Darth Vader (2020) #3 Review

Writer: Greg Pak

Artist: Raffaele Ienco

Rating: 6 of 8

Star Wars

Darth Vader #3

Sometimes the past is better left buried. That's a lesson Darth Vader has to learn the hard way, as his vengeful quest takes a rather destructive turn. Though he hardly needs much incentive to hurt people, here he has that in spades, as he seeks vengeance on anyone who hid his son from him.

Though in Soule's Star Wars, he's searching for Luke once more, it's surprising not seeing him do so here, instead focusing more on vengeance. Perhaps that indicates his priorities, or that, for him, it's easier to act on lesser devils. Though it could just as easily be about putting on a front for his master, lest he face his wrathful hand.

Whatever the case, it brought him into contact with someone he - and fans - haven't seen for a very long time: Sabé, former handmaiden to the late Queen, Padmé Amidala. For a while, due to her striking resemblance to Padmé, her appearance at the end of issue 1 really surprised me and led me to wonder if the seemingly dead Amidala was, in fact, still alive.

Intriguingly, she, too, is on a quest for vengeance, though her's is for her Queen. Perhaps because of this, it dovetails nicely with Vader's especially in the issue's closing moments. Though I am surprised we didn't see her try to gain vengeance earlier; like in Soule's Vader, - set right after Revenge of the Sith - or Gillen's, set shortly after the destruction of Alderaan. I liked the brief flashbacks we got, which helped humanize Vader and showed, even before Jedi, that side of him wasn't yet lost.

Ienco does a very good job on the art, with him easily distinguishing Sabé from her Queen, despite their physical similarities. He also delivers an awe inspiring scene beneath the waters of Naboo, which shows just how big some fearsome creatures are. Despite the intense danger of the scene, he manages to deliver a kind of beauty as the light shines through the water.

Overall, a pretty good issue, which ends on an exciting cliffhanger, despite knowing part of the outcome. So far, I prefer Gillen and Soule's runs on the title, though Pak still delivers a pretty entertaining read. Unfortunately, it just lacks the intrigue and subterfuge of the former and the excitement in establishing Vader's legend in the latter, though given the period it explores, that's understandable.

Bliss #1 Review

Writer: Sean Lewis

Artist: Caitlin Yarsky

Rating: 6 of 8

Bliss #1

 

Is there any limit to what we'd do for family? That's a question Damian Benton is faced with, though the answer is decidedly clear. He and his wife have a sick child to look after, a boy so unwell he needs to constantly stay in hospital. It's not clear exactly what's wrong with him and though I would've liked if it was, it still works as a catalyst for Benton's dark deeds.

Lewis does a great job establishing just how sordid Feral City really is, reminding me of Gotham in it's constant nastiness and ever present threat of danger. It's a place so unsafe, you can't even walk home without being best by danger. In a very effective scene, Damian walks the hospital halls and, as he does, we get a look into the rooms, giving us a glimpse into just how nasty this city really is. 

Though even the nastiest cities have places that put the rest to shame. For Gotham, it's the Suicide Slums, while here it's Docktown, a place filled with drink, prostitution and even a hand in ending it all - for the right price. But for Damian, it's just the right kind of nasty to make things better for his son. It's here he gets the chance to save his boy. This scene works well for a few reasons. It helps illustrate just how desperate he is, while still being split over whether or not he can do what he needs to.

It also gives us a glimpse into an unearthly side of this city. Something dark, twisted and so very tempting. A great deal of this is because of Yarsky's art, which helps make these beings look truly monstrous. She makes them all really distinct, with one looking smaller, shriveled, while the others are so large, cows would be envious. The world bursts with life, with Yarsky giving the people a large range of emotion. She also fills the above scene - and a later one - with a sense of scale, as well as a great deal of light and darkness.

Overall, a very good 1st issue. Though I would've liked to have known just what ailed their son, it's not important to the overall story. While this issue didn't show us much of Benton's dark deeds, hopefully future ones give us more of that and the threat the ending hints at. For those looking for a well realized dark world, I'd heartily recommend some Bliss.

Shady Lady (One-Shot) Review

Writer: David Whalen

Artist: David Whalen

Rating: 7 of 8

Shady Lady

Sometimes the best stories are one and done. They don't need to continue into sequels or, in the case of comics, further issues. They tell their story, then they're done. That's not always the case with One-Shots, but it definitely is here.

Though I wasn't impressed by The Offspring #1, I was a lot happier with this. Done entirely in black and white, it tells the story of the titular 'Shady Lady', someone who helps out when she can, but doesn't suffer fools. Her do-gooding's often done in a memorably destructive way, something which draws the attention of the local police - though that might be exactly what she wants...

The black and white style fits for a couple reasons. It fits the grimy nature of the world, while also gelling well with the noir feel of the book. Throughout, Whalen does a consistently good job on the art. Early in, we get a big explosion, with most characters cast in bright white, while Lady's inked in a striking jet black, which really makes her stand out. About halfway through, he delivers a brief, but effective, action scene, all told in just four panels.

Overall, the art's pretty good, though I think Whalen could've done a better job showing someone was a girl, as they look a lot more like a boy. In that scene, Lady's confronting a belligerent woman, who at one point says 'You can't do that', but she replies 'You will do it', so I think the woman should've said 'I won't do it' before that. Sometimes, there's a bit of misspelling, but it's not frequent enough to let the issue down.

Overall, a very good issue, that I definitely recommend. Though it works well as a One-Shot, I can see it working well as a series, similar to Jessica Jones. Definitely worth a read.

Justice League #48 Review

Writer: Si Spurrier

Artist: Aaron Lopresti

Rating: 7 of 8

Justice League #48

How far is too far? A lot of the time, we want to help people, make sure they're ok, but how far is too far and how much is too much? Is it more helpful to stop helping, or will they be worse off without you? This doesn't just apply to everyday life, but also when it comes to intervening in other countries' problems.

It's something Spurrier explores here, for the most part, very well. It all arose when the League do what they do best: saving people. But doing something as simple as that helped cause a major ripple for the people of an ever drifting comet. Instead of simply rejoicing at the rescue and the heroes, it created a hope that hadn't likely been there in a very long time.

But that hope boils up into a decision a lot of the Leaguers simply can't agree with, even if it isn't their decision. It helps call into question just how much intervention is too much, with Wonder Woman and the others raising some very good points on both sides; though I would've liked if there'd been more arguing non-intervention than there was. As it is, it's a bit unbalanced towards one argument and I can't help but feel having someone like Aquaman or Hawkgirl around would've helped create more balance.

I also think more of them would've tried to find another way to subdue the initial threat. I don't think Diana would've been the only one pursuing that and find it hard to believe someone like Superman wouldn't have as well. Throughout the issue, the art's quality is a shining constant. 

Lopresti helps distinguish both the Cell and Spark people from one another very easily, despite them both looking fairly similar. In one image, he does great job displaying the scale of both the comet and the drifting spacecraft.

Overall, despite a few problems, this is a really good issue and a very promising start to Spurrier's arc.

The Offspring #1 Review

Note: A digital copy was given to me by David Whalen to review.

Writer: David Whalen

Artist: David Whalen

Rating: 5 of 8

The Offspring #1

Sometimes, a story has a lot of the elements it needs to be good, but they aren't as polished as they should be. Unfortunately, that's the case here, with The Offspring's debut issue. I can see a few different scenes working well if the art was a bit better, or the dialogue a little different.

But, as it is, it almost works, but doesn't quite get there. The issue begins a decade before, with a young Sara running frantically away from an older man, who has dark intentions. Years later, we find her near the end of a prison sentence. All of this works well, though the art could be better in places; like when she's running out of the house, as the perspective looks off. Whalen also does a good job on the sequential art in this early scene, delivering a good, fear filled scene with very little dialogue.

I also liked how the 2nd scene ended with her talking about riding a bike and the next started with two boys riding them. I know now, re-reading it, that Will's probably meant to be pretty short, but seeing just how small he was when outside an apartment was both surprising and odd. 

The best scene is definitely the last, which sets a creepy, foreboding atmosphere, thanks largely to dark shadows, cast in just the right places. There's also very little light, which definitely helps. It also ties in nicely to an earlier part of the issue. Though it isn't explained here, there seems to be something dark and sinister tying the different plots together, which could well involve the macabre figures introduced in the last scene.

Overall, this issue is a bit disappointing and could be a lot better, though it does have some good moments, as noted above. I've also got to commend Whalen on doing the lion's share of the work himself. Given that this is the 1st issue, it could easily have improved in future installments.