Comics Commentary: Darth Vader #3

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Darth has a doctor’s appointment.

Spoiler Alert: This article discusses plot details of issue #3 of Marvel’s new Darth Vader series and contains minor to major spoilers for the series overall.

Darth Vader #3

Writer: Keiron Gillen / Artist: Salvador Larroca / Colorist: Edgar Delgado / Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramanga / Cover Artist: Adi Granov

If adventure has a name, it must be…Dr. Aphra.

Darth Vader #3 features an opening sequence of panels that are reminiscent of the opening scenes of The Raiders of the Lost Ark. Dr. Aphra, an archeologist, uses her guile and wits to carefully avoid the automatic traps and defenses left to protect an artifact known as the “Triple-Zero Matrix.” Like Dr. Jones of Indy fame, Aphra inadvertently sets off the traps and flees from the space-age catacomb in an escape that screams Indiana Jones all the way down to a rolling droideka that doubles for the boulder that chased Indy out of the temple in Raiders. Right after her escape, an alien named Utani Xane, playing the Star Wars equivalent of Dr. Belloq, relieves Aphra of the Matrix over her protests. I wouldn’t have been surprised if Utani told Aphra that “Again we see there is nothing you can possess which I cannot take away.” Then Darth Vader arrives, and Aphra’s fortunes change.

This issue is largely an introduction to the next phase of the story being told in the pages of Darth Vader. In the past issues, we have learned that Vader has fallen out of favor with the Emperor, and has now been made subordinate to Grand General Tagge. While engaged in a subtle power struggle with Tagge, Vader has secured the service of Boba Fett and the wookiee bounty hunter Black Krsantan’s to find the Rebel pilot that destroyed the Death Star and find the mysterious agent employed by the Emperor for reasons unknown to Vader. This story leaves those matters aside while Vader sets about securing his own loyal troops and resources. The majority of the action in this issue occurs within the first ten pages of the book, while more of the important plot details are provided in the second half. Therefore, this book reads like an earlier chapter in a larger story whose purpose is to introduce new characters. This issue does not disappoint and delivers several new interesting additions to the series.

The first, and most important, new character is Dr. Aphra. As previously mentioned, she is a rogue archaeologist, and in some ways, the less conscientious, female version of Han Solo and Indiana Jones. Unlike Han Solo, Aphra does not appear to be jealously protecting a heart of gold, and unlike Dr. Jones, Dr. Aphra has less than noble desires when it comes to collecting artifacts. She is much more self-interested. Issue two introduced the figure of Aphra in passing, as the pirates noted that she was proficient in acquiring and providing exceptional droid resources. This is a specialty for Dr. Aphra, and unlike Indiana Jones, Aphra has no interest in preserving her ill-gotten treasures in a museum.

Much like Evaan in the Princess Leia comic, I find Aphra intriguing. Her type is opposite that of the typical Imperial lackey, which is to say either a male Imperial officer or a gruff bounty hunter. She is both intelligent and capable, and is the next in a line of superb female Star Wars characters that includes Ahsoka, Sabine, Hera, and Evaan. To my knowledge, she has not been introduced to serve as anyone’s love interest. Gillen could have easily written Aphra as a male character for this story, and it would have made sense, but the role does not require any particular gender. Seeing as how the series was lacking a female presence, Aphra is a very welcome addition. My only real complaint about Aphra right now is that her dialogue with Vader attempts to replicate the manner in which Han would address Leia (e.g. “Your Illustriousness?” “Sir Darth Vader”), but it comes off kind of clumsy. Perhaps these lines would be better delivered on screen by an actor rather than read from the comic panel.

The other significant new characters are two droids: Triple-Zero and BT-1. Triple-Zero is a protocol droid of the same model as C-3P0. However, after Aphra installs the Triple-Zero Matrix, the protocol droid becomes something else entirely. He is best described as a protocol droid combined with an assassin subroutine. For those familiar with the Knights of the Old Republic video games, think HK-47 minus the interesting syntax and outright loathing for organics. BT-1 is a Blastomech prototype. Aphra explains to Vader that while it can pass for an astromech, BT-1 is actually a specialized assassin droid. Triple-Zero was acquired by Aphra with the intention of activating of BT-1 after a number of modifications were made to his programming. BT-1’s first instinct upon activation was to eliminate Aphra and Vader, but he stands down after an admonishment from Triple-Zero.

Darth Vader has a curious interest in Aphra, and the feeling appears to be mutual. The book plainly illustrates the violence Vader inflicted on others in his quest to locate her. When he finally finds her, Vader exercises restraint and he is in fact considerably gentle with her. Aphra admits that surviving BT-1’s activation and Vader’s presence is a nerve-racking experience, and she experiences an epiphany. Like Han Solo, who is loathe to admit it, she has been looking for something more than just the next job even though she didn’t realize it. Unlike Solo, she chooses the dark over the light. When Vader explains that he needs his own resources, Aphra does not hesitate and eagerly commits herself to his service.

Larocca’s art on this series continues to impress me. The Arc Angel, Aphra’s ship, is impressive. Its design is unique, but very much Star Wars. Triple-Zero looks exactly as a protocol droid should, and BT-1 is a fine looking blastomech. Larocca’s work gives Aphra’s escape from the traps on Quarantine World III in Kallidahin a real sense of urgency, danger, and finally relief. However, my favorite series of panels in the entire book occurs when Aphra has her epiphany about serving Darth Vader. Aphra admits that Vader makes her nervous and she is also recovering from a few tense moments after BT-1 activated when it was unclear whether the droid would attack and what destruction Vader would wreak in retaliation. As Aphra recovers and speaks, she pulls herself together, rises from the floor, and pledges her service to Vader. In this scene Aphra goes from wise-cracking adventurer to something more serious. While the dialogue is fine, the art gives it credibility.

The issue concludes with Aphra committing herself to aiding Vader and formulating a plan to further Vader’s mission to acquire “troops of unquestioning loyalty.” Aphra tells Vader that she knows where to find them, but there is a catch. The troops in question are restored battle droids, and they are stored on Geonosis, which is under close Imperial scrutiny. This will require a secret mission, and potentially a conflict between Vader and whatever Imperial forces stand watch at Geonosis. Taking a page from the Princess Leia series, this issue ends with Vader, Aphra, and the droids on the way to the next stop on their mission.

I thoroughly enjoyed the homage to Indiana Jones in this issue. The tribute was completed with care and while the influence was obvious, it wasn’t overblown. This series has established a great pace and has done a wonderful job exploring Vader’s motivations and journey from A New Hope to The Empire Strikes Back.

Upcoming:

• April 1, 2015—Kanan: The Last Padawan #1
• April 8, 2015—Darth Vader #4
• April 15, 2015—Princess Leia #3
• April 22, 2015—Star Wars #4