Inside The Force: A Star Wars Podcast

Doctor Aphra #8 is the fifth and final issue of the Star Wars crossover event, “The Screaming Citadel.” The entire story began with a one-shot issue, followed by Star Wars #31-32 and finally wrapping up with Doctor Aphra #7-8. The final chapter, written by Kieron Gillen, who is no stranger to writing some twisted tales, pulls no punches here. I really enjoy the Doctor Aphra series and this was another good issue. However, this entire crossover feels less like a Star Wars story and more like a horror story with Star Wars characters. There’s nothing wrong with that, if fact it is quite good, just unexpected for a Star Wars story.

Luke is now infected with the creepy bug like symbiote and he reacts much differently than most due to his growing Jedi powers. This is the final showdown at the Citadel of Ktath’atn versus the Queen and it showcases just a hint of what it might look like if Luke even breifly turned toward the dark side. One thing I love about Aphra is that she is easily more underhanded, conniving and self-serving than Han Solo could ever hope to be but has that same gnawing sense of morality, despite all the terrible things she does. That comparison is not lost on the other characters in the book either. Gillen does a masterful job making Doctor Aphra a super complex character that you never really know whether to love or hate her.

Luke’s interaction with the consciousness of the ancient Jedi Rur is eye opening and helps Luke decide if the hope of training under Rur is the best option for him. While Luke struggles with both the Queen and Rur, Han is locked in his own battle with the hive mind. If I have one complaint about this issue it’s how Han deals with the hive mind infecting him. It falls a little flat for me. It feels like Han’s ability, in the end, shouldn’t be so similar to how a Jedi can fight it. It’s definitely not the same but it’s in the ballpark.

Beetee and Triple-Zero do the cleanup and use their violent homicidal natures in the name of good. Strange, I know, but Gillen makes these droids more than just violent aggressors. Gillen continues to expand ever so slightly on the past relationship between Doctor Aphra and Sana. There is obviously a lot of story there to explore and Gillen hopefully has plans for it in the future. Doctor Aphra is a great character and the more stories we get with her and the original characters the better. But, Aphra can stand alone for sure.

Finally my thoughts of this entire crossover as more of a horror story. Gillen and Jason Aaron, who wrote the Star Wars issues of the crossover, both have a plethora of experience writing strange, horrifying, violent and gruesome comics.They used much of that experience in this series. “The Screaming Citadel” had characters with powers to control others not infected with the hive mind, the hive mind itself, creepy, disgusting symbiotes, violence (both graphic and implied), the Queen played out more like a witch, plenty of blood and even a Friday the 13th-esque twist ending. Again, none of this is a bad thing but it’s a far cry from space battles and the Empire considering this story falls between episodes IV and V. That said, Gillen and Aaron were the perfect two to pull off this kind of story. I highly recommend reading the entire “The Screaming Citadel” crossover. It’s a fun, interesting, action packed detour in the Star Wars universe.

DOCTOR APHRA #8
Marvel
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Andrea Broccardo

Official Description from MARVEL:
“THE SCREAMING CITADEL” — PART 5 Jedi! Symbiotes! Rebels! Murderbots! Smugglers! Archaeologists! This one has it all! But can any survive the horrors of the Screaming Citadel?

The new Darth Vader series in a single word is awesome! Written by Charles Soule it starts off at the end of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and launches into what will become Vader’s search for a new lightsaber.

Normally I review comics an issue at a time but since I’m behind on writing reviews for the new Darth Vader series, here’s a two for one. First off, I am a big fan of Soule’s writing, how can you not be? He writes nearly 1000 titles a month! (Kidding, but it’s a lot.) Now he tackles Darth Vader and his quest for a new lightsaber. Now before I get too far into the story, it’s been mentioned to me by several Star Wars fans that issue #1 tones down Vader screaming “NO!” after learning of Padme’s death from how it was in the movie. Sure, the letter just wrote, “NO!” and not “NOOOOOOOOOO!” I can see how people might feel that way. It can be an interpreted by each individual reader and that’s what makes reading fun kids. But, I heard how it sounded in the movie and it’s still sticks in my head the same way when I read a “altered” version on the page. So to each their own. On with the review!

After Vader falls to the floor in anguish the Emperor hits him with force lightening ordering him to defend himself with his lightsaber. Vader tells him it was lost in the battle with Obi-Wan. Needless to say the Emperor is not happy and so begins the history lesson of a Sith’s lightsaber and the hunt for a new one. We learn also why a Sith’s lightsaber is red, and so as not to spoil it for those who don’t know, it has to do with the fact that Kyber crystals are alive. The answer the Emperor gives is great and it’s well played out. Soule does a great job cutting between scenes of Vader and the Emperor and Mas Amedda giving a speech praising the Emperor while destroying all the lightsabers recovered from the dead Jedi.

So why not just take one of the many lightsabers Mas Amedda collected? Vader knows full well that his new saber must be taken and not given. Vader is dropped off by the Emperor in the Mid- Rim to seek out a Jedi on his own and take the Kyber crystal for himself by defeating a them in battle. It’s a very interesting plot line since the Emperor knows it’s a formidable task since he and Vader have just finished eradicating the Jedi from the galaxy. Issue #1 ends with Vader recovering his ship that the Emperor left him and was stolen by unknown thieves. Plenty of action and Vader doing what Vader does best, plus Vader has an awesome looking ship! Great first issue and great dynamic artwork by Giuseppe Camuncoli.

There is a back-up story in issue #1 and it’s a fun comical and very cartoony piece about Vader’s knee jerk reaction to his Generals failing him. Not mandatory reading but cute by writer Chris Eliopoulos and artist Jordie Bellaire.

Issue #2 starts off on the Mid-Rim Jedi Outpost designated as “Brightome.” Clone troopers man the outpost with the task of making an inventory of what is described by clone trooper named “Kicker” as “Jedi junk.” Soule does a great job here making clone troopers relatable. They no longer feel like soldiers but more like disgruntled workers in a dead end job now that the war is over. Bemoaning the fact that survived so many missions in the war and now are basically doing data entry. They goof around with lightsabers mocking the Jedi and worry that the time of the clone is over now that they heard the facilities on Kamino are shut down.

When Vader arrives the clones assume that the action has returned and they can fight once more. Vader does nothing to stop those thoughts by announcing himself. Instead he stays eerily quiet and ready for a fight himself. Soule adds a nice touch continuing to have Vader’s droid remind him over and over that he has the docking codes needed for a safe arrival. Vader just wants his weapons systems active. The action is very well paced and bears an the uncanny feel of when Vader first boards Princess Liea’s rebel ship at the beginning of Episode IV. Very well drawn again by Camuncoli as he leads you through the battle.

Soule continues to put lightsabers in front of Vader and he can use them but he can’t make them his own. You can almost feel Vader’s frustration over this at times. From here Vader tasks his droid to search for any living Jedi. It’s very well explained through the dialogue between Vader and his droid how this is possible and it’s dramatic and lighthearted at times even for Vader. While the droid searches two clone troopers attack Vader, and again as not to spoil anything, it’s intense. In the end Vader’s full power is Kyber crystal clear.

Vader’s only hope to find a living Jedi is to search data on any Jedi who took, what Vader calls, the Barash Vow prior to the purge. Vader goes on to explain that any Jedi pursuing the Barash has sworn off any activities related to the Jedi order. They are completely disengaged from anything but the Force. It’s a type of penance. Any Jedi who took this vow may have not gone into hiding after Order 66. I’ll leave the outcome for readers to experience (or until I review issue #3) but rest assured it’s well worth reading for yourself. By the end you’ll be chomping at the bit for issue #3.

Darth Vader’s new series is off to a great start and Soule does a masterful job walking you through a lot of expositional dialogue and making it interesting and even exciting at times. Not a boring page to be found. Camuncoli art leaps off the page during battles and his take of Vader is powerful. As a Star Wars fan I learned a lot of new elements about the Jedi and Sith and Vader’s quest is sure to be an adventurous one in the hands of Soule and Camuncoli. Highly recommend picking these first two issues up!

Marvel

Writer: Charles Soule

Artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli

Official Description from MARVEL:

The most fearsome villain of all time returns with an all-new series! When Anakin Skywalker fell, both to the pull of the dark side and to the blade of Obi-Wan Kenobi, he rose back up, more machine than man. Having lost everything that was once dear to him, the former chosen one must take his first steps into a darker world… as Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith! Join Vader as he learns a new way – the way of Darth Sidious and his newly formed Empire… the way of the dark side.