25 Years Later, The Biggest Dark Side “What If” Finally Becomes Official Star Wars Canon

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Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord episodes 9-10

For years, Star Wars fans have argued about who would win in a fight: Darth Maul or Darth Vader. The idea of these two powerful Sith Lords battling each other has always been exciting, especially since Darth Maul first appeared in The Phantom Menace in 1999. It’s a classic “What If…?” scenario – Sidious’s first apprentice versus his last – and the popularity of the idea grew even more with the release of Maul – Shadow Lord, a show dedicated to Maul’s story.

After years of fan speculation, a legendary lightsaber duel between Darth Maul and the Sith Lord who would succeed him is now officially part of Star Wars history. This incredible showdown finally happens in episodes 9 and 10 of the Maul – Shadow Lord series, marking a truly historic moment for the entire Star Wars franchise. Lucasfilm has made it official!

Twenty-five years ago, Lucasfilm showed us a brief, unofficial fight between Darth Maul and Darth Vader. Now, the Star Wars series Shadow Lord has delivered an official duel between the two Sith Lords, set during the very beginning of the Empire.

Darth Maul vs Darth Vader Finally Becomes Official Star Wars Canon

The highly anticipated fight between Maul and Darth Vader is now available in episodes 9 and 10 of Maul – Shadow Lord, released on May the Fourth, creating a truly unforgettable Star Wars Day.

Having evaded two Inquisitors, Marrok and The Crow, Maul tried to escape Janix City with his crew and allies, hoping to meet Dryden Vos of the Crimson Dawn. But Darth Vader stopped them. It quickly became clear Vader wasn’t just another Inquisitor – his overwhelming power and relentless chase confirmed Maul’s fear that Vader was Sidious’s new Sith apprentice.

Maul swiftly defeats several of his enemies, but struggles to stay alive because of his damaged robotic leg. He receives help from Jedi named Devon Izara and Master Daki, but they are also battling Darth Vader’s Inquisitors. Sadly, Vader kills Master Daki, which drives Devon to embrace the dark side – a result Maul had been counting on.

Maul and Devon manage to survive, vowing to get their revenge later. However, Maul’s fight with Vader was especially fierce and shocking – more intense than many Star Wars fans probably expected. Vader is truly terrifying in these episodes and demonstrates incredible power, clearly showing how strong he was at the height of his abilities – for example, effortlessly blocking Maul’s lightsaber attacks with the Force.

The duel between Darth Maul and Darth Vader was truly remarkable and will likely be remembered as one of the greatest dark side battles in current Star Wars stories. It lived up to years of fan expectations and moved both characters forward – especially Maul, who is now set to take on a new apprentice, Devon, in season 2 of Shadow Lord.

2001’s Star Wars Tales Was Our First Look At Maul vs Vader (Though It Was Never Canon)

The idea for the exciting battle seen in Shadow Lord actually originated back in 2001, in Star Wars Tales #9. However, that Dark Horse comic was always considered a non-official story – just a playful exploration of an alternate possibility.

This story features Darth Maul being brought back to life using dark magic so he can fight Darth Vader. It was a test set by Sidious to see if Maul still deserved his place. The fight takes place on a lava-covered world, four years before Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s famous duel on Mustafar.

After a brutal fight amidst rivers of lava, Vader is badly wounded but ultimately defeats Maul by stabbing him—a shocking attack from behind. As the mortally wounded Maul asks what could possibly fuel such hatred, Vader chillingly replies, “myself.” This dark and tragic moment has resonated with Star Wars fans for over twenty years.

It’s incredible to finally see Darth Vader and Maul fight on screen, officially part of the Star Wars story, after 25 years. This epic battle between two of the galaxy’s most fascinating villains is sure to have a big impact on the second season of Shadow Lord.

This new duel between Darth Vader and Darth Maul is actually better than the original story it came from. It feels much more epic and connects more deeply to the larger Star Wars story, especially Maul’s adventures during a difficult time. Plus, the fight has real consequences for everyone involved, and it might not be the last time these two clash.

You can now watch all episodes of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, an animated series from Lucasfilm, on Disney+.

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2026-05-05 02:19