MLGG: Pop Culture News, Reviews & Interviews

Though this could have relied far too much on what may seem like a gimmicky premise, Darth Vader: Black, White & Red’s first issue is incredibly impressive.

An anthology series, showcasing a variety of creators tackling the very familiar Dark Lord of the Sith in numerous stories, the only colours used throughout are those in the title.

It works beautifully. The colours feel stark and oppressive; from them at gorgeous Alex Maleev cover right through to the final page there’s rarely a weak moment in the comic.

That’s not to say that it’s perfect – in Jason Aaron’s opening story, there’s a few unclear moments in Leonard Kirk’s art, for example. This is the only story in the issue that isn’t a one-and-done, so it does end on a cliffhanger; I’m very eager to see what happens next, so ultimately this story was a compelling one.

Though I have little idea of the true meaning of the nightmare surrealism of Peach Momoko’s wordless story ‘Insecapable’, the art is jaw droppingly gorgeous and grotesque.

Dissolution of Hope, with art by the masterful Klaus Janson, is a superb tale of sabotage and betrayal.

Everything here has a particularly hard, mature edge; this is Vader at his most threatening and, frankly, at his scariest.

My biggest complaint is that, despite featuring a slightly higher page count than the average comic book, as well as three stories (or at least the first part of a story and two others!), it still feels too short.

Wanting more, immediately, isn’t much of a complaint at all of course.

So yes, Darth Vader: Black, White & Red #1 definitely transcends its gimmick and gives Star Wars fans what they’re seemingly always hungry for: more Vader.

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