Star Wars #14

The penultimate chapter of the VADER DOWN event brings the series back to the high of the first two issues and sets up a potentially thrilling finale. Jason Aaron and Mike Deodato bow out of VADER DOWN the same way they began: incredible action, strong characterization and awesome moments for Darth Vader. All that's left is for Gillen and Larroca to nail the finish, and VADER DOWN will prove to be a great first attempt at a STAR WARS event from Marvel. Read Full Review

The action is incredibly fun and deftly drawn by the stellar artistic team, making for an enjoyable read. This penultimate issue of the "Vader Down" story arc has just the right twists and turns to make you wait with bated breath for the finale. Read Full Review

Star Wars #14 was yet another tremendous entry in this fabulous ongoing series, setting up the final chapter of the Vader Down crossover beautifully. Delivering enticing action as well as gripping twists the creators more than kept us hooked, and despite feeling a little muddled at times, it still comes recommended. Read Full Review

The Vader aspect of the book is what's selling me on it and I kind of feel bad that the rest of the cast is sidelined for a lot of it. Deodato really makes Chewie's fight with Krrsantan a whole lot of fun in actual execution and design and I'm enjoying the near levity that Han brings to it until things go south for him. Luke's storyline is very small here, but he has the same touches as Vader when it comes to the temple and that connection is nicely played as it provides nudges and foreshadowing to what's to come in the other film storylines. I definitely liked this issue more than the previous one, though it could have used more of my favorite murder droids since they finally get to be unleashed briefly. Read Full Review

Star Wars #14 lacks the levity and charm of Aaron and Deodatos previous outing, but the dearth of humor is absolutely appropriate to achieving dyscatastrophic cliffhanger going in to the climatic chapter. Here is their Empire Strikes Back ending, the sour note to sweeten the sure to come success. After all, what is the time of greatest despair if not the darkness just before the dawn? Read Full Review

For those reading this event, this is a nice second to last chapter. For those not, you'll have no idea what's going on, and you should wait for the eventual trade. It'll be well worth picking up the entire event. Read Full Review

Aside from an overly long Wookiee battle, this is a satisfying penultimate issue to the ‘Vader Down' series. Read Full Review

Like most of the "Vader Down" crossover, Star Wars #14 is filled with plenty of epic moments, like BT taking out a squad of stormtroopers with a flamethrower, every time Darth Vader gets a line, or the fact that R2D2 has some kind of poison antidote needle in his chassis. And Jason Aaron makes these moments cohere into some kind of a whole with the shared Obi Wan Force Ghost voice for Luke and Vader. (For all of its fun, the Han and Chewbacca vs. Krrsantan plot is just filler in the larger scheme of things.) Add slightly improved art from Deodato and Martin, and the "Vader Down" finale can't come soon enough. (It comes out today as well and will be quite the family affair.) Read Full Review

At this point it's probably too much to expect much story depth or earth-shattering developments from the Vader Down crossover. This issue offers more of the same, for good and for ill. But if all you crave out of a Star Wars comic is epic lightsaber battles and bloody Wookiee brawls, you'll be right at home. Read Full Review

A weak entry in this saga. Hopefully it ends stronger. I expect better, Marvel. Read Full Review

The Villain

Sep 28, 2016

This issue is mostly an action issue but my heart was racing through the whole story. The art in this whole crossover may be the highlight of what is probably the most memorable moment of all the Star Wars comics so far.

Storm Winterfyre

Mar 15, 2020

Writing-C Art-D- Story-C Verdict-C-