Comic Review: Darth Maul: Shadow of Maul #4 (of 5)

It has felt like a long month between issues. With the television series ended, there has been a huge void left by the dark, animated series. This comic is a welcome reprieve from that void, but goodness me, do I want more. Author Benjamin Percy has really got the atmosphere of the series down to a fine art in this series, further enhanced by the knowledge of the now available show. When the series started, we didn’t know the fate of the characters. Now that we do, readers know that the majority of these characters are not going to survive. It adds a very dark feel to the series, one that Percy has fully embraced, and it adds even more to these comics. Joining Percy, is one of my all-time favourite comic artists, Madibek Musabekov. Musabekov brings Percy’s stories to life, with the same dark feel that is rampant in the animated show. Together, the two are forging an amazing prequel series that really adds to the world of the show. This is the penultimate comic of this series, I imagine we will see a lot of pieces being moved into their final places, ready for the finale…

The whole premise of this issue revolves around The Star Gauntlet, a podrace that takes place on Janix. The whole idea that Percy has come up with is fantastic, really bringing in the excitement of Episode One to this comic. Percy delves into how podracing works in the galaxy, mainly it doesn’t. It is banned on any Imperial controlled world, while it is those that are independent still do them. They are dangerous but generate too much revenue for the planet for them to ban it too. Perhaps this is why the Empire bans them, they don’t want their controlled planets to make too much money and start getting their own ideas. I love this level of detail that Percy has added though. It is well throughout and brings economics into the series in an interesting and engaging way.

Of course, this best bit of having a podrace actually in the comic is to see the actual race. It looks fantastic, Musabekov bringing the whole thing to life in a way that only he can. The design of the podracers is amazing, the level of detail just draws your eye in. Then the whole motion of the race itself is beautifully shown, there been little need for words. Musabekov’s artwork takes over, guiding the reader through the race. While this is the out and out wow moments of the comic, Musabekov doesn’t ignore the smaller pieces. There is a panel of Lawson split in half while he’s on the comm; the detail on the panel is superb, really bringing Lawson to life.

Percy is able to fit so much into this issue. The podrace and the criminal actions just on this would be enough, but in true Star Wars fashion, there are lots of small character moments throughout. We get to see Two-Boots predicting Lawson’s actions, realising that he doesn’t always follow procedure. It sets up how the character will rebel in the actual animated series very well. The other great moment is with Rheena. I think it it’s important to have her in the comic, particulate when she is then utilised in the show and Percy takes the opportunity to give us a flashback. The flashback is of her and Lawson working together as bounty hunters. It is a small moment that adds so much depth to their relationship. Where I think Percy has been very clever, he hasn’t spent too much time on this. He has wetted readers appetites, shown us possibilities (which I hope Percy can pick up in a later series) and given us a taste. He could have easily spent the whole comic on the flashback. He doesn’t give into this easy temptation, instead leaving the reader wanting more.

We also see brief moments with Ruhl. It’s not really needed but adds that little character moment that just adds more to the character of Lawson. Percy shows us just how annoying; how out of touch he is with what is happening on the planet. Yet even with this annoyance, Lawson sticks by his principles and still saves his life.

These are all amazing moments that give this comic so much depth as well as enhancing how we view the characters, particularly if you have already seen the animated series. While we have our main podracer, Tor Braxis, he is more a catalyst for all of these little moments. Percy sacrifices him very quickly and does it in such a great way. No Maul, but a single panel with a lightsaber blade. We see Maul in one other panel but that is it. It really adds to this detective noir atmosphere that has been prevalent in this series since the very first instalment. It works so, so well. While this is a ‘Maul’ series, Percy never gives into the temptation of showing us Maul too much. I do think this is why this series works so well.

All in all, this is a tremendous comic, one of my favourites that Percy and Musabekov have done in this series. The podrace is a stroke of genius, adding action and excitement. However, this is just a catalyst to allow Percy to delve into the characters. It feels so much like Star Wars and how the best of the movies give us insights into the characters. Percy is very restrained though. It would have been so easy to follow one of these threads too much, to delve too deep. Instead, he gives us snippets, always leaving us wanting more, and more do I want. Whether it’s Maul, or Lawson’s life as a bounty hunter, we never get to know too much. Bring in the incredible artwork of Musabekov and you have an issue that doesn’t necessarily need any knowledge of the previous issues or the animated show, but one that can wow as a standalone or provide even more depth if you have seen all of the above. I’m not sure how you top this comic, and it is going to be very bittersweet when this series ends next month, but like the animated series, the quality of this comic series has never waned.

Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter is a 5-part mini-series published by Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $4.99 and is available from comiXology and your local comic book store.