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Darth Vader: Issue 33: Unbound Force Part 1

What is it ? : On Coruscant, Mas Amedda and Sly Moore are walking near to the Imperial Palace, when Sly begins attacking Amedda using the force, she reveals that her powers are out of control and they look towards the Palace where Force Lightning is arcing out from the tower. Inside the Palace the Emperors power is being unleashed uncontrollably, and he is blasting his guards with lightning while laughing at the massive power he is displaying.
Meanwhile on the Executor, Vader's destruction of the decks is shown to be part of the same process, something they are worried will destroy the vessel, so Sabe orders him jettisoned, and takes a Shuttle out to rescue him. As he floats, Vader remembers the alternate takes he was given on the Dark Side, that it leads to suffering, as he was told by Yoda, and that it leads to power, as he was told by Palpatine.
Getting droids to grab him from space, Sabe takes him to a nearby planet as his unleashed power tears the ship apart, and they end up crashing near to an island. Sabe swims to the island and finds Vaders footprints leading across the idyllic sandy beach and into some palm trees. Following them she locates him, but he warns her away, telling her that his powers are out of control. But she tells him that she has brought him here as there isn't anyone else for thousands of klicks. Except you he warns, and she tells him that he hasn't lost control, he never has had control, perhaps now is the time to learn it.
Vader remembers the fear he felt when separated from his mum, the anger he felt at his rejection by the Jedi, and the hate he felt at the Separatists. He sees this mirrored in Sabe, her fear, anger and hatred at him, and the power this has led her to. But also the suffering, of the death of Padme, and the deaths she has now caused, also mirroring his own feelings.
And he tells her this place isn't a test of him any longer, but a test of her, and he shows her visions of Padme lying dead, Sabe's role as Padmes protector, of the position she now holds in the Empire, and finally of her drowning in a mountain of skulls and death. . . .

High Points : While we've got a fairly interesting premise, that the Dark Side is somehow being unleashed and becoming out of control, with Palpatine revelling in this power. The more interesting part of this comic is the continued exploration of Vader, and we get that through the signature visions that this series uses, with Vader comparing the same moments through the teaching of both Yoda and Palpatine, that the Dark Side leads to suffering, and leads to power.
The interesting twist this time is Vader seeing how this is becoming part of Sabe's tale too, with her working through the stages of acceptance of the Dark Side. Previous issues have made the comparison that both Sabe and Vader have travelled this path as they wanted to save people, but it's nice to see the comparison of their emotions and reasons for this in further detail.

Low Points : As far as we know, Sabe isn't a force user, and the path to the Dark Side has always been part of being a Jedi or at least being force sensitive. While others can obviously be evil, we've never really seen it as all part of the Dark Side before, and it makes little sense and also absolves the actions of these characters as it can all be placed at the feet of the influence of the Dark Side.

So what do you really think ? : On a first read I wasn't especially impressed, as not much happens in this issue. Vader and Sabe end up on a beach together. But rereading for this review, I found myself drawn in more by the exploration of Vader and Sabe, while there's not much action, there's quite a bit of depth to this issue, leading to me liking it a whole load more.
A nice return to form for a series which started out as being an exploration of the psyche of Vader and his motivations in the time between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi when he will turn back to the lightside once more.

Final Words : I'm not sure if this "unbinding" of the Force is just a Vader comic story, or whether we're heading into another multi-title story, but it seems a big enough event that it should have echoes beyond just this one comic series. I guess we'll find out soon.

Score : 8/10

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