Choose Your Own Adventure: At The Mountains of Madness Review!

 Choose Your Own Adventure: At Mountains of Madness is a bold merging of one of the most powerful horror tales from H.P. Lovecraft with the young readers’ sensation! H.P. Lovecraft was a weird fiction writer known for his stories in pulp magazines. He is known for the short story, “The Call of Cthulhu” (1928), his brilliant novella, The Shadow over Innsmouth (1936), and his other novella, At the Mountains of Madness (1936). The best of the writing is in Annotated H.P. Lovecraft (1997) edited by S.T. Joshi who provides footnotes that put the stories in context. The book contains “The Call of Cthulhu” and At the Mountains of Madness.   

Choose Your Own Adventure was a book series that started with Edward Packard’s The Cave of Time (1979). This was followed by Journey Under the Sea (1979) by R.A. Montgomery. Packard and Montgomery wrote many books in the series over the years. It ran into 184 books all the way to 1998. They ranged from science fiction, fantasy, and cryptozoological creatures. They took young readers all over the world and into fantasy realms. It gave the reader the lead role in the story and a control of the narrative choosing the different paths. Also, the reader could rewind and find a more satisfying ending. There were spin offs like the Walt Disney Series by Jim Razzi beginning with Snow White in the Enchanted Forest (1985). 

Other IPs include The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles by Richard Brightfield and Choose Your Own Star Wars Adventure based on the original trilogy by Christopher Golden. The new series, Choose Your Own Adventure: New Classics started with Time Travel Inn (2021) by Bart King. The new book is the sixth in the unnumbered series. Jacopo Della Quercia is the author of the book, also the name of a Renaissance sculptor, who has written The Great Abraham Lincoln Pocket Watch Conspiracy (2014). The illustrator is Hannah Krieger who was also the artist for All My Friends Are Ghosts (2020). There is a prologue that introduces the Choose Your Adventure concept of the reader being in charge of the story. It may end poorly, but still you can go back to where you left off, a spawn point in video games, and make new decisions. 

Then, you, the protagonist is introduced, a teen counselor at a summer camp. Yes, a summer camp like so many horror movies! This of course has a twist since summer in Antarctica is the winter season! You are there as part of Miskatonic Summer Madness. Miskatonic University is the base for many of the Cthulhu Mythos stories. There is a double meaning for the camp since madness, insanity, is the safest ending in Lovecraft works. This is a test to see if I could somehow make it intact from the Lovecraftian horrors intact! A nice intro to the Cthulhu Mythos. Next is a two page map of Antarctica with your Camp Starkweather at the southern end next to the Ross Ice Shelf. The upper part of the map is blank, the unmapped Mountains of Madness! 

The introductory page says your parents urged you to go saying, “We’ll watch your every move.” Kinda sinister. Your time just consists of playing games and watching movies for $82,018.90 for six weeks to be paid in gold coins? There is just three days left and then you can return to Arkham, Massachusetts. The seemingly normal city first appeared in “The Picture in the House” (1920) and of course inspired Arkham Asylum which houses Batman’s rogue’s gallery, introduced in Batman #248 (1974). You wake up with a headache, the days have no sunlight, polar night. Then, the AI developed by your parents, BROTHR, wakes you late for your schedule. Yup, a computer intelligence which may be helpful, but may also be like MU/TH/UR 6000 in Alien (1979). 

It can move and follow around rooms from your smartphone, to your laptop, and any electronic device. I made the choice to check in with Nurse Peters, health updates are important when dealing with students. She says half of the campers suffer headaches! She is looking to enter the Space Force, BROTHR lists the camp personnel; campers and the two other counselors. Nurse Peters says Sky has nightmares and Jackie has nosebleeds. The conditions hint at the strangeness around weird, Cthulhu Mythos places, but still seemingly normal. Nurse Peters gets privacy from BROTHR and warns you about Miskatonic University! You head over to the Rec Room and see the two counselors; Elenor and Sky. 

You bring up if Sky has drawn his nightmare like Nurse Peters told him. He shows a picture that looks like a hyakume from Japanese mythology; it is a yokai, humanoid with folds and covered with eyes from head to legs! Sky tries to go get some sleep. I made the decision to check on the “troublemaker” campers, the others are the bookworms and the gamers. The bookworms are Jackie who has constant nosebleeds and Moon, the youngest camper. The gamers include Sam, the tallest person in the camp, athletic, and also intelligent with robotics. Also in that group is Guy, who was in the Arkham Academy military school, his father is a famous scientist at Miskatonic University. 

The troublemakers are J.R., a teen pilot, and “Shemp”, a jokester who is obsessed with the Three Stooges. J.R. says that he can’t fly for the day on his father’s plane due to the high winds. BROTHR sends out an alert, this is for whichever camper group you join, and says that Camp Moore has sent out an emergency transmission. This camp is unknown to others, but it is where your parents work! Nurse Peters rushes in her first aid kit to say they have to go there. She gives J.R. the coordinates. The message comes on the loudspeakers gives the warning from Camp Moore from your mother, “We found the specimens! They live!” Then, an “incantation”, I think I know which one, makes everyone cover their ears. It then shifts to “Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!” This filled me with dread. 

The choice comes up with checking out the transmission or stay at the camp. Guy knows who gave the incantation, the Elder Things! His father had studied the Elder Things at Miskatonic University. Why he would share any of it with his son is dangerous. The choice comes up with checking out the transmission or stay at the camp. Guy knows who gave the incantation, the Elder Things! His father had studied the Elder Things at Miskatonic University. Guy reveals that he knows about such things from the Necronomicon! Why his father would share any of it with his son is dangerous. Sam silences Guy for saying the name of the Book of the Dead. Her parents died with the book in battle! Elenor stays at Camp Starkweather with Sky as the others are on the rescue team. 

At the hangar is the De Havilland Canada Twin Otter, twin engine plane seen in an illustrationtwo pages later. J.R. makes you the co-pilot. He gives you temporary control and then the winds pick up! You can take control or J.R. I chose taking charge getting Guy and Sam to help with the handle against the storm. You manage to get through the storm and head to the camp. BROTHR appears on the plane controls and says that the closest medical facility is at Vostok Station. He contacts the station speaking in Russian, but translated by Sam this turns into shouts and gunfire! Another option to retun to Camp Starkweather or continue on to Camp Moore, y’know where your parents are in danger? J.R. struggles against thekatabatic winds from the mountains. 

J.R. manages to land the plane and everyone else goes out with flashlights. A copy of a page blows into your hand and Sam translates that it is from the Necronomicon! You idenfity it is from your mother based on Roman numerals. Nurse Peters is missing so another choice of going to find her. You later ask Sam about the Elder Things and she has reasonable knowledge of them even Cthulhu! She leaps into the darkness with her ice axe and manages to kill one of the creatures. BROTHR leads you to Nurse Peters who is at the deserted camp which has tracks of heavy tentacles! I have not cracked a revealing ending yet. All of the campers have a very evil reason for being at the camp! There are countless dangers even before you reach the Mountains of Madness! Choose Your Own Adventure: At The Mountains of Madness is like a combination of Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors, Aliens, a touch of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein with the looming terror of the Cthulhu Mythos! 

Five Emergency Transmissions out of Five! 

#ChooseYourOwnAdenture, #AtTheMountainsOfMadness, #JacobDellaQuiercia, #HannahKreiger, #HPLovecraft, #BROTHR, #Sam, #Guy, #Shemp, #Moon, #Jackie, #NursePeters,#Elenor, #Sky, #JR

Michael Review!

Michael tells the story of the music icon with all of Michael Jackson’s songs, Jaafar Jackson’s performance, and impressive concert shots!  The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua and he also directed the action movie, The Equalizer 3 (2023). The script is written by John Logan who also was the writer for the horror musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). Interest in the film may be if you like Michael Jackson’s music and as a person. This is up to the point of 1988 before all of the controversy. The bio pic presents its story and audiences should be ready to accept it as is, be entertained, and not expect what they want out of it. 

It opens with a crowd cheering before we see Michael Jackson (Jaafar Jackson) from behind walking up to the stage, we have the beginnings of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” Jackson is making his film debut. He is of course the nephew of Michael Jackson and the son of Jermaine Jackson. The spotlight follows him. This moves to 1966, Gary, Indiana. The face of young Michael (Juliano Valdi) looks through a window at kids playing outside. This is Valdi’s first film, he has previously worked in television including an episode of 9-1-1, “Handle with Care.” 

In the living room, Michael’s father, Joe Jackson (Coleman Domingo) takes him to stand in the line up of his brothers; Jermaine (Jayden Harville), Marlon (Jaylen Lyndon Hunter), Tito (Judah Edwards), and Jackie (Nathaniel Logan McIntyre). Domingo was last in The Running Man (2025) playing Bobby T. This is also a movie debut for actors, Harville, Hunter, and Edwards. Penn was played by Edwards in the podcast series, Six Minutes. McIntyre was in the drama series, All American. Also in the room is mother, Katherine (Nia Long) and sister, La Toya (Amaya Mendoza). Long was in the powerful thriller, Missing (2023). 

Mendoza is also acting in her first movie. Joe is watching his sons perform from the couch. He says to Michael, “I need you to look at me” focusing on the audience. Later, we see Joe drive up in his Volkswagon Van in the snow. He is returning from work at the steel mill. He enters the house and says to the group, “I booked you a few gigs.” At dinner, he asks his son if they want to work at the steel mill, then asks if they are willing to fight for it. This is good to focus on the goal for the group, but it is more control with his own disappointments. 

Joe has the group dance and tells them to reach out ot the wall, but don’t touch it. Interesting stage directions for the fledgling group. At a club, we see the Jackson 5 perform and of course Michael is a stand out. Afterwards, Joe wants them to practice, but Katherine says they have school tomorrow. Michael starts to complain and Joe takes out his belt. The brothers are stunned. Joe starts giving a belt whooping. Michael runs off and then curls up in the corner of the bathroom. Katherine knocks at the door, but Michael is alone. Later in his bunk bed, Michael looks at the illustration of Peter Pan in a book under covers with a flashlight. 

Also, we see Michael looking at the Wizard of Oz, I thought this book in particular should have resonance with his part of the Scarecrow in The Wiz (1978). 1968, the Regal Theatre, 1968, the Jackson 5 are behind the curtains. Michael mouths the lyrics as he watches Gladys Knight & the Pips perform. They go on stage to an excited audience. A woman behind Joe walks up to him and says she is Suzanne de Passe (Laura Harrier). The actress played Patrice Dumas in BlacKkKlansman (2018). She says Michael has “perfect pitch” and that she works for Motown. Suzanne gives Joe her business card.   

At a recording studio in Los Angeles, Motown president and producer, Barry Gordy (Lorenz Tate) watches alone at the recording booth. Tate also played Quincy Jones in Ray (2004). Michael begins to sing and Barry interrupts him, “Michael, you’re moving too much.” Michael was dancing, but then keeps his legs still, while he still moves while singing. His brothers sit quietly on the couch in the booth. Joe says he just needs five minutes, but is ignored by Barry. Afterwards, Barry remarks to Michael that he “sung the song better than Smokey himself.” 

He shows Michael about the recording equipment, Joe appears, and then Michael hugs Barry. This is the first sort of affection we’ve seen with Michael. Suzanne watches a monitor in a tv studio as the Jackson 5 are filmed for The Ed Sullivan Show. Then, they walk out to photographers flash. Barry Gordy asks Michael’s age and he says he is 10. He is told to say that he is 8. At a press conference, Michael is asked the same question and he replies, “I’m eight, sir.” It is stated that their hit song, “ABC” is at the tops of the charts. 1971, Havenhurst, California. Michael is on his bed talking to his mouse. A nice nod to the 1972 horror film, Ben, where Michael sang the end credit song. 

Joe brings in Bill Bray (KeiLyn Durrel Jones) to be head of security to always watch over Michael. Jones played Remi in the drama, Succession. As a bodyguard, Bill is ever present and tries to be sympathetic to Michael, but is mainly there to protect him. Afterwards, Michael brings popcorn to sit with his mother to watch the classic musical, Singin’ in theRain (1952) on tv. Katherine says she is uncomfortable with his pet rat. Michael replies, “They’re no my pets, they’re my friends.” We can see here that Michael is lonely and disconnected to others besides his family. 1978, the now older Michael (Jaafar Jackson) looks out of a window. The same shot that introduces the young Michael. We see Michael at both ages from the outside, revealing a film perspective, a reflection not a close look at Michael Jackson. 

#Michael, #AntoineFuqua, #JohnLogan, #JaafarJackson, #JulianoValdi, #KeiLynDurrelJOnes, #NiaLong, #ColmanDomingo, #KendrickSampson, #LarenzTate, #TreHorton, #RhyanHill, #JessicaSula, #LauraHarrier   

Last Day of L.A. Times Festival of Books!

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books returned with authors, books, and presentations! The yearly event was the weekend of April 18-19th, it was held at the USC campus, so check the website: https://www.latimes.com/events/festival-of-books next year! The festival has been held since 1996. There is a BookCon at New York City, but it is ticketed event that started in 2014, the Festival of Books is free! The reservations for panels is online and there are also booths at the festival. For this year, Sarah Jessica Parker had a conversation with author Alexandra Olivia, the next day it was Lionel Ritchie, and Larry David, discussing their books. There are maps and an app, but I think there needed to be signage, even hand made signs, Turn Here for the Festival of Books-type thing. 

Festival of Books sign, I did see this sign, photo by the author. 

I was so disoriented that I couldn’t find any place except for the helpful people at the information booths. I think there should be signs, Left or Ahead to Teal Zone. The other part that was difficult was finding where all the signings were located. There were so many booths with signings of incredible authors. Still, no listing, on the website it could be clicking on a retailer or author’s name. I basically used author's social media to see where and when they would be at the festival. I like the poetry reading and music on the main stage. They promote who will be at the panel presentations. The best part of course is to see how many guests are interested in reading, I don’t know how many people attended, but it is at Comic Con levels! It is outdoors, so there are grassy areas, some seating and shade, and a few food trucks. 

A few tips from the day I attended, dress lightly, good shoes, and get some rest. I entered checking out every booth. The booths are fantastic, every subject, many retailers. I headed to the 800s; comic book retailers like Stranger Comics. I went to the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators booth. At the booth was Mia Araujo, writer and artist of Afia and the Land of Wonders (2025)! She had said that it took her twelve years to write. Also, that it started very influenced by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1871) by Lewis Carroll, but Araujo gave the story and characters her own unique spin. I mentioned that the text and artwork complimented each other; details left out in the writing was seen in the art and vice versa. 

Brandon Mull, author of Fablehaven and Guardians: Forbidden Mountain, author’s photo. 

The next author that I wanted to see was Brandon Mull at the Mysterious Galaxy booth. He is the writer of Fablehaven. There is an upcoming Fablehaven movie from Angel Studios. A board game, card game, Hugo stuffie, and pins are available at: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/haven-film-llc/fablehaven-the-movie-book-collectibles. Mull mentioned that there is an upcoming, June 23rd, edition, Fablehaven: The Illustrated Ediiton. It features art by cover illustrator, Brandon Dorman. Check out more about Brandon Mull and his works: https://brandonmull.com/ Also at the booth was his Guardians: Forbidden Mountain novel which was just published this month. I was by the booth where Chanan Beizer was promoted his graphic novel, The Golem of Venice Beach (2022), a two volume story. It is illustrated by Bill Sienkiewicz, Jae Lee, and a number of other artists like Stephen R. Bissette and Michael Allred. The Festival of Books was exhausting, but very fun to see authors and artists! 

#LATimes, #FestivalOfBooks, #SarahJessicaParker, #AlexandraOlivia, #LionelRitchie, #LarryDavid, #StrangerComics, #SocietyOfChildrensBookWritersAndIllustrators, #MiaAraujo, #AfiaAndTheLandOfWonders, #MysteriousGalaxy, #BrandonMull, #Fablehaven

 #FablehavenTheIllustratedEdition, #BrandonDorman, #GuardiansForbiddenMountain, #TheGolemOfVeniceBeach, #ChananBeizer, #theGolemOfVeniceBeach, #BillSienkiewicz, #JaeLee, #StephenRBissette, #MichaelAllred 

Superman/Supergirl Day!

Today was Superman/Supergirl Day 2026 and there were free comics! I went to one store, Things From Another World at CityWalk, that had two comics. I knew there were others so I picked up the facsimile of Supergirl’s first appearance, facismile prints the ads and letter pages from the original comic. I always like to buy something to support comic stores even with free comics. Action Comics #252 (1959) is by the creative team of Otto Binder and Al Plastino. It is also the introduction of the super villain Metallo who headlines the first story. “The Supergirl from Krypton!” opened the Super Family from lone survivor of Krypton to a family with Krypto, also created by Binder in Adventure Comics #210 (1955) with artist Curt Swan. Binder is a fascinating writer also having created Mary Marvel. 

His sci fi work, “I, Robot” (1939) had the first sentient robot before the Isaac Asimov book! Find out more in the book, Otto Binder: The Life and Work of a Comic Book and Science Fiction Visionary (2016) by Bill Schelly. There is no Supergirl movie without Binder and his artist co-creators. Next, I went to Pulp Fiction in Culver City, a little confused by their new location. There were six of the free Superman/Supergirl Day Special Editions. The key issue must be the reprint of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #1 with a new cover by Gerald Parel. This was a limited series by writer Tom King and artist, BilquisEvely that ran in 2021 to 2022. There are a few graphic novel editions of the series that are available. It forms the basiss of the new Supergirl film that will out on June 26th. There was the reprint of Supergirl #1 (2025) by Sophie Campbell reviewed here: https://geektruth.blogspot.com/2025/05/supergirl-1-review.html  

The Superman comics included Superman #1 by Joshua Williamson and Jamal Campbell. I was happy that there was a reprint of Superman: Time and Time Again #1 by Dan Jurgens. This was a reprint of the storyline that ran through Superman titles starting with Adventures of Superman #476 (1991). His encounter with Linear Man sends him through historical periods. Fun! It was all collected in DC Finest: Superman: Time and Time Again. Supergirl: The World features two stories from the anthology graphic novel that will be out on June 2nd. “Supergirl y La Maliciosa” is by Aneke and “The Extraction” by Yann Krehl and Marie Sann. Supergirl’s Zoo-Per Heroes is a preview by Rob Justus. The graphic novel for young readers came out on February 3rd. I gave in and bought the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #1 foil cover that has all art and no text, $9.99. Action Comics #1 was also facsimile reprinted, but I already got one. I hope there is a reprint for the Supergirl opening day. There were so many great free comics this Superman/Supergirl Day! 

#SupermanSupergirlDay, #ThingsFromAnotherWorld, #CityWalk, #AdventureComics, #OttoBinder, #AlPlastino, #AdventureComics, #CurtSwan, #PulpFiction, #SupergirlWomanOfTomorrow, #TomKing, #BilquisEvely, #GeraldParel, #Superman, #JoshuaWilliamson, #JamalCampbell, #SupermanTimeAndTimeAgain, #DanJurgens, #AdventuresOfSuperman, #SupergirlTheWorld, #Aneke, #YannKrehl, #MarieSann, #SupergirlsZooPerHeroes, #RobJustus.   

A Walk Through Huntington Library!

 Yesterday was a chance to walk and renew at Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens! I love the drive in San Marino, which is just houses, then fences leading to Huntington Library. It is like a paradise hidden in suburbia. There was some massive construction on what looks like housing for visiting scholars. The entrance was a little different for me. There are rows leading to the ticket windows. Then, tickets needed to be purchased online before going to the ticket window. I used my phone, $34, Friday to Sunday, worth it!, and then scanned my QR code. I don’t know if this is promoted by the organization. Find info about the library and gardens at: https://www.huntington.org. I had remembered a grassy hill where families picntic, but it is now lanes that lead to the Desert Garden and branches to the galleries and other gardens. Before reaching the Desert Garden, I walked into the Mapel Orientation Gallery, highly recommended! 

Looking at the Huntington Library, Desert Garden, author’s photo.

The highlight of the gallery is the replica of the Red Car in a case. The Pacific Electric Railway Company was the largest electric railway system in the 1920s! It was created by Henry E. Huntington, the founder of the Huntington Library. I went around the walls to read the Huntington Timeline. What was impressive to me was the overlays, don’t miss it!, that showed early Native American trails, the Red Car railway network, and then the modern roadways. So we had a non-polluting, extensive, mass transit all over Los Angeles; the San Gabriel Velley, Inland Empire, Long Beach, and Hollywood to Venice! Likely, my opinion, the Big Three car companies moved us away from the Red Car to ensnarl us in eternal traffic. See Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988) to watch how innovation, dreams, can sometimes be crushed by big business. “Hold That Tiger!” The other point is that there are numerous booths throughout Huntington Library with guides to point out where things are, how to find a certain art piece, or any recommendation. This applies to all of the personnel! There’s also an app to give you exhibition highlights and self-guided tours. 

The Aloe dichotoma, Desert Garden, photo by the author.

What renews me going to the Huntington is not only the beauty of the gardens, paintings, and sculptures, I found out this time, it is the quiet. The guests spoke in hushed tones in the Desert Garden. As the day headed to the close, the volume went up to Mall Yapping levels. I would like to go earlier in the day and meditate. This is now a goal. The Desert Garden is right there at the end of the path. It wanders around, you can choose any path, with cacti, aloe, and other succulents around the garden. The greenhouse was closed for that time. I really like the Aloe dichotoma, that is native to Nambia and South Africa, tree-like it has aloe leaves at the top. The Library/Art Building was closed at the time for construction. I continued on to the Huntington Art Gallery. One of my favorite paintings in the collection is Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough. He was paired with Pinkie by Thomas Lawrence. They were separated three years ago, according to the security guard, and now she is displayed outside of one of the rooms. I always think they belong together. 

Notebook with the writing of Octavia Butler!, author’s photo. 

There was also a new exhibition, Stories from the Library, which had part of the collection for Octavia Butler. My Lyft driver noted that when she was young she found the author’s number and called Butler to tell her how much her novels meant to her. There was a handwritten note book. Also, a letter from Mary Wollstonecraft Shalley, author of Frankenstein! Then, I went to the American Art Gallery, there was a 1922 bronze statue of Diana The Huntress, impressive. It is an ok collection, I thought it needs comic books that are really part of American artwork. I think this may be more intended for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, opening this September! I was exhausted by that point, but saw on the map that the Chinese Garden was not too far away. This was getting later so the noise level rose. There are limestone rocks around the garden that look like formations rising from the ground with holes and interesting patterns. There is a green lake, flowers, and a house in the Courtyard of Assembled Worthies. 

Two ladies from the Historical Tea & Garden Society at the Rose Garden, photo by the author. 

I went to the Japanese Garden which has a tea house that used in the 2009 G.I. Joe movie that had no set decoration. When I had seen that movie, taking place in Tokyo, I was no that’s Huntington Library! I like the collection of bonsai trees especially the Montezuma Cypress. What I had note was the guest who was looking for the “Banzai Trees” and corrected her. Y’know like how it is labeled all around the garden? I really like the koi pond and moon bridge. Still, I was just worn down so started to leave and reached the Rose Garden. Then, I saw several people dressed up in 18th century clothes. They are part of the Historical Tea & Dance Society. They instantly transported me to the 18th century surrounded by the roses!One member noted that they had a Jane Austen event at the Audobon, but it was cancelled because of rain. So they stopped by the Rose Garden. It was only at night when the rain came in. The group offers dance classes, no partners needed, beginners are welcome. Find more about the Historical Tea & Dance Society at www.historicalteaanddance.org. I have no idea idea why other cosplayers and influencers go to The Huntington. A great day at the Huntington Library with gardens, artwork, and a a chance meeting with the Tea & Dance Society! 

Maul: Shadow Lord, Ep. 1, Review!

Maul has returned in Maul: Shadow Lord and he is ready to rebuild his power and possibly the Shadow Collective! The first ep is titled, “The Dark Revenge.” Maul has been a prequel presence since he appeared in Phantom Menace (1999), he was a threat in the Clone Wars series, but turned against the Emperor. Maul took over the Shadow Collective, an organization of bounty hunters, smugglers, and assassins. 

Duchess Satine Kryze, who had ruled Mandalore, was overthrown by the Death Watch commandos. Maul killed her with the Darksaber in Clone Wars, “The Lawless’ (2013); LC-5/16. He was killed by Obi-Wan Kenobi in “Twin Suns” (2017), the Star Wars Rebels ep; FC-SWR3/20. Maul: Shadow Lord is created by Dave Filoni. The pilot is directed by Steward Lee, Saul Ruiz & Nathaniel Villanueva. It is wrtten by Matt Michnovetz, head writer and developer of the show. 

The first season is made up of ten episodes streaming on Disney+ now. Sinister music plays, composed by Kevin Kiner, as we see the city-planet of Janix. This is a new Mid-Rim planet. Ships flash through the skyscraper canons with blue-tinged light in the darkness. Three ships in particular. A dark building has two groups rapelling down its face. We hear the voice of Rook Kast (Vanessa Marshall) who reports, “Target incoming.” 

Marshall voiced Hera Syndulla in Star Wars: Rebels. Rook Kast was a Mandalorian, part of Maul’s Shadow Collective, making her debut in Star Wars: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #1 (2014). It was an unused Clone Wars ep., “The Enemy of My Enemy” so technically falls in the canon, GL-SOD1. In series form, Rook Kast was voiced by Vanessa Marshall in Clone Wars, “Old Friends Not Forgotten” (2020); FC-CW7/9.  

The door opens for the bank vault, inside droids are hauling pallets of credits, a 3P( b-like bank droid informs the hauler droid to ready the credit cargo. Bank guard droids are ready with blaster rifles. Rook sends out a device to attach to one of the ships. The ship comes in to land in the hangar. A spybot (David W. Collins) is outside watching the activity. It hurtles another device inside the hangar before the door closes. 

The spybot has a disc-like head and says, “Knock knock.” The device is activated which opens the hangar door. The bank droid warns of the breach as teh Rook’s men swing into the hangar. She blasts a bank guard droid. Others in her crew are Zabraks like Maul. They quickly take down the droids. An alarm is sounded that gets the attention of Officer Pak (Brandon Blum). The English voice of Walla in Sol Bianca: The Legacy (1999-2000) was provided by Blum. It looks like his uniform and airspeeder are out of The Fifth Element (1997). 

The Zabraks retreat to the cargo ship, one holds the deactivated bank droid as a shield, the spybot attaches to the upper hatch of the ship. It detects the TDF airspeeder. Rook activates a device on her wrist gauntlet that sends cables out like spider webs. A police airspeeder is destroyed, but Officer Pak evades the trap. They pursue the enemy ship and Spybot fires at them! Officer Pak’s airspeeder smokes from the damage, he tells his droid partner to run a scan. 

He reports that there is an unidentified shuttle. He orders all TDF units to that point. A Kom’rk-class fighter descends at a building, the Death Watch ship rotates its dagger-like side wings when landing. Rook Kast orders her crew to move the credits to the other ship. Officer Pak blasts his way to the landing site and his airspeeder is hit by multiple blaster fire. He has the bank robbers to drop their weapons with his TDF backup. 

Rook Kast just stands up. From the steps of the misty Kom’rk ship comes dark boots and the theme from “The Duel Begins” from The Phantom Menace. They see the dark cloak of Maul (Sam Witwer) who ignites his double bladed lightsaber. Witwer has been voicing Maul since Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He started with the Clone Wars episode, “Brothers” (2012); GL-CW4/2. 

The red glow covers Officer Pak and his droid. Maul spins his lightsaber deflecting the blaster fire. He leaps, Pak’s face is startled, and Maul swings his lightsaber! We hear the theme song of the show as the burning title smokes away like coals. We see the blue-lit buildings of Janix’s city with the sounds of police sirens. In the shadows is Devon Izara (Gideon Adlon) senses something, Eeko-Dio Daki (Dennis Haysbert) says it is not their concern. Adlon voiced Pak Redia in a 20245 episode of Young Jedi Adventures. 

Devon is a pinkish Twi’lek. Haysbert is a veteran actor who played President David Palmer in the show, 24, recently he voiced General Hologram in Wreck-It Ralph (2012). Eeko-Dio is a reptillian Mosyk, a species first seen here, but reminds me of the Trandoshan Jedi Master Sskeer from the Star Wars: High Republic comic book. She takes a yellow fruit from a vendor cart and offers it to Eeko-Dio, but he refuses even though Devon says he is hungry. 

He says they should not steal. The Jedi Master asks a stranger for help, but is ignored. Devon leaps to reach a cart in the street. She snatches several green and yellow-striped fruit , but she spills them, and the vendor points this out to a police droid. The droid (Christopher Swindle) with a backup tells her to surrender. Eeko-Dio tells her to be patient. If taken into custody, the Jedi would be easily identified, the last thing they would need after Order 66 is to be exposed to Inquisitors! 

She sighs and gives her cloak to the Jedi Master before Devon is taken by the police droids. A low key introduction compared to Maul’s entrance. The city is now bathed in a golden light and a speeder lands at the bank vault site. Captain Brander Lawson (Wagner Moura) walks to the crime scene. Moura starred in political drama, The Secret Agent (2025). He has had voice work as the Wolf in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022). 

Captain Lawson has a moustache, white hair at his temples, and a brown jacket. He sighs at the destruction before asking for a scan of the escape route. 2BOT, called Two-Boots (Richard Ayoade) reports that the bank supervisor droid is missing. Lawson notes that the powerful Nico Deemis owns the bank. An interesting play on name of a Biblical figure. Two-Boots notes that Deemis has enemies in the syndicates including his rival, Looti Vario. Lawson says that would be open war for Vario. He adds that they took the droid instead of credits. Captain Lawson suspects it is not any of the sydnicates. I like the police procedural part of this show. 

Deemis (John Carroll Lynch) angrily smashes his table. Lynch is in the crime drama, Ballard. The crime lord is a bulky Gran, the goat-like alien with three eyes. A Trandoshan henchman says it must be Vario. Deemis wants a meeting at a neutral place. The spybot has been listening in using a macrobinocular lens. It flies away. In the darkness of a hangar, Rook asks Maul if he had a vision. He says he has seen his apprentice. This must be Devon Izara similar to Maul's attempt to make Ezra Bridger an apprentice away from Kanan Jarrus in Star Wars: Rebels. 

She also reports that the crime lords are not fighting with each other. Maul says that this is unusual for Deemis. Rook wonders why they are dealing with crime lords. Maul tells her since the rise of the Empire, other criminal groups have risen; the Pykes, Crimson Dawn, and Vario. We saw the Pykes in the Book of Boba Fett; FC-BBF, and Crimson Dawn wa run de facto by Dryden Vos in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018); DC-SAS. Maul says they will all pay so he is getting revenge from losing the Shadow Collective. He orders a Zabrak to bring the bank droid. Maul says the droid will be part of his plan. He says the droid will take a message to Deemis igniting his lightsaber! 

On the city street, Eek-Dio looks up at the ringed TDF building. Devon is taken to a droid to give her identification. Brander asks about the prisoner and says she is just a kid. He tells the officer to bring Devon to his office. At his office, Lawson reads her charges of robbery and no i.d. On his desk is an image of his family, including wife and son. She wonders if it is his son. There is something about Devon bringing up his son. Wearily, Lawson says that she faces a night in jail without i.d. Two-Boots gets his attention. He runs the recording from the police droid’s memory banks. 

Maul leaping with his double-bladed lightsaber. Lawson gets a holo projection of Maul and says, “Laser sword?” Anakin says in The Phantom Meance to Qui-Gon, “I saw your laser sword only a Jedi has that kind of weapon. Lawson says he hasn’t seen a lightsaber since the Clone Wars. He tells Two-Boots to run a recognition scan on Maul. Lawson looking at the data pad is surprised the record is flagged by the ISB, the Imperial Security Bureau, and that any sighting has to be reported. Lawson doesn’t want the interference of the Empire. Maul: Shadow Lord follows the rebuilding of Maul's power, his revenge will sweep across Padawan Devon Izara, the crime lords of Janix, and the galaxy!    

Four Double-Bladed Lightsabers out of Five! 

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