Yeah, you're right that in the grand scheme of things, there isn't too much that directly contradicts. I guess it's more the direction it headed, and imaging if things had continued in that direction, that really seems like a contradiction. Splinter is certainly a very different tale from Empire, yet both are, in a sense, direct sequels to ANH.

I certainly agree, it is a dark story in places and would be difficult to adapt while keeping it kid friendly. I'll have to have a look at the comic and see how Ms. Sternhagen matches with Halla.

I have to say, the assortment of supporting characters is pretty interesting to me. There is no Han or Chewie, but we get some rough equivalents in the form of Halla and the Yuzzems. Halla is lacking in allegiance and sort of a scoundrel while the Yuzzems are intelligent brutes. Obviously there are substantial differences, such as Halla's age, sex, and motivation. But in the end, I find it an interesting and different assortment. When's the last time the EU kept a main character or two while supplanting the rest with a new cast? I find it endlessly interesting.