– Spoiler Review –
In Darth Maul: Black, White & Red #3, writer Erica Schultz explores Maul’s willingness to follow orders when a surprising threat to his Master looks to upend everything.
While the Jedi aren’t able to sense the threat the kindly Senator Sheev Palpatine poses to them, and I appreciate how issue #3 even has a moment where Maul’s surprised by Darth Sidious since he can’t sense him either, but what about those not attuned to the Force? I really like the idea of some low-level thug who happens to uncover the shady dealings of Senator Palpatine, potentially exposing the Sith Lord without realizing the full truth of what they’ve uncovered, and seeing how the ol’ Sheevster handles it. In this era, it’s the usual hands-off approach, as Sidious leaves it up to his brutal weapon Maul instead, testing his apprentice and his usefulness, though we know he can easily take care of something like this if Maul doesn’t pull through. Whereas the last two issues had stories of Maul displaying not only his physical abilities but also his shrewd mind, I enjoyed how writer Erica Schultz brought out his doubts and questions about Sidious himself, picking at the edges of this mission and chafing at being kept at bay from learning more. He’s certainly fine with his role, relishing it most days and forcing himself to trust his Master since he can’t yet see the bigger picture, but there are hints at his more calculating mind and the yearning to take matters into his own hands eventually, his lack of patience his greatest threat to himself. One of my favorite little lines is one towards the end, where Maul talks about how Palpatine’s dual identities would exhaust him, which is why he chooses a different route with Crimson Dawn, obscured from the lower levels of the organization by a figurehead boss. I do wish the story got a little closer to Palpatine’s dark dealings being revealed to the galaxy, but I love how it opened the door for more storylines like it, as I’m sure there were other close calls throughout the decades in the Sith Lord’s rise to power.
On art for this issue is Leonard Kirk, who previously worked on series like Han Solo – Imperial Cadet and the Age of Resistance villain issues, and Andres Mossa on colors, previously providing his services on series like Shattered Empire and Obi-Wan and Anakin, with stalwart letterer Joe Caramagna. Their work overall leads to my favorite depiction of Maul in the miniseries to date, especially towards the end when he comes for the thug blackmailing Palpatine, as his disinterest is so starkly seen on his face, it makes all his impressive acrobatics seem like a walk in the park. His face remains steely throughout, so I loved when it finally cracks: the moment Palpatine creeps up on him at the end. This is all on the second to last page, where we get an establishing shot of Maul, hooded and cloaked, looking out at the Coruscant skyline, Mossa’s reds giving the city an eerie look, as if it’s beneath the Sith who are looking down on it. Kirk pulls you across the empty expanse to Maul’s lonely figure, to make it seem he’s truly alone, only for Caramagna to grab our attention next with Sidious saying “Apprentice…” which hangs on the edge of the next panel, behind Maul’s head, which is turned towards the speaker, surprise finally found on the impeccably emotionless face we’ve largely gotten all issue. In the next panel, Sidious is just suddenly there, and much like we saw Palpatine earlier, he’s a ghostly white, which feels even more fitting in this moment given the way he suddenly appears, Maul unable to sense him before he announces himself. It’s almost like a horror movie in the panels after, the Sidious’ ghostly hand grabbing Maul’s shoulder, tightening its grip, with barely any other movement perceptible, both characters shrouded in their hoods, Sidious more than Maul, while Mossa chooses red to fill in the background, which only adds to the unsettling nature of Sidious’ appearance. In the action sequence inside Coir Cion’s establishment, Maul cuts out the power, taking out the lights, and in one of the issue’s many double page spread, I really enjoyed how it was all framed, as we often don’t see Maul directly, much like those he’s attacking can’t, as we’ll see his hand reaching out or his body in the dust and debris of battle, Mossa really playing with the color scheme to the point it’s like a dark scene in a movie with flashes of light and color as the protagonist moves about the room, using their weapon to take down those against them.
Here are a few other things:
- As always, the doors to the Manor are open for submissions, so if you’d love to cover some of your favorite content from a galaxy far, far away or have some opinions you’d like to share, reach out! I offer this reminder because, since I basically review all the comics, TV shows, and books, things slip through, like this review!
- The final issue is out at the end of the month (literally) on July 31, from writer Greg Pak and penciller Luca Pizzari, and it promises a forgotten temple, ancient world, and a quest for silence…we’ll find out soon enough what it’s all about!
Darth Maul: Black, White & Red #3 has another depiction of the titular character which teases what he’ll become out of his Master’s shadow, while the story has an interesting threat to Palpatine’s plans.
+ Maul’s curious side and Palpatine giving him and us the shivers
+ Truly unfazed Maul thanks to the art
– Comes off a little too easy
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Bluesky, Twitter @MynockManor, and Instagram @mynockmanor.