Darth Vader #2 Review

Can Marvel continue to build strongly on this popular franchise? Or has the amazing work to date been too good to be true? Read on to find out.

The official description from Marvel:

The original Dark Lord of the Sith stars in his first ongoing series! Ever since Darth Vader made his first on-screen appearance, he became the one of the most popular villains to ever haunt an audience’s dreams! Now, follow Vader straight from the ending of A NEW HOPE (and the pages of the new STAR WARS comic book) into his own series, showing the Empire’s war with the Rebel Alliance from the other side! Writer Kieron Gillen (Uncanny X-Men, Journey Into Mystery, Iron Man) and artist Salvador Larroca (Invincible Iron Man, X-Men: No More Humans) bring us a peek behind the mask of evil!

The Dark Lord definitely cometh, as following the amazing launch of yet another successful Star Wars title, Marvel delve deeper into the world of this legendary screen icon. Moving on with his investigation to find the pilot who destroyed the Death Star, Darth Vader once again puts himself into the battlefield, and though “Grand” General Tagge gets in his way, this powerful Sith Lord still finds time to remind us of his strength and tactical ingenuity.

Kieron Gillen showed us in the premiere issue of this series that he has a keen understanding of the Star Wars Universe, and it’s chief Dark Lord, as though it was far from perfect, it was certainly intriguing. This continues into the series’ second issue, as though overall it’s not as captivating as the first, it has plenty that will tickle fans appetites. Most noticeably for this fanboy was the addition of Cassio Tagge, and his disrespect towards Vader. Generating wonderful animosity towards this character, Gillen delivers great drama, as though Tagge may have been praised for his foresight into the Rebel’s attack on the Death Star, it doesn’t seem wise to provoke such a powerful entity like Darth Vader. Even if you’re in the Emperor’s good books.

The world of Star Wars has never looked as beautiful. At least in the comic format. Though Dark Horse had an array of wonderful artists on their various titles, they pale in comparison to John Cassaday and Salvador Larroca, with the latter bringing this fan favourite villain to life in an enticing manner. Capturing the emotion, as well as lack there off, in Vader, Larroca generates a thrilling tempo to this enticing tale. He also manages to give a lively tone to the rest of this universe, as though Edgar Delgado‘s colours are a little too powerful at times, the vastness that is space creates an electric atmosphere.

Darth Vader #2 is a solid second entry into this new ongoing, as though it’s the weakest in Marvel‘s Star Wars line so far, there are still a lot of positives to take away. The main being the tension between Vader and Tagge, with Vader’s dominance shining even in these darker moments.