Monday Art Attack: Various Famous Characters by Jack Kirby and Michael Thibodeaux

Review: Darth Vader #9

Title: Darth Vader #9

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Cost: $3.99

Storytellers: Kieron Gillen (writer) with Salvador Larroca (artist)

Doctor Aphra and her hired bounty hunters steal a fortune from the Empire, on the Outer Rim, near Son-Tuul. After acquiring their loot, the bounty hunters and the good doctor split the take and they all go on their separate ways. However, Aphra has doubled crossed the bounty hunters and kept a larger portion of the ill-gotten gains secreted away on a nearby asteroid. Vader arrives, having been in on this raid, which now gives him some currency, with which he can buy bounty hunters and fund his own growing army. Back with the Imperials, Vader is place on the case of the stole loot and is given a new adjunct by Tagge, however this new inspector is very observant, and could prove to be a thorn in Vader’s side in the future.

Another brilliant issue of Darth Vader, but one which barely features it’s title character. I really love the side characters that have been added to the Star Wars universe though this series, especially Aphra and her homicidal droids, so I don’t mind when these characters are the focus of an issue. Vader is slowly building resources, but ultimately, to what end? I’m not sure, but I can’t wait to see how he uses them! Another great issue with an awesome story and gorgeous art!

Review: Darth Vader #7

Title: Darth Vader #7

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Cost: $3.99

Storytellers: Kieron Gillen (writer) with Salvador Larroca (artist)

This issue opens with Vader, and his entourage, exploring the remains of Luke’s home on Tatooine, a place Vader knows well, as he was there when he was called Anakin. Vader finds little clues and with the good Doctor’s help, they destroy the home and all evidence. Fast forward to Son-tull, where Vader and the Empire attack and kill a known Spice dealer and confiscate all the goods. Vader then visits with a representative of Jabba, whom the Empire is leaving in “control” of his sector. In the end, we visit a nearby tavern and battle arena, where several of the galaxy’s most dangerous bounty hunters have gathered, contacted by Doctor Aphra, in hopes of convincing them to take a mission that will make them all rich.

Another good issue of Darth Vader, where we get into the head of the title character some more and see him decimate his foes! This issue is mostly a transition/set-up issue, giving us the start of a new storyarc, so not much is actually going on here. What I want to know, is Doctor Aphra working independently with the bounty hunters or is this another job that Vader is giving her? I guess only time, and the next issue, will give me the answers I need!

Review: Darth Vader #6

Title: Darth Vader #6

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Cost: $3.99

Storytellers: Kieron Gillen (writer) with Salvador Larroca (artist)

At the Emperor’s request, Vader is forced to do battle with Cylo V’s cybernetic-enhanced warriors. Cylo believes that the Force is a crutch and that cybernetic-enhanced soldiers is the future. We get to know more about these “heretics”, as Vader calls them, but ultimately the Emperor stops the battle once he’s seen enough. He’s impressed that Vader has built himself a secret army, but is still weary that Vader hasn’t truly proven himself, especially after how the Emperor found him on Mustafar. Vader returns to his ship and learns that Boba Fett wants to meet. Later, Fett tells Vader that while he didn’t acquire the target, he did discover the pilot’s name…Skywalker. Vader dismisses the bounty hunter and while remembering Padme and his creation as Vader, and what the Emperor told him, filled with anger, Vader destroys part of his ship and vows to find his son!

Another great issue of Darth Vader, one where we get to see Vader take on warriors that are equally matched to him. I do like Cylo’s cybernetic warriors and hope to see more of them in future issues of either this series or Marvel’s other Star Wars titles. The end to this issue is incredible and crosses over with the ending of Star Wars #6, making this feel like the conclusion to one massive storyarc that transpires over both series. Once again, this series displays beautiful art with a fantastic story, as with the previous entries in this series, this issues is…

Review: Darth Vader #5

Title: Darth Vader #5

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Cost: $3.99

Storytellers: Kieron Gillen (writer) with Salvador Larroca (artist)

Vader and his new droid army make it to the facilities, where the Emperor is supposed to be training Vader’s replacements, however, they are located in the Outer Rim and on the backs of giant “space whales”. Vader uses his droid army as a distraction and gets inside one of the facilities, where he battle two lightsaber wielding twins, who have no Force potential. Just as Vader’s about to kill one of them, Cylo, the man Vader had interrogated for this information steps forward. Apparently he is now Cylo-V, one of many clones of Cylo. Cylo has been training, odd, individuals for the Emperor, who also happens to be aboard the facility. These, individuals include the twins, a woman with tech spheres, a Trandoshan and a Mon Cal, all of whom have special or unique abilities/gifts/skills, but no Force powers. In the end, the Emperor wishes to see something interesting, and unleashes all of the students on Vader.

An odd, but interesting twist to this awesome Darth Vader storyline! I can’t wait to see what, and who, these individuals are and what they can do. A story like this could only be told in the pages of a comic, which is why I love some of the Star Wars expanded universe. A great issue with a solid story and great art. This one is…

Review: Star Wars #4

Title: Star Wars #4

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Cost: $3.99

Storytellers: Jason Aaron (writer) with John Cassaday (artist)

As Vader puts up with Jabba the Hutt and continues to make his deal with the gangster, so that the Emperor can get some of Jabba resources for the Empire, the Rebellion is deciding it’s next action. With limited supplies and man power, the Rebellion High Council doesn’t want to take on dangerous missions, as Princess Leia does. She believes that Luke is the key, but the fledgling Jedi is unsure of himself and his powers and leaves in order to find himself and learn to be a real Jedi. On Tatooine, a mysterious bounty hunters of sorts is after Han Solo, while another bounty hunter, Boba Fett, is asking around about Ben Kenobi.

Another great issue of this new Star Wars series by Marvel. This series can’t always be high action, so it was nice to see the Rebellion meet and discuss their next plan while Luke has a crisis of faith, so to speak, as Han and Chewie rebuild the Falcon. We also see a lot of Vader, especially his time with Jabba, which seems to be uncomfortable for the Dark Lord. All-in-all, a great issue with a good story and great art.

Review: Darth Vader #4

Title: Darth Vader #4

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Cost: $3.99

Storytellers: Kieron Gillen (writer) with Salvador Larroca (artist)

Lord Vader and Doctor Aphra make it to Geonosis and discover that the planet has been bombed by the Empire. Aphra has searched for the droid factories, but has come up empty handed. The two continue their search and come across an immortal queen, who is sterile, but is using the factories to create children for her. Vader quickly defeats the Queen and battles her ramshackled droids and together with the Doctor, they steal the portal factory. Using the factory, Aphra starts to build Vader his secret army, but realizes her usefulness to Vader has ended and knows that he’ll kill her. She requests it be quick, but Vader does not go through with it, as she may still prove to be useful in the future, but should she cross him, he will end her. One of the bounty hunters that Vader hired, the Wookie, has returned with the Emperor’s mysterious contact. After getting Aphra’s scary protocol droid to torture the information out of the contact, he discovers that the Emperor has several replacements for Vader lined up, and acquires their location!

Another fantastic issue of Darth Vader! I never thought that I would enjoy a series from the perspective of the Dark Lord of the Sith, but I do and this series works very well. The story is intriguing, full of action and interesting characters, and features some great art as well. If you love Star Wars and Darth Vader , then this is the series for you!

Monday Art Attack: May the Fourth Be With You! Darth Vader vs Doctor Doom by Alex Ross

I’m not excatly sure why this piece of art exists, but I love it! It could be a combination of two different pieces, I don’t know and really don’t care! Who do you think would win between these two armored villains? Magic vs the Force? Super Science vs a Lightsaber?

Review: Darth Vader #3

Title: Darth Vader #3

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Cost: $3.99

Storytellers: Kieron Gillen (writer) with Salvador Larroca (artist)

Vader tracks down a female explorer, thief and droid expert, Dr. Aphra, who is stuck in a tight situation. After saving the doctor, Vader watches her repair murderous versions of C-3PO and R2-D2, which displays her talent and her desire to complete her mission. Vader hires the doctor to acquire him a loyal army, as he is trying to gain some private resources. The doctor agrees to help him, and it looks as if she plans on going to Geonosis to create a battle droid army for the Dark Lord.

Once again, my synopsis doesn’t do this issue justice, as it most focuses on Doctor Aphra and her mission to recover a droid chip and her “interview” for Vader. The Doctor is an interesting character, one I hope stays around for a bit. I like seeing Vader sacred of the future, thinking that the Emperor might be working against him, seeing as how he failed to protect the Death Star. This issue features both a great story and gorgeous art, and should not be missed!

Monday Art Attack: Skottie Young Star Wars Connecting Variant Covers, Marvel Launch