Darth Maul – Black, White & Red 3

Publisher's summary

CRISIS OF MAUL! DARTH MAUL is fiercely loyal to his master, DARTH SIDIOUS, and a true believer in the Sith. But will a mission to a remote moon change his mind? ERICA SCHULTZ (Hallow's Eve, Amazing Spider-Man) and LEONARD KIRK (Sabretooth) bring you a crisis of Master and Apprentice!

Opening crawl

Before the fall of Anakin Skywalker and the rise of Darth Vader, Darth Sidious trained another
disciple in the secrets of the Sith Order. This apprentice was a mysterious warrior of Dathomir,
who left a path of death and destruction as he made his way through the galaxy….

Plot summary

In the lower levels of Coruscant, Darth Maul - Sith apprentice to Darth Sidious, trains against weaponized droids and defeats them using his assassin training. Afterwards, his master contacts him with a quest, instructing him to travel to the moon of the planet Dawk and kill a Devaronian fugitive named Coir Cion. When Maul questions why he must die, Sidious asks why his apprentice dares to question him, and with this Maul departs for the moon of Dawk. Approaching in his ship the Scimitar, Maul narrates that his master doubts his abilities and acts like the ways of the Sith aren't already etched into his soul.

While these tasks are to prove his loyalty, Sidious has a probe droid watch over Maul for confirmation that he executes his wishes. When Maul starts to sense fear in his master, he pushes this thought aside as Sidious has superior knowledge of the Force; Maul trusts his master even if he can't discern the whole of his machinations.

Meanwhile on the moon of Dawk, inside Korts Cantina, in the territory of Coir Cion, the Devaronian plays a game of Sabacc with two other patrons and gloats about his approaching freedom. Just then, a Rodian named Aro enters the cantina to informs his friend of an incoming ship. Cion orders Aro to take a squad to greet the arriver as a "welcoming party" before taking the stranger's head as a prize.

As Maul lands, he narrates that patience is his biggest weakness, and his master's plan to the Sith's rise is a slow and delicate process that can be too lugubrious for his liking. But since his destiny is linked to his master's, he can only reach his Sith potential by heeding his master's lessons. After exiting the Scimitar, Darth Maul is approached at gunpoint by a full squad of soldiers serving Coir Cion. Maul does not state his business as they order. Instead, he begins to attack as they open fire and ensures there are no witnesses to the presence of a Sith. Using his assassin skills, Maul easily bests the group and spares only Aro. Learning that his orders to deliver Maul's head, Maul decides to bring Aro's head to Cion instead.

In Coruscant's Senat District, Senator Sheev Palpatine attends a meeting with other Senators who want to bring an issue to Chancellor Valorum, but Palpatine tries to reason that they should hold off as the man is very busy, and since they are not even sure if this proposal with pass. After convincing them to meet with other senators and discuss, Palpatine is contacted by Coir Cion who warns him that he has three rotations to get him his pardon, or else he’ll expose Palpatine to the rest of the Senate.

In the Korts Cantina, Cion tries to contact Aro but becomes alarmed when he does not receive an answer. Just then a bag is thrown onto the floor in front of him. When he opens it, he is disgusted by the sight of Aro's head inside. Walking into the cantina, Maul activates his lightsaber. While some patrons stay to help defend Cion, others take off with loot but are cut down by the Sith. When the rest open fire, Maul starts his rampage and says that it is a pity that they cannot accept their own deaths. Killing nearly everyone inside, Maul has his probe scan the bodies and locates the still alive Coir Cion. Maul pins the Devaronian against the wall and questions why he's marked for death. He learns that Cion ran into the Vice Chair of the Republic Senate while in the underworld of Coruscant. He saw Mas Amedda meet with a pirate that he knows, and followed Amedda to the Senate District where he spoke with Senator Palpatine in private. Cion explains that he could blackmail Palpatine for his shady business and make a lot of credits, so he asks Maul to join him. The Zabrak refuses the deal but hesitates to kill Cion. When Sidious asks Maul if he has executed the Devaronian, Maul then kills the fugitive before leaving the cantina.

Leaving the moon of Dawk, Maul narrates that having dual identities like his master would exhaust him, but knows that such deception is imperative to ensure the rise of the Sith. Meeting with his master on Coruscant, Darth Maul is questioned by Sidious as to why he hesitated when killing Cion. When Maul explains that he was only curious as to how Cion was a threat, Sidious chastises him for thinking that he could ever feel threatened, and that Maul keeps on concerning himself with matters that are not his business. Sidious hands his apprentice instructions to his next mission, and says that he has shown that he still has much to learn.

Media

Cover gallery

Final cover by Sara Pichelli

Solicit cover by Sara Pichelli

Variant cover by David Marquez

Variant cover by Paulo Siqueira

Variant cover by John Romita Jr.

Virgin variant cover by John Romita Jr.

Appearances

This Appearances list is incomplete. You can help Wookieepedia by expanding it.

Sources

• Marvel's Darth Maul – Black, White & Red Coming April 2024 - Exclusive on StarWars.com (backup link)
• 'Star Wars: Darth Maul - Black, White & Red' Spotlights the Full Terror of the Dark Side on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
• "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 225

Notes and references

External links

• Star Wars: Darth Maul – Black, White & Red (2024) #3 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)