Darth Maul #2 (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: 10/04/2000 Reviewed by: JF Boivin (07/17/2005) SUMMARY: Darth Maul arrives on a space station that is run by a Dug named Darnado, a Black Sun vigo. After impressing a couple of Black Sun thugs who were trying to collect a debt, Maul pretends he wants to join them. But this is only a way to get him inside so he can perform his Master's task: to kills a lot of Black Sun agents.

[art cover] [photo cover]

THE STORY

This issue is pretty simple. Maul gets in to meet with the local Black Sun vigo through two of his henchmen, Asa Naga and Gargachykk, who are trying to collect some money from a Sullustan named Feen Fenoob. He kills the Sullustan, and the thugs take him in to meet their leader. My suspension of disbelief had to be stretched pretty far. First off, how does killing someone who owes a debt help the crime syndicate? If anything, I would think they would get p.o.'d that Feen won't be paying off his debt. Second, how can it be so easy to infiltrate a centuries-old, galaxy-wide crime organization? It doesn't take a lot of concinving the thugs either. That just doesn't make sense to me and kind of ruins the whole story.

Of course, as soon as Maul is in, he has to announce that he "came to kill you. All of you." He goes through the Dug's Twi'lek bodyguard Sinya and a whole bunch of aliens, he keeps Darnado for last, and blows up the station leaving only Asa Naga to escape and spread the word.

There is a scene where a Neimoidian named Hath Monchar (the Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter tie-in) comes to tell Darnado that the Sith have returned, but of course he doesn't believe him and sends him on his way. Which makes this scene totally useless, although Maul showing right after that makes for a cool moment.

If you like to see Maul slaughter a room full of people for 5 pages and don't need any logical story behind it, you might enjoy this more than I did.

THE ART

Jan Duursema has to depict a whole lot of different aliens in this story; Sullustan, Duro, Wookiee, Dug, Whiphid, Twi'lek, Gamorrean, Weequay, Aqualish, and even a Morseerian (some character sketches of which you can see on her website's art gallery) and does so with a lot of skill. She is also very good at showing Maul in various fighting stances and action poses while driving his double-bladed lightsaber through assorted limbs. Despite the lack of a logical plot, the art almost saves the issue by making it at least entertaining.

Also, of course, the art cover by Struzan is amazing.

CONCLUSIONS

Like I said, the art is a lot better than the plot.

Rating: 5 / 10