Darth Vader #12 Review

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The Sith do appreciate talent.

This article contains spoilers for Darth Vader #12.

Darth Vader #12

Writer: Kieron Gillen | Artist: Salvador Larroca | Colorist: Edgar Delgado | Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna | Cover Artists: Larroca and Delgado

There she is, trapped in the clouds around Anthan Prime. Dr. Aphra faces the unpleasant reality that it is only a matter of time before the Empire sends in an armada of TIE fighters and bombers to locate and destroy her or worse. And then, just like that, the fleet disappears. Not quite the dramatic resolution to Dr. Aphra’s predicament that one could hope for after the conclusion of Darth Vader #11. However, Darth Vader has done it, he has figured out a way to get Inspector Thanoth off of his and Aphra’s trail.

To summarize all that has come before this penultimate issue in the second arc of the Darth Vader series, in his attempt to regain the Emperor’s favor and his rightful place at his side, Darth Vader has tracked down and conscripted Dr. Aprha into his service. At first reluctant, the archaeologist has become his willing servant. Thus far, the pair has created a droid army for Vader and secured a large source of funding by staging a raid on an Imperial starship transporting a large sum of Imperial credits. Grand General Tagge, now Vader’s superior, has collected a number of enhanced individuals to compete with Vader in the Imperial hierarchy. Furthermore, Tagge has assigned Inspector Thanoth to Vader as an adjutant, and their first assignment was to discover the parties responsible for the theft of the Empire’s credits. Vader has been forced to sabotage Thanoth’s investigation, but despite his efforts, Thanoth had finally caught up to Aphra in the clouds of the Anthan system.

The trump card that Vader plays to get out of this mess is to dangle a larger prize in front of Thanoth. At the same time the pair learned of Aphra’s identity (as far as Thanoth knew it was the first time they both learned of her identity), they learned of the location of a Rebel cell known as the Plasma Devils. Vader lets the suggestion hang that pursuing Aphra would be a waste of resources when they know the location of the Rebels that have caused so much trouble for the Empire lately. Thanoth then runs with the logic that pursuing the Plasma Devils is the better course of action because the loss of face if the Rebels get away will be so much greater. Vader lets him think it is his own suggestion to pursue and destroy the Plasma Devils, which Vader does in epic fashion.

Although it isn’t an explicit answer, the question of who was spying on Darth Vader and Dr. Aphra appears to have been resolved in this issue. Karbin, the cyborg Mon Calamari that resembles General Grievous, was spying on Vader and Aphra to find leads as to the location of Luke Skywalker. Karbin was one of Tagge’s new underlings that has developed a rivalry with Darth Vader. The issue concludes with his discovery that Vader is headed to Vrogas Vas to find Luke. This development was surprising and cleverly disguised. In a prior issue, a small probe droid was seen hovering behind Vader. The identity of the one responsible for sending the spy was not revealed. With all that was going on in the previous issues, the reasonable expectation was that Thanoth had been spying on Darth Vader. However, in retrospect, it makes perfect sense that it was Karbin. If he had any idea that Vader was still investigating Luke’s whereabouts, why wouldn’t he spy on Vader to complete his mission? In addition, he knew Vader was obsessed with finding Luke given Vader’s reaction to Grand General Tagge when the job was assigned to Karbin in the first place. The execution of this story element was well handled.

The side effect is that Thanoth is not as impressive as he once appeared. The adjutant inspector always appeared to be on to Vader and one step ahead of him. His statements to Vader about a patron and finding out who was Aphra’s superior looked like he was openly taunting the Dark Lord of the Sith with the knowledge of his plans. In the end, Thanoth’s abilities look much more limited. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the minutiae, but apparently he cannot use that knowledge to extrapolate and deduce facts about the larger picture.

To a degree, the resolution of this story line with Thanoth is disappointing. Thanoth’s investigation is a story line that probably lasted an issue longer than it needed. However, he represented an obstacle that Vader was most likely going to need to overcome through his cunning. In the end, Vader simply persuaded Thanoth to pursue a juicier target on the grounds that it was a higher priority mission for the Empire. While that is true, it is surprising that someone of Thanoth’s apparent faculties could not manage to figure out how to succeed in both missions. On the other hand, perhaps he did, and he is more cunning than he appears. Maybe he will come back into Vader’s story at some point in the future and put together all the pieces of the puzzle at a time most inconvenient for the Sith Lord.

Vader’s final panels with Dr. Aphra demonstrate some growth by the Sith Lord. Vader has always been quick to dispose of those that he deems to have outlived their usefulness. Furthermore, he has always been quick to make that judgment. Aphra’s tasks have largely been completed. She helped him find resources in the form of money and a personal army. She helped him locate Luke Skywalker. She did everything that he had planned for her to do. At this point, Vader could consider her a liability given everything she knows. Yet, he does not kill her. Vader remarks that he has grown to appreciate talent over the past few days, and therefore, he lets her live. As much as this is a compliment to Aphra, it may also be a slight towards Thanoth. Also, this may explain why Admiral Piett is permitted to live in the original trilogy films despite multiple failures when the likes of Admiral Ozzel are terminated so quickly. Vader recognizes and appreciates talent.

The story now turns to Vader’s pursuit of Luke. Karbin is in pursuit. In addition, the next arc will be told as a crossover event between Darth Vader and Star Wars with an introductory issue titled Vader Down.

Favorite Panel:

Salvador Larroca still draws the best Darth Vader. The Dark Lord doesn’t get many panels of action in this issue, but when he does, it is incredible looking. Vader commences his assault on the Plasma Devils by throwing his ignited lightsaber at a fleeing Y-Wing. Vader looks threatening and powerful, and that is this issue’s favorite panel.

One last aside: this issue includes yet another silent Vader reaction shot. Not sure what I’m talking about? Go back and read my review of Vader #11. I’ve come to count on one in every issue.