Product Description: In hiding for generations, the evil Sith have waited for the precise moment to reveal themselves and take vengeance upon the Jedi Order. But in the final days before the Trade Federation blockade of the planet Naboo sets into motion the Sith plan for the overthrow of the Republic, the scheming Sith Lord Darth Sidious becomes concerned about the potential interference by the criminal syndicate Black Sun, a vast and powerful organization feared throughout the galaxy. Sidious cannot allow anything or anyone to hinder his purpose, and so he unleashes his merciless apprentice, the death-dealing destroyer, Darth Maul, to eradicate his adversaries-as only a master of the dark side can! Star Wars: Darth Maul is the first-ever graphic-novel adventure of the ultimate Sith enforcer, an explosive tale of intrigue, mystery, and blistering action that is certain to become one of the most talked-about Star Wars adventures ever!
Better than Darth Vader!! This is a great graphic novel that collects the four-issue mini-series from Dark Horse Comics. Darth Maul is my favorite character in the Star Wars Universe and it was great to read this mini-series since comic book collecting days are far behind me. I like his singular focus on his mission with an unflinching expectation of success. No remorse, no regrets, no survivors! The artwork is great and the story is a good adventure with Darth Maul right in the middle of another insidious plan of The Sith. Ironic isn't it that The Jedis greatest enemy could be so close to them without even the Jedi Masters' realizing it?
SHORT ON PLOT BUT HEAVY ON ACTION This trade paperback is a prequel of sorts to Star Wars Episode I, The Phantom Menace. It takes place roughly a year before the events in the film and feature about the only thing that made Phantom Menace watchable, the Sith apprentice, Darth Maul. This book isn't just entitled Darth Maul but it's virtually a one-man show.
Maul is just near the completion of his training when his Master, Darth Sidious, summons him. Maul wonders if it is time for the Sith to finally reveal themselves and destroy the Jedi but he is cautioned that the time for that is still to come. Instead, Sidious sees that there may be one organization that can interfere with his plans to blockade Naboo, the galactic crime syndicate known as the Black Sun. The Black Sun has its hands in everything that goes on in the galaxy and they are a threat that must be eliminated. Sidious wants maul to strike at the heart of Black Sun, not destroying it, but rather seriously crippling it by killing its leaders. That is the very basic plot to the story.
Maul relishes the opportunity to finally use his skills to their fullest, one-by-one, assassinating the various under bosses of Black Sun, and throwing the organization into total disarray. There's not a lot of subtlety to the story written by veteran comic scribe, Ron Marz. Maul mows down legions of the syndicates finest fighters and assassins as if they were mere practice dummies. It is an artful display of carnage which, if I had to try and compare it to anything, would be the restaurant battle scene from Kill Bill part 1. Maul is a whirlwind of death and even Mighella, a Dathomiri Witch, proved little match for him.
What the book lacks in terms of plotting and the usual Star Wars intrigue, it more than makes up for in action. There isn't a lot of dialog in the book, and not much background is shared about the Sith. This story is action from cover-to-cover. I would say if there was one weakness, it could be that Marz portrayed Maul as being too powerful. Were he quite this powerful, one wonders if a young Obi-Wan would have truly stood a chance against him in their duel in The Phantom Menace.
The art by Jan Duursema and Rick Magyar is exceptional and it is their battle scenes which make the book rate higher than perhaps the story should allow. The power and grace of Darth Maul in battle is rendered magnificently. Maul looks like a demon spewed forth from the bowels of hell!
Some fans may moan about the lack of much of a story or characterization, but that's not what the book was intended to be. The book was intended to spotlight just how fearsome the Sith can be and it does so extremely well.
Star Wars: Darth Maul A quality item for any fan of Darth Maul or the Sith. Excellent back story and art work showing the relationship between Maul and his master.Great story, art and again a quality item!
Darth Maul: A Sith Birth I first read Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter book and I was captivated at the fast-motion thrilling novel I was reading. It was intense and take you in the plot that helps you understand the Jedi Fallen and Why the Sith succeded, but for me Darth Maul was a fascinating character of the Star Wars universe whose origins were unknown and I was eager to understand the complexity and origins of this character, so I Bought Darth Maul paperback to have the full perspective of him.
If Darth Maul Paperback lacks of course of the never-ending action of Shadow Hunter, it's a must read comic-style novel to any star wars fan interested in understand the whereabouts of that devious increible smart and complex mind of Darth Maul, aside of an incredible art work which make an enjoyable reading for everybody.
Excellent art, but the story is lacking A great graphic novel by Ron Marz and illustrated by Jan Duursema. The main idea was Black Sun threatens Sidious' plans for a Naboo Blockade. Darth Maul is sent to weaken their criminal network. In this TPB, writer Ron Marz is, well, Ron Marz. That means little dialogue, weak storyline, and not much character development. An example of weak dialogue was when Sidious and Maul were talking, and were restating each others questions as they answered. this was:
Maul: I will not fail you, my master. Sidious: Yes apprentice, I know you will not fail me.
Another downside to the dialogue was the lack of it. Not one word was said until page 8. The final bad side to the Darth Maul TPB is the length. Only 96 pages! I can't be the only one who thought this short and wants a sequel, or even a prequel, showing Maul's transformation into a Sith apprentice.
Now, the good. SUPERB ART! I've never seen better, with the exception of Star Wars Darkness, and Clone Wars volume 4 (but then again, all are drawn by Jan Duursema). This TPB was mainly to show how strong Darth Maul is, and it does that well. Several HUGE fight scenes showing Maul killing Black Sun. Including, an opening scene of 7 and a half pages showing Darth Maul train. Another scene in the beginning with Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan was very interesting, as they were "feeling" Maul's presence on Coruscant. It almost seemed as if Qui-Gon knew he'd die at the hands of Darth Maul.
Overall, Darth Maul was still an excellent graphic novel. Buy it for the art, not for the story. Still, Maul fans would love to see him in action again, so this is where it can be done. I'm still giving this a 5 because of the outstanding art, and it's just cool to see Maul do what he does best.
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