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Title: Star Wars: Darth Maul by Ron Marz, Jan Duursema, Rick Magyar ISBN: 1-56971-542-4 Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Pub. Date: 12 June, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.91 (11 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: "Wipe them out...all of them" (3.5 stars)
Comment: 'Darth Maul,' just to set the record straight, takes place several months before Michael Reaves' novel 'Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter,' and shortly after James Luceno's eBook 'Darth Maul: Saboteur.' While this comic is extremely impressive visually and fun to look at, in terms of plot and story it's severely lacking. There is a minimum of dialogue; the focus is on Darth Maul's killing ability.
The plot is basic: Darth Sidious sends his apprentice Darth Maul on a mission to destroy the leadership and organization of vast, galaxy-spanning criminal syndicate Black Sun, in order to minimize the possibility of any interference with his plans. Darth Maul, of course, being one to never disappoint or fail his master, embarks on his quest in his new Sith Infiltrator full of the goodies we saw in Episode I.
Even more so than most of Jan Duursema's work, this is an extremely visually impressive comic. There are plenty of imposing images of Maul standing there looking impressive and frightening, and more fight scenes than in any other Star Wars comic I believe. We get to see Maul go on killfests against tons of beings, as well as one on one fights with several others, including a Dathomiri Nightsister (one of the kind we saw in 'Infinity's End,' not the breed from 'Courtship of Princess Leia'). Unfortunately, although this book is great fun the first few times around, it loses re-readability because there is no real plot, and very little expository dialogue. In addition, by the time the end comes around, the constant "Maul against many" fights are beginning to get quite boring and predictable. To be fair, there were a few interesting scenes about the Sithly nature of the Force and how it compares to other Force users such as Jedi and Nightsisters, and there's a cool scene involving a telepath, but other than that it's just a bloodbath. In addition, there are several tie-ins to the other Darth Maul products - we see Oolth, who will later show up in the Michael Reaves novel, and are introduced to Hath Monchar, who we see in both of the other Darth Maul books. However, there is also one extremely unnecessary scene in this book which really doesn't fit the mood and detracted from my reading pleasure - a couple of pages with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan that have nothing to do with the story. I don't see why they were thrown in there, but it wasn't at all helpful to the "plot."
Overall, this is a very well drawn comic with minimal plot. If you are a "Mauloholic," a Star Wars fan, or just like a good fight, this comic is for you, but if you don't read it, you're not really missing anything.
Rating: 5
Summary: Top-Notch
Comment: I couldn't possibly praise this book enough. I've read a lot of star wars graphic novels, and very few deliver the goods. Not so with "Darth Maul". Name something, and the book delivers. Character? Dead on. Plot? Not a slow moment. Art? Perfect.
In the world of star wars, there is a severe lack of character-driven material. Almost all the promising stories fall victim to this oversight. However, Marz gets the Maul character perfectly, the dialogue is kept to a minimum, and maul is painted as even more cold, calculating and deadly than we had any idea of. Most poor or disappointing comics rely on tired dialogue and action. Marz on the other hand, uses character, plot and visuals to drive the story, and the results are amazing. Also, the series had covers by the master himself, Drew Struzan. Most star wars books are lucky to have the poor-man's Struzan, Dave Dorman. But Maul astoundingly has managed to get the worlds greatest poster artists to paint all 4 covers.
This book successfully makes you realize how dangerous and powerful maul really was, and allows you to enjoy the end duel of The Phantom Meance much, much, more. Like just about everyone, I was disappointed by TPM - This book definitely helps. So chances are you should check it out.
This is a must-own for star wars fans. Marz stays true to the character and takes you on a wild ride.
Rating: 3
Summary: Ice cream without flavour . . . a waste of potential
Comment: This Darth Maul comic lacks the great taste it could have been had the chefs behind the scenes bothered to add even some basic flavour. Or even a title, seeing how you have to say "Darth Maul comic" to avoid confusion to the central character itself. After all, this happens just before the Shadow Hunter novel, in turn, just before The Phantom Menace movie.
And the central character in this action ride he is. Semi-attired half the time lets you see Maul's full Sith tattoos, and if he bothered to speak a bit more you'd have to add more text bubbles near him. This is when Maul receives his Infiltrator ship and his droid probes. Essentially, this is a comic that is evenly balanced: what's outstanding is eroded by its deficiencies.
And the art by Jan Duursema is outstanding. This is a comic, not a book. Comics must be as visually impressive as can be. And Jan delivers the goods, and with her recent Star Wars material showing just how better her comics are improving'in conjunction with the colouring crew, of course!'Dark Horse has struck gold with this team.
Maul hacks, wacks and slashes his way through piles of bodyguards to eliminate the Black Sun crime chiefs, which is pretty much all the storyline has to offer. But it is the little touches that save this comic. Creative tidbits like the whiney Oolth, seen in the Shadow Hunter novel; brief cameos of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan; informing the reader that Itotchi aliens, like the Jedi Master Saesee Tiin, are actually telepathic; a monocle-wearing Dug; charismatic Black Sun leader; and a wide range of aliens.
But with the choice parts of the meal eaten, the sour portions are plenty. There really is little reason for Maul not to talk. He doesn't have to make witty or sarcastic comments; he could have thought bubbles. This is one Sith whose single-minded dedication dispenses with speech unless needed, which just brings down the comic. And after such lightsaber bloodshed, you understand why Maully chooses to kill his principle target bare handed.
The opening pages are just corny and clichéd: Maul vs duelling droids. Sound familiar? Like his opening in the Shadow Hunter book? What could have saved this was a more satisfying ending. The confrontation with the Nightsister guard was faster than lightspeed. At least give readers more of a fight. Yes, he's a powerful Sith warrior, and he'll win, but make him work for it a bit!
Overall, this comic has fantastic art but too many burps to digest well. Good for a light read, but not to be taken seriously. The discrepancies within are the sort that are easily fixed, but just weren't bothered with. There are better meals out there, but this'll suffice as an entrée.
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