Darth Vader #25 (2015)

The silhouette of Darth Vader is probably the most important menacing shape in the history of movies. Shapes, including Vader's, play a huge part in this final issue. I counted no fewer than eight pages, and no fewer than 13 panels where simple shapes present menace, futility, and in all cases...death. That's really his gig, isn't it? Kill everything in his way, and try to find a way for things you aren't killing to get in your way. Unlike the murderbots, there's never a joy in it. It is a necessity, nothing more. Having gone through some hard times with a friend on a volcano a few years back, he simply will not let ANY thing (and people are just things when you think about it) get in his way, threaten him, fail him, judge him, or control him. That might be useful information for the Emperor to keep in mind if he's ever standing next to an elevator shaft while hurting Vader's son.

I hope its no surprise that Cylo dies here. There are other deaths as well. Dr. Aphra finds out that it is always opposite day in the whackadoodle world of the Empire, and that the Emperor is proud of Vader's betrayal. It sets off a small chain of events that bring us pretty much up to the beginning of The Empire Strikes Back for what pieces are in which places. Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca deserve a ton of praise for their excellent work here, and for the series as a whole.


As a bonus, we learn more about Tusken Raider culture than ever before in a wonderful little back up of mythic importance. Their religion is awesome. Wait until you see who God is.
Goodbye best Marvel Star Wars book. What, it can't hear me? I sound like a crazy person? You sound like a crazy person Force Awakens #5! Thinks he's so smart...Anyway, someone else wants to say a few words now...Triple Zero? Tagge, you're it.


Bonus Review by Triple Zero!!
Hey skin-curtains! Where were we in all this? Do you think this will go unchallenged. Consequences! Consequences for all! You'll be squeezed out like so much sausage casing to make my Christmas tree fully ensanguined. I give it a 4 due to robotic de-emphazation.