Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #2
Chad Burdette
Recap
One of the most feared villains of the galaxy far, far away returns next year in Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, a new animated series set after the events of the final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Comic Watch Reviews:
Marvel Comics will pave the way for the Disney+ series with STAR WARS: SHADOW OF MAUL, a five-issue prequel series written by Marvel superstar Benjamin Percy, who wrote the Sith Lord in last year’s Star Wars: Darth Maul – Black, White & Red series, and drawn by Madibek Musabekov, known for his acclaimed work on the recent Star Wars: Jedi Knights series.
Related:
- Star Wars: Darth Maul & Black, White & Red #1: There is a Red Door And I Want To Paint It Black
- Star Wars: Darth Maul – Black, White & Red #2: Maul Unleashed
- Star Wars: Darth Maul – Black, White & Red #3: The Id of a Sith Lord
- Star Wars: Darth Maul Black, White & Red #4: The Sound Of Silence
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.
Ruthless mercenaries are looking to unload IMPERIAL treasure! Crime lord DEEMIS will stop at nothing to get it! Will CAPTAIN LAWSON be able to thwart the exchange of the smuggled fortune?
The Underworld explodes with scum and villainy in Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #2
Review
Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #2 continues to build the backstory of Brander Lawson, a captain of the local Tactical Defense Force on the planet Janix. The issue also builds on the narrative that Janix is a hub in the Mid-Rim of syndicated crime.
Percy places Lawson and his droid officer companion on stakeout of the biggest Crime Boss on the planet as they try to figure out the bigger picture of the criminal elements on the planet. There is a definite Lethal Weapon vibe between these two cops as Lawson is more of a wild card, do what needs to be done to get results, while Two-Boots is the straight, do things by the book, type of officer. This relationship that Percy has developed feels natural and provides some intense action sequences along with plenty of humor to keep readers engaged as the book continues it’s slow and steady burn of building up to the introduction of Maul and what is to come over in the animated series.
While Maul remains mostly absent again in this issue, the build to him revealing himself and his plans should be more impactful by telling the story this way.
Musabekov’s art continues to be top-notch as he gets to showcase his abilities to draw humans, aliens and droids in a manner that oozes the essence of Star Wars.
Final Thoughts
Star Wars: Shadow Of Maul #2 continues the world building and establishing the characters that will be the focus of both this series and the animated series now out on Disney Plus with a slow burn that moves the story forward, while allowing it to breath and find it's place in the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #2
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 8/108/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 9/109/10
