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stormblessed4's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the_bitextual's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
3.75
So I read this and the second out of order. This one gives a heart breaking tie up to some threads from Ep. III, and it lays some seeds for IV. Really top notch character study of Vader.
fandom4ever's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This story isn’t quite what I was expecting. It takes place one month after Revenge of the Sith with Vader getting used to life amidst the dark side and with his new machine body. I loved the moments of him dreaming of the life he could have had if he had destroyed Palpatine and saved Mace Windu’s life until it slowly turns more into Padmé tormenting him until Vader finally admits how much he hates himself after everything he’s done. Another good moment was at the beginning when Vader is first summoned by the Emperor and stands before him. Palpatine tells Vader to kneel before him and for a moment it looks as though Vader will refuse. There’s a lot said in that small moment with the new power structure Vader has to live by. He serves the Emperor as a servant and a slave, and does not train with him as an equal like a master and apprentice with the Jedi. Seeing Vader lead the 501st was really good too.
But for the most part the rest of the story is so-so. I thought there would be more going on in a story that involved Tarkin’s son but about halfway through the story takes an unexpected turn that didn’t do the story any favors.
The synopsis talked about Vader having to show people that he isn’t going to be used but I never really felt the stakes in this or Vader’s uncertainty as much as I should have. Also the twist with Tarkin’s son was weird and didn’t make any sense considering the loyalty Wilhuff Tarkin has to Palpatine and the Empire.
Overall, while this story had some moments, I did find myself being disappointed in a story written by Haden Blackman aka the creator of The Force Unleashed series.
But for the most part the rest of the story is so-so. I thought there would be more going on in a story that involved Tarkin’s son but about halfway through the story takes an unexpected turn that didn’t do the story any favors.
The synopsis talked about Vader having to show people that he isn’t going to be used but I never really felt the stakes in this or Vader’s uncertainty as much as I should have. Also the twist with Tarkin’s son was weird and didn’t make any sense considering the loyalty Wilhuff Tarkin has to Palpatine and the Empire.
Overall, while this story had some moments, I did find myself being disappointed in a story written by Haden Blackman aka the creator of The Force Unleashed series.
cristinascalzi's review
4.0
this was really good! i loved how you got to see Anakin's feelings about padme after he first became darth vader.
erutane's review
3.0
Refreshingly simple story when much of today's Star Wars comics is so convoluted. Darth Vader, captured and held captive, was a little silly, though.
publius's review
2.0
I picked this up while cruising the racks at the local library. I was between novels and had just finished a chapter in my current non-fiction read, and I was hoping for something lighter.
"Comic books," I thought, even though the section was labeled "Graphic Novels." And I'm a Star Wars geek, too, so I brought it home.
The artwork is decent, but the story was straightforward, and so, in the end, while a decent addition to the Vader's history and his decent into the evil assassin we greet at the opening of "A New Hope," I was not inspired.
"Comic books," I thought, even though the section was labeled "Graphic Novels." And I'm a Star Wars geek, too, so I brought it home.
The artwork is decent, but the story was straightforward, and so, in the end, while a decent addition to the Vader's history and his decent into the evil assassin we greet at the opening of "A New Hope," I was not inspired.
inlibrisveritas's review
3.0
It is no secret that I love Star Wars, Darth Vader, and the 501st...so I barely even hesitated before I requested this one from Dark Horse. As much as I adore the Star Wars galaxy this one sort of fell short for me, perhaps that is through my own fault as I was expecting more from it.
It's a relatively short graphic novel of about 128 pages on Adobe Editions, I've read a few other graphic novels of this length but they have all been apart of a series or were a bunch of short stories. I honestly felt that this should have been longer. It has all the elements the story needed and it was told wonderfully with great artwork, but it just kind of happened so fast that I barely got a feel for the situation. I think in this case having a little extra in the storyline would have been great and fleshed it out some more.
The artwork is usually what I call 'sketch' because of how it doesn't have definite lines, and this normally bothers me but I feel that it fit the story and situation better here.
Overall I did enjoy the novel but I didn't find it gripping or particularly fascinating. I would recommend this to hardcore Star Wars fans looking for a light read to fill in the 'visual' gaps of the universe.
I received this from Dark Horse and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's a relatively short graphic novel of about 128 pages on Adobe Editions, I've read a few other graphic novels of this length but they have all been apart of a series or were a bunch of short stories. I honestly felt that this should have been longer. It has all the elements the story needed and it was told wonderfully with great artwork, but it just kind of happened so fast that I barely got a feel for the situation. I think in this case having a little extra in the storyline would have been great and fleshed it out some more.
The artwork is usually what I call 'sketch' because of how it doesn't have definite lines, and this normally bothers me but I feel that it fit the story and situation better here.
Overall I did enjoy the novel but I didn't find it gripping or particularly fascinating. I would recommend this to hardcore Star Wars fans looking for a light read to fill in the 'visual' gaps of the universe.
I received this from Dark Horse and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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