Review: Darth Maul – Son of Dathomir
Quick Summary
Pros: The main storyline is interesting and has plenty of action. The way this entire volume extends Darth Maul’s storyline is highly satisfying.
Cons: This book does not read well entirely on its own. The artwork is just alright.
Overall: This is a book that will work for different readers in different ways. The storyline and action are pretty good on their own but are far better when viewed as an extension of Darth Maul’s overall story progression. Without knowledge of this progression, this book is alright, but, with it, this book is very fun. Altogether, this is a comic book that readers who have seen the show are sure to enjoy, while readers who have not seen the show will be missing out on a lot.
Story
Star Wars: Darth Maul – Son of Dathomir, by Jeremy Barlow, is a really solid extension of Maul’s ongoing story from the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series. The story is interesting, the action is fun, and the way it continues significant plotlines is highly satisfying. The biggest downside is that this comic is not for everyone, as readers who have not watched The Clone Wars will miss out on much of the storyline’s appeal. Overall though, it is a decent read on its own and a much better read when viewed within the picture of Maul’s greater progression.
(spoilers start here)
On its own, Son of Dathomir is a pretty entertaining spectacle. It starts with an action-packed prison break, moves on to some suspenseful strategy and marshaling of forces, and, finally, concludes with an epic showdown between powerful forces. There are some pacing problems, particularly at the end where the final showdown feels just a bit rushed, but the overall quality of the storytelling is good. Together, this mix of factors creates a moderately entertaining adventure set within the Clone Wars era.
However, where Son of Dathomir really stands out is in the way in which it continues storylines from The Clone Wars animated series. Originally, the plotlines for this comic were designed to be actual episodes on the TV show but the show was canceled before they were made. This results in this comic bringing out the same vibe and energy that the show had. It also picks up on plotlines surrounding Maul, Talzin, and even Sidious, bringing many of these plotlines to a satisfying conclusion. For a fan of the show, this comic delivers on all fronts.
(spoilers end here)
Art
The artwork in Son of Dathomir is alright but really isn’t anything special. Juan Frigeri’s visuals provide a decent interpretation of the characters and environments of the Star Wars universe. In addition, the page layouts are well-structured and the general flow of the comic is good. However, there are places where the level of detail drops and characters look weird and backgrounds look uninspired. There are also places where intense emotion does not come across well, with facial expressions either seeming over-the-top or simply strange. The end result is a book that gets the job done but does not do much beyond this.
Continuity
Star Wars: Darth Maul- Son of Dathomir does not directly relate to other comic books but directly continues Darth Maul’s storyline from the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series. Specifically, it picks up on what happened to Maul in “The Lawless”, the sixteenth episode of the show’s fifth season.
Darth Maul’s story here does not continue in any comic book but continues in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series. Specifically, it picks up on “Old Friends Not Forgotten”, the ninth episode of the show’s seventh season.