Star Wars Comics

Publisher: Dark Horse

Run Dates: Dec. 1991 - Oct. 1992

Writer: Tom Veitch

Artist: Cam Kennedy

Summary:

Star Wars: Dark Empire is arguably the most important Star Wars comic of them all. Initially scheduled to be released under Marvel, it was held in limbo until it found a home with Dark Horse in 1991, kicking off that publisher's era of SW comics and restoring the franchise to store shelves for the first time in years. Six years after Return of the Jedi, the Rebel Alliance has established a New Republic over three-fourths of the galaxy. The surviving Imperial Forces are torn by civil war and harassed by rebel attacks. One of these raids ends in disaster: Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian are shot down over the former Imperial City. When news reaches Han Solo and Leia Organa, they rush to the rescue...(along with Wookie Chewbacca and droid C3PO). But, of course, there's something else rushing toward the Imperial City...something that wants Luke. The book would be followed by two sequels, making the collection one of the most entertaining and sought-after Star Wars comic storylines ever.

Why We Like It:

This should be blindingly obvious, but let's state it for the record. Dark Empire brought back Star Wars to the comic-reading masses, and for that we'll love it like a sibling. Not only did it return Lucas' mythos in all its four-color glory, but it did it with an engrossing, fantastic tale that took the Star Wars story and built upon it, showcasing our favorite characters in their full glory. And even though it featured Leia pregnant with Han's child (how dare he sully the object of our affections), the book featured the completely cool World Devastators, utterly huge planet killers that were even more powerful than the Death Stars. Worth a read by even those with a marginal interest in Star Wars, the Dark Empire trio of books is a winner in every sense.