Star Wars: Age of Republic - Darth Maul #1 Review
Writer: Jody Houser
Artist: Luke Ross
Colorist: Java Tartaglia
Publisher: Marvel
Far from the odd and fantastical framing story of Qui-Gon #1, this issue’s opening act feels very much like the Star Wars prequels at their best and grittiest. A Force-sensitive thief named Zek Peiro is (all-too-briefly) introduced, with enough flair and intrigue surrounding him to warrant a comic of his own. The second act — and the meat of the plot — takes place on Malachor, where Sidious hopes a vision may help Maul to understand why his bloodlust must be tamed.
As another comic centered on a vision from the Force, the storytelling is primarily visual here. Many of those panels feature little or no dialogue, but there’s still a bit more than necessary. The artwork is more multifaceted and interesting than the direction enforced by the captions (or the simple, one-note lesson Maul is to take away). On the other hand, the first act is worth an immediate reread to review Maul’s thoughts — after you know what it is he’s hunting.
The artwork is detailed and expressive, alternating between bright, multicolored pages and a few that would be black-and-white if not for the deep red of Maul’s skin. This color variety avoids any jarring effects and provides a recognizable characterization to each planet and sequence. A recurring action layout where panels are strewn across a page like photographs spilled from a keepsake box works to decent effect but it keeps the action small and creates a lot of wasted space. This is particularly annoying during the vision sequence, especially in light of the multiple gorgeous full-page splashes used for Qui-Gon’s vision in the first issue.
Age of Republic - Darth Maul #1 is a dark and beautiful vignette of the Sith as a mirror to the Jedi. It could show a little more and tell a little less, but it’s a strong one-shot with a deliberate and complete story within its pages, elevated by its striking artwork.
A Look Inside
