Darth Maul

Origin

Maul from his early years has trained in the ways of the dark side. He does not have any memories of his home world of Iridonia or of his birth family. He is incapable of normal emotion, only experiencing blood lust and rage.

During his training, any show of fear was severely punished by Sidious. Also, if he even hinted at the thought of mercy he would be treated with cruelty. By the time Maul reached adolescence, his master forged him into a weapon of pure hatred. Marked by Sith tattoos that cover his entire body, Maul is the ultimate tool of the dark side. Despite this rather traumatic childhood, Maul adores his Master, and has never once contemplated killing him.

Sidious abandoned Maul on an isolated Outer Rim world, forcing him to survive alone while being hunted by hordes of assassin droids. After a month's time, his master returned and challenged him to a duel, one which the already severely weakened Maul quickly loses. Sidious then tells Maul that he has failed and is soon to be replaced. Overwhelmed by hatred, Maul nearly defeats his master. When Maul's emotions are finally spent, he prepares to die, yet his master laughs instead. By wanting to kill his own master, Maul has, in fact, passed the final test. His master proclaims him Darth Maul, Dark Lord of the Sith, and gives him a new home on Coruscant.

Darth Maul is trained by Darth Sidious to be a master of lightsaber combat. Unlike the traditional dueling techniques of most Jedi, Maul combines his swordsmanship with incredible acrobatic and hand-to-hand combat skills, making him a nearly unstoppable whirling dervish of destruction. When fighting multiple opponents, Maul extends the second blade of his double-bladed lightsaber to form a saberstaff. Maul often uses this to catch opponents by surprise, as few are prepared for the extra blade. Maul constructed this weapon himself, using ancient plans stored within one of the Sith Holocrons. His master gave Maul the funds and schematics he needed and provided him with a secret facility on Coruscant in which to work. There, Maul constructed his signature speeder bike, Bloodfin, and his Dark Eye probe droids. Maul also built a powerful transport — a Sith Infiltrator called Scimitar, which hosts a cloaking shield generator. Maul went on countless missions of terror for his master, killing politicians, crime bosses, merchants and warlords. His victims include Neimoidian Hath Monchar, the Black Sun leader Alexi Garyn, the Nightsister Mighella and all of the Black Sun vigos and their bodyguards. Maul also killed many Jedi, including Barco Trellius, Roro Fergus, Ji-Dis Flar, Darsha Assant and Annon Bondara.

Major Story Arcs

The Phantom Menace

After landing on Naboo he came in contact with two Jedi and the Queen of Naboo. Maul went straight at the two Jedi, ignoring the queen and allowing her to escape. In a vicious duel Maul fended off both of his Jedi opponents with the help of his double-bladed lightsaber. After separating the Jedi Master from his Padawan, Maul finally succeeded in slaying Jinn. He then challenged Kenobi. The young Padawan, enraged at his master's death, struck out at Maul with a furious assault. Maul eventually Force-pushed Kenobi into a pit. He then taunted the Padawan, who dangled helplessly by a ledge, watching his lightsaber fall down into the abyss. However, Kenobi instantly calmed down and connected with the Force. He makes a spectacular leap out of the shaft and Force-guides Jinn's lightsaber into his own hands. Wasting no time in striking as he landed from his jump, Kenobi cuts the astounded Maul in two before he can react. Maul barely has time to grimace as his body tumbles down the shaft in two pieces.

Return

Maul returned, resurrected by the prophets of the darkside to prove that Maul was a better candidate for the Emperor than Vader. The prophets brought Maul back to destroy Darth Vader because they had doubts about his true feelings, accusing him of not being a true Sith. Maul's attack against Vader was a failure as Maul underestimated Vader's true power. Vader showed his hatred towards himself by stabbing through his own body to kill Darth Maul.

Death Sentence

Darth Maul and his brother Savage Opress hide out on the planet Paklan when they are attacked by bounty hunters. They brutally take down their assailants and force a name from their leader, Ja'Boag. Ja'Boag runs a mining operation on the plant Moorjhone. The brothers arrive on the planet and scope out Ja'Boag's security detail. Maul commands one of the soldiers to walk back to his unit with a thermal detonator. Maul and Opress tear through the soldiers and toss Ja'Boag into the mine. He is saved by three Jedi who have come to stop Darth Maul. Salmara attempts to negotiate with Maul but fails as Judd steps in to battle the brothers. A barrel containing carbonite is thrown at Opress who unknowingly slices it in half, encasing himself with its contents. Enraged over his brothers demise, Maul breaks Judd's arm with his foot claw and is about to finish him when the Padwan Dray stabs him in the side. Maul slices off Drray's hands and escapes into the desert. He wanders until he passes out but is found and saved by the planets native inhabitants. They believe Darth Maul will be their saviour.

Other Media

Film

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Darth Maul made his first appearance Star Wars: TPM in 1999 and was played by Scottish Martial Artist and Stunt-Man Ray Park. His voice was provided by Peter Serafinowicz.

Television

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Maul is set to make his debut appearance in The Clone Wars in the 4-part series finale he'll be voiced by Sam Witwer. Maul appearance will also be his first cannon appearance since his death in The Phantom Menace.

Video Games

Lego Star Wars 1

Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga

Darth Maul appears as a boss, and can be unlocked as a playable character.

Lego Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars

Darth Maul appears as a playable character.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Galen Marek's training droid (Proxy) took on the appearance and fighting style of Darth Maul when fighting on Raxus Prime.

A Darth Maul "Skin" is also available for download as part of the "Jedi Temple" DLC pack.