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Star Wars: Darth Maul - Death Sentence #1-4
Star Wars: Darth Maul Death Sentence
Fearsome Sith Lord Darth Maul, rescued and restored after surviving his confrontation with Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Phantom Menace, wreaks havoc through the galaxy with his brother Savage Opress!
When the brothers’ murderous rampage is interrupted by a bounty placed on their heads by Ja’Boag, the duo decides to target him—only to be met by a team of Jedi and Ja’Boag’s own private army! Collects the four-issue miniseries.
* Darth Maul vs. the galaxy!
120 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
7 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Tom Taylor
1,299 books1,042 followersOnce a professional juggler and fire eater, Tom Taylor is a #1 New York Times Bestselling, multi-award-winning comic book writer, playwright and screenwriter.
Well known for his work with DC Comics and Marvel, Taylor is the co-creator of NEVERLANDERS from Penguin Random House, SEVEN SECRETS from Boom Studios and the Aurealis-Award-winning graphic novel series THE DEEP. Taylor is also the Head Writer and Executive Producer of The Deep animated series, four seasons of which is broadcast in over 140 countries.
He is perhaps best known for the DC Comics series, DCEASED (Shadow Awards Winner), NIGHTWING (nominated for 5 Eisner Awards), SUPERMAN: SON OF KAL-EL (GLAAD Award Nominee), INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, SUICIDE SQUAD, EARTH 2 and BATMAN/SUPERMAN as well as Marvel's FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN, ALL NEW WOLVERINE, X-MEN: RED, DARK AGES and SUPERIOR IRON MAN. Taylor is also the writer of many Star Wars series, which include STAR WARS: INVASION and STAR WARS: BLOOD TIES (Stan Lee Excelsior Award winner). Taylor has written for Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, Boom Studios, Wildstorm, 2000 AD and Gestalt Comics.
He can be followed on twitter @TomTaylorMade.
Well known for his work with DC Comics and Marvel, Taylor is the co-creator of NEVERLANDERS from Penguin Random House, SEVEN SECRETS from Boom Studios and the Aurealis-Award-winning graphic novel series THE DEEP. Taylor is also the Head Writer and Executive Producer of The Deep animated series, four seasons of which is broadcast in over 140 countries.
He is perhaps best known for the DC Comics series, DCEASED (Shadow Awards Winner), NIGHTWING (nominated for 5 Eisner Awards), SUPERMAN: SON OF KAL-EL (GLAAD Award Nominee), INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, SUICIDE SQUAD, EARTH 2 and BATMAN/SUPERMAN as well as Marvel's FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN, ALL NEW WOLVERINE, X-MEN: RED, DARK AGES and SUPERIOR IRON MAN. Taylor is also the writer of many Star Wars series, which include STAR WARS: INVASION and STAR WARS: BLOOD TIES (Stan Lee Excelsior Award winner). Taylor has written for Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, Boom Studios, Wildstorm, 2000 AD and Gestalt Comics.
He can be followed on twitter @TomTaylorMade.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
July 28, 2020
Meh...well, it wasn't a complete waste of time. Some good stuff in this, particularly the moral choices that must be considered. Ja'Boag, a mining tycoon, has taken over the planet Moorjhone with his own private army, and exiled the native people to the planet's surface, with just a few days to go before the "dawn of the three moons," a day when the combined heat of three moons rising at the same time will burn anything on the planet's surface. Darth Maul and his brother, Savage Oppress (where'd they come up with that ridiculous name?), have targeted Ja'Boag, after a bounty was placed on their heads. With Savage captured and encased in carbonite within the mine, an injured Maul raises a makeshift army of the indigenous population to retake the mines and rescue his brother. And that's basically it. There's some pretty good artwork on display throughout and quite a few battle scenes, as well as the eleventh-hour arrival of Obi-Wan Kenobi and a team of clone warriors, but not really a whole lot more to this story. It's quick and dirty and over before you know it. I guess I would have appreciated a bit more development (such as, how exactly did Darth Maul survive his original, apparent "death" at the hands of Obi-Wan?) and detail. **ARC provided by NetGalley
June 11, 2014
Somehow Darth Maul is alive and back and mostly droid made. He and his brother are going across the galaxy causing trouble and irking the Jedi.
Why can't they leave two brothers who just want to be left alone?
Mostly a tale you would expect with a big fight at the end.
MY GRADE: C plus (probably a B minus if I could get past the stupid way they brought Maul back)
Why can't they leave two brothers who just want to be left alone?
Mostly a tale you would expect with a big fight at the end.
MY GRADE: C plus (probably a B minus if I could get past the stupid way they brought Maul back)
November 10, 2025
Set in 20BBY
Brothers in arms. Maul and Savage in new adventures, killing, terrorizing and having fun. Great artwork, with a nice quick read that it may add nothing to the grand lore of things, but hey, we get to see Darth Maul do what he does best, killing Jedis.
The downside is that it was just a forgettable story, and as it goes with all other stories, any Jedi you see introduced, you know first hand that she's/he's going to die because if it's not from the films and it on a limited comic/book series, then he's not going to make it. And that's sad and predictable that authors still use that plot. Oh well. Other than that, an enjoyable read.
Brothers in arms. Maul and Savage in new adventures, killing, terrorizing and having fun. Great artwork, with a nice quick read that it may add nothing to the grand lore of things, but hey, we get to see Darth Maul do what he does best, killing Jedis.
The downside is that it was just a forgettable story, and as it goes with all other stories, any Jedi you see introduced, you know first hand that she's/he's going to die because if it's not from the films and it on a limited comic/book series, then he's not going to make it. And that's sad and predictable that authors still use that plot. Oh well. Other than that, an enjoyable read.
March 11, 2021
3.5
Honestly, I really enjoyed this little book. Maul is back, the lower half of him was replaced by a General Grievous-style legs and now he seeks revenge together with his brother (an angrier and yellower Maul).
Basically a fuel exploitation company asks the Jedi council for help to catch Maul who has been meddling in their affairs, for this they send a group of 2 Jedi masters and a Padawan who discover that things are very strange and that there is something very cloudy behind that company...
For his part, Maul and his brother travel to this planet only because they know that the owner of the fuel company put a generous bounty on his head ...
Once he arrives on the planet the confrontation is inevitable and Maul loses against the Jedis, this leads him to lead an army of natives of the planet who are more like the cast of CATS, who have been oppressed by foreign industry and want to take the planet back.
That was the best way I could tell it without giving so many spoilers...
Something that surprised me a lot is that this is a very small book but it manages to create very strong characters that you love very quickly, I would have loved to see them in other media such as series, movies or video games but not everything in this life is possible...
Too bad this is now part of Leyends, plus the art is fantastic...
Honestly, I really enjoyed this little book. Maul is back, the lower half of him was replaced by a General Grievous-style legs and now he seeks revenge together with his brother (an angrier and yellower Maul).
Basically a fuel exploitation company asks the Jedi council for help to catch Maul who has been meddling in their affairs, for this they send a group of 2 Jedi masters and a Padawan who discover that things are very strange and that there is something very cloudy behind that company...
For his part, Maul and his brother travel to this planet only because they know that the owner of the fuel company put a generous bounty on his head ...
Once he arrives on the planet the confrontation is inevitable and Maul loses against the Jedis, this leads him to lead an army of natives of the planet who are more like the cast of CATS, who have been oppressed by foreign industry and want to take the planet back.
That was the best way I could tell it without giving so many spoilers...
Something that surprised me a lot is that this is a very small book but it manages to create very strong characters that you love very quickly, I would have loved to see them in other media such as series, movies or video games but not everything in this life is possible...
Too bad this is now part of Leyends, plus the art is fantastic...
October 26, 2017
This is a fun short story in the expanded Star Wars universe. Darth Maul returns from an apparent death and Kenobi, one of coolest Jedi, also makes an apperance. It's a pretty standard story that oulines the Jedi's mission to aid the galaxy. The characters stand out, though, even if they are only created for this story, and their interactions are what you might expect from a good Star Wars story.
Darth Maul wasn't killed in that epic fail of an Episode I. He was saved by his brother Savage Opress and healed by Mother Talzin of the Dathomir nightsisters. Still, his injuries took a toll on his mind. Now the Jedi sent masters Salmara, together with her apprentice Dray, and Judd to follow the two brothers' path of destruction.
Darth Maul wasn't killed in that epic fail of an Episode I. He was saved by his brother Savage Opress and healed by Mother Talzin of the Dathomir nightsisters. Still, his injuries took a toll on his mind. Now the Jedi sent masters Salmara, together with her apprentice Dray, and Judd to follow the two brothers' path of destruction.
August 20, 2018
Good and evil battle in this graphic short story.
The graphics and storyline were reasonable, but I expect only fans of the series will get into book.
The graphics and storyline were reasonable, but I expect only fans of the series will get into book.
January 28, 2019
It was an interesting read but wasn’t really engaging. I don’t think comics are for me but I do enjoy the continued story of Darth Maul because I find him to be an interesting character.
April 24, 2016
Being cut in half wasn't enough to stop Darth Maul. He's returned with metal legs and his brother Savage Opress.
Their first target is a foolish business man who put a price on their heads.
There are so many stories the prequel trilogy could have told them would have improved it. Among my favorite is the idea that Darth Maul survived being cut in half and obtains metal legs. The fearsomeness of Maul along with massive cyborg legs would have at the least added to the cool factor of the prequel series. This story touches on an expanded universe where Maul survived, takes his brother as an apprentice, and seeks to destroy Obi-Wan Kenobi.
It's a much better story than Attack of the Clones and there is no whiny teenager Anakin Skywalker with his unbelievable love interest to bog the story down.
Death Sentence shows Darth Maul is a sith through and through while demonstrating just how dangerous he truly could be.
Their first target is a foolish business man who put a price on their heads.
There are so many stories the prequel trilogy could have told them would have improved it. Among my favorite is the idea that Darth Maul survived being cut in half and obtains metal legs. The fearsomeness of Maul along with massive cyborg legs would have at the least added to the cool factor of the prequel series. This story touches on an expanded universe where Maul survived, takes his brother as an apprentice, and seeks to destroy Obi-Wan Kenobi.
It's a much better story than Attack of the Clones and there is no whiny teenager Anakin Skywalker with his unbelievable love interest to bog the story down.
Death Sentence shows Darth Maul is a sith through and through while demonstrating just how dangerous he truly could be.
July 20, 2017
This is a short, four issue miniseries about the newly resurrected Darth Maul and his brother attempting to just wreak havoc and kill anyone they meet, but are thwarted when they get a bounty put on their heads. They go to find the guy who put the bounty there and are met by more Jedi attempting to hunt them and get involved with a disputer between that guy and the natives of the planet.
So getting past how stupid it was to bring back Darth Maul, this is just a bad story because, like any other story where you just want to show how badass a character is, it has no where to go. The Mauls have no agenda whatsoever beyond killing everyone and hoping one of them is Kenobi. To see Darth Maul working with natives to help them form an army is laughably weird and ends predictably. I guess there is supposed to be some sort of dramatic moments here, but they are overshadowed by a bad premise that is taken too far.
So getting past how stupid it was to bring back Darth Maul, this is just a bad story because, like any other story where you just want to show how badass a character is, it has no where to go. The Mauls have no agenda whatsoever beyond killing everyone and hoping one of them is Kenobi. To see Darth Maul working with natives to help them form an army is laughably weird and ends predictably. I guess there is supposed to be some sort of dramatic moments here, but they are overshadowed by a bad premise that is taken too far.
July 12, 2015
This is an action-packed short series, with Maul being set against three minor Jedi, with Obi-Wan playing a minor role. The plot doesn't have a large amount of logic behind it; it's basically to get Maul and Opress in place (and Opress doesn't do a whole lot here) so that they can have some big action sequences (although it does play with the mysterious savior trope in an interesting way). The art is good, the characters are moderately interesting although not overly memorable, and there's a fair bit of humor (much at the expense of Maul and his bisection), although the overall story is actually pretty dark, especially for Star Wars. It's an enjoyable short experience, but ultimately forgettable.
November 25, 2022
A brutal exploration of the Machiavellian Maul of the Star Wars mythos.
While I'm not as familiar with the non-film adventures that the Sith Lord has appeared in, I am glad to see him let loose in a storyline featuring faith and betrayal. While tracking down Ja'Boag, a duplicitious mining magnate who placed a bounty on their heds, Darth Maul and his equally ferocious brother Savage Opress become embroiled in a territorial war. Maul is taken for 'the Demon in the Light', a saviour status he uses to his advantage while also encouraging cruelty and discord in a moral civilisation.
Meanwhile we meet the true heroes of the piece: the cool-headed Jedi Master Salmara, her instinctive padawan Dray and the straight-talking Master Judd, as they seek to protect Ja'Boag and stall Maul and Opress's rampage until Obi Wan Kenobi and the clone cavalry can arrive planet-side.
I liked the twists in this story, at first impressing me with Maul's mastery of the force and battle tactics, then reminding me of his ultimate ruthlessness and lack of compassion for the people who truly believe that he will save them. For a while it reads like the classic Western scenario where a little town look to a remarkable stranger to save them from oppression and then it subverts this formula, reminding us who the real saviour is. Not to give too much away, it's a Jedi Knight.
Star Wars: Darth Maul - Death Sentence was a thrilling quick read featuring some deft character work from Taylor and some emotive and energetic art from Redondo. It gave me a clear insight into the Star Wars extended universe beyond the films without barraging me with canon. This graphic novel seems a very serviceable introduction to who Maul became after Obi Wan sliced him in half at the end of The Phantom Menace.
I recommend Star Wars: Darth Maul - Death Sentence to tentative Star Wars fans and anyone who wanted the Sith to act more like the demon he looks to be.
While I'm not as familiar with the non-film adventures that the Sith Lord has appeared in, I am glad to see him let loose in a storyline featuring faith and betrayal. While tracking down Ja'Boag, a duplicitious mining magnate who placed a bounty on their heds, Darth Maul and his equally ferocious brother Savage Opress become embroiled in a territorial war. Maul is taken for 'the Demon in the Light', a saviour status he uses to his advantage while also encouraging cruelty and discord in a moral civilisation.
Meanwhile we meet the true heroes of the piece: the cool-headed Jedi Master Salmara, her instinctive padawan Dray and the straight-talking Master Judd, as they seek to protect Ja'Boag and stall Maul and Opress's rampage until Obi Wan Kenobi and the clone cavalry can arrive planet-side.
I liked the twists in this story, at first impressing me with Maul's mastery of the force and battle tactics, then reminding me of his ultimate ruthlessness and lack of compassion for the people who truly believe that he will save them. For a while it reads like the classic Western scenario where a little town look to a remarkable stranger to save them from oppression and then it subverts this formula, reminding us who the real saviour is. Not to give too much away, it's a Jedi Knight.
Star Wars: Darth Maul - Death Sentence was a thrilling quick read featuring some deft character work from Taylor and some emotive and energetic art from Redondo. It gave me a clear insight into the Star Wars extended universe beyond the films without barraging me with canon. This graphic novel seems a very serviceable introduction to who Maul became after Obi Wan sliced him in half at the end of The Phantom Menace.
I recommend Star Wars: Darth Maul - Death Sentence to tentative Star Wars fans and anyone who wanted the Sith to act more like the demon he looks to be.
January 9, 2023
I quite liked this one. Darth Maul is one of the more wasted characters in the movies. His design and characterization are both badass and though he manages to kill Qui-Gon he still is dispatched of way to easily by Obi-Wan.
This story is a pretty rad way to not only bring Maul back but also show how truly evil he is. Willing to sacrifice an entire population for his own interests sounds just about right.
I know we’re supposed to root for the Jedi but it was nice to see a couple of them go in this one. Dray died at the hands of Maul & Oppress, reinforcing the threat that can and should be. Judd dies saving thousands including Obi-Wan, reinforcing the selflessness of the Jedi. Both deaths are impactful because they are after all Jedi but as neither meant much to the lore as a whole you’re ok with it.
I’d go full 5 stars here if it wasn’t for the new look given to Darth Maul. I like the explanation that he survived by holding himself together using the force but I hate the new look.
This story is a pretty rad way to not only bring Maul back but also show how truly evil he is. Willing to sacrifice an entire population for his own interests sounds just about right.
I know we’re supposed to root for the Jedi but it was nice to see a couple of them go in this one. Dray died at the hands of Maul & Oppress, reinforcing the threat that can and should be. Judd dies saving thousands including Obi-Wan, reinforcing the selflessness of the Jedi. Both deaths are impactful because they are after all Jedi but as neither meant much to the lore as a whole you’re ok with it.
I’d go full 5 stars here if it wasn’t for the new look given to Darth Maul. I like the explanation that he survived by holding himself together using the force but I hate the new look.
August 7, 2024
What I liked about Darth Maul is that it had a lot of kindness and there was action but there was too much blood and gore and overall it had like a really good plot but I think I wasn't understanding and much so that's why I gave it a four I would have given a five when I understood it but overall I really liked it.
March 9, 2018
Star Wars Legends Project #150
Background: Darth Maul—Death Sentence was released in four issues from July to October 2012. The trade paperback came out in May 2013. The story was written by Tom Taylor with art by Bruno Redondo. Taylor is an Australian writer who has done several Star Wars stories, but is apparently best-known for his theatrical work. Redondo This is Redondo's only Star Wars work.
Darth Maul—Death Sentence is set sometime between seasons 4 and 5 of The Clone Wars animated series (20 years before the Battle of Yavin). The main characters are Darth Maul and Savage Opress. There are several Jedi characters, many of them familiar, but the main Jedi characters appear here for the first time.
Summary: When a wealthy Republic power player puts out a bounty on their heads, Darth Maul and Savage Opress set out to make an example of him. But things don't go as planned after a couple of Jedi Masters show up. Soon, the Sith and the Jedi are all unexpectedly embroiled in a prophecy and a people's desperate struggle for survival.
Review: Finally . . . finally. This is how you do a Darth Maul story in comic book form; really, a story starring anyone who is primarily an antagonist in the series. No one else has gotten that as right as this does. The first thing it just crushes is the art. The whole thing is exhilarating to look at: the way the characters are drawn, the spectacular action scenes, the angles and staging of individual frames. Nailing the visuals this well means that almost nothing else even matters.
But whether it matters or not, the rest is good, too. I consistently complain about one-off, throwaway Jedi characters in these stories. If Jedi characters you've never heard of show up in a group of Jedi you know, they're marked for death. And, usually, they're really lame and bland to boot. This story avoids those irritating cliches, introducing some really compelling new Jedi characters and imbuing them with real personalities so that they hold their own, even when Obi-Wan shows up.
The story also does a great job at weaving several disparate threads through each other to deliver outcomes that you won't see coming a mile out. It's never quite clear where it's all going or how it's going to end. Along the way, it ends up not being about anything I would have expected from a Darth Maul story.
And that's probably my favorite thing about it. We get to see Maul in a context that, as far as I know, doesn't exist anywhere else (at least until Rebels). It's a side of his character that isn't a murderous force of nature unleashed on a target (or army of targets). Not that he isn't a murder machine here, but he shows that he's capable of a lot more than that, too. And the result is worth checking out.
A
Background: Darth Maul—Death Sentence was released in four issues from July to October 2012. The trade paperback came out in May 2013. The story was written by Tom Taylor with art by Bruno Redondo. Taylor is an Australian writer who has done several Star Wars stories, but is apparently best-known for his theatrical work. Redondo This is Redondo's only Star Wars work.
Darth Maul—Death Sentence is set sometime between seasons 4 and 5 of The Clone Wars animated series (20 years before the Battle of Yavin). The main characters are Darth Maul and Savage Opress. There are several Jedi characters, many of them familiar, but the main Jedi characters appear here for the first time.
Summary: When a wealthy Republic power player puts out a bounty on their heads, Darth Maul and Savage Opress set out to make an example of him. But things don't go as planned after a couple of Jedi Masters show up. Soon, the Sith and the Jedi are all unexpectedly embroiled in a prophecy and a people's desperate struggle for survival.
Review: Finally . . . finally. This is how you do a Darth Maul story in comic book form; really, a story starring anyone who is primarily an antagonist in the series. No one else has gotten that as right as this does. The first thing it just crushes is the art. The whole thing is exhilarating to look at: the way the characters are drawn, the spectacular action scenes, the angles and staging of individual frames. Nailing the visuals this well means that almost nothing else even matters.
But whether it matters or not, the rest is good, too. I consistently complain about one-off, throwaway Jedi characters in these stories. If Jedi characters you've never heard of show up in a group of Jedi you know, they're marked for death. And, usually, they're really lame and bland to boot. This story avoids those irritating cliches, introducing some really compelling new Jedi characters and imbuing them with real personalities so that they hold their own, even when Obi-Wan shows up.
The story also does a great job at weaving several disparate threads through each other to deliver outcomes that you won't see coming a mile out. It's never quite clear where it's all going or how it's going to end. Along the way, it ends up not being about anything I would have expected from a Darth Maul story.
And that's probably my favorite thing about it. We get to see Maul in a context that, as far as I know, doesn't exist anywhere else (at least until Rebels). It's a side of his character that isn't a murderous force of nature unleashed on a target (or army of targets). Not that he isn't a murder machine here, but he shows that he's capable of a lot more than that, too. And the result is worth checking out.
A
April 3, 2021
I really enjoyed seeing Darth Maul back in the Universe.
March 10, 2013
This book is far from bad, but after strong Star Wars graphic novel entries like Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison, this one just felt a little underwhelming. Perhaps the bar was raised a bit too high, too fast. It's also possible that the immortalized clout and villainy of Maul is just too great for any writer to live up to. It was certainly not a waste of my time to read, but I'll not be rushing to buy this one either.
I've come to expect nothing less than superb artwork from Darkhorse Comics, and they never cease to deliver. The artwork is definitely the strong suite of this graphic novel. We get some very cool fights and I enjoyed seeing Maul making use of his robotic legs in high resolution bone crushing awesomeness. The thing I most enjoy about these comics is the ability the artists have to render a far darker character than live action really can. I mean common, compare this cover picture of Maul to the face of the actor. Both are awesome, but the only one who truly invokes Sith fear is the animated rendering with his face distorted with hatred and suffering.
The story seemed to be a typical Clone Wars animated movie's worth of substance. That's not to bash the show at all, as I love it and watch almost every episode I can, but I expect a little more from these types of novels. I want something deeper that might not be so easily rendered on the show, maybe a little darker or edgier. I'm an adult, and I feel like these graphic novels are where I turn for my adult content (No, not the graphic nature you might be thinking, you deviants, you!) Star Wars fix. I just like a bit more to the story than what can be explained in a couple sentences. For the sake of remaining spoiler free, I'll not be doing that though.
Okay, despite my little rant about the lack of scope demonstrated in this story, I have to give credit to some good character development. Master Judd, a character who I had no knowledge of coming into this, was very fun to read about. His character offers a wide set of emotions that many Jedi's fail to show. Also, he seemed to be more of a Knight class Jedi rather than one who relies too heavily on force powers during combat. You know what that means, right? Yep, he has some pretty cool fight scenes as well. Despite the title of this book being "Darth Maul - Death," Judd definitely stole the show for me.
So lets see, how should I wrap this up... Is it good? Yes. Is it great? No. If you're a die-hard Star Wars fan and a completionist, it's not a waste to pick this one up. If you are more of a casual fan such as myself, I'd encourage you to save your money til this one goes down from the cover price or something truly exceptional comes out. I only say this because Dark Horse has a lot of truly exceptional comics that are worth far and beyond what they charge.
This book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks,
Roger Bellini
I've come to expect nothing less than superb artwork from Darkhorse Comics, and they never cease to deliver. The artwork is definitely the strong suite of this graphic novel. We get some very cool fights and I enjoyed seeing Maul making use of his robotic legs in high resolution bone crushing awesomeness. The thing I most enjoy about these comics is the ability the artists have to render a far darker character than live action really can. I mean common, compare this cover picture of Maul to the face of the actor. Both are awesome, but the only one who truly invokes Sith fear is the animated rendering with his face distorted with hatred and suffering.
The story seemed to be a typical Clone Wars animated movie's worth of substance. That's not to bash the show at all, as I love it and watch almost every episode I can, but I expect a little more from these types of novels. I want something deeper that might not be so easily rendered on the show, maybe a little darker or edgier. I'm an adult, and I feel like these graphic novels are where I turn for my adult content (No, not the graphic nature you might be thinking, you deviants, you!) Star Wars fix. I just like a bit more to the story than what can be explained in a couple sentences. For the sake of remaining spoiler free, I'll not be doing that though.
Okay, despite my little rant about the lack of scope demonstrated in this story, I have to give credit to some good character development. Master Judd, a character who I had no knowledge of coming into this, was very fun to read about. His character offers a wide set of emotions that many Jedi's fail to show. Also, he seemed to be more of a Knight class Jedi rather than one who relies too heavily on force powers during combat. You know what that means, right? Yep, he has some pretty cool fight scenes as well. Despite the title of this book being "Darth Maul - Death," Judd definitely stole the show for me.
So lets see, how should I wrap this up... Is it good? Yes. Is it great? No. If you're a die-hard Star Wars fan and a completionist, it's not a waste to pick this one up. If you are more of a casual fan such as myself, I'd encourage you to save your money til this one goes down from the cover price or something truly exceptional comes out. I only say this because Dark Horse has a lot of truly exceptional comics that are worth far and beyond what they charge.
This book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks,
Roger Bellini
June 30, 2018
This collection of comics is set sometime during the Clone Wars, before Dathomir gets burned but after Maul gets rescued from the random trash planet by his brother, Savage Opress. Yes, really. Those are their real names. Anyway.
Maul is racketeering around the galaxy with his brother, rampaging and murdering, as you do. The Jedi have sent a master and padawan after them. The pair catch up with Maul and Savage in a factory belonging to Ja'Boag, who's a smuggler or a crime lord of some sort? I'm unclear on it, but the Jedi seem to feel they can't call him on his gross criminal shenanigans and must instead protect him from Maul and Savage. The Jedi Master sent after them ends up dead, but Savage is captured, as Obi-Wan Kenobi shows up with another Jedi Master in tow. Maul, badly injured, manages to escape and is saved by the locals, who- get this- think Maul is their messiah. Yeah. That ends about as badly as you'd expect, though with a surprisingly low body count.
This story is just bonkers enough to make me think it was originally supposed to be a Clone Wars episode. And don't get me wrong, it's a good story, I think it's just not told quite as well as it could be. Add to that the art being slightly weird, and it's not my favorite. Still, it's fun, and the ending is great. Recommended.
Maul is racketeering around the galaxy with his brother, rampaging and murdering, as you do. The Jedi have sent a master and padawan after them. The pair catch up with Maul and Savage in a factory belonging to Ja'Boag, who's a smuggler or a crime lord of some sort? I'm unclear on it, but the Jedi seem to feel they can't call him on his gross criminal shenanigans and must instead protect him from Maul and Savage. The Jedi Master sent after them ends up dead, but Savage is captured, as Obi-Wan Kenobi shows up with another Jedi Master in tow. Maul, badly injured, manages to escape and is saved by the locals, who- get this- think Maul is their messiah. Yeah. That ends about as badly as you'd expect, though with a surprisingly low body count.
This story is just bonkers enough to make me think it was originally supposed to be a Clone Wars episode. And don't get me wrong, it's a good story, I think it's just not told quite as well as it could be. Add to that the art being slightly weird, and it's not my favorite. Still, it's fun, and the ending is great. Recommended.
July 1, 2015
Big ol' meh. Not bad but also not great. I do like the art well enough. It's clean with vibrant color though nothing out of the ordinary for Star Wars comics. The plot is kind of paint-by-numbers Star Wars. There's the Jedi. There's the Sith. There's a prophecy. There's a conniving businessman. For a story that's supposed to have Darth Maul as a main character he's not very developed beyond standard Sith Lord tropes. There are a couple of instances that go a little deeper but these are soon abandoned. Perhaps he doesn't need to be examined that much though. Maul is a fierce and cunning warrior and not much else. The character who seems the most well-rounded is actually Jedi Master Judd. We also get to see Darth Maul's brother, Savage Opress. Star Wars names can be hokey but that one's a little too on-the-nose I think. You might as well call him Evil Badness. One aspect of this story I did like though is the message about how indigenous cultures often get forced out of their homes by relentless industry. Mining boss Ja'Boag is the read villain here. Darth Maul is just an opportunist. Overall though this is a decent action series but doesn't go in-depth enough to warrent re-reading for me.
September 19, 2016
20 BBY
This series takes place during the Clone Wars. Maul, thought to be dead, was recovered and given robotic legs. Him and his brother, Savage, have a bounty placed on their heads by the minder Ja'Boag. Seeking to kill this miner, Maul and Savage head to the planet where he resides. The Jedi Council gets words and dispatches Judd, Salmara, and her Padawan Dray to investigate the Darth Maul rumors. It is true that he is still alive and as strong as ever. Now the Jedi must vanquish Maul, end Ja'Boag's tyranny, and free the inhabitants of the planet.
This book was interesting in that we get to see what happened to Darth Maul, and that he is not actually dead. We are also introduced to some other Jedi, which is always interesting. Despite these two facts, to story was slightly boring. The most interesting thing is Maul's subconscious thoughts about Kenobi and the introduction to these other Jedi (who don't exactly last long, but they are interesting nonetheless).
June 10, 2013
A solid story about Savage Oppress and Darth Maul. There's the usual and much expected slaughter, but I think the best part was easily Darth Maul's nightmare and vision of his insane self and the inevitable meeting with Obi-Wan Kenobi. It's an interestingly humanizing moment in the midst of what could otherwise be seen as just a fun, violent romp with the Sith and his brother. Also interesting is Maul's choice to go back for Savage - suggesting a possible actual emotional connection. Other characters mostly fall flat in this story, but for the shortness of the volume and its focus on Maul, that's pretty much to be expected.
As an additional note, the art is really nice all throughout the book, and damn do I want Master Salmara's gorgeous purple and gold Jedi robes!
As an additional note, the art is really nice all throughout the book, and damn do I want Master Salmara's gorgeous purple and gold Jedi robes!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2014
If Boba Fett can be brought back to life then surely Darth Maul is cool enough to get the same treatment. I like the character, but but didn't have high expectations either and was pleasantly surprised. The story moves well in under one hundred pages and the characters have some complexity to them. You may be surprised who you root for in this book, especially in the middle. I thought the book ended well and there could be more about Maul if this does well enough.
The big reason I'm giving this four stars is because the art is outstanding. Darth Maul has never looked better and the lines in general are really clean. I've read some disappointing Star wars comics recently and this helps restore my faith in how fun they can be to read.
The big reason I'm giving this four stars is because the art is outstanding. Darth Maul has never looked better and the lines in general are really clean. I've read some disappointing Star wars comics recently and this helps restore my faith in how fun they can be to read.
March 10, 2020
I picked this up for lots of reasons. 1. I’m slightly obsessed with Star Wars right now and just happened to find it on the shelf at the library. 2. I think Darth Maul was utilized extremely poorly in the film and even tho I love Obi-Wan, I wanted a LOT more scenes with him. 3. I just wanted to see where this was going to go. I was pretty pleased. I didn’t know he had a brother?! The characters and planet introduced were really interesting and kind of almost overshadowed Maul which is kind of ok I guess. I haven’t checked to see if there are more volumes but I would definitely be interested to see what else could come from this.
March 24, 2018
It’s a shame this one is under the Legends Banner and considered Non-Canon, as this was holistically even better than the canon, “Son of Dathomir.” Both comics take place during the Clone Wars but this one flows a lot more naturally. I will say the first issue is a bit rocky, but once you get into the meat of it, it becomes a solid storyline. While this was pretty much filler and unnecessary, it was still entertaining and worth reading— especially the concept of the Three Suns and that planet’s dynamic.
January 31, 2018
Set over a decade after Death Maul was supposedly killed, but was only cut in half. A few jokes made around that. He's back for revenge with his brother Master Oppress.
"It mocks? Kill it."
"You think killing innocents makes you a big man? You know what I think? I think you're the one who's weak. You're the one who's afraid."
"It mocks? Kill it."
"You think killing innocents makes you a big man? You know what I think? I think you're the one who's weak. You're the one who's afraid."
November 11, 2018
This was a fun little story, though not particularly memorable. Both the writing and art are serviceable. I can't really take Darth Maul seriously, especially when he's with his brother "Savage Opress." (Insert eye roll here.) But if you can get past that, it's not a bad book. If you're a fan of the Clone Wars animated series, you might like this too.
August 16, 2020
Tom Taylor writes fun comics and even if this isn't canon anymore, Taylor did such a fantastic job with his Star Wars Age of Resistance series, that I couldn't turn down one of his Star Wars works.
This was fun, filled with sassy Maul and sassy Jedi and about how capitalism exploits workers and how imperialism/colonialism is bad for locals.
Great one liners and fantastic art
This was fun, filled with sassy Maul and sassy Jedi and about how capitalism exploits workers and how imperialism/colonialism is bad for locals.
Great one liners and fantastic art
January 30, 2017
Pretty mediocre, but I love the idea that Darth Maul survived getting chopped I half because he was so mad he just kept living. Oh, and his brother's name is Savage Opress. Really?
April 13, 2023
Darth Maul: Death Sentence is incorrectly placed in The Clone Wars Epic Collection Vol 2 as it should actually take place between Republic Issues 71 and 72, found in Volume 3. The standalone volume places it as taking place before the original Omnibus Volume 3, which is also incorrect, as it would take place amidst the stories found in Volume 3. Death Sentence takes place in 20 BBY, after the events of The Clone Wars animated show’s fourth season. As can be guessed from the title, this story is Maul-focused, at a time when he is causing mayhem in the Outer Rim with his brother Savage.
The story is pretty good and a really interesting look at how Maul operates when no longer the Sith apprentice. The Sith ways have been very ingrained in him and he is not above using other beings to further his own ends. His dream while delirious was extremely fascinating. I also liked the little looks at how Maul seems to view Savage as more than just an underling or someone who is ‘useful’. But on the other side of this comic, if I had to read one more joke about Maul being half a man, only a torso, etc I was going to lose it. It was like watching a bad punchline and I cringed at each one.
All in all though, not a bad read, as the story further adds to Maul’s character from the Clone Wars animated show.
The story is pretty good and a really interesting look at how Maul operates when no longer the Sith apprentice. The Sith ways have been very ingrained in him and he is not above using other beings to further his own ends. His dream while delirious was extremely fascinating. I also liked the little looks at how Maul seems to view Savage as more than just an underling or someone who is ‘useful’. But on the other side of this comic, if I had to read one more joke about Maul being half a man, only a torso, etc I was going to lose it. It was like watching a bad punchline and I cringed at each one.
All in all though, not a bad read, as the story further adds to Maul’s character from the Clone Wars animated show.
March 17, 2024
This must be super early Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo because this book doesn't feel to be a proper showcase of their talent.
It's pretty base level and i guess that's why it left me cold. Like it was fine and it had some cool Maul moments at this point in the Star Wars Universe but it was just ok.
There are better books that showcase Tom and Bruno in comics.
I wouldn't highly recommend it but wouldn't pass on it. It's just "mid", as the kids say.
It's pretty base level and i guess that's why it left me cold. Like it was fine and it had some cool Maul moments at this point in the Star Wars Universe but it was just ok.
There are better books that showcase Tom and Bruno in comics.
I wouldn't highly recommend it but wouldn't pass on it. It's just "mid", as the kids say.
February 24, 2025
It turns out Nightwing was not the first book that Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo worked their magic on. This hidden gem features the return of Darth Maul and his brother Savage Opress to the Clone Wars era. They are on a planet where the natives are about to be burned alive by the conjunction of three suns and think Darth Maul will be their savior. Yeah this is good stuff, especially for this era.
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