Warning! Spoilers ahead for Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters #1
Marvel Comics' massive Star Wars crossover event has begun, and it's just been revealed that Crimson Dawn has survived even after the death of Darth Maul. In the first issue of War of the Bounty Hunters, Han Solo and his carbonite prison were stolen from Boba Fett, who was en route to deliver his bounty to Jabba the Hutt. Naturally, the legendary bounty hunter cannot stand to have his reputation tarnished in such a way, and he's going to be determined to get his prize back. However, this might be easier said than done with the reveal that Solo is now in the hands of Crimson Dawn, seeking to leverage the valuable smuggler to re-legitimize their operations after Maul's death.
Crimson Dawn was formed in the midst of The Clone Wars, seeing the former Sith Lord Maul forming a shadowy collective of criminals in his revenge quest against Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, the coalition remained as Maul's power base after the war's end and the rise of the Empire, as was seen in Solo: A Star Wars Story at the height of its power. However, at some point along the way to the events of A New Hope, Maul seemed to be no longer attached to his criminal enterprise, and he eventually died from his rematch with Kenobi on Tatooine seen in Star Wars Rebels.
While it was assumed that Crimson Dawn faded into obscurity and potentially dissolved prior to or along with Maul's death, War of the Bounty Hunters #1 from Charles Soule and Luke Ross reveals that Crimson Dawn survived, ready to make a comeback during the Galactic Civil War. Not only do they have Solo, but they want to use him as a major bargaining chip to reenter the galaxy as a major player, inviting several to witness their new birth including Jabba and the rest of the Hutt leaders. While Jabba advises caution, he wrongly assumes that Maul was killed by the organization's new leader. However, just because he's wrong doesn't mean that Lady Qi'ra is any less formidable, as Han Solo's first love is revealed as the new head of Crimson Dawn.
While not Maul's killer, it's seems as though Qi'ra gained enough support of her own to ensure that Crimson Dawn could survive long after Maul's death. Given the Hutts' surprise by the organization's comeback, it's likely that they've been biding their time and building strength behind the scenes. However, now that they have Solo they're ready to step into the light and resume their activities and business with the galaxy at large.
While Qi'ra said in her invitation that Crimson Dawn has no desire to create conflict or antagonize any existing alliances or arrangements, it certainly seems as though Boba Fett's tenacity and the high value of Solo himself will draw the galaxy into a conflict all the same, hence the crossover's title as War of the Bounty Hunters. In any case, Crimson Dawn's survival post-Maul is a huge development for the Star Wars timeline, and it's going to be interesting to see what new details and insights will be revealed as the crossover continues though October from Marvel Comics.