So, it's May the Fourth again and it feels like only yesterday that I last celebrated it by waffling on about the Princess Leia mini-series (ok, that's a lie. It really does feel just a little longer than yesterday).
Anyway, I thought that, after making the time to celebrate Star Wars day last year by reading a Star Wars related comic, I would do the same again this year.
Therefore, in the lead up to today, I re-read Star Wars: Darth Maul, where Cullen Bunn, Luke Ross and Nolan Woodward tell a story about the original Sith Apprentice, preluding his original appearance in the Phantom Menace. Constrained by his Master's subtly planning, a frustrated Maul learns of a captured Jedi padawan and proceeds with a plan of his own to unleash his anger on this apprentice. However, as he tries to finally get his wish to kill a Jedi, he finds himself constantly having to check himself in fear of his Master learning what he is attempting to do.
Now I've tried to limit my description in order to avoid spoiling things (for folk who may actually read this) but, essentially, this is pretty much the summation of the whole plot. In fact, given this series' placement within the larger Star Wars narrative, I am pretty confident that it is easy to determine the Story's outcome before reading it.
However, this doesn't change the fact that I find Darth Maul's story to be a seriously engaging and enjoyable one. While (like I said) the plot seems pretty standard/straightforward, I really really love the characterisation of Maul that Cullen Bunn gives us throughout these pages. As of Phantom Menace (and prior to the character's incredible arc in Clone Wars and Rebels), Maul is quite a one note villain. Here though, it feels like Bunn really fleshed him out to provide not only motivation behind his actions but also a sense that Maul is controlled as much by his fear as he is his anger. This is because, while his desire to destroy the Jedi is overtly apparent, his unparalleled fear of his Master is also obvious, as his every action is designed to avoid his wrath. This makes me wonder, while he talks about his freedom thanks to the dark side, is he as much a prisoner as the Jedi he eventually encounters.
Speaking of, I enjoyed the Jedi Padawan that Bunn created for this series, feeling every bit the equal but opposite to Maul. In fact, Maul had a great supporting cast of the great Cad Bane (RIP) and his gang, with the voices I heard when reading felt literally ripped from the various animated series (as was Maul himself, who was every bit Sam Witwer but less maddening. Sorry Peter Stefanowicz).
As for the art, Luke Ross and Nolan Woodward's visual are perfect for this story. Their work has this kind of rough, dark tone to it that really makes you feel like you are entering of the dark, seedy underbelly of the Star Wars universe. That said (and maybe contradictory), Woodward's maintain enough loud colours to ensure it still feels like Star Wars.
Much like Princess Leia last year, Darth Maul is a really excellent read and further proof to me (after Leia and Darth Vader) that Marvel getting the licence was no bad thing. While the plot itself was an ok/good part of the overall series, for me it was without doubt the creative teams depiction of both Maul and the wider Star Wars universe.
I do think it actually helps make the Sith's first apprentice all the more excellent.
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