Tag: death sentence

Review – Star Wars – Darth Maul: Death Sentence #2 of 4

Script: Tom Taylor
Art: Bruno Redondo
Colors: Michael Atiyeh
Letters: Michael Heisler
Cover Art: Dave Dorman
Published by: Dark Horse Comics

Ja’Boag places a bounty on Savage Opress and Darth Maul as they hide in the darkness, the result was rougher than he could have anticipated as the hunters took a heavy beating and Darth Maul decided to take the fight directly to the mining company owner. The reasoning behind Ja’Boag’s decision is still in the air but it’s clear he didn’t anticipate the mass destruction that both of these bring into his mine.

Issue 2 takes off with the Jedi arriving just in time to save him from a toasty funeral, the mine has been damaged extensively and Darth Maul and Savage Opress are just getting started on the small army that Ja’Boag attempted to recruit to save him. To say things get ugly is an understatement, fire and fury pour while locals watch from a distance to see retribution striking down at Ja’Boag’s greed.

Back inside, It doesn’t take long for the Jedi to jump into the fray as soldiers start turning into voodoo dolls and losing heads. Honestly, if you thought Star Wars couldn’t get violent, you really need to check these issues out as Darth Maul takes the shock value to the next level with his rage streak. The violence breaks when things get tense and we see a new layer of development begin within the story as the locals come into the picture and expand upon the importance of the Suns and this planet.

With that we have to wait until issue 3 to find out what twist will come next. The thing I tend to hate about these stories is the shortness, I understand they’re under a crunch but we’re 50% done with this story arc and it’s frankly turning into something magical, the Jedi just arrived on the scene and the first confrontation  wrapped and here we are with only 2 issues for it all to close up. Taylor and Redondo continue to nail the movement of the story although I do have to commend Redondo for making some of those fatal attacks so subtle in the pace of each panel. Really, Savage and Maul are brutal people but I’m looking forward to how this continues to develop.

Release Date: August 28, 2012

Links: Pre-Order | Preview

Story:★★★★½ 
Art:★★★★★ 
Dialog:★★★★☆ 
Overall:★★★★½ 

Review – Star Wars – Darth Maul: Death Sentence #1 of 4

Script: Tom Taylor
Art: Bruno Redondo
Colors: Michael Atiyeh
Letters: Michael Heisler
Cover Art: Dave Dorman
Published by: Dark Horse Comics

Maimed in an epic battle and left to die for over a decade, such things can’t phase the Sith and Dark Maul acts a testament to it. His brother Savage Opress joins to save him and bring him back to sanity after suffering endlessly. The goal of course being a new army and empire and a reign of terror that will not end this time around.

The story picks up with the brothers secluded away on Paklan, not flashing their name about but not doing very much to hide away either. A smug bounty collector arrives on scene and sets the chain of events into action as he hopes to quickly subdue the brothers and make his way to collect his cash payout for their collection. Unfortunately legend of the Sith brothers seems to have escaped this person as absolute fallout is all that follows.

The brothers have a price on their head and given all they’ve dealt with so far, this is really the last thing they need on their plate. They’re not phased by the problem, just annoyed that extra energy has to be spent to clear the path so they can work freely on their dark plans. Nothing spoils plans to build an army and a massive revolt like having a tag on their heads after all. Unfortunately the marker itself is only the trigger to a larger series of events including the Jedi becoming aware of his return when he was resting cozy under the radar to this point.

Death Sentence through all of this action and darkness takes a more mature tone that younger readers might not feel comfortable with, bashing and slashing is the name of the game and even Jedi can’t stop it. Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo have their work cut out to wrap this small arc up within the next 3 installments, so much potential and it will need to survive being bottled up enough to print. Issue 1 is already out on stands but we’re playing catch up before releasing our review on Issue 2 for everyone.

Release Date: July 25, 2012

Links: Preview | Order | Order Digital

Story:★★★★☆ 
Art:★★★★★ 
Dialog:★★★½☆ 
Overall:★★★★☆