
Published: March 4, 2026
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Madibek Musabekov
Colourist: Luis Guerrero
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Derrick Chew
The synopsis;
A PULPY, EXCITING PREQUEL SERIES SET BEFORE THE EVENTS OF THE UPCOMING DISNEY+ SHOW!
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.
The review;
Oh, the pleasure of a new series and a prequel series at that. It has seemed far too long since we’ve had a Star Wars animated show to watch each week. In reality, it hasn’t really been that long, but it feels it. I’m just coming to the end of watching Star Wars Rebels with my nine-year-old daughter and I can’t wait to get started on the new Darth Maul series with her. The fact that there is a prequel to the series makes me even happier. I can remember grabbing The Approaching Storm to get me ready for Attack of the Clones, I can remember being glued to my seat for the original Clone Wars in anticipation for Revenge of the Sith. Star Wars has always given us lead ups to the stories that we watch and I’m hoping Shadow of Maul will fit right in. Taking on this task is writer Benjamin Percy. He is new to the Star Wars galaxy, but when you look at his previous work (Green Arrow, X-Men, Detective Comics) I can see how he was chosen for this project. Alongside him is artist is Madibek Musabekov. If you have read any of my reviews with Musabekov as the illustrator, you will know how highly I regard him as an artist. He has just finished the run on Jedi Knights with Marc Guggenheim, and it was one of the best illustrated series I have ever had the pleasure of reading. You might be able to tell I’m rather excited about seeing what he brings to this project! With nothing much more to go on, it’s time to dive into the first instalment and see what this story holds for us.
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way straight away: this issue is not about Maul. In fact, for all of four panels right at the end of the comic, he’s not in this. So why are we reading it? The only thing we know is that Maul is heading to the planet of Janix and this whole story focuses on that planet and a captain called Lawson. I would imagine that these two are going to very quickly cross paths, but it does mean that this first issue is working like a prologue. It is telling us not about Maul but about the people and places that are attracting Maul. There are two reasons I really like this. The first is that Maul, like Vader, can’t be the main focus in a story. It just doesn’t work. You reveal you much of the mystery, the thing that makes them so cool. Having their story told through another, helps to keep that mystery in check, it keeps the character acting like the character we all know and love.
The second reason I really like it is because the other story is just so damn interesting! It’s a very dangerous thing to do, not having your namesake of the series in the first comic. I mean that’s why we pick it up! There have been many a series when having too little of a character has been a death sentence for the series because the rest of the story is – to be quite frank – boring. Yet that is not the case here. Percy weaves a dark detective story that is just fascinating to read. It’s engaging, the characters interesting and the whole set-up just draws you in. It is a mix between Star Wars and Blade Runner with that suitably grungy style coming through each panel. It might have been a gamble for Percy to take but it pays off very well.
Our main character is Captain Lawson. He is instantly someone you can relate to. He’s stuck after hours, having to get the work done, missing his son’s game because of some upper management newbie needing something right at the moment. I think it’s a story a lot of us have experienced once or twice in our life. There is something about the character that is instantly likeable. He is an ex-bounty hunter who seems a little careless. probably the reason he had to become a cop! He certainly has that Deckard vibe to him and the artwork of him in the streets really cements this feel. But like any great character in Star Wars, he also has a companion droid; Two-Boots. We don’t get to know this character too much this issue but I’m hoping as the story moves on we do. He is someone who has an air of humour to him in that worried way that Threepio does in the original movies. It all adds up to a character that I think a lot of people are going to like very quickly.
The water itself takes us to the seedy underbelly of the planet and the trouble that Lawson finds himself in. Yet nothing is simple. Percy is quick to establish that even the law enforcement has moles, no one can be trusted. From what we know of Darth Maul, this would see a very opportune place for him to go. While there are lots of foundations being placed in the story, Percy also shows us that this planet (and I’m sure many like it) are having to work a delicate balance. Nobody wants the Empire on their planet; they don’t want to leave it the hands of the Imperials. Yet to do that, they have to make it look like the planet is completely in their control – which clearly it isn’t. Shake the boat too much, unhinge the criminals too much and it will bring the attention of the Empire. Is it this balance that Maul wants to use to help him? It’s an interesting aspect of planet governance to look at and really reinforces this belief that the Empire rule by fear. Keep your planets sorted, or we will sort it for you.
The artwork from Musabekov does not disappoint. The images of the city, the smoke rising, the commercialism is fantastic and then it’s compared to inside of the bar which is sparse and open. There are some dandelion designs here for the illegal creatures, something that Musabekov had a lot of fun with on Jedi Knights. Musabekov really does tease us Maul in these panels. The one amazing panel of the ex-dark lord is superb and makes me even more excited to what we will see on future panels as the story develops.
This is a very strong opening issue. It has me hooked but for all the reasons I didn’t expect. If you are looking for Maul in this story, you might be disappointed. What there is instead is a very intriguing, engaging story that has reeled me in. A down on his luck cop having to make the most of a crime infested city all the while set in the Star Wars galaxy. If I’m being honest, keep Maul, I’m quite happy to follow that story! But is that not the point. Percy has to serve up readers something so engaging that you don’t mind Maul not being there for lots of the story, so when he does show up, it’s much more impactful and keeping with the character. This is a fantastic start and one that I can’t wait to see where it leads us to next. If the show is anything like this, we are in for a real treat!
Availability;
Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter is a 5-part mini-series published by Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $4.99 and is available from comiXology and your local comic book store.
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