A new Star Wars book has provided fresh insights into Darth Maul, showing that he was significantly more menacing than he initially appeared in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Darth Maul has gained popularity through his various appearances in Star Wars movies and TV shows, despite seemingly dying in The Phantom Menace and later reappearing in other installments.
In the Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy, written by multiple authors, it’s stated that Darth Maul was one of the deadliest and most efficiently trained Sith in the Order’s history. His tattooed face symbolizes both his devotion to the dark side and hatred for the Jedi.
What does this new understanding of Darth Maul mean for Star Wars? It completely reevaluates Obi-Wan’s victory over him in The Phantom Menace. While Obi-Wan’s win was remarkable as he defeated a Sith Lord before becoming a Jedi Master, the book’s description suggests it wasn’t solely due to Obi-Wan’s superiority. There was likely an element of luck involved, which could explain Obi-Wan’s later obsession with the battle.
Our take on this revelation is that it truly sheds new light on Darth Maul. He was always an interesting character, especially as he was one of the early Sith on screen. However, knowing he’s canonically one of the deadliest Sith in the franchise significantly alters our perception of him. It’s unclear if this new perspective will be further explored, given his death in Star Wars Rebels, but it’s a major update to his character and Obi-Wan’s victory story.
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