Return to Vader's Castle #5 Review
Writer: Cavan Scott
Artist: Francesco Francevilla & Charles Paul Wilson III
Publisher: IDW Publishing
After four issues, Return to Vader's Castle is at an end. The first issue had a story focused on Maul, the second on Grand Moff Tarkin, the third on Asajj Ventress, and the fourth on Jabba. The final issue focuses on the biggest Star Wars villain of them all, Darth Vader. In the framing story, Rebel Lieutenant Thom Hudd has been tortured by Vanee (Vader's servant), escaped Vanee, been attacked by Vader's training droids, and captured all over again. The last issue ended with a cliffhanger; the Fourth Sister arrived at Vader's Castle, telling Vanee that the Emperor himself had requested Hudd's presence on Coruscant.
Vanee doesn't trust the Fourth Sister, and goes on the attack (with help from the training droids, of course). He tells the Fourth Sister a story about Vader, set some time ago in that very Castle. A different ambassador from the Emperor is visiting, and he's just in time for the Castle to be sieged by a group of Mustafarians. But these aren't normal Mustafarians, they've been corrupted somehow by their leader. That's pretty much the only reason it's a horror story; the leader can turn anyone into his zombified minions.
The twist of the story is that Vader is turned into a zombie, but it turns out that it was all a ruse; Vader was "bitten" on his arm, which is cybernetic and can't be turned. He defeats the Mustafarian witch-person, and the story ends. However, I won't spoil the twist and ending of the framing story, even though it's pretty easy to guess; you'll just have to read and find out! I've generally loved this entire mini-series. It had a slight misstep in the Ventress issue, but that didn't stop it from being incredible. In fact, I think it's better than the original Vader's Castle series from last year; it improved on the concept and had generally better stories and art. I'm definitely looking forward to next Halloween, since it seems like a Vader's Castle mini-series from Cavan might become an annual thing.
Artist: Francesco Francevilla & Charles Paul Wilson III
Publisher: IDW Publishing
After four issues, Return to Vader's Castle is at an end. The first issue had a story focused on Maul, the second on Grand Moff Tarkin, the third on Asajj Ventress, and the fourth on Jabba. The final issue focuses on the biggest Star Wars villain of them all, Darth Vader. In the framing story, Rebel Lieutenant Thom Hudd has been tortured by Vanee (Vader's servant), escaped Vanee, been attacked by Vader's training droids, and captured all over again. The last issue ended with a cliffhanger; the Fourth Sister arrived at Vader's Castle, telling Vanee that the Emperor himself had requested Hudd's presence on Coruscant.
Vanee doesn't trust the Fourth Sister, and goes on the attack (with help from the training droids, of course). He tells the Fourth Sister a story about Vader, set some time ago in that very Castle. A different ambassador from the Emperor is visiting, and he's just in time for the Castle to be sieged by a group of Mustafarians. But these aren't normal Mustafarians, they've been corrupted somehow by their leader. That's pretty much the only reason it's a horror story; the leader can turn anyone into his zombified minions.
The twist of the story is that Vader is turned into a zombie, but it turns out that it was all a ruse; Vader was "bitten" on his arm, which is cybernetic and can't be turned. He defeats the Mustafarian witch-person, and the story ends. However, I won't spoil the twist and ending of the framing story, even though it's pretty easy to guess; you'll just have to read and find out! I've generally loved this entire mini-series. It had a slight misstep in the Ventress issue, but that didn't stop it from being incredible. In fact, I think it's better than the original Vader's Castle series from last year; it improved on the concept and had generally better stories and art. I'm definitely looking forward to next Halloween, since it seems like a Vader's Castle mini-series from Cavan might become an annual thing.
A Look Inside
