As divisive as the Star Wars Prequels are to the fan base, they certainly brought with them a lot of memorable characters (and some lamentable ones). One of the very first standouts, even before the film's release, was the menacing Sith Lord, Darth Maul. Born from just about every nightmarish image creator George Lucas could conjure, the dual lightsaber-wielder instantly captured fans’ attention with his acrobatic fighting style and sheer menace. The Dark Jedi’s resurrection during Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels returned Maul to the limelight, fleshing out some of his backstory, as well as reestablishing him as one of the galaxy's most ruthless unaffiliated evildoers.

However, there’s still a great deal we really don’t know about the Sith’s early days as Palpatine’s apprentice. Fortunately, it appears that's about to change.

Recently, Marvel announced their new, ongoing comic book, Star Wars: Darth Maul. His solo book will detail the Dathomirian’s time before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, including a teased first meet and greet with the Jedi. Arriving on February 1, the House of Ideas just gave fans an early look at Maul’s latest adventures from writer Cullen Bunn (Monsters Unleashed) and artist Luke Ross (Star Wars: The Force Awakens Adaption). Take a look:

[vn_gallery name="Star Wars: Darth Maul" id="876184"]

Marvel’s most recent Star Wars tale promises to explore more of Maul as a rage-fueled apprentice and his growing impatience to bring about Palpatine's new Sith order. The story Bunn and Ross will bring to the pages should showcase a saner but equally driven Maul, the same eager, raw apprentice with the brooding intensity and brutality which made the character's entrance back in 1999 so captivating. Take a look at the official synopsis below:

Bred on hate, fear, and anger. Steeped in the ways of darkness…trained to kill. Darth Maul’s time as an apprentice to Darth Sidious has long been cloaked in shadows, but at last we will reveal his tale of revenge. His master tells him to embrace his anger, but to stay hidden and bide his time. Maul has waited long enough – his patience growing ever thinner. His moment to step into the light has finally come. Prepare for a tale of unbridled rage as Darth Maul readies one of his first encounters with his mortal enemy…with the Jedi.

Star Wars and its fandom has a long history of turning characters with limited screen time into legendary figures. Darth Maul may have played a larger role in the prequels than, say Boba Fett, but like his nearly silent compatriot, the Sith Lord outgrew his minor role and has now spanned multiple animated, novel, and comic book appearances. The latest (canon) comic will give fans Maul in his prime, as well as his first exposure to the Jedi. Hopefully Star Wars: Darth Maul will also bring with it some further insight into his dynamic with Sidious, as well as his Sith training before his infamous assault in Phantom Menace.

Maul’s new comic is also appropriately timed, as it appears the one-time Sith Lord will get a rematch with the very man who cut him in two, Obi-Wan Kenobi, in Star Wars: Rebels. It will also be interesting to discover what Bunn's take on the Dark Sider brings to his mythos and how it expands his legacy.

Next: Star Wars: The First Time Darth Maul Hunted Down Obi-Wan Kenobi

Star Wars: Darth Maul #1 hits shelves on February 1, 2017.

Source: Marvel