The Latest Darth Vader Comic VADER: DARK VISIONS Is Stirring Up Some Controversy Again

Darth Vader: Dark Visions is a series of Star Wars comics designed to portray Darth Vader in different lights, through the eyes of different people. This is a really cool idea but has been followed by controversy from the start. Well, the latest issue, “Tall, Dark, and Handsome,” has added further controversy to the series. Before we go any further, be warned:

“Tall, Dark, and Handsome” decides to look at Darth Vader not as someone to be feared, but from the perspective of someone in love with him. That’s right, this issue is from someone who romantically loves Darth Vader. That idea isn’t the controversial part though. However, the main character is a nurse who is never given a name and she’s portrayed as pretty crazy the entire time, but then she completely snaps and goes even crazier.

Once again, this isn’t necessarily the part that people take issue with. At its core, it seems to tell a story about the dangers of obsessing over someone. That’s not bad per se. However, the tone of the comic seems to be the problem. It’s not uncommon for there to be feminine power fantasies and many view this issue to be writing off said fantasies as nothing more than delusional jokes. Needless to say, many fans were not happy about the portrayal of the main character and the lead writer, Dennis Hallum, went to social media to defend his choices:

That really wasn’t my intention. I’m not here to police your read, but to me it’s about a person so beaten down and caged in by her fascist existence that she fantasizes about the only person in her world powerful enough to free her.

— Dennis “Hopeless” Hallum (@HopelessDent) April 24, 2019

I read it as you were writing it. Your perspective is extremely informative, thank you for taking the time. I will say I don't think our medic is silly or crazy at all. In my mind she is the heroine of the story. It was not at all our intention to mock her or anyone else.

— Dennis “Hopeless” Hallum (@HopelessDent) April 24, 2019

I honestly don’t know how the medic could be seen as the heroine of the story personally. I read the issue and I thought not only was it poorly written, but she looks cray cray all throughout the comic and not just after the final straw broke. She seems to have legitimate problems that are not a joke, and yet she is written like one giant joke.

There’s more to the fire, though, as Chuck Wendig has piped up. Wendig was set to be a writer for the Shadow of Vader series before it was cancelled and replaced with Dark Visions. He explained that his third title was going to deal with a similar theme of unhealthy obsession, but from a male point of view.

Apropos of absolutely nothing, my issue three of SHADOW OF VADER was about a toxic fanboy (a morgue attendant on the Death Star) who became obsessed with Vader. (And it didn’t end well for him. Er, obviously.) I thought it was good and I’m sorry you won’t see it! Onward we go. pic.twitter.com/kFCb2nQ2Ia

— Chuck Wendig (@ChuckWendig) April 24, 2019

Did Hallum and friends get inspiration from Wendig? The world may never know.