Review: ‘Darth Maul – Black, White & Red’ Issue #3 Brings the Action
In my past two reviews for Darth Maul: Black, White & Red, I remarked how the stories left me somewhat underwhelmed. While issue #2 did make improvements, I still felt it had room to grow. And I still felt that both didn’t take full advantage of the series’ premise: to tell engaging new stories with striking art.
Thankfully, issue #3 does reverse some of that. It’s not a complete overhaul, however, as the story does still have some flaws, especially in its characterization of Darth Maul. But it does have better art and flow of action.
In issue #3, Darth Maul is sent by his master to eliminate a scoundrel who has information on Chancellor Palpatine. The story is a little on the weaker side, written by Erica Schultz. It’s a simple, basic premise, but one that doesn’t offer much depth to Darth Maul. He’s still just a mindless weapon used to do his master’s bidding. There are hints at Maul being more than that, as Maul does somewhat question his master’s authority. But the story doesn’t go that far with it.
But the art by Leonard Kirk is where this issue shines. This comic has some amazing double-page spreads showcasing Darth Maul’s athletic ability and his ruthless nature as a Sith assassin. It also utilizes the sharp highlights of red more frequently and more powerfully — something I criticized issue #2 for not doing. In this issue, the reader gets a better sense of why the character is so revered and so powerful, more than any of the other issues. And part of that is thanks to the exhilarating art.
Of the three issues released so far, issue #3 is the best out of all of them. I still have my qualms with it, as the writing doesn’t provide Darth Maul with the same nuance that’s been given to him in recent years. But for readers hoping to see more deadly action from the character, this issue delivers on that front. With only one more issue, let’s hope that the next creative team can stick the landing.
Score: 8/10
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.
