I love this series and the direction Kieron Gillien is taking it. It's by far my favorite read, having taken over another comic series that I love and won't mention. If you haven't gotten into this series then do yourself a favor and get into it. I'm very excited about the next issue as it drops on my birthday, April 8th. So look for my next review on this then. Read Full Review

Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca finally succeed at putting a face on the faceless in Darth Vader #3, a surprisingly funny book that offers some fresh perspective on the lord of all bad guys. Read Full Review

If you aren't reading Darth Vader yet, pick this issue up to see how wrong you've been. Then ask your local comic book shop to get you the first and second issues, and strap in for the last two. Read Full Review

Darth Vader#3 introduces some new themes, some new characters, and overall imprints a lot of fun into the series, while still maintaining its dark tone with the sulky Lord Vader. Read Full Review

With this core team added to the always imposing presence of Darth Vader, I think this series is definitely headed in the right direction. Vader looks cool and is great in action sequences, but he needed characters around him to interact with to really give this book life and now it seems like hes got some good ones. Doctor Aphra alone is exactly what he needed, a character who will talk a lot to counter Vaders talk only when necessary personality. Im sure the droids will provide plenty of entertainment as well though. Read Full Review

Darth Vader #3 does a wonderful job of developing on it's already intriguing plot, with the introduction of Doctor Aphra and Triple Zero allowing this tale to diverge further from the normal Star Wars pattern. The mixture of personalities also allows for great balance, with certain areas of some being more joyful than the others. Read Full Review

A good set up, but nothing more, as yet. Read Full Review

"Darth Vader" #3 is a huge step forward for the series. The fun of the "Star Wars" universe isn't necessarily in its plot but its playability. Issue #3 takes advantage of that and -- instead of merely dropping Easter eggs -- it devotes a whole lot of plot space to describing and explaining droids. Working in a different universe, it might have been preferable to move faster but, with "Darth Vader" #3, it results in a great read. Read Full Review

The formula this issue follows is still an effective one, and heres to hoping that this isnt Doctor Aphra, or her droids, sole appearances in this new, exciting Star Wars Universe. They may not be the most original of characters, but that doesnt mean theyre not any fun, and this issue does a great job introducing them to us. Vaders goals are becoming grander and grander, and its going to be interesting to see how this ties back into the Original Trilogy (if at all) or how he keeps it all under wraps. Read Full Review

If you were waiting for this series to find a stronger footing in terms of the story, this is the issue you were waiting for. After spending two issues of setting up the tone and setting of this series, Kieron Gillen is getting to his real story. Although, this issue is merely a set-up for that but it remains great nonetheless. This comic captures Vader in every way that you would hope for and that’s what makes it so good. Read Full Review

Ultimately, I'm not sure Darth Vader #3 is the silver bullet to the challenges behind writing for this villain - but I'd be absolutely lying if I didn't say this was a fun, rollicking read. The new characters in this comic may wind up stealing the show from the Dark Lord of the Sith - but I'd be more upset by it if they weren't so damn engaging. While perhaps this isn't a textbook victory for Darth Vader personally, it does happen to be far and away the most entertaining issue of the run so far. Read Full Review

On the visual end, Larroca's Vader once again commands attention, his silent presence undeniably strong. Gillen's thin script allows for a lot of artistic freedom, something Larroca takes to with cinematic panels and enjoyable designs. Aphra's ship almost takes the highlight as one of the coolest vessels this side of Slave I, but it's Larroca's portrayal of the assassin droids, Triple Zero and BT-1, that takes the cake. If you ever wondered what it'd be like to be legitimately unsettled by a C3PO lookalike, read this issue. Read Full Review

Darth Vader is another solid series in Marvel's Star Wars franchise. It's sort of a blend between Star Wars' cinematic grandiosity and Princess Leia's grounded character-based storytelling. This is a comic about Vader, and the creative team absolutely nails the imposing energy of the Dark Lord of the Sith. But at the same time, by his very nature, Vader must be kept at arm's length from the readers. I don't yet know if that will hurt or help the series in the long run. Read Full Review

Unless the series is going to be Darth Vader cutting a huge swath through the galaxy leaving dead bodies in his wake (don't get me wrong, that could work), the series needs characters like Aphra to ping conversation and ideas off of. I'm intrigued to see where the comic goes from here. Worth a look. Read Full Review

Expanding the cast in Darth Vader is what this issue is about. Pieces are being moved into place but Vader's motives still remain extremely cloaked. Adding an evil pair of Threepio and R2 is a great idea that will hopefully have a nice payoff as the series progresses. This book struggles with capturing the essence of Darth Vader and takes too long with the Indiana Jones parody as it introduces Doctor Aphra. However, the artwork helps to make the issue standout. Overall this is a decent comic book to check out. Read Full Review

A decent issue that slowly progresses the plot and introduces an interesting new character, but it's so darn sparse you'll be done reading in a few minutes and think about it thereafter for even less. Read Full Review

Marvel are putting a lot of work into their new Wars books. My worry, evidenced here, is the rehashed set pieces which will eventually lead to boredom, if it hasn't already. Read Full Review

I love how Darth Vader has a team, which is the true theme of this story arc. Even though it took two fricking issues to get there, I still love the feel of this new idea for Star Wars. Oh yeah, and this is a badass heist story.

I'm enjoying Gillen's take on Vader, although I have a feeling that a series about the most dangerous Sith in the galaxy should be more action-packed and filled with gruesome scenes. Anyway, for now what we get is an interesting new pawn in Vader's plan, Doctor Aphra, and two beautifully thought and designed killer droids, who appear to be the evil counterparts of C3PO and R2-D2. For simple as it may be, this was a very funny idea and I'm sure it will make for fantastic scenes later on. I continue to be puzzled by Vader's decision not to tell the Emperor about his plan, but I guess there will be a good explanation to that soon.

Issue 3 feels like yet another bridge issue that uses one small premise to drag out the length of the issue. The only thing that really happens is the first appearance of Aphra and her homicidal droids. Vader's role is as a supporting character.

Meh

This comic is now overpriced (and overrated) thanks to the hype machine and rumor mills out there. While it is still a mystery whether or not Aphra will make an appearance in the Episode VII film, it is clear that she's kind of a weak new character. Her chattiness kind of threw me off because normally the serious-minded and unsympathetic Vader would have force-choked someone like that to death. And the reason they're together isn't super compelling. Ok we now get evil versions of R2-D2 and C-3PO, evil counterparts isn't exactly a novel concept and makes the creative team seem kind of lazy. I already forgot what the rest of the comic was about because you can literally finish it in under 7 minutes even at a slower pace and nothing really stands out in this issue. If you have a copy, I'd recommend trying to flip it while you can. (Although I'm sure ebay is already flooded with them at astronomical prices). more

Is this the same series that I was enjoying? Snore.