Darth Maul, who seemingly died in The Phantom Menace 27 years ago, is getting his own Star Wars TV show. Maul – Shadow Lord begins right after the end of Season 7 of The Clone Wars, and the first trailer hints that Maul will train a new Sith apprentice. He managed to survive Order 66 with unexpected help from Ahsoka Tano, who briefly freed him as a diversion, and now he’s seeking revenge against the Sith Master who betrayed him.
The first issue of Star Wars: Shadows of Maul, created by Benjamin Percy and Madibek Musabekov, officially leads into the Shadow Lord story. Most of the action takes place on Janix, a strange planet that becomes Maul’s headquarters after the Clone Wars. This comic finally reveals what Maul did after managing to survive Order 66.
Darth Maul Headed Straight to Janix After the Empire Was Formed
The comic series Shadows of Maul introduces the previously unknown Cina system. Its name feels similar to other planets in the Expansion Region, hinting that it’s located there. The story begins with Darth Maul infiltrating a base hidden inside an asteroid – a typical tactic used by smugglers and pirates. Interestingly, Maul is wielding a new double-bladed lightsaber, suggesting he may have kept a spare one hidden on this planet.
It probably took Darth Maul weeks to reach the Cina system. There, a smuggler claims to have a supply of chain codes – a type of identification used by the Empire after the Clone Wars. These codes first appeared in the animated series The Bad Batch, season one, episode two, and it’s taken some time for criminals to start needing and acquiring them. The smuggler says he currently has “a hundred different, genuine chain codes.”
Maul announces he’s going to Janix, the planet he’s chosen as his new headquarters. He plans to use it as a starting point to build a secret empire and challenge Palpatine’s power, and previous events explain why he’s making this move.
Janix is the Perfect Place for Maul to Operate From
The comic Shadows of Maul primarily introduces Janix, a planet seemingly outside Republic control and a hub for criminal activity. At least three major syndicates operate on Janix, and they’ve effectively corrupted the local police force. According to a smuggler, the sector’s patrols are already overwhelmed, and the story – focused on detective Brander Lawson – reveals widespread bribery within the police. Some police droids have even been secretly reprogrammed to serve the syndicates.
The Empire tried to manage its relationship with criminal organizations carefully. Emperor Palpatine valued order, but he also benefited from connections with groups like Black Sun and didn’t want to lose those advantages. He secretly used smugglers and syndicates to acquire valuable Sith artifacts. It was also convenient that these groups disliked the Jedi, so he could rely on them to report any Jedi who survived Order 66. While the Empire planned to eventually control Janix, Palpatine didn’t want to completely dismantle its existing structure.
The central issue revolves around Brander Lawson. He’s an anomaly on Janix – a genuinely honest police officer, reminiscent of Commissioner Gordon. However, Janix isn’t facing a hero like Batman; instead, it’s dealing with a power-hungry Sith Apprentice. Janix operates on a fragile balance between crime and order, and both Lawson and Maul are disruptive forces. The interaction between these two characters will undoubtedly be central to the Maul – Shadow Lord series, and that makes the show particularly promising.
What are your thoughts on the Maul: Shadow Lord trailer? Share your opinions in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- Survivor’s Colby Donaldson Admits He Almost Backed Out of Season 50
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Where Winds Meet: How To Defeat Shadow Puppeteer (Boss Guide)
- How to Build a Waterfall in Enshrouded
- Best Thanos Comics (September 2025)
- 10 Best Character Duos in Stranger Things, Ranked
- EA Sports FC 25: Best Players for Aim Assist Evolution
- When is the Royal Variety Performance 2025 on TV? Host, line-up and air date
- Battlefield Just Made a Change That Will Make Rush & Breakthrough Easier for Attackers
2026-03-04 22:40