March saw the release of new Marvel Star Wars comics Star Wars #3 and Darth Vader #3, both continuing Marvel’s winning mission to build a new Star Wars comics continuity. Star Wars #3, the centerpiece of the Marvel Star Wars comics universe by writer Jason Aaron, is quickly establishing itself as one of the best pure action comics on the shelves. While Darth Vader #3, from writer Kieron Gillen, is adding dimensions to Darth Vader that would have been hard to imagine before Marvel comics came along. Both of these new Marvel Star Wars comics are great. But if we tossed these two Marvel Star Wars comics in a pit and forced them to fight for your dollar, who would come out alive?
In this Quadrant: Star Wars #3
By Star Wars #3 the mission to destroy the weapons factory on Cymoon 1 should be feeling a bit stale. Instead, Jason Aaron’s writing has achieved greater heights, adding new wrinkles to old characters and nailing the whip-crack wit and adventure tone Star Wars requires. As a lifelong skeptic of anything outside the Star Wars Original Trilogy it’s hard to admit that the C-3PO of the Star Wars Marvel comic is funnier and less annoying than his film characterization. Plus, where else are you going to get such wanton stormtrooper abuse from Darth Vader?
And Introducing the Sith Machine from Tatooine: Darth Vader #3
Star Wars has three broad categories of villain: Force wielders, Imperials, and the bounty hunter economy. Too often in Star Wars stories the only genuine threat is assumed to be a Force threat. That Darth Vader #3 gives us a droid archaeologist with a penchant for chaos feels downright fresh. But Dr. Aphra is more than that, she’s Darth Vader’s Han Solo (she even calls herself a rogue), and Aphra is just the beginning of the thoughtful and inventive expansions and inversions of Star Wars lore to be found in Darth Vader #3. It takes guts to try and push evil twins of C-3PO and R2-D2 on us, but it works. The great work continues with Vader. The amount of characterization achieved with Darth Vader’s expressionless silences in Darth Vader #3 is remarkable.
Which Marvel Star Wars Comic Comes Out on Top?
It was close, but this month goes to Star Wars #3. It just has too many good moments to pass up, including a gruesomely funny decapitation, Luke Skywalker baring his soul, and perfect character moments for Leia, Han, and Chewie. The art in Darth Vader #3 is great, but it doesn’t touch the multitude of perfect frames in Star Wars #3.
But here’s the ultimate plan, should you want to read both Marvel Star Wars comics. Buy Darth Vader #3 now, but wait for the trade paperback to collect Star Wars. After a premiere issue that made Darth Vader feel chained to old people and places it’s been a pleasant surprise to see the ongoing Darth Vader comic series become the most inventive of the current Marvel Star Wars comic lineup. Both Darth Vader #2 and Darth Vader #3 have felt like independent stories, each one radiating new lore. Whereas the Star Wars comic’s ongoing action pacing makes each issue like a firecracker that takes a month to light, each issue of Darth Vader feels self-contained and too inventive to let sit on the shelves, unread for months.
Both Darth Vader #3 and Star Wars #3 are powerful arguments for the Marvel Star Wars comics’ vitality in a comic book landscape where licensed properties usually means aimless fan service. As long as you pick one of these up, instead of something like the Star Trek Planet of the Apes cross-over, you’ll be in for a good read.
