Star Wars: Darth Vader #31 Review

Darth Vader #31 Cover by Rahzzah

 

This review originally published on The Comic Book Dispatch.

Darth Vader #31 Review

Writer: Greg Pak

Artist: Ibraim Roberson

Colorist: Federico Blee

Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna

Publisher: Marvel

Price: 3.99

Release Date: February 8. 2023

 

Dormé, Rabé, Saché and Eirtaé once served Queen Padme on Naboo. Now they help Darth Vader rescue Sabé from rebel leader Jul Tambor. Can these former royal handmaidens free their friend without falling under Vader’s influence? Let's dive into Darth Vader #31 and find out.

 

 

Story

Plagued by memories of their final meeting on Mustafar, Darth Vader wishes Padmé had helped him overthrow Palpatine and rule the Empire. So on the planet Brentaal, separated from Sabé, Vader strives to win her friends' loyalty. As he once reasoned with her, he shares his wisdom with them and uses them to battle Jul Tambor’s droid forces. All the while, he argues how much they could accomplish together. Fraught skirmishes lead to an explosive final battle until evil writer Greg Pak leaves the reader on tenterhooks. 

 

 

All this reminds me of how hard Anakin worked for Padmé to forge the life he wanted in Revenge of the Sith. As Vader argues with her friends, battles Jul Tambor’s forces, and strives to rescue Sabé, I wonder if he now sees her as his life partner. Vader's determination makes me remember how Palpatine manipulated the Jedi Order and an entire democratic republic into a war that killed billions and still rages on. 

 

Had Padmé stood beside him, could he have overthrown Palpatine and forged a government that would prevent events such as the blockade of Naboo in The Phantom Menace and the current rebellion led by Jul Tambor, the grandson of the Techno Union leader Anakin killed on Mustafar?

 

Sabé’s friends remind me of Luke in Return of the Jedi as they refuse to be swayed by Vader’s arguments. But how can they not doubt their preconceptions when he makes so much sense? Might Sabé--won over by Vader's arguments--become the partner that Padmé couldn’t? Or has Vader used Jedi mind tricks to make her his puppet? Perhaps regular readers can better answer those questions than I can, having started this series with Darth Vader #31.

 

 

Art

Volcanic fire warms Anakin and Padmé’s features as he reasons with her on the planet Mustafar. Her features soften until she melts in his arms. Words encased in a red rectangle within black panels reveal Vader’s heartbreak that their final meeting ended differently. Unlike at the end of Revenge of the Sith, we see Vader rage within his armor as he realizes he has lost Padmé forever.

 

 

On the planet Brentaal, Vader marches from his shuttle down a verdant hill, the handmaidens and a droid arrayed around him. Hints of pink tinge the cloudy sky to suggest the danger to come. A small building surrounded by speeder bikes reminds us of the much larger Massassi Temple on Yavin 4, from which a smaller fighting force overthrew Grand Moff Tarkin and Darth Vader’s Death Star. 

 

Inside, Vader reasons with the women as he once did Padmé. A bald Umbaran--reminiscent of Count Dooku’s apprentice Asajj Ventress from TV's Clone Wars--aids him. Her gravelly voice echoes off textured metal, angled surfaces, and dark wall areas illumined by glowing instruments. Holograms bring Vader and the Umbaran’s arguments to life.

 

 

Explosions transform walls into debris-spewing infernos that reflect their radiance on people and interior surfaces. Blaster fire temporarily illumines the smoky haze of battle and pales before the intensity of Vader's lightsaber. We often view the four handmaidens in off-angle panels, making us wonder if they can resist Vader’s influence.  

 

Darth Vader #31 40th Anniversary Return of the Jedi Cover by Chris Sprouse

 

Jul Tambor’s green skin, bronze armor, and blue clothes and cape reinforce his commanding presence. The rebel leader unleashes panels filled with more dangers and energy than in any scene in Revenge of the Sith. Yet nothing threatens Vader’s power in Darth Vader #31. Everything—his words in black dialogue balloons, his gestures that direct the Force, and every sweep of his lightsaber—emphasizes his overwhelming power and authority. 

 

Darth Vader #31 Black History Month Cover by Mateus Manhanini

 

Final Thoughts

This issue will test everything you thought you knew about Star Wars. No bad acting, unbelievable special effects, or humorous “Roger rogers” will distract you from Vader’s persuasive arguments or the intense battle sequences. Atmospheric and detailed art visualize this gripping battle of wills that could change the future of the Star Wars universe. Darth Vader #31 reminds us of the allure of leaders who promise to end the unfairness and create a better, more equitable world.

 

Rating 9.5/10

Space Job #1 Review

Space Job #1 Cover by Alvaro Sarraseca

 

This review originally published on The Comic Book Dispatch.

Space Job #1 Review

Writer: David A. Goodman

Artist: Alvaro Sarraseca

Colorist: Jordi Escuin Llorach

Letterer: Mauro Mantella

Publisher: Dark Horse

Price: 3.99

Release Date: February 8, 2023

 

After working on a space station for five years, assistant chef Danny Sheridan receives orders to transfer to the S.S. George H.W. Bush. Will serving as First Officer aboard a spaceship prove as satisfying and rewarding as he dreams? Come aboard Space Job #1 with me and find out!

 

Story

We share Danny's anticipation as he watches his new ship approach. It may look no more impressive than Commander Quark's garbage scow, but Danny can't wait to join the crew. Nor can he wait to flex his new power. Rank hath its privileges, after all. If he doesn't like what he finds there, he'll make reforms!

 

Who doesn't enjoy watching someone realize their dreams? Sadly, the story abruptly shifts gears. A few pages pass before we find our feet. We follow Operations Officer Travis Biggins, who believes he should have become First Officer. Captain Olivier reprimands him for things Travis believes are not his fault. The beautiful Chief Medical Officer doesn’t return his feelings. Unlike Danny, he doubts the space service will deliver on its promises.

 

By the end of the story, the reader may share Travis' doubts about the worth of spending more time aboard the S.S. George H.W. Bush. There’s certainly something going on here, but what? Writer David A. Goodman laces his subtle storytelling with deadpan humor. There’s also a mystery to explore. But will the reader care if the crew doesn’t? The cover art speaks volumes about the general atmosphere aboard this crazy ship.

 

Art

I appreciated Letterer Mauro Mantella's large upper-case font. Even when characters lower their voices, the font doesn't shrink much. Mauro reveals characters' thoughts through colored narrative boxes, and dialogue with pleasingly spherical balloons. I wished Mauro had provided more sound effects and stressed the occasional intonation with bold lettering.

 

Exterior space scenes evoke the awe of 2001: A Space Odyssey. The interior of the S.S. George H.W. Bush reminds me of life aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise in the TV shows Discovery and Strange New Worlds. Artist Alvaro Sarraseca conveys Danny’s enthusiasm and Travis’ resolution among this ill-trained and disconnected crew. Characters’ thoughts rise like holograms to help us see imagined situations.

 

Colorist Jordi Escuin Llorach gives space and planets color and interest. Shading and darker colors add depth to characters and interiors without descending into muddy grays. The lighting—both in space and inside the station and ship—also impresses. Life aboard the S.S. George H.W. Bush may not be glamorous, but Jordi’s lighting and coloring make me want to serve aboard her. That is, assuming I could put up with the oafish Captain Olivier and had more faith in Frank, the Chief Engineer.

 

Final Thoughts

Nice touches abound in Space Job #1. A few include colorful Star Trek-style uniforms with a NASA-like logo, and names reminiscent of characters on Babylon 5 and Star Trek Enterprise. Fans of The Office may feel well served by Space Job #1, but readers who yearn to boldly go may end up feeling Lost In Space.

 

Hopefully, the next issue will address seeming inconsistencies, water the seeds of mystery planted in Space Job #1, and include a consignment of dilithium crystals to propel the series to warp speed.

 

Rating: 7.5/10

 

To see the preview art for this issue, see my review at The Comic Book Dispatch

 

Monarch #1 Review

 

Monarch #1 Cover A by Alex Lins

This review previously published on The Comic Book Dispatch

Monarch #1 Review

Writer: Rodney Barnes

Artist: Alex Lins

Colorists: Luis Nct & Mar Silvestre Galiotto

Letterer: Marshall Dillon

Publisher: Image

Price: 3.99

Release Date: February 8, 2023

 

Travon is one of the lucky ones: an orphan who found a loving home with kindly Miss Wilamae and his new sister Marli in Compton, California. Fellow orphan Zion terrorizes Travon every day, unwilling to let him forget that Travon’s gain comes at the expense of his missing out on school and the foster system. When a strange cloud settles over the Los Angeles area, changing their world forever, can the two set aside their differences and face the future together? Let’s dive into Monarch #1 and find out!

 

Story

Movies like Independence Day and Battle: Los Angeles, and TV series like V and “Falling Skies, have accustomed us to the idea of alien motherships raining death and destruction upon the City of Angels. But it's not a familiar pretext that determines whether a reader will enjoy a particular story, but what the storyteller does with it.

 

Writer Rodney Barnes holds our interest by focusing tight on Travon. We see the world through his young eyes. Travon found his place by working hard at school, looking after his young adoptive sister, prizing his friends, and returning his foster mother’s affection. His nemesis Zion, unable to do these things, blames Travon because the system failed him.

 

Rodney also makes this oft-told tale unique through story structure. First, we see the aliens attack his school. Then he backpedals to Travon’s life before the attack. Finally, he ends with Travon scavenging for food and resources. He overlays this 2^nd Act/1^st Act/Final Act structure with narration from a seemingly older, wiser Travon. It’s a difficult juggling act to pull off successfully, but the reader never feels lost. By the end, we see how Travon’s journey has prepared him for life in this alien-dominated world.

 

Art

Alex Lins employs a relaxed style. Characters are drawn realistically and convey emotion well. Shadows and the occasional silhouette add substance and drama. Action lines accentuate character motion and explosive force. Trees sway in the breeze, and papers flutter to the ground. While he apes a child’s style, Alex makes every panel count. Standouts include Travon gazing out the window through his reflection at the vast, angry cloud hanging over his city and the cloud reflected on the lenses of Travon’s glasses.

 

Luis Nct, assisted by Mar Silvestre Galiotto, colors Travon’s world in soft, muted tones. Pastels color the outside world, while earth tones warm rooms in Travon's home and school. Colors clash during acts of graphic violence but never sensationalize. Luis and Mar's limited color palette aids Alex's homey drawings to suggest that Travon relates his story with the few art materials available.

 

While Marshal Matt Dillon upheld the law on TV's Gunsmoke, letterer Marshall Dillon corrals our attention with his easy-to-read upper-case lettering. Colored narrative boxes and pleasingly spherical dialogue balloons help us follow Travon’s flight from aliens, return the love of his family, stand up to his nemesis Zion, and take responsibility for his friends. Marshall stresses the occasional word with bold lettering. His font never shrinks when characters lower their voices but grows for shouts. Sound effects, while rare and subdued, get your attention.

 

Final Thoughts

This coming-of-age story covering the trials of inner-city foster children reminds us of the need to let go of injuries and rejection to embrace the possibilities life offers. Through a multi-layered storytelling approach, Monarch #1 transforms a familiar premise into a beautiful and unique reminder about the fulfilling and freeing power of acceptance and love.

 

Rating: 9.5/10

To see the preview art for this issue, see My Review at The Comic Book Dispatch

Minor Threats #4 Review

Minor Threats #4 Cover by Scott Hepburn

 

This review previously appeared on The Comic Book Dispatch

 

Minor Threats #4 Review

Writers: Patton Oswalt & Jordan Blum

Artist: Scott Hepburn

Colorist: Ian Herring

Letterer: Nate Piekos of Blambot

Publisher: Dark Horse

Price: 4.99

Release Date: February 1, 2023

 

The death of Kid Dusk, sidekick to premier crime-fighter the Insomniac, turns life in Twilight City on its head. Lesser criminals unite to take down the Stickman, the murderer who sees the city as a stage in which he orchestrates a symphony of poetic slaughter and destruction. Meanwhile, the Insomniac’s fellow superheroes—collectively known as the Continuum--turn the city into a police state. Over-the-top violence and haunting pathos fill the final chapter of this brash new series.

 

Story

Writers Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum remind us that a code of morality and loyalty must exist among criminals. Otherwise, there would be no need for law enforcement, as the villains would end up destroying each other. That proves the case here, as betrayal by one member has led to the Minor Threat’s capture by the Stickman. With their very bodies booby-trapped, the supervillain sends them on a mission. Can the Minor Threats avoid getting blown up, turn the tables on the Stickman, and halt the Continuum’s Reign of Order?

 

Oswalt and Blum keep the spotlight on the Minor Threats in this issue, with the Continuum mostly relegated to the background. Even Insomniac, the superhero whom grief has turned psychotic, only makes an appearance at the end. While the opening reminiscences may make reader suspect who betrayed them, the revelation nonetheless comes as a surprise to the team.

 

There’s a healthy dose of black comedy in this final issue. This Golden Age Heroes Gone Wrong story feels like the 1960s Batman TV series filmed not for family-friendly laughs, but in the style of The Watchmen. What makes this story even more shocking is the breathless pace of this four issue series, which all takes place within one day.

 

Art

Readers will find the storybook quality to Scott Hepburn’s art jarring yet whimsical. Ian Herring’s strong colors enhance Hepburn’s portrayal of a classic superhero world turned toxic. The brutal action and graphic violence in Minor Threats #4 is likely many times more outrageous than anything members of the Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency ever saw in 1954.

 

Is it ironic that the Minor Threats continually refer to the Code that supposedly guides them? Is it a strange that these villains seem more dedicated to following their Code than their superhero counterparts? Is it weird that the Dream Cavern, the Insomniac hidden lair, is filled with mushrooms, and a large fish tank reminiscent of James Bond megalomaniacs like Doctor No and Karl Stromberg?

 

Much to muse upon, and delight in, can be found in Hepburn and Herring’s art.

 

Final Thoughts

Minor Threats #4 delivers a brash and bracing story filled with whimsy and humor. The dark satire, filled with inventive over-the-top plot elements, will keep Mature readers delighted from beginning to end. Readers seeking kinder, gentler, stories—along with crusading book burners and social reformers—should look elsewhere for their next superhero fix.

 

Rating: 8.5/10

 

To view the preview pages, visit my review on The Comic Book Dispatch

Star Wars: Sana Starros Review #1

 

Star Wars Sana Starros #1 Cover A by Ken Lashley

 

Note: This review was previously published on website The Comic Book Dispatch

 

Star Wars: Sana Starros #1 Review

Writer: Justina Ireland

Art: Pere Perez

Color Artist: Jay David Ramos

Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham

Publisher: Marvel

Price: 4.99

Release Date: February 1, 2023

 

When everything in your life’s going wrong, it’s tempting to go home. That’s what Sana Starros chooses, when a perilous heist on an Imperial world fails to deliver on her expectations. Yet despite the beauty of her homeworld, there are signs that this visit with her family will prove less restful than she had hoped.

 

Story

Writer Justina Ireland launches us into this cosmic romp from the very first page, and has you chuckling by the second. Her smart, witty banter lightens the tone, yet doesn’t distract from the action as Sana battles Imperial Stormtroopers. Sana’s return to her homeworld brings more exciting action, and a comforting reunion with her family. Yet subtle clues hints that the lives of Sana’s family members—her grandmother, aunt, and cousin—are every bit as complicated as her own.

 

Ireland delivers up plenty of dialogue, yet the writing never seems wordy. Not only does she help us understand and empathize with the characters, but we’re falling in love with them as well. When trouble comes—as it always does in the Star Wars universe—we’re instantly rooting for Sana and her family. Hey, I even want to know more about her wrinkled friend Jand, a fellow thief who prizes things Sana readily dismisses.

 

The size of letterer Travis Lanham’s uppercase font never taxes the eyes. His restrained use of bold letters helps us hear the character’s intonations. Colorful sound effects enhance the action. Even when they call attention to themselves, they celebrate the action gloriously.

 

Art

The penciling and inking of Pere Perez help imbue the comic with the big screen cosmic scenes the Star Wars films are known for. Characters are drawn believably, and the filled-in backgrounds and excellent use of shadows give this book a cinematic look. Even on the rare instances that a panel focuses solely on a character’s head, the background is filled with texture that reminds us of the film’s lived-in quality. 

 

When the story moves to Sana’s homeworld, Perez reveals a planet that we want to know more about. His portrayal of Sana’s family home suggests a very unconventional upbringing for Sana, without spelling out exactly why the “home” looks the way it does. Like writer Justina Ireland, Perez’s art makes me want to know more about the everyday lives of this fun and caring family.

 

None of this takes away from the coloring of Jay David Ramos, which is excellent throughout. His soft, rich palette gives this issue a warm, comfortable feeling. Space glows with distant, burning stars, and light sources and direction bring warmth to the characters. Even blaster bursts display color and richness. 

 

And when Ireland needs to fortify the action and drama with a little backstory, Ramos imbues those scenes with a softer tonality, while still providing depth and appeal.

 

Final Thoughts

Sana Starros #1 may not be a perfect comic. No matter how well writer Justina Ireland paves the way, when Sana gets into trouble, she opts for an over-used plot device to escape and turn the table on her attackers. Secondly, one character also comes off as two-dimensional. Lastly, sound effects such as BAP BAP and PEW PEW struck me as inadequate expressions of blaster-fire.

 

Yet these seem minor quibbles for a story filled with a rich cast of characters, exciting action, and jaw-dropping beauty. The way the story opens at the end suggests the infinite possibilities this series could deliver. Sana Starros #1 is a beautiful, heartwarming comic that celebrates diversity and the mythic storytelling of the beloved Star Wars franchise. Don’t miss it!

 

Rating: 9.5/10

 

P.S. If you'd like to see the preview art, head over to my review of Star Wars: Sana Starros #1 at The Comic Book Dispatch. Thanks for reading.

Preview: Star Trek Strange New Worlds: The Illyrian Enigma #1

 

Cover A by Megan Levens

 

Hailing all Star Trek fans!

When you watched the original series two-part episode "The Menagerie," or the unaired pilot, "The Cage," did you wonder what Captain Christopher Pike and his crew did next? The new Paramount+ series Star Trek Strange New Worlds covers Pike's continuing adventures. Some of the characters have changed. The series has been updated--spectacularly so--for today's audiences. Nonetheless get to follow Pike, Number One, Spock, and other fan favorite characters like Dr. Mbenga, Nurse Chapel, and a young ensign Uhura on their ongoing interstellar voyages.

If you've watched the Paramount+ series, this comic picks up right where the first series left off. If you haven't yet watched Star Trek Strange New Worlds, but are familiar with "The Menagerie" or "The Cage," I calculate a probability of 98.423% that the comic's strong story and art will still draw you in. I picked up the first issue last month, and felt so strongly about it that I wanted to share it with you. 

I'm a little late, but here it is: the first few pages of Captain Pike's ongoing voyages. Enjoy!

Did this preview ignite your antimatter engines? If so, head down to your local comic shop and pick up your copy of Strange New Worlds: The Illyrian Enigma #1 to see what happens next. And if you enjoy the first issue, let the good folks there know so they can pull a copy of the following issues for you. Hey, it's only logical.

Star Trek Lives!

Dragon Dave

The Strange New World of Saguaro National Park West

 

 

Venture into Saguaro National Park West, and you step into the Land of the Lost. Giants guard this barren world. Called Saguaro Cactus, they tower over puny Humans like you and me.

 

Once in danger of being cut down and lost forever, Saguaros now guard this swath of desert outside Tuscon, Arizona. Their silent vigil reminds us of an earlier time, before the incursion of civilized man.

Yet not all of this forgotten landscape is relegated to earlier times. Explore beyond the well-trodden paths, particularly in the less-visited months, and you'll discover a quiet land, populated by denizens such as the Gila Woodpecker. This puny resident pecks cozy homes into this land's giant guardians.

Once its eggs hatch, and the Gila Woodpecker moves on, other species, such as the elf owl, may come along and discover a new, ready-made home inside the mighty Saguaros.

 

Outside Saguaro National Park West, Tuscon's local comic shops also offer strange new worlds to explore. Some of the journeys they'll propel you on may surprise and delight you.

 

Like Saguaro National Park West and the elf owl, you'll never know what wonders you might discover, until...

Dragon Dave

Diana Wynne Jones on the Magic of Doorways

 

Portmeirion, UK

 

In Diana Wynne Jones' novel Howl's Moving Castle, the wizard Howl has a magical door. Even though his castle roves the land of Ingary, he's not limited by his home's current location. With a twist of the knob, he can push open the door, and step out into the village of Market Chipping, the seaside town of Porthaven, the capital city of Kingsbury, or even his childhood hometown in Wales. 

Although Diana Wynne Jones was born in London, England, she was evacuated to Wales during World War II. Like wizard Howl, she could call that part of the United Kingdom (UK) home. Perhaps Howl's ability to visit his hometown whenever he wished bespoke Wynne's love for the land of her youth. 

 

If so, it would seem that, like Wales, doorways also held a special magic for her. Ordinary doorways separate a home from the street or the garden. In an interview in the back of her novel, she mentioned that she usually kept interior doors in her home open, just to prevent another place turning up on the other side of them.

No place is that more likely to occur than in the Welsh village of Portmeirion in Jones' beloved Wales. Sir Clough Williams-Ellis designed the village so that every possible viewpoint could present a strikingly different scene. It remains a village that invites photographers, filmmakers, and artists to share his colorful and evocative vistas with the rest of the world.

 

If I had a front door like the wizard Howl, I would love to adjust the knob and return to the idyllic Welsh village of Portmeirion. But for now, I think it best to adopt Diana Wynne Jones' view on doors. Every time I go outside, I step into a place in which anything is possible.

A world in which I can make anything happen.

Dragon Dave

Sedona Sunrise

 

Five years ago, during our last visit to England, we stayed in a bed-and-breakfast in Harrow, where a friendly Indian couple took good care of us. The man seemed very intrigued by our explorations of his country. "I've never been to some of these places you've visited," he told me.

If, like us, he were to take a trip halfway across the world, what place would he like to visit in the United States? His first choice: Sedona, Arizona.

 

Due to the pandemic, the war in the Ukraine, and the troubled airline industry, my wife and I have elected to drive to nearby locales for our vacations. We visited Sedona twice last year, and both times, the touristy nature of the community oppressed me. But this year, I was able to see past that, and enjoy our time there. 

 

We stayed in the village of Oak Creek. Everyday, we went out for a walk. Somedays we explored the residential streets. But several times, we struck out on the walking paths surrounding Bell Rock, and walked through the arid wilderness.

 

 

Too often, and especially since March 2020, I've longed to return to England. This time, I was finally able to embrace Sedona, and view it like others do: as a place of healing and rebirth. This change of mindset allowed me to look at many things in my life differently. 

There's not just one ideal place. There's not just one path to follow. Our world offers innumerable opportunities. Explore them all!

Dragon Dave

In Awe of Tuzigoot

 

Tuzigoot National Monument was not carved into a cliff. Nor was it sprawl across a plain. It was built atop a hill overlooking the Verde Valley, and stood several stories high. 

From the safety of their hilltop community, the ancients descended to forage and hunt. They planted crops. They called this hill home for centuries.

 

From their hill, you can gaze out upon their surroundings. Although much has changed since people called Tuzigoot home, the land to one side remains arid, while the other is still marshland. Knowing how and where water flowed--when it flowed in this desert landscape--helped them capture and harness it. This knowledge also helped them avoid its potentially devastating effects. For even today, in the Verde Valley--despite all our ability to access the latest weather information--the unwary still die in flash floods.

 

 

Their time has long passed. Yet life still flourishes in the Verde Valley. You can observe it, as they once did, if you choose.

 

Visitors return to this ancient site every year. Descendants of those ancient inhabitants work with the National Park system to carry out regular repairs to the stonework. They may not rebuild the structures made of wood and other less durable materials. Yet they preserve the foundations, and keep the ancient hilltop community safe to visit. 

 

 

My wife and I observed these members of our land's first nations during a visit last year. This year, they had moved on, to another site in need of preservation. Still standing after a thousand years, and inhabited for longer than the United States has been a nation, Tuzigoot National Monument still inspires.

Dragon Dave