Review: Dark Droids: D-Squad #1 - R2-D2s Adventure Is Outshone By Ajax Sigmas Origin Story

It was a surprise to see one of the main series in the Dark Droids crossover arc be named after one of the most controversial story arcs from The Clone Wars -- D-Squad, where R2-D2 was part of a small team of droids on a mission against the Separatists that lasted four whole episodes -- but I have to admit I was intrigued to see R2 get his own series in a crossover arc all about a new droid threat to the galaxy.



Unfortunately, D-Squad #1 is not the droid comic series I was looking for. At least, not yet. Its goofy tone will immediately turn off a lot of curious readers, as it is far more interested in dull physical comedy and childish humor than it is telling an engaging adventure story. Perhaps that will come once R2 finishes assembling his team (we only meet half of them in this issue) but as it stands, this comic will appeal far more to children than adults (though I admit, every Star Wars fan will be highly entertained by the interaction between R2-D2 and Chopper).



Surprisingly, the bonus story at the end of D-Squad #1 is far more appealing, which details the origins of Ajax Sigma, the fully autonomous ancient droid warrior priest from the main Dark Droids comic. The Book of Ajax is set just before the events of Dark Droids #1, where Sigma details his history in a conversation showing flashbacks to the High Republic and even his confrontation with Luke Skywalker, which was first detailed in the Revelations one-shot comic last year.



This story is far more interesting than anything that happens in D-Squad, as we see Ajax Sigma display some very human-like qualities and wrestle with his violent tendencies. Having led a revolution for droid freedom back in the High Republic, it seems the droid still has some anger issues when it comes to organics and Jedi in particular. It seems he has put those feelings behind him by the beginning of Dark Droids, but how long will he fare upon his next test of wills?



Presumably Ajax Sigma will not have another story in the next issue of D-Squad though, which leaves me with little hope for the rest of this series.



Spoilers ahead...



MARC GUGGENHEIM (W) • SALVA ESPÍN & DAVID MESSINA (A) Cover by AARON KUDER



D-Squad #1 picks up with R2 floating through space, moments after being jettisoned from an airlock by a possessed C-3PO. He quickly discovers a way to propel himself through space with his fire extinguisher attachment and finds himself bouncing through an asteroid field. This visual gag would have worked very well in one of the more child-oriented episodes of The Clone Wars and might appeal to children reading this issue, but I found it tiresome.



R2 conveniently discovers WAC-47, a pit droid secretly piloted by Colonel Gascon in the D-Squad Clone Wars arc. WAC-47 happens to be heading through the system making a delivery and R2 quickly commandeers his ship and heads to the Iego system, as it is the closest sign of life. It would have been much better had he sought out the droid, but for some reason writer Marc Guggenheim settled for this contrived coincidence instead which is barely believable.







It is here where he stumbles across Chopper in yet another contrived development, whom he presumably remembers from their first meeting in Star Wars Rebels. That said, they've probably had a few other interactions as part of the Rebel Alliance over the last few years. It is genuinely fun to watch the two sassy astromech droids get irate with each other, as R2 demands Chopper's help only to be rejected by the one droid ruder than he is. Chopper reveals that he is on his own secret mission and is far too busy to help with whatever R2 is dealing with, but does point out that a violent protocol droid bearing a resemblance to C-3PO was recently spotted on Gallios.



Predictably, that droid turns out to be none other than Triple Zero from the Doctor Aphra series, who is in the middle of killing some organics when R2 and WAC-47 show up. The issue ends there, with no introductions as yet for 4-LOM or IG-88. Perhaps there would have been time if the issue hadn't spent the first 10 pages showing R2 floating through space.







The Book of Ajax is a much more entertaining and concise story in comparison. Ajax narrates a story that begins with his own droid uprising on the moon of Kligson during the High Republic, which was cut short by the Jedi (possibly led by Loden Greatstorm). It's easy to sympathize with Ajax, who is fighting against the injustices that come from being a droid, but we see him lament on his rageful past. Star Wars often likes to teach us that anger and violence are an easy path to take, but one that will always end in failure. Ajax Sigma comes to the same conclusion, though we see that it is not always easy for him to relinquish that anger, as we humans often find.



He mentions that his memory core was buried on a remote planet for years by Han Solo and Chewbacca, before eventually being recovered by Symon, a droid who fought under him on Kligson.



What is interesting here is that Symon still harbored the rage that Ajax had long since dealt with, eager to resume the fight against organics now that his old leader had been found and rebuilt. He was shocked at Ajax's decision to remain hidden instead of taking the fight to humanity and has become a constant irritant in the droid cult, always agitating for a fight. It would not be a surprise if he successfully riles up the rest of the droids while Ajax is off fighting the Droid Scourge.







Ajax then recounts a more recent tale, when he returned to Kligson's moon and the site of his failed revolution. The locals there recognized him from folklore and things only escalated from there. Ajax initially defended himself but it seems his past trauma took over and he massacred them, pursuing them to a ship.



We then see an abridged version of his interaction with Luke Skywalker, which was first shown in much more detail in last year's Revelations comic. I find it odd that this wasn't acknowledged in the main Star Wars comic run after the Kezarat Convoy arc, and as someone who decided to skip Revelations initially, I found this interaction equally surprising and confusing. Anyone looking to read The Book of Ajax should absolutely read Revelations first.







Ajax feels ashamed by his violent instincts, which are reignited again when Luke ignites his lightsaber and the two fight, with the droid proclaiming that he'd been aching to fight a Jedi ever since his defeat centuries ago. Interestingly, Ajax felt that he could have defeated Luke, but decided to flee instead after the fledgling Jedi damaged him. It seems that the wound was a reminder that he should be better than his past self.



It's a great story that sets up a fascinating arc for Ajax Sigma in Dark Droids, but sadly overshadows the events of D-Squad's first issue.


<p style='text-align: center;']Rating: 6/10</p>




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