In this review of Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #4, an annual (and dangerous) podrace takes center stage across Janix, as Brander Lawson unexpectedly finds himself in a different and even more high-stakes race.
STAR WARS: SHADOW OF MAUL #4
Writer: BENJAMIN PERCY
Artist: MADIBEK MUSABEKOV
Main Cover: DERRICK CHEW
Variant Covers: AKA, RICKIE YAGAWA
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: June 10, 2026
This review contains spoilers
Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #4 begins as Captain Brander Lawson muses over Janix’s annual Star Gauntlet podrace which provides entertainment to the masses and a boost to the local economy but is exceedingly dangerous and unpredictable. Lawson and Two-Boots scope out the event as Lawson flags one racer, Tor Braxis, for excessive violence against the other racers. Lawson reaches out to Rheena, a local casino contact and friend.
Rheena’s observations about Tor sends Lawson following a hunch further down the raceway. Lawson attempts to break up the crowd waiting for the racers to pass and gets heavy resistance (including from his fellow officers). Lawson’s fears are confirmed as Tor’s racer creates another wreck resulting in a mid-air explosion that rains down fiery wreckage.
The crowd scatters as Lawson saves Intelligence Officer Ruhl from an explosion. Two-Boots arrives for a pick-up and Lawson and Rheena figure out what Tor is planning. The pair realize that the presence of physical currency from the race, plus the involvement by the local crime bosses equal a crime of opportunity at Rheena’s casino.
Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #4 ends as Rheena and her security team discover Tor Braxis brutally murdered inside the empty casino vault as Maul makes a clean getaway with millions of credits in Braxis’ podracer.
Analysis
Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #4 narrows the focus of the series to a mix of familiar tropes, from a high-stakes race to a twisting, secret heist. Writer Ben Percy cleverly moves the plot along, as Brander Lawson finds himself (and Rheena) in a different race against time. Lawson and Rheena make a good team, even though they spend the entirety of Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #4 only in remote contact with each other.
Percy reveals a bit more history between the pair, which adds more context to their rapport during the Maul: Shadow Lord animated series set after this miniseries. Lawson and Rheena get the lion’s share of the story in Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #4, while Two-Boots and Officer Ruhl linger mainly in the background. It is also interesting how Rheena and Lawson’s past efforts as bounty hunters mirrors the Tor’s scheme.
While criminals Nico Deemis and Vario do not make an appearance in Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #4, their presence is felt throughout the story through the danger they create with their deal with Tor Braxis. Also, while he barely appears and never utters a word, Maul’s presence is felt in the final few pages, while a rereading of the issue fills in the blanks.
Maul was looking for a payout and a physical currency heist from a quasi-legal podrace was a good cover. This feels in part like a sci-fi version of “Logan Lucky”, with more violence. Percy’s script explores Lawson’s morality and sense of justice (important since we may have seen the last of him). Tor Braxis is the useful tool whose excessive scheming became his undoing.
Artist Madibek Musabekov crafts dazzling visuals that allow the podrace to come to life with shifting panel angles that mimic the twists and turns of the podrace, while also exploring the inner workings (and underbelly) of Janix in exquisite detail. Musabekov’s knack for figure work, clothing and facial expressions crafts each character (human or alien) with a distinct likeness. The flashback also gives Musabekov a chance to explore Lawson and Rheena’s early bounty hunting days.
Final Thoughts
Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #4 uses the backdrop of a podrace to explore Brander Lawson and Rheena’s past, while revealing Maul’s larger plan to the readers. The story and art work in sync to tell a tightly focused and thrilling story with huge ramifications.
