Star Wars: Shadow of Maul Is a Crime Story That Sets Up the Animated Series

2026 promises to beryllium a large twelvemonth for fans of Darth Maul. In March, Lucasfilm is debuting the newest animated Star Wars series, Maul: Shadow Lord. Set soon aft the extremity of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Shadow Lord reveals however Maul rebuilds his transgression enactment and carves retired a niche for himself successful the epoch of the Empire.

But if you privation the afloat story, you'll person to crook to Marvel Comics. Marvel volition soon merchandise a prequel communicative called Star Wars: Shadow of Maul, 1 that stars Maul and respective different cardinal characters from the animated series. This constricted bid is written by Benjamin Percy (Wolverine) and illustrated by Madibek Musabekov (Star Wars: Jedi Knights).

IGN had the accidental to talk with Percy via email to larn much astir however Star Wars: Shadow of Maul sets up the animated series. Check retired an exclusive preview of the archetypal contented successful the slideshow assemblage below, and past work connected to larn more:

Neither creator is simply a alien to the Star Wars franchise astatine this point. Musabekov is coming disconnected a tally connected Marvel's Star Wars: Jedi Knights series, which was acceptable earlier the events of Episode I. Percy, meanwhile, has written Darth Maul doubly before, successful Star Wars: Darth Maul - Black, White & Red and Star Wars: Boba Fett - Black, White & Red. As helium reveals, those books were a adjuvant proceedings tally earlier truly diving into the fascinating protagonist that is Maul.

"I’m precise gladsome I got the accidental to constitute some Darth Maul: Black, White & Red and Boba Fett: Black, White & Red earlier taking connected this project. Because they were amusive arsenic hell," Percy tells IGN. "But besides due to the fact that those one-shots were similar flirtations with the Star Wars postulation – a mode of investigating retired penning for a postulation far, acold distant and figuring retired the standards of Lucasfilm. They are moving a monolithic operation—a singular continuity that reaches crossed film, tv, novels, and comic books. They’re encyclopedias of lore. There’s a batch of zooms, calls, and emails betwixt me, the Marvel editors, and the Lucasfilm folks, truthful it’s bully to already person lines of connection unfastened and a level of spot established."

Percy adds, "And the Maul one-shot was not conscionable a mode to test-drive the character; it was a mode to propulsion boundaries. I took a fearfulness attack to that story, which isn’t your modular lens for Star Wars. This mini-series takes a tonal leap arsenic well, since Shadow of Maul is precise overmuch a transgression story, a constabulary procedural."

As for Musabekov, Percy says, "I got really, truly lucky, partnering with Madibek. He’s not conscionable large with enactment and character—he has a true, heavy emotion for and cognition of Star Wars. And each item helium manifests connected the leafage feels precisely close for that universe. I can’t hold for you to spot what he’s been up to."

Shadow of Maul is designed to necktie precise straight into the animated series. Not lone does it absorption connected Maul himself, this bid besides hinges connected 2 characters who volition soon go his nemeses - constabulary detective Brander Lawson and his droid spouse Two-Boots.

"The prequel ties straight into the series," Percy says. "It’s meant to found the characters, the world, and the occupation that detonates wonderfully successful occurrence one. You tin work the comic publication connected its ain and get a thrill. You tin besides work the comic publication alongside the bid and recognize however they’re speaking to each other."

Percy offers immoderate added penetration into Captain Lawson, revealing him to beryllium an ex-bounty huntsman who present struggles to support instrumentality and bid connected the chaotic satellite of Janix.

"I mentioned earlier that this is simply a constabulary procedural, a gritty, grounded transgression book," Percy says. "The signifier is Janix, a shadow-soaked, neon-lit metropolis controlled by transgression syndicates. Lawson utilized to beryllium a bounty hunter. Now he’s a bull and a azygous dada doing the champion helium tin successful a lawless territory. He a bully antheral who pushes limits and breaks rules. And he’s joined by his partner, a droid named Two-Boots, who is loyal, warm, and a spot of a stickler."

Percy besides teases that the Janix mounting should instantly entreaty to fans of projects similar Star Wars: Andor, arsenic this satellite carries a likewise acheronian and gritty vibe.

"Oh, man. I perfectly emotion the satellite of Janix," Percy says. "My 2 favourite Star Wars stories are Andor and Rogue One. And that’s due to the fact that they’re grounded successful realism. We’re taking a akin attack here. And this metropolis is much than a stage—it’s a quality successful itself. Steam hisses from vents, billowing the air. Neon burnishes the night. Trash dirties the gutters. Lawson pops his collar and shoulders guardant done the rain-drenched crowds. It’s each precise noir."

Art by AKA. (Image Credit: Marvel/Lucasfilm)

What astir Maul himself? What is the character's intelligence authorities pursuing the extremity of the Clone Wars and his decision connected Mandalore? Does helium odor accidental successful the air, oregon is helium wary of the Empire and catching the attraction of his erstwhile master? Percy can't uncover much, but helium does tease that Maul has a precise circumstantial extremity successful travelling to Janix.

"Hmm. I’m not definite I’m allowed to accidental overmuch astir that. I’ll support it vague and accidental he’s got an ax (or, er, a double-sided airy saber) to grind—and immoderate folks connected Janix are successful his crosshairs."

Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #1 volition beryllium released connected March 4, 2026, a period earlier the animated bid debuts connected Disney+. You tin preorder the publication astatine your section comic shop.

For much connected Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, cheque retired our breakdown of each the large characters successful the archetypal trailer.

Jesse is simply a mild-mannered unit writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intelligence thicket by following @jschedeen connected BlueSky.