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SPOILER REVIEW: Marvel's Star Wars Darth Vader #4

Discussion in 'Star Wars: Books & Comics + Legends' started by Kyle, Apr 8, 2015.

  1. Kyle

    Kyle Guest

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    Screenshot_1.jpg

    The thing about cliffhangers is, well, they are cliffhangers. Sometimes they are abrupt and jarring. Sometimes you shout out loud "No! Don't stop now!". And other times, you applaud the storyteller for giving you just the right dose of build-up that you are actually excited to spend your days imagining what will happen next as the climax to the yarn that's been spinning approaches.

    With that said, Darth Vader #4 left me with all those feelings by the end. This is my favorite issue of the series so far, but I think the best is yet to come.

    Screenshot_2.jpg

    Vader is back on Geonosis. It is presumably his first time since the first battle that ignited the Clone Wars in Episode II, especially since we are made privy to some memories of that day going through his head. He is accompanied by his new acquaintance Doctor Aphra, as well as her two droids, and they are looking to do some digging.

    We have heard about Geonosis several times since Episode II, and thanks to James Luceno's Tarkin novel, we know much of the planet and it's inhabitants played a crucial role in the construction of the first Death Star. In all those shout outs we have yet to actually SEE what became of the planet after it fulfilled its usefulness to the Empire. The Emperor, out of anger for the Death Star's flawed design or just to cover his tracks, has laid waste to the planet with some sort of biological weapon (that is never said, just my guess). The survivors have been supposedly driven to the underground caverns, so the two droids are sent into the darkness as Vader's canaries, searching for a functioning droid factory.

    Screenshot_3.jpg

    The little astrodroid turns out to live up to the ominous hints given in the previous issue. Let's just say the droids have little trouble clearing a path for their masters.

    My only gripe with this issue is the pretty blatant rip-off of James Cameron's Aliens. If you have seen that film, you will know exactly what I am talking about when Vader and Aphra arrive at the Geonosian Queen. She is the only survivor of the planet and has made the drioids in the underground her new "race". I'm going to assume that the series writer Kieron Gillen is paying homage to another great sci-fi story, because it mirrors a certain moment in Aliens almost to the last detail.

    Screenshot_4.jpg

    Of course, up until this point, I almost forgot Darth Vader was one of the most powerful Sith Lords to ever live, so let's just say he doesn't have much of a problem procuring the droids for his endeavors. Just as soon as he and Aphra arrived on Geonosis they are back in space, pondering the next move.

    Doctor Aphra shows that she is no BS and very much a realist when it comes to who she is dealing with as far as Vader goes, and what her life is worth in his cause. Some pretty interesting moments between the two of them as she suggests he just kill her due to her usefulness running out. Perhaps it was the planet she was just on, littered with countless corpses of a species that outlived its usefulness, that made her realize the Empire does not make friends. Again, artist Salvador Larocca shows his skills in coaxing Vader's reaction through his one dimensional visage. Either way, we see Vader has found an ally in a series so far that has made him something of an outcast of the Empire. Aphra is his only fan, so he's apt to find some usefulness for her.

    Screenshot_5.jpg

    I will not be discussing the end of this issue. I'm sorry, it's that intriguing and that good of a cliffhanger. You need to read it for yourself. If for some strange reason you are reading this review and have not yet read the preceding issues, get your hands on this and all the others so you can get ready for issue number 5. The only thing I will say is we are reacquainted with that strange looking fellow we met in the Emperor's throne room, as well as finding out what he has been up to.

    Also, I think have a good idea whose lightsabers those are on the cover of issue #5.

    Screenshot_6.jpg
     
    #1 Kyle, Apr 8, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 8, 2015
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  2. JediMasterJackson

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    I loved this issue. Vader's "Yes" and "No" lines were perfect. I'm really looking forward to how this is going to play out.

    Possible Spoilers



    the lightsabers may be Vos and Ventress? they are ashokas colors but i doubt shes alive at this point.
     
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  3. Voxx

    Voxx Jedi Hero of Legend

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    Ahsoka uses white-ish lightsabers now, so it probably is Vos and Ventress.
     
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  4. Kyle

    Kyle Guest

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    You literally read my mind
     
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  5. NDCAtokR

    NDCAtokR Rebelscum

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    Actually, Anakin was present at the Second Battle of Geonosis as well.
     
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  6. Kyle

    Kyle Guest

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    From a certain point of view...;)
     
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  7. NDCAtokR

    NDCAtokR Rebelscum

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    If you are implying from the "Official Canon" point of view, then yes, I agree.
     
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  8. Viral Hide

    Viral Hide Elite Guard from Yinchorr
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    Pics are up. Thanks Kyle.
     
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  9. Darby

    Darby Rebel Official

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    This issue was awesome on so many levels.
    Also, does anyone else think the Emperor wanted Vader to find out about this? Why else would he have had that meeting in his office with Doctor Cylo IV immediately after speaking with Vader? Palpatine is much smarter than that.
     
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  10. Kyle

    Kyle Guest

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    Thank you!
     
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  11. Hard Case

    Hard Case Porg Whisperer
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    Palpatine is testing Vader. If (which he will) he prevails over his "rivals", then he will be accepted back into the Emperor's good graces. But the seed of mistrust and doubt has been planted in Vader's mind with Palpatine's betrayal. This is a big factor I think in Vader's plot to find and turn Luke and with him overthrow the Emperor. This issue was great. I really like the Aphra character. 000 is interesting as well. I love the morbid idea of C-3P0 torturing someone (which is basically what we have here). The throwback to AOTC was great. After all these years, we see that the memory of Padme still haunts him, along with his mother as revealed from issue #1. This is probably my favorite issue to date and i can't wait for #5. As for the Ventress / Vos theory...I doubt it. It will probably be a new character that he confronts at Cylo's base. A tease for sure, but I doubt it will be either of the two Clone Wars characters. Anyone else note the similarity between "Cylo IV" and "Kylo"?
     
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  12. NDCAtokR

    NDCAtokR Rebelscum

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    What I also found interesting that no one has really seemed to pick up on would be the reference to a superweapon that was used to sterilize Geonosis...
     
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  13. JeffG.

    JeffG. Ewok Hunter
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    Let's say for a moment that those two sabers belong to Voss and Ventress. Is this a suggestion that they've fallen to the dark side and now are the Emperor's puppets and possibly Vader's replacements or are they being lured into a confrontation with Vader via the Emperor through some type of design he's created? I know we don't know the ending of the upcoming V and V novel but I think it may be more than a coincidence having the same colored lightsabers that are featured on the cover of the book. Just a thought and on the other side of the coin I could be wrong.
     
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  14. Darby

    Darby Rebel Official

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    I kind of hope it isn't them. That'd be a bit of a spoiler (the two of them both surviving and still working together in whatever capacity) of the novel.
     
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  15. Darth Cylon

    Darth Cylon Rebel General

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    On the comment about the Geonosian Queen being too similar to Alien. That was how I felt about the Queen when she was introduced to us during the Clone Wars. The Geonosians are bugs like the Zenomorphs of Alien so it makes sense for them to have a hive mind mentality. This is also not Vader's first time on Geonosis since EP 2. He was there during the Clone Wars and he actually came face to face with a Queen during that story arc.
     
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  16. JeffG.

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    Big spoiler. I agree.
     
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  17. Hard Case

    Hard Case Porg Whisperer
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    geonosian_queen.jpg

    Anakin and Obi-Wan facing off with the Geonosian Queen "Karina the Great" in season 2 of Clone Wars in an attempt to rescue Luminara Unduli. Vader came to finish what he couldn't 20+ years ago in this issue. I love how the new comics are bridging everything together...the OT...the PT...Clone Wars. Very Nice.
     
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  18. Skywalker

    Skywalker Clone

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    I can't believe no one is making a big deal out of my favorite part of the issue: the ship that Vader is using at the end!
     
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  19. Voxx

    Voxx Jedi Hero of Legend

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    What is it???
     
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  20. Chairman Kaga

    Chairman Kaga Rebel Official

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    Padme's old Nubian cruiser?
     
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