Darth Vader #16 Review

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Vader returns from his crossover adventure in Vader Down. Here’s what happens next.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Darth Vader #16.

Darth Vader #16

Writer: Kieron Gillen | Artist: Salvador Larroca | Colorist: Edgar Delgado | Letterer: VC’s Caramagna | Cover Artist: Mark Brooks

Following the events of Vader Down, Darth Vader has returned to Coruscant to report to Emperor Palpatine. Vader has brought a larger container with him. Upon seeing this, the Emperor mocks Vader by asking him if he has brought him a present. Vader responds by throwing Commander Karbin’s body down in front of him. Karbin was the Mon Calamari cyborg minion of Cylo and a rival for Vader’s spot in the Empire. The Emperor’s response and resulting story results in one of the better issues of Darth Vader for its portrayal of the relationships between the Sith, the art, world building, and achievement in storytelling through Larroca’s art and Gillen’s writing.

This introduction to the episode once again highlights the machinations of the Sith. The Emperor questions whether the wounds Karbin has suffered were inflicted with a lightsaber. Vader sidesteps the question by replying that if the Emperor really wants Vader to prove himself, he should give him a fight worthy of his time. In response, the Emperor informs Vader that he is returning to Shu-Torun with an invasion force.

Shu-Torun is the planet Vader recently visited in Darth Vader Annual #1. In that issue, Vader assassinated the entire ruling family of Shu-Torun, as well as many ore barons, except for the youngest royal daughter, Trios. The ore barons had been in open rebellion, and the royal family intended to set a trap to kill Vader and appease the barons. Naturally, Vader foiled their scheme. Initially intended as a sacrifice by the King, Queen Trios was appointed by Vader to rule the family and supply the Empire with much needed raw materials. However, despite the brutality with which Vader suppressed the rebellion before, the ore barons seem not have gotten the Empire’s message and have begun a second rebellion.

As Vader turns to leave the meeting with his master, the Emperor tells him two more things. First, Cylo himself will be accompanying Vader at Grand General Tagge’s insistence. Vader asks why, and the Emperor smacks him down by reminding him once again that there is a plan, the Emperor is the master, Vader is the student, and the Emperor will explain himself when he deems appropriate, which apparently is after this mission is over. Second, the Emperor concludes the meeting by telling Vader that he relies on him more than he understands.

The departing statement is fairly surprising given recent events. The Emperor has gone out of his way to humble Vader lately by subordinating him to Grand General Tagge and elevating Cylo’s minions to his equals. He has insisted that Vader prove his worth and place in the Empire, but now he is openly stating that Vader is significant and important to his plans. The Emperor’s sentiments seem a bit contradictory, but more than likely, it is all part of a bigger plan that the Emperor will reveal at a time of his own choosing. One can only speculate that the Emperor does not sincerely intend for Cylo’s minions to provide a competent challenge to Vader, and they have a different purpose than what has been revealed thusfar.

The story moves to Shu-Torun. Vader, the Queen, and an army of Stormtroopers witness the destruction of an AT-AT. Vader chastises the Queen for being present at the battle as it is quite dangerous, and he is unsure of whom could replace her should she perish. Her response is a nice bit of world building about Shu-Torun politics. Vader killed her entire family. Therefore, she must fill all the roles of the royalty. Queen Trios’s sister was the War Minister. With her death, Queen Trios must be present at the battle or nobody will respect her. The irony is that the ore barons apparently do not respect her already as they are in rebellion.

The Queen and Warlord, as she calls herself, insists that they must retreat in the face of a strong ore baron force. Vader abruptly explains that this attack is a show of force and takes the fight to the ore-barons. The attack is a distraction, and another of Cylo’s minions, Voidgazer, has used the attack to position explosive drones in the ceiling of the chamber above the ore baron’s forces. On Vader’s command, the drones explode, and molten ore cascades on to the ore baron’s platform. The one complaint I have with this issue is that the ore baron’s forces are largely limited to the appearance of the station. No soldiers, attack vehicles, or weapons appear in the pages of this book. It is almost as if the old television production trick is being employed where the villains are kept off screen, but their presence is felt simply by the reaction of the heroes, or in this case Vader and the Empire’s, to their blaster fire. Panel space is at a premium, but it would have been preferable to see the forces of the ore barons.

The Queen is taken back by the destruction of the platform, which is a delving station. These stations are key to the refining of materials on Shu-Torun. This becomes an issue later when Vader explains they will continue to destroy these stations if the barons continue to rebel. The Queen is disturbed by this proclamation. If the stations are destroyed, then Shu-Torun will not be able to fulfill its obligation to produce resources for the Empire. She has another complaint: Vader’s actions demean her in front of her subjects. She wants and needs respect if she is to capably rule Shu-Torun. Vader compromises. He will give her the illusion of respect in public, and she will not question his commands in public. She says “it’s a deal,” but Vader reminds her, “No. It is simply how it will be.” Chastised, the Queen departs.

At the end of this issue, Vader’s droid companions are revealed to be intact. Triple Zero and BT-1 have accompanied him to Shu-Torun. At Vader’s command, they begin a broadcast with Vader’s identity shielded. Vader is speaking to a collection of bounty hunters. The collection of bounty hunters include the usual suspects from Darth Vader. Black Krrsanton and Beebox are present. Chanath Cha, who was last seen in the employ of the Emperor during the Lando miniseries appears to be among the assembled hunters. Zuckuss and Dengar are a few classic hunters also in the group. Vader has a job for them, and the target is an old ally: Dr. Aphra. He wants her found and returned. He knows she is in the hands of the Rebels. He has set a large bounty on her, and in response to an inquiry, he states whether she is returned dead or alive matters not to him. Loyalty is not enough for Vader. Usefulness is no longer enough for Vader. Aphra has become a liability in the hands of the Rebels, and that cannot stand.

Favorite Panel:

Larocca’s art is quite good this week. The panels featuring the AT-AT being taken out by a powerful blaster shot are impressive. The collection of bounty hunters at the end of the book bring an element of The Empire Strikes Back into this book. The final panel of Vader gazing upon a hologram of Dr. Aphra while proclaiming he cares not whether she lives or dies is powerful and chilling from both an art and storytelling perspective. Even more, it is striking and captivating. I am definitely reading into the art, but it almost appears that Vader has some regrets proclaiming that Aphra must be returned dead or alive. She has proven useful and his most loyal ally in recent times. Still, she knows too much about Vader, and therefore, she cannot be left in the hands of the rebels. The achievement of this panel is somewhat dependent upon the preceding panels, but it is remarkable given that Larroca and Gillen cannot employ facial expressions when drawing Vader. That is the favorite panel for this issue.