Star Wars: Darth Maul – Death Sentence
Trade Paperback
Script by Tom Taylor
Art by Bruno Redondo
Colors by Michael Atiyeh
Covers by Dave Dorman
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: May 15, 2013
Cover Price: $15.99

Darth Maul is alive. This should be of no shock to anyone, really. To begin with, the expanded Star Wars universe has a habit of resurrecting characters that were killed on-screen. Boba Fett was one notable example. Darth Maul was inevitable. I’m still anticipating the moment when Mace Windu comes back. And he will. I’m pretty sure that will happen.

In a lot of ways, it should have almost been expected that Maul would return. Despite vocal fan criticism of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Darth Maul was received quite well by the majority of fans as a formidable and precise villain. Brought to life with the acrobatic antics of Ray Park, Maul was a Sith Lord not only with the skills, but with the look of a nightmare.

Star Wars: Darth Maul – Death Sentence #2
Written by Tom Taylor
Art by Bruno Redondo
Colors by Michael Atiyeh
Letters by Michael Heisler
Cover by Dave Dorman
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: August 29, 2012
Cover Price: $2.99

In Star Wars: Darth Maul – Death Sentence #2, we find the roles reversed and Darth Maul put into a situation where he actually has to HELP people instead of kill them. But, that doesn’t mean he’s any nicer about things.

Writer Tom Taylor gives up another chapter in the Clone Wars era of the Star Wars universe. Now, we’ve seen Darth Maul ‘die’ in The Phantom Menace, and we’ve seen him come back to life in the Clone Wars cartoon series, but beyond that, we don’t know what truly happen to him, so this mini series is a bit of a mystery. Will he die for good this time? Will he survive and wander the galaxy while the “original” Star Wars films are going on? Who knows?

Rolling Thunder: The Art Of Dave Dorman
By Dave Dorman
IDW Publishing
Release Date: August 3, 2010
Cover Price: $49.99

Being a huge fan of Dave Dorman‘s artwork over the years, I jumped at the chance to take a look at and review the new art anthology book on his work and career, entitled Rolling Thunder. The large hardcover book – suitable to be a coffee table book – covers a great deal of Dorman’s calling; but is also a nice overview in how many geeks and fans of so many franchises have been touched by this man’s talent and genius over the years.

While I am also a Star Wars fan at heart, allow me to highlight first and foremost that this book is NOT all Star Wars stuff. Dorman has been well known to Star Wars fans (particularly those addicted to the expanded universe) for many years. There is an agreeable deep chapter dedicated to his Lucasfilm-related art, which includes prints, designs, and covers he has done for both Star Wars and Indiana Jones – some popular ones that have surfaced on the web that I am sure many are familiar with.

Star Wars: Crimson Empire III – Empire Lost #5 and #6
Story by Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley
Art by Paul Gulacy
Colors by Michael Bartolo
Cover Art by Dave Dorman
Dark Horse Comics
Issue #5 Release Date: March 07, 2012
Issue #6 Release Date: April 25, 2012
Issue #5 Cover Price: $3.50
Issue #6 Cover Price: $3.50

The explosive and amplified conclusion to the Crimson Empire epic is finally here, reaching an ending that makes for a highly satisfying resolution to the series that began many years ago. Star Wars fans who have followed the adventures of Kir Kanos will thoroughly enjoy the last two issues of Empire Lost, a tale that also sets up what chronologically comes next for the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant.

Issues 5 & 6 conclusively tie together the loose ends left from the earlier installments, as Kir Kanos and Mirith Sinn journey to meet Imperial representative Feena D’asta, in an early effort to bring peace between the two major factions. They discover themselves betrayed, as antagonist Ennix Devian begins unleashing his strategy to open up his aim to retake the Empire under his own iron fist and perverted new order. Kanos and Sinn find themselves placed in a standpoint where they must stop Devian’s forces, to help any future chance at peace between the Republic and the Empire.

Star Wars: Crimson Empire III – Empire Lost #4
Written by Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley
Pencils by Paul Gulacy
Colors by Michael Bartolo
Cover Art by Dave Dorman
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: February 08, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

Now past the halfway mark, Star Wars: Crimson Empire III launches its acceleration to the incoming conclusion of the series. The fourth issue of Empire Lost finds Kir Kanos determined to stop the planned attack of Devian, warlord of a splinter element of the Imperial Remnant fixed on bringing both the New Republic and Grand Admiral Pellaeon’s Empire into his own demented grasp.

Empire Lost #4 kicks off in space, with a New Republic naval force under command of General Han Solo. We’re introduced to a subplot involving a character named Ndigo who is tasked with investigating the disappearance of the New Republic ship Endor, seen at the beginning of the first issue. Trailing this, Kir Kanos – surprisingly – ends up landing on Coruscant, surrendering to the authorities, and demanding to see Mirith Sinn to warn her of Devian’s impending attack.