In Star Wars lore, Darth Maul's life extends far beyond his movie 'death,' giving the former Sith further years to seek his revenge. Anger and hatred, emotions with their roots deep within the core of the Dark Side, were always Maul's primary motivations. They influenced his every action, fueling his connection to the Dark Side of the Force, and even drove him to conquer death itself. Maul embraced this aspect of himself, submerging himself in his rage. He knew it would be his constant companion until his death - a prediction which proved tragically true.
Before he faced and killed his first Jedi, before his fateful duel with Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi on Naboo, Maul had long been consumed by his hatred for the Jedi. Maul was raised from childhood by the future Emperor Palpatine, Darth Sidious, who adopted him upon observing the young Zabrak's strong connection to the Force. Such great potential did Palpatine see in Maul that he abducted him from under the nose of Mother Talzin, alienating the very woman he'd previously sought to ally with and take as his apprentice. Maul took to the Dark Side like a duck to water, his burgeoning mastery over it inspiring Palpatine to include Maul fully in his plans. Were it not for his defeat at Kenobi's hands, it would have been Darth Maul at Palpatine's side as he forged the Empire.
Cullen Bunn and Luke Ross's 2015 Darth Maul series takes place while Maul is still Palpatine's apprentice a short time before The Phantom Menace. In issue #2, Maul ruminates: "My life ends only when my rage has been vented... when my need for vengeance is satisfied. It will be a long life. And oh so cold." In his self-reflection, Maul accurately foresees the entire path of his life laid out before him, though he lacks the wisdom to know that his vengeance will be satisfied when he allows someone else to pursue it, not when his personal goals are actually met.
Darth Maul Predicted His Long, Cold Life
All of Maul's words ring true, yet twisted from his intent. While Maul would strike down first Jedi Padawan Eldra Kaitis in Darth Maul #5 and later Master Qui-Gon Jinn, his thirst for vengeance would not be satisfied. Instead, cut in half and left to die by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Maul would find himself consumed by it. It would keep him alive, though his broken mind would not heal until after Sidious had replaced him with Count Dooku. Blinded by rage, Maul embarked on a bloody quest of revenge against Kenobi and Palpatine alike. Despite slaughtering Kenobi's fellow Jedi and murdering his former lover, Duchess Satine Kryze of Mandalore, in cold-blood, the Jedi remained unbroken by Maul's onslaught.
Meanwhile, Maul's plots against Palpatine would only draw his former master's wrath, leading to the deaths of his brother/apprentice Savage Opress and his mother, Talzin. By the era of the Rebellion, Maul was alone in the truest of senses: all of his efforts to amass power stripped away, everyone who he truly loved long dead or exiled in the subterranean ruins of Malachor. In his final days, Maul learned of Kenobi's survival and exile to Tatooine, and driven by vengeance sought to finally slay his old nemesis. His last duel proveed short, with Maul struck down fatally by Kenobi's blade. As he lay dying in Obi-Wan's arms, Maul realized it was the destiny of the boy Kenobi protected to avenge them both, finally satisfied that Luke Skywalker would bring Palpatine's comeuppance upon him.
Darth Maul Dies After Realizing Luke Will End Palpatine's Reign
Maul predicted his life would be driven by vengeance and only end once it was satisfied, however - as with all Sith attempts to predict the future - this prediction was technically accurate but fatally flawed. Throughout Star Wars history. the Dark Side ultimately brings nothing but ruin and despair to its adherents, and Darth Maul was no exception - living, as he stated, a long, cold, vengeful life that only ended once he realized that it was the Jedi who would actually destroy the man he hated most.