Star Wars: Shadow of Maul (2026) #5
Advent of Shadows
Brander Lawson and his partner, Two-Boots, have been tracking corruption all throughout Janix, exposing moles within the police force as well as monitoring crime lords Nico Deemis’ and looti vario’s criminal activity.
All the while, corrupt internal affairs officer Clariveen Ruhl has been making things difficult for Lawson, trying to pin him to crimes he didn’t commit.
As Lawson sets his sights on exposing Ruhl, Maul is finally starting to step out of the shadows on Janix….
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Madibek Musabekov
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Luis Guerrero
Cover artist: Derrick Chew
Editor: Mark Pannicia
Publication date: July 8 2026
Star Wars: Shadow of Maul writer, Benjamin Percy, stuck the landing, with both sides of the red Sith blade sizzling, in the final issue of the 5-part mini-series from Marvel Comics. The finale, “Advent of Shadows,” sets up perfectly for this prequel comic series to lead directly into the Disney+ animated offering, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord.
Captain Brander Lawson’s backstory is fleshed out so well during the series, but this offering really allows a reader to understand where his edge and street smarts come from. He has previously faced trying situations in his time as a bounty hunter, but has found “home” on Janix as a father, lawman, and partner to the security droid Two-Boots, who gets to play law-abiding foil to Lawson’s “whatever it takes” bravado.
The introductions of rival crime lords Nico Deemis and Looti Vario are important to set up the streaming series, but the story takes us through other, related threats to Lawson’s happiness and life on Janix, as well. Corruption in the police force is prevalent, but no more so than from Clariveen Ruhl, an intelligence officer within the Tactical Defense Force’s Internal Investigations—and a constant threat to Lawson, who tails his same-side nemesis throughout this issue.
Ruhl meets with three criminal syndicate leaders, separately, but realizes he has bitten off more than he can chew with the third one’s demands, leading him into the shadows and a powerful, unknown foe.
Maul appears. Ruhl expires. A syndicate is erased. Lawson is cleared.
Now log in to Disney+ and press play on Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord “Chapter 1: The Dark Revenge” with an even better grasp of what is about to unfold, and the players who are involved.
Cheers to Percy, artist Madibek Musabekov, color artist Luis Guerrero, letterer Joe Caramagna of the Virtual Calligraphy studio, and everyone else for pulling off this great mini-series.
