Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, the first Star Wars outing since the announcement of creator Dave Filoni's turn as the head of the franchise, is a stunner. It's a beautifully animated, complex-yet-breezy actioner with stellar combat and a great return to the screen for everyone's favorite double-bladed-lightsaber baddie. We're already getting a Season 2, so if this is any indication of the quality of Filoni's tenure, we're in for a treat. When Darth Maul first graced the screen in The Phantom Menace, he was an instant smash with fans. Everything about the character worked. He had a cool, devilish look, a dual-bladed lightsaber, memorable combat prowess, and an intimidating aura thanks to Ray Park. When he was cleaved in two by Obi-Wan, there was a danger that fans would never see him again in the Star Wars universe.Never one to turn down fan demand, Disney found periodic opportunities to incorporate Maul into a variety of its series and animated outings over the years. Most memorably, Maul's appearance in The Clone Wars cemented the dangerous Sith's survival, building toward Maul escaping prison in Season 7. It's been six long years since we've seen Maul onscreen, and we're well overdue. Read full article on The Direct.