Published: August 25, 2021
Rating: T
Writer: Greg Pak
Penciler: Raffaele Ienco
Colourist: Jason Keith
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Aaron Kuder and Richard Isanove
The synopsis;
Mere months ago, OCHI OF BESTOON was the assassin who dared to take on DARTH VADER himself in the fiery lava pits of MUSTAFAR. Now Ochi serves Vader as his most loyal agent during the WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS. Who is Ochi of Bestoon? What are his true goals? And how have the secrets of EXEGOL shaped him forever? Also featuring the next great reveal about BOKKU and the Hutt Council!
The review;
Ochi. Vader. Crimson Dawn. Kuder’s direct cover for Darth Vader #15 sums up the storyline perfectly just through these three inclusions. Ochi is in combat mode whilst Vader watches on from afar and the threat of Crimson Dawn looms in their circular symbol. Mayhew’s cover is no less dramatic as lightning frames a battle-ready Ochi, his helmet lenses glowing intensely. Qi’ra continues the wanted poster variants with a very 1920s style outfit beautifully drawn by Nakayama.
In last month’s issue, Imperial administrator Sly Moore was working behind Vader’s back in an attempt to gain vengeance after she failed the Emperor. This issue it’s wily assassin Ochi of Bestoon who’s being put to the test. Sent to the dreary backwater planet of Arkanis in search of Crimson Dawn, Ochi’s loyalty to Vader is questioned like never before as he faces down bad odds and is stuck between a lightsaber and a blaster…
There should be a lot of familiar elements for fans in this issue, though the location of Arkanis might not sound immediately familiar. We’ve not seen much of this planet (yet) but it’s actually pretty important in Star Wars literature. It was home of an Imperial Academy which would eventually produce the strategies to create the First Order’s stormtrooper programme. It was also the homeworld of the Hux’s.
It seems as if Pak, as part of the War of the Bounty Hunters arc, is writing an issue of Darth Vader focusing on each of the Sith Lord’s allies, which is used in the loosest sense of the phrase. Vader’s not exactly the ally type. Everyone who teams-up with Vader is just out of all other options and a very fast ship. Ochi by nature is a wily, sly character and Pak really plays on that this issue, making it hard to predict what decisions the assassin will make, and what his goals ultimately are. Though being the slippery assassin he is, Ochi’s goals probably change by the parsec!
From the first page what Ochi really demonstrates is his absolute lack of subtlety. From making a dramatic entrance by kicking down a door, to head-butting a Chagrian with his helmet. He’s got a lot of bravado and perhaps a bit too much arrogance, flashing around his Imperial holo-badge like a sheriff in the Wild West. Though fans know that Ochi’s recklessness catches up with him eventually. Whilst subtlety might not be Ochi’s strong point, he is a skilled fighter. Fans have seen it before when he was battling Vader, but Darth Vader #15 pits the assassin against multiple foes.
With such an action-packed comic, Ienco’s artwork is at the forefront of the storytelling. He makes Ochi a dancer on the battlefield, doing flips, jumps and wielding two blasters with deadly accuracy. Each page will make fans gasp as Ochi appears to do trick after seemingly impossible trick. One standout panel has the assassin mid-flip, upside down and dodging blue blaster bolts. Vader isn’t as present as much but when he does appear Keith makes sure it doesn’t go unnoticed by having the Sith Lord standing against either a bright red or white background. There’s a lot of dynamism to this story and Ienco’s artwork completely gives it a cinematic feel, with the action flowing smoothly throughout.
Following with the War of the Bounty Hunters, new information around Bokku the Hutt and his ulterior motives is revealed. It’s not exactly a surprising revelation but the verbal dressing down he gets from Vader is thoroughly entertaining. If Bokku survives this plot is yet to be seen.
With Crimson Dawn refusing to go down without a fight, Ochi and Vader are pitted against their ruthless forces. The cartel doesn’t want the Empire getting their clutches on a carbonite Han Solo – but how far are they willing to go? It all continues in War of the Bounty Hunters #4!
Availability;
Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020) #15 was published August 25, 2021 by Marvel Comics and retails at $3.99. This issue is available via The Marvel App and from all good comic book stores online and on the high street.
