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A five-issue anthology, this was an enjoyable, well-written (if short) look at some of my favourite childhood villains from the prequel trilogy. And Jango Fett. And the robot guy with the arms.
The first story chronicles the continued angry misadventures of our favourite metalhead, Maul. A direct continuation of the excellent five-issue run of Darth Maul by Cullen Bunn, this sees the Dathomirian Zabrak continue his tutorship under Sidious, this time learning the benefits of patience. It’s short but sweet, even if it only acts as a reminder of one of the better Star Wars comic books to have come out of Marvel comics over the last couple of months.
Count Dooku is on a mission of his own, setting the building blocks of both the Separatist Alliance and his master’s control over a number of shady organizations whose reach goes beneath the notice of both the Jedi and the Republic. It’s an enjoyable story that touches on some of the more interesting elements of Dooku’s psychology–the loss of the one man who might have pulled him away from the Dark Side, Qui-Gon Jinn; the ruthless nature masked by Dooku’s mask of gentility and sophistication; the Sith Lord’s own ambition to cultivate an apprentice, quickly dashed here by Sidious (though anyone who has seen the Clone Wars series knows that lesson does not stick).
Jango and Boba Fett’s story shows the ruthless stuff the Fetts are made of; and Jango’s mixture of indifference and revulsion at the sight of the clone troopers the Kaminoans have made in his image fits the character
Guess which robot’s back, back again. Grievous’s back, get a friend. Yes, everyone’s favourite π°π₯ππ³π¦π«π€ ππππ©π¦ππ«π π’ is back on the same quest he’s been on for the past eighteen years – hunting jedi and collecting lightsabers. This time around, there’s a twist–ol’ Duke Buckethead faces off against a secret Jedi temple, desperate to pillage its mysteries to please Β»Β»α ³Count Doogyα ³βΊ.
Shorter than the others is Asajj Ventress’ tale, which is a small prequel to the last pair of pre-Season 7 Ahsoka episodes from the ex-sith assassin’s point of view. I enjoyed it for what it was–a small nod at the character and what makes her tick.
I really enjoyed Houser’s work here! Not that this is something you have to read – but if you like these villainous characters, odds are, you might enjoy this anthology trade paperback.
The Grimoire Reliquary 