Darth Maul #3 (of 4) [Also available in photo cover.] Story: Ron Marz Art: Jan Duursema Inking: Rick Magyar Coloring: Dave McCaig Lettering: Steve Dutro Cover: Drew Struzan Released: 11/01/2000 Reviewed by: JF Boivin (07/17/2005) SUMMARY: After Darth Maul killed a second vigo on Mon Calamari, the other seven meet up in Master Lex's fortress on Ralltiir. They think they are safe from Maul, but when he arrives in the base and kills a legion of elite Black Sun soldiers, only the vigo's bodyguards stand between him and and the completion of his task.

[art cover] [photo cover]

THE STORY

This issue opens with Darth Maul finishing off Mon Calamari vigo Morn after he reveals where the rest of the Black Sun leaders are meeting. The remaining vigos are Mother Dean, the Rodian Dardo, the Ikotchi Narees, Whee Tillatch, the Phuii Nep Chung, and an unnamed Twi'lek and Devaronian, each with their own personal bodyguards. They are all under the protection of Black sun Master Vex, his bodyguard Mighella and a legion of elite soldiers. But even though they are all briefed about what happened to the two vigos and told from a surviving witness (Asa Naga from last issue) in exact detail of the attack on one of them, the best idea Master Lex has is to stay in the fortress and wait. Not the greatest idea.

Turns out that Master Lex underestimated his opponent. Maul swoops in the base and kills everyone, then is met by the vigo's bodyguards. Although the plot of this issue is simple like the previous two, at least it's not riddled with plot holes like the last one. It's interesting to find out who runs Black Sun in that time period, a little nod to Shadows of the Empire. Too bad they're all going to die. Oh yeah, there is no suspense as we all know how it's going to end.

This series won't win any Eisner awards for Best Writing anytime soon, but it's action-packed, mindless fun.

THE ART

The choice of species for all the vigos is interesting. Lex is the only Human, and he happens to run the whole organization. His bodyguard is some kind of Force Witch, and she looks very freaky. Nice touch. I really love the exterior shots of the fortress on Ralltiir, and Darth Maul observing it with his binoculars and 3 spy droids. Very reminiscent of The Phantom Menace. Once again, Maul slaughters guards for 5 pages, and Duursema makes it really entertaining.

CONCLUSIONS

A slight improvement over the last issue, and the art is really great. But for me, the plot comes first.

Rating: 6 / 10