Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows #3 Review

Is the Force strong with this one? Read on to find out.

The official description from Dark Horse:

Stormtrooper Hock is exactly where he wants to be—under the command of the greatest warrior in the galaxy, Darth Vader! When a mission to assimilate some remnant Separatists becomes a military disaster, Hock has an opportunity to be something more than a soldier in the ranks to Darth Vader . . . if he’s willing to take a life-risking chance!

If you’ve ever wished for a series that took the basic idea of idolization and added in the mind of a former grunt than this is one literary jaunt that’s right up your alley. Thanks to a sturdy display by a more than competent creative team we’re given a comic book that feels like a welcome addition.

Tim Siedell pens the script and can I just say that this has quickly turned into one of the most memorable outings for, not only Darth Vader, but for a former Clone trooper as well. What makes this whole thing work is the main character, as Hock Malsuum does a wonderful job filling us in on his life story while maintaining ties to his former identity as CT-5539. There’s a hefty amount of serious material here but a particular line of narration is  sure to strike a cord and get a chuckle out of even the most discerning fanboy or fangirl.

The art by Gabriel Guzman is good enough to get me to re-read pages. I can’t think of a higher compliment, as the line work found here captures features and designs from the movies that this seeks to extend. It can be said that just about anyone can lock-in the guise of these well known icons, but I’m hard pressed to think of a talent who can give them enough presence in order to allow a seamless transition. Add in the stellar colors by Michael Atiyeh and you have a very distinct recipe for intergalactic awesomeness.

Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows #3 is outstanding, and I can’t wait to read what happens next. Recommended.

4/5