Comic Book Review: Darth Vader #14 - Marvel Comics (2015)

Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Salvador Larocca

Vader Down: Part 4 of 6
Princess Leia is face to face with Darth Vader.  Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 are heading to the Millennium Falcon as they feel they have successfully defeated Dr. Aphra and her droids.

Dr. Aphra is down but not out.  She had called for back up and that back up arrives.  Han Solo and Chewbacca stay to deal with Aphra's ally and Luke goes to save Leia from her suicidal plan.

Just when you think everything is coming together, we get another wild card thrown into the mix on the last page cliffhanger.  Marvel is on the top of their game with this writing force.  Kieron Gillen is writing so well with the Darth Vader series and it blends seamlessly with Json Aaron's Star Wars series.

What do you think of the Vader Down event?  Are you reading any of the Star Wars comic series' from Marvel Comics?  What other comic book series' would you like to see Maskerpiece Theatre review?  Please leave your comments below.

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) A Masked Blogster Movie Review

Luke Skywalker is missing and the First Order is looking to take over the galaxy in a way that the evil Galactic Empire never could.  The Resistance know they need Luke Skywalker to bring balance to the force as the Dark Side is clearly on the side of the First Order.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the seventh episode in the Star Wars cinematic saga.  Television, comic books, novels and more have attempted to continue the story of the tale but we, as an audience, are finally treated with a film.  JJ Abrams brings the fans of Star Wars the movie they deserve.

Action.  Good luck catching your breath during The Force Awakens as there is plenty of aerial combat, light saber battles, blasters and even a bit of fisticuffs.

New characters.  Our new bad guy is Kylo Ren(Adam Driver) and he wants to be every bit as bad as Darth Vader and the voice is awesome.  Domhall Gleeson and Andy Sirkis are added to the baddies as General Hux and Supreme Leader Snoke respectively.  Finn(John Boyega) is a Storm Trooper who is having a bit of an identity crisis and is a great addition.  Poe Dameron(Oscar Isaac) is the likable hot shot pilot.  Rey is played by Daisy Ridley who absolutely shines in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  Rey and the newest droid, BB-8, are the true stars of this movie and truly make everything go.

Old Characters.  Han Solo(Harrison Ford), Leia(Carrie Fisher), Chewbacca(Peter Mayhew), C-3P0(Anthony Daniels) and Luke Skywalker(Mark Hamill) all make a return to the franchise.  All are back for a reason and that makes this movie even better.

The Look.  The Force Awakens did not feel like everything was computer generated imagery.  Even if it was, it didn't have that "clean" feel that Episodes I, II and III did.  Tie Fighters and X-Wing Fighters actually looked dirty.  BB-8 was actually built.  I also enjoyed the sets immensely.  The inside of the First Order's base had a look reminiscent of the Death Star.  Not a bunch of floating Senate seats but big walls with lights and designs that mimicked episodes IV, V and VI.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is going to be the first film that I have reviewed for Cinema Head Cheese, and Maskerpiece Theatre for that matter, to receive the five out of five Pile Drivers.  I liked it so much, I may need to throw in some other wrestling finishing moves.  It's a great movie and highly recommended.  The theater experience makes it even better as you hear the cheers, oohs and ahhs.

Go see Star Wars: The Force Awakens and use Movie Pass.  You can also see any other movie in the theater at one low monthly cost.

What did you think of Episode VII?  Leave your comments below.

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Comic Book Review: Star Wars #11 - Marvel Comics (2015)

Written by Jason Aaron

Art by Stuart Immonen

Luke Skywalker is forced to fight in a Gladiator-style event by Grakkus the Hutt on the moon Nar Shadaa, Leia and Han are in a ship with Han's "wife" on the way to attempt a rescue of Skywalker, C3-PO and Chewbacca are on the moon looking to get into the arena where Luke is about to fight for his life.

Did you get all that?  There is a ton of action in this comic book and it is non-stop!  Star Wars and Darth Vader are my clear favorites when it comes to Marvel Comics.  Taking place between episodes IV and V, we are seeing what our favorite rebels are up to and what kind of trouble they find.  

Chewbacca and C3-PO are still together and I really like that dynamic.  I truly enjoy that we have no subtitles for Chewie and everything is based on how others respond to him.  Han and Leia's relationship is being put to the test and it's been awesome to read their lines.

I'm a huge fan of Jason Aaron's writing and I'm excited every time I get to pick up a book from this series.  Stuart Immonen has been wonderful for this series, having to draw many different settings and lots of action with magnificent facial expressions.

You can read the first few issues on the Marvel Unlimited app, but you'll have to get the past six months at your local comic shop or online.  This is an extraordinary series and a great way to quell your Star Wars appetite as you wait for Star Wars: The Force Awakens in theaters later in December.

You can read more of my blogs here on Maskerpiece Theatre and also on http://cinemaheadcheese.blogspot.com/

Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below.