Darth Vader #3 Review

What has Vader got planned next? Read on to find out.

The official description from Marvel:

When a Dark Lord needs help, who can he turn to? Meet Aphra—the galaxy’s foremost raider of lost weaponry! Plus: could these be the deadly droids she’s looking for?

Darth Vader’s obsession to find the “force-strong” pilot who destroyed the Death Star (Luke Skywalker), takes him to Quarantine World III, Kallidahin Space, where he finds rogue archaeologist, Doctor Aphra, who he believes can help him in his plans. We’re also introduced to protocol droid, 0-0-0, or “Triple Zero, if you prefer.” Like all protocol droids, Triple Zero has a quirky sense of propriety. It is however one of his specialities that really grabbed my attention, torture. You heard right. Just imagine a sinister C3-PO. Makes me giggle just thinking of it.

Kieron Gillen has been doing a tremendous job on this series, with it being one of the writers best Marvel project. Showing a keen understanding of the Star Wars Universe, and it’s characters, whilst also delivering a grippingly unique tale, Gillen certainly knows how to capture the attention of this fan, with the introduction of new characters leaving a lot to think about. The writer also shows great creative flair, as though the pacing of the issue is at times a little stagnant, the different personality within this newly formed “alliance” balance one another brilliantly.

The artwork on this series can be summed up in one word, sensational. Though Salvadore Larroca is known for his amazing work, I feel he’s at the peak of his career on this series, with the way he captures the emotion of Vader (given the fact he wears a helmet) being nothing short of mesmerizing. The artist also manages to give great depth to the surroundings, as in true Star Wars fashion, it manages to give a rustic, yet eye catching tone to the events. Additionally, the colours of Edgar Delgado also continues to impress, with the bold, textured style allowing for an immersive feel to this tale.

Darth Vader #3 does a wonderful job of developing on it’s already intriguing plot, with the introduction of Doctor Aphra and Triple Zero allowing this tale to diverge further from the normal Star Wars pattern. The mixture of personalities also allows for great balance, with certain areas of some being more joyful than the others.