So this is a continuation of a graphic novel series that I started last year. I remember being mildly impressed with the story and the tightrope walk in the balance of the titular character. I mean, it’s not easy hanging out with Darth Vader during his most Vader-y time and still sympathize with him. I liked the initial volume so decided to give this one a chance. While it’s not emotionally investing and it’s not addictingly captivating, it’s starting to become essential reading in order to tie the prequel trilogy to the original series. We get glimpses and insights into Vader’s arc enough so that it makes the character more fully fleshed out, which is a tall order to do for the Dark Lord.
The plot continues Vader’s mission of finding and killing all the Jedi which were able to evade Order 66. These are minor skirmishes compared to the overarching plot of the attack on Mon Cala as well as Vader constructing his fortress on Mustafar. These by far are the more developed plot lines while tracking Jedi seem to be peppered into it from time to time. While I appreciated the attack on Mon Cala as a way for the Empire to initially flex its might, the real heart of the story, and the most compelling plot, is on Mustafar. While I didn’t feel that Lord Momin was particularly fleshed out as a character, I still saw him as really one of the only legitimate challengers so far for Darth Vader, aside from Tarkin, but the reader already knows how that relationship plays out.
The structure of the volume is constructed by the various series being collected as well as a last annual to conclude it. The rendering, again, is just okay. I’m not thrilled by it, but it’s not amatuer either. I still don’t fully like the way the Emperor is portrayed, but I think it’s significantly better than the original volume if memory serves. The way the comics are constructed isn’t groundbreaking, but at the same time, we’re not really here for that. We’re here for the story.
The two characters that really stand out in this volume are Tarkin and Momin. Darth Vader, while there was some struggle in the beginning, is largely to his evil, murdery self at this point. One of my favorite parts in the volume was the cat and mouse game that Vader requests from Tarkin. He literally has Tarkin and a few Bounty Hunters try to track and kill him on some remote planet. Slowly and methodically, Vader dispatches the group until it’s just Tarkin standing and while Tarkin appears to have the upper hand at the end, Vader’s might is still felt. I really appreciated this section because it comes from Tarkin’s perspective and shows how he was probably the second most deadliest soldier in the Emperor’s arsenal. That and his thought process for invading and capturing Mon Cala go a fairly long way in showing how intelligent, methodical, and deadly Tarkin was. It also goes to show the initial relationship that Vader has with Tarkin. While the original series made it feel like there might be a mutual respect and understanding between the two, it’s really just the Emperor’s directive to have Vader report to Tarkin that starts it all off. Maybe they’ll develop that relationship further, but so far it’s only acrimonious.
The other character that really stuck out was Lord Momin, mostly because they wiped out most of the legacy Dark Lords of the Sith, and therefore he is official. While he could have been developed a little better, he was still an interesting character. I appreciated how he felt like he was an artist and his only patron was the dark force itself. I thought his scheme to create a work of art filled with the frozen, petrified faces in an entire city was particularly macabre. I guess he was just okay because he’s immediately caught and then dies when his ship explodes. That was rather anticlimactic. Also, while I did appreciate that he haunts his helmet, the helmet itself wasn’t particularly spooky or memorable. I thought it was interesting how he is the one that really designed Vader’s castle and the thought process behind putting it on Mustafar other than it’s the place where he lost to Obi Wan (aka, it’s a dark side nexus that Vader thinks can open a portal to the dead to see Padme).
I also liked the dream sequence when Vader is initially knocked out from the explosion at the castle before Lord Momin returns to life. The way he’s depicted, almost godlike with the internal conflict within him externally represented, was a very intriguing visual. There were hints and glimpses of more artistic license taken, but they surely aren't the majority of how the graphic novel ultimately looks and feels. When they do come, however, they are appreciated.
All in all, I appreciate this graphic novel and do think it’s solidified itself as essential reading for filling in the gap between the prequel and original trilogies. Taken as a whole, they help to layer the characters we’ve only really been with for a few hours on the scene. For me, this series helped me better understand Tarkin, which was appreciated. The addition of Lord Momin was interesting, if ultimately not as rewarding as one would hope, but maybe it’s because he’s the new canon so there’s a lot riding on it. The creation of Vader’s castle on Mustafar was the most intriguing plot, but the assault on Mon Cala was okay. It’s greatly helped by showing off Tarkin’s military prowess and cunning. The depiction of Vader remains more static than the first volume, but the story’s intriguing so it’s forgivable. If there are more, I will most certainly pick them up!