Warning: spoilers for Star Wars: Darth Vader #22!
Star Wars' iconic design of the Stormtroopers cannot be replicated in Darth Vader’s secret army. The Imperial army has permeated pop culture with their signature white and black armor, challenging the appearance of the Sith’s new soldiers.
Throughout recent comics, Darth Vader has partnered with a number of unlikely people in the galaxy. Ochi of Bestoon’s armor might not have appeared strongly in line with Star Wars’ aesthetics, but it was at least a memorable inclusion in the series. More clashing characters are revealed in Star Wars: Darth Vader #22, written by Greg Pak with art by Raffaele Ienco.
During a shootout between the Stormtroopers and Crimson Dawn’s soldiers, the two forces are competing for top spot in the galaxy. The scene instantly causes them to be compared by the reader, as Dawn proves to be a decent shot against the Imperial army’s known aiming deficiency. However, the Stormtroopers are a stronger contender in the realm of armor. Crimson Dawn’s army wears overcomplicated, busy masks and bright red costumes which don’t appear practical in the firefight. Their plain suits appear uninspired when put side by side with the Stormtroopers, making the aesthetic difference stand out. Considering Star Wars’ iconic imagery, their design doesn’t fall anywhere close to just about any other previously introduced character. Stormtroopers' design caters to reinterpretation, as seen in a variety of alternate suits. Both sides even shout their catchphrases while fighting, with a clear winner based on their dialogue alone. A Stormtrooper says, “For the Empire!” While the other says, “Awake the Dawn!”
The action-heavy scene itself presents a diversion from the battles in which the Stormtroopers tend to occupy, as the wide scope allows for a better sense of scale. War scenes like this one involving Stormtroopers had also been seen in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, giving the troopers a greater sense of threat. In the original trilogy, they were largely characterized for their incompetence and unreliability, always missing their targets. In Darth Vader #22, they seem to handle themselves well against Crimson Dawn’s soldiers.
While Darth Vader takes charge of the crime syndicate, it’s disappointing that his new army lacks members as well-designed as the Stormtroopers. Recent comics, shows, and movies have struggled at times with achieving the right look for the franchise. Although some artists refer to Ralph McQuarrie’s originally conceived design for the galaxy of Star Wars, other artists tend to be more ambitious with reimagining the franchise’s potential.