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Darth Maul is back, in something of an origin story. But before the show debuted on Disney+, there’s a Marvel comic prologue.
The Shadow Lord, Darth Maul returns
One of the breakout stars of the first Star Wars prequel, Darth Maul seemingly died at the close of The Phantom Menace. But, of course, that wasn’t the case. Kept alive by his hatred and the power of the Dark Side, he would go on to become a cyborg. Far from fading away though, he’d loom over the galaxy’s underworld into the Original Trilogy era.
That story played out in Star Wars: Rebels, and was touched on in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Even so though, none of what’s come before has ever related exactly how he came to power. If you’re a fan, then you probably where this is heading.
Yep, an upcoming Disney+ animated series will see to all of that, with Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord. But what about the comics? It’s has been a while since we’ve seen the fan-favorite villain on the printed page after all. Well, worry not, because that TV show is effectively coming in two parts, and has a comic book lead-in. That, as you can see above, is Star Wars: Shadow of Maul.
The five-issue mini-seres will follow the former Sith apprentice to the world of Janix, where he’ll set up shop.
From Sith to crime lord
Spinning out of the creative team of Benjamin Percy and artist Madibek Musabekov, the series looks like it’ll split its time. One part looks like it’ll focus on Maul naturally, while the other will center on a new character who’s seemingly on the outs with the law as well, Captain Brander Lawson.
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord will reveal Maul’s plan to rebuild his criminal syndicate on Janix, a planet untouched by the Empire. STAR WARS: SHADOW OF MAUL introduces this new setting and cast, including Captain Brander Lawson and his partner, a droid nicknamed Two Boots, as they investigate shadowy dealings on Janix.
Welcome to Janix, a neon-lit, shadow-soaked maze of a planet that lies beyond the reach of the Empire. Captain Brander Lawson is doing his best to navigate the law in a lawless territory. He’s joined by his partner, a droid nicknamed Two Boots, as they face off against scheming crime bosses…and as the looming threat of the shadow lord, Maul, nears!
“I’ve said it before: I’m a giant Star Wars nerd,” Percy shared. “My previous experience writing in a galaxy far, far away—Darth Maul – Black, White, and Red, Boba Fett – Black, White, and Red—was an absolute delight. But those were one-shots. Flirtations with the franchise. With Shadow of Maul, I’m able to share a more expansive story about one of my favorite characters, while also exploring a fresh angle on the Star Wars universe.
“This is a sci-fi story, but it’s also a crime story,” he continued. “It’s a story about cops, criminal syndicates, a neon-lit, shadow-alleyed city that hides many sins and secrets. I’m teamed up with an artist who’s already a Star Wars veteran and legend: Madibek Musabeckov. His art is gritty and grounded and perfectly matches the noir tone. We’ve been in close contact with Lucasfilm—reading scripts and watching episodes of this fantastic new animated series—and our story will serve as a prelude to what viewers will see play out on the screen.”
Check out covers by Derrick Chew, AKA, and Björn Barends along with a sneak peek at interior artwork and preorder STAR WARS: SHADOW OF MAUL #1 at your local comic shop today! For more information, visit Marvel.com.
Marvel Comics press release
Maul rises again when Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #1 (of 5) arrives in stores on March 3d, 2026. As for Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord on Disney+, fans can look for that some time next year as well.
