Published: July 12, 2017
Rating: Rated T
Writer: Charles Soule
Penciler: Giuseppe Camuncoli
Cover Artist: Olivier Copiel
Vader sets his sights on a Jedi who’s avoided Order 66…a Jedi Master who’s long lived in seclusion…a Jedi more powerful than any Vader has faced before…
The story
The Mid-rim. River moon of Al’doleem
A dwelling sits on a hill, to the side a being floats cross legged as various items orbit him. A purple blade appears behind him ready to strike his neck, he springs to life. With a backhanded grip he ignites his lightsaber and blocks the attack. His assailant is a droid he as setup to hone his skills. As they go blade to blade, the items that once orbited him start to piece together, they are Palawan traps. He is a Jedi in hiding, who has chosen a different path. The droid falls to the floor under his attack, but he does not strike, he pauses. Something is coming, they need to prepare their defences.
Vader’s ship fast approaches, his droid warns of a proximity alert. Objects are tracking their flight, there’s no drive signature, and the missiles can only be described as art! The Padawan traps hit their target and he calls for his droid to trace the origin of the attack. The damage is significant and forces an emergency landing and the ship comes to rest on the floor of a ravine. Vader and his droid leave the ship to assess the damage. The droids estimate is that the repairs will take 2 days and sets about the task. Vader marches off through the ravine to find his attacker.
As Vader walks through the ravine a large metal gate rises behind him to block his escape. High above stands Infil’a questioning the darkness Vader gives off. Suddenly, he grabs for his throat and starts to choke. Vader tightens his force grip on the Jedi, but a counter force pushes him off his feet and he releases his grip.
Infil’a claims that Vader will not kill him with the dark side and asks if Vader was responsible for the purge of the Jedi. When Vader replies to say ‘yes’, he realises that Vader has now come to kill him. He declares his Barash as complete in memory of his brothers and sisters that have been taken by Vader. He challenges Vader to meet him at the top of Mount Pasvaal, it is a scared place for Jedi and set to test those who climb it. He turns away and asks his droid ‘Arex’ to open the sluice gates.
High in the mountain side a gate opens and thousands of gallons of water crash to the ravine floor. The water engulfs Vader and sweeps him under, he is sent crashing into the gate wall. The water starts to move as Vader uses the force to part the water to allow him to escape from the depths. He begins to climb the mountain.
There is a stone bridge over the ravine and Vader approaches with caution. When he is half way a large bird with talons and hooked beak attacks him. He blocks the attack, but another joins the foray. He is being attacked by 5 of these predators and he uses the force to strike the first one down.
Arex watches on a tablet with Infil’a and asks if he should blow the bridge. Infil’a ponders, what is this monster that some to face him; is he a Sith? Arex agrees that his wielding of the force shows that he uses the dark side, but Sith carry a crimson bladed lightsaber and he doesn’t, so he cannot say for sure. Vader is close to destroying the last Raptorian and he asks again if he should blow the bridge. Infil’a says ‘No’, and calls of the the attacking Raptorians. Vader watches as they retreat and with one last reach out he strikes another one down as it leaves. Infil’a asks Arex to disable all further tests and allow Vader free passage to the top. He will arrive imminently.
Vader climbs the final few steps to find his Jedi prey standing before him. The damage to Vader from the attacks is there to be seen. His boot and suit torn away to reveal his prosthetic left leg. Infil’a draws his weapon, but Vader uses the force to hurl boulders at him knocking him down. Arex stands with his own weapon ready to attack Vader. Again, using the force Arex flies through the air towards Vader who catches him crushing his chest plate in his grip. He removes the droids arm and weapon from his body and hurls him in to the ravine beyond.
Vader now has a weapon of his own and turns to face Infil’a. Through the force he can now sense what Vader is here for, it’s for his lightsaber. They battle hard, but as they fight Infil’a target Vader’s left leg and uses the force to break it. The knee joint collapses and the lower leg comes away and Vader collapses to the floor.
Infil’a stands over Vader and warns once he has killed him, he will then go after his master. With that he unleashes a force push that sends Vader hurtling off the top of the mountain into the void of the ravine below.
The review
A great cover to start the issue. It shows lots of detail, but for me the mood is set for the comic with colours. You can see it is going to be a battle between light and dark.
Another fast paced comic, with some excellent detail. I do like the twist that the site on Mount Pasvaal is a former Jedi training site. A curious place for a Barash taker to hide out, but since sensing the purge he has been preparing for this day.
Infil’a is proving to be a very good character. He is more grey Jedi than anything else for me and this is a nice change to the pure Jedi we usually get to see.
Vader is shown to have weaknesses, he is injured and his weakness is his mechanical additions. These are new to him and he is still ‘finding his feet’ and this vulnerability shows what he has to overcome to be the Sith Lord so many fear in later times.
The exchanges between Vader and Infil’a are well put together. The conversations with Arex also give more insight into the Jedi’s thinking.
Overall another superb all round effort from everyone involved with producing issue 3. This is really setting up to be a style of Vader comic we’ve never really seen before.
I wonder if Vader will regret letting another Jedi have the high ground.
Availability
This issue was released on 12th July 2017 and is available via the Marvel App and all good comic book stores. This issue retails at $3.99.