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Darth Vader (2017) 23: Fortress Vader: Part 5

What is it ? : Fortress Vader is rising above the surface of Mustafar and Momin asks Vader to sense the Dark Side within it's construction, as he cannot in the body he currently has. Vader says he senses it, they head into the cave beneath and the runes on the walls are flaring with energy, and Vader concentrates on opening the door. The Imperial Forces above are caught in an electrical storm, and the Mustafarians notice the lava pits erupting, however Vader fails and the storms and eruptions ebate.
Momin promises that the sixth version of the tower will be successful, but Vader kills him. Taking the helmet outside, he uses the force to remove a Stormtroopers helmet and place Momin's on his head. Momin immediately begins ordering the Imperial Force to tidy the area up, and promises Vader to have the plans for the sixth version of the tower shortly. The Mustafarians attack, and Momin orders the Stormtroopers to kill them as even the bugs are working against his plans.
Later, Momin in his Stormtrooper body announces the sixth version is complete and will be successful.
Then, Momin in the body of a female Imperial Officer promises that the seventh version will be everything Vader desires.
Then Momin in the body of a lava flea asks Vader to mark his words in front of another version of the fortress.
Then Momin in the body of an Imperial officer stands in front of the smouldering ruins of another fortress, says it was all a process and the ninth version will be something special, but Vader tells him that whatever, there will be no tenth.
Vader and Momin head into the cave, and Vader tries once again, but we see runes floating in red fire above the fortress, and Stormtroopers saying it feels different this time, and that the runes are almost beautiful.
As the door begins to open, Vader is alerted that a massive Mustafarian force is attacking, but as he responds, Momin opens the doorway and his real body walks out, and takes the helmet and puts it on, and Momin declares that he is his own masterpiece. . . .

High Points : The humour of Vader repeatedly killing Momin and transferring his helmet, which contains his mind, to new hosts, is solid. The way Momin continues his sentences between hosts, as his thoughts seem to not continue when he's not in a host.
I also really liked that Momin doesn't seem to have access to the Force unless the host body does, which would show us why he was massively keen on gaining access to Vader's body, to have access to the chosen one would be a mighty prize indeed.

Low Points : The idea of the Mustafarians being a threat to the Imperial Forces seems weak, if there were only construction teams there, I could understand needing Vader to come deal with it. But during phases of the construction we see AT-AT walkers (which should be more than a match for men in suits of armour riding big bugs), and even a Star Destroyer hovering overhead. This is military forces we've been told are capable of bringing entire star systems under their control, yet a bunch of tribal warriors are a concern? I'm surprises that they weren't turned into ash before they got over the horizon.

So what do you really think ? : So the portal is open, Momin has his old body again, so is a supposed challenge to Vader (not that we've seen him be especially effective against someone of Vader's power), and Vader can pass through to try to rescue Amidala. This is where the series is going to finish, but this issue is all about setting up that fight and access to the doorway (which I assume is the same one Kylo Ren enters in his comic series, which is at least nice continuity rather than just something created for that series as I assumed when I read it).

Final Words : So, 2 issues to go, I'm presuming Momin vs Vader in the next issue, and then Vader's quest through the doorway in the next, although it might be interesting if Momin becomes a guide to Vader instead of an opponent, but I really don't see them doing anything that interesting or unique.

Score : 7.5/10

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