intrigued Palpatine will be by this news.
This was a frustrating part of the comic for me. It felt like the entire issue existed just for Vader to find out Qi’ra was alive. It’s aggressively fine, but since we got next to no Qi’ra in the comic, it comes across as a bit weak.
Cha and Sear put up one helluva fight. From the ship, Imara helped out by sharpshooting Vader’s hand right off. Vader uses the Force to dispatch Sear and Imara, and then hones in on Cha. She uses a personal shield of sorts to shield her from blaster fire. It was a great look in the comic. Aboard the ship, LadyBright reaches out to Qi’ra to ask her to send the Crimson Dawn fleet to save Cha. After Qi’ra declines, LadyBright decides to disobey her orders and save Cha. I am a sucker for droids showing sentimentality. I couldn’t help but say “Aweee” when they began to turn the ship around. However, the rescue attempt doesn’t last long before we cut to a scene of the Archivist who has ripped the droid apart to steer the ship away.
Cha puts up a last charge with a fierce scream of her name that would be sure to stir fear in the heart of almost anyone. Almost anyone…
Vader ends her life without a second thought and delivers a simple line: “I am Darth Vader.” Chanath Cha and the rest of the Orphans were each slain under the Dark Lord’s hand.
In the final pages, we finally get Qi’ra. She is talking yet again to young Cadeliah. We still know little about her other than she is the heir to multiple crime syndicates. Qi’ra explains to her why she made the choices she did. It closes with yet another line hinting she still has more tricks up her sleeve, but with only two issues left, time is running out for us to see her play her final hand.
Overall, I was a bit frustrated with the lack of Qi’ra in the final comics in the Qi’ra trilogy. Charles Soule continues to deserve the benefit of the doubt, but the last comics will loom large in my mind over the coming weeks. Here’s to hoping we get a supercharged Qi’ra comic in the fourth issue of Hidden Empire.
Rating: 5/10
Finding ways to nonchalantly incorporate Star Wars quotes into 8th grade classroom, Tyler lives and breathes Star Wars. His morning tradition is sending the latest number in the countdown for different Star Wars projects and loves engaging in uplifting Star Wars dialogue. If you are passionate about Star Wars you can follow him on Twitter at TyBrad5.
