
Writer: Cavan Scott
Artist & Colorist: Francesco Francavilla & Derek Charm
what’s it about?
Join Cavan Scott, Francesco Francavilla, and a host of classic Star Wars artists in the epic conclusion to the Vader’s Castle saga! Star Wars Adventures: Ghosts of Vader’s Castle is a horror packed, star-studded, five-week event guaranteed to haunt your dreams. In issue #2, Lina searches for the missing Milo and Crater and runs into… Jaxxon! He reveals that he, too, has been having nightmares, but of vicious Wookiees bigger than mountains! It seems the ghosts of Vader’s castle are haunting everyone’s dreams…



The Good
Imagine if Bugs Bunny were green and an intergalactic bounty hunter that’s Jaxxon T. Tumperakki. First introduced in Marvel’s Star Wars comics from the ‘70s, much to the dismay of George Lucas, Jaxxon has remained a popular character with Star Wars fans. I enjoy seeing him whenever he manages to pop up. This issue’s use of two artists and colorists works well to highlight the differences between the main story and the “nightmare” sequences. Ghosts of Vader’s Castle appears to be to the Star Wars universe what “Treehouse of Horror” is to the Simpsons: tales full of characters we know and love (like Chewie and Han) presented in an unusual way (like a fifty-foot tall Chewie and Han!).



The Bad
This story, although clearly part of a larger five-issue event, lacks the ability to stand on its own. While the story is fun, it’s less than memorable outside of a few sight gags, like seeing a giant mutated Chewbacca and Han Solo. My critiques are more an indictment of the presentation of the story rather than the comic itself. Instead of being consumed as single issues, Ghosts of Vader’s Castle would work best as a collected graphic novel. Needless to say, if you’re a casual fan of Star Wars or are woefully unfamiliar with the property, regardless of your age, this book is not for you. There is an assumption here that you are more than familiar with the characters and setting, which a new fan would find overwhelming.


