Review: ‘Darth Maul – Black, White & Red’ #1 Lacks Any Bite
25 years have passed since Darth Maul first graced our large screens. While he had little screen time, the character left a lasting impression in the hearts and minds of those who first saw The Phantom Menace. But it was the character’s future, outside appearances that solidified him as one of the best in Star Wars.
With The Phantom Menace’s 25th anniversary, Marvel celebrates the character with Darth Maul: Black, White & Red. Unlike the Darth Vader version before, this version looks to take a more horror-inspired approach. And it looks to feature one short story per issue rather than three in one. But while the art is gorgeous to look at — as usual — the story fails at its most basic premise: to be scary.
Spoilers below …
In Darth Maul: Black, White & Red issue #1, Maul is sent by Darth Sidious to recapture a rogue vessel that’s been overtaken by a powerful occultation. The group is comprised of three leaders, all looking like monsters taken out of The Upside Down in Stranger Things. These aliens have demonic-like abilities that instill fear and mind-control in those around them.
What’s upsetting about this issue is that it’s not scary. The notion of bringing horror into Star Wars is an enticing one because the franchise rarely goes in that direction. But this comic disappoints because the scares are pretty weak. I think a major reason why is because Darth Maul narrates the entire story. It feels odd to have such a stoic, silent character talk through the entire comic narrating everything he does when so much of what is said can be seen. And it undercuts much of the tension. I think a far better approach would’ve been to have this be a completely wordless comic and let the art do the talking, not unlike what Peach Momoko did in Darth Vader: Black, White & Red and what she did in her Visions comic.
Not only that, but Maul himself isn’t all that impressive. In my review of Darth Vader: Black, White & Red, I got on it whenever Darth Vader got bested by insignificant villains that he should’ve easily beaten. A character that should be feared and intimidating was sometimes portrayed as weak. And it’s the same here. The ending has him crashing the ship into a planet as he is unable to overcome the occult. But during his time on the ship, he doesn’t have an opportunity to perform many cool acrobatic moves, take on hordes of enemies, or use powerful force abilities.
The saving grace of this comic is the art. The facial work, line work, and color use are superb, as fans have come to expect with this comic line. But the gorgeous art can’t make up for a dull story that doesn’t do anything unique with the character. In a way, Darth Maul: Black, White & Red reminds me of the character’s first appearance in The Phantom Menace: cool, but I want more.
Score: 4/10
Born and raised in Hawaii, Jay Goodearl runs the YouTube Gaming channel “Good Games, Dude” His channel aims to open up video games to beginners and immediate players and help them understand what makes games the art form that it is.
