- Time
- (Edited)
- Post link
An introduction / overview…
It is a period of civil war… what was known as ‘The Dark Times’ for Star Wars.
The early years of Star Wars novels : 1976-1990 (or rather… 1976-1983) - with no new books, and only a few comics, since 1983.
Although post Return Of The Jedi… there were the two Ewok theatrical films, and the Droids & Ewoks animated series… they were made for younger fans and children. Save for the 10th anniversary of Star Wars, and the West End Games’ Role-Playing game in the same year, there was very little new content for fans of Star Wars to experience.
However, unbeknown to us fans at the time, we were nearing the tail end of this lengthy Star Wars drought - thanks to Tom Veitch in persuading George Lucas that bringing back Star Wars in comic and book story form would work both artistically & financially - for the 1990s. His Dark Empire Trilogy, along with Zahn’s Thrawn trilogy would give fans what they were hoping for for a long time - new Star Wars content - material set in the post Return Of The Jedi era - in essence… Sequel Trilogy stories 😉.
Vetich’s and Zahn’s contributions would lay the foundation for the Expanded Universe of Star Wars… one that not only include comics and books, but also with videogames, games, soundtracks, merchandise (of course!), and other formats for the Galaxy Far Far Away to appear on throughout the 1990’s and beyond… Star Wars was back, and in mainstream pop culture once more.
How Dark Empire Kickstarted Star Wars Comics for a New Generation - a 2018 article at the official Star Wars website.
“Previously, Marvel had been selling about 4 to 5 thousand copies a month, and they had to sell about 7 and a half to cover costs. So it wasn’t going anywhere. The first Star Wars I think we did, we did about 220,000. Which was good, and obviously Lucasfilm was very delighted. It kept selling and selling.” - Cam Kennedy, on the Comic Scene podcast; Episode 1.
‘In a series of retrospectives on the series for Star Wars Insider in 2015, Michael Kogge wrote that the success of Dark Empire “stunned the comics world” and “changed how licensed properties were handled in the industry”.’ - Star Wars Insider 159.
“I haven’t been an avid collector of comics and science fiction or fantasy art, but I’ve seen quite a lot, and I’ll say the work in the Dark Empire series is very impressive. I look with envy at the crisp, stylized drawings by Cam Kennedy, the rich color and painterly effects Dave Dorman gets into his work.” - Ralph McQuarrie, in his written introduction for Dark Empire II.
Dark Empire began its run in 1991 via Dark Horse Comics, who adopted rights to the Star Wars comics from Marvel. The first story under Dark Horse, Dark Empire had a limited six issue run, followed by six issues of Dark Empire II beginning in 1994, and concluding with the two-issue run of Dark Empire III in 1995.
Dark Empire is set six years after the events of Return Of The Jedi - and one year following the events of Zahn’s ‘The Thrawn Trilogy’. The New Republic has been established and has fought several conflicts against remnants of the Galactic Empire, Han and Leia are now married and have twin children Jacen & Jaina. A surprise attack on Mon Calamari, the homeworld of Admiral Ackbar, sees our familiar heroes from the Original Trilogy encounter a familiar face that has emerged from the shadows… Emperor Palpatine.
Note: It’s also likely worth remembering that Dark Empire was originally written & set before Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn Trilogy.
Obligatory StarWars•com article from April 2000 on the Dark Empire trilogy (via the Internet Archive’s WayBack Machine):-
Dark Empire…
Released in 1991-1992. Obligatory Wookieepedia page - with information on each comic issue, re-releases and later editions…
Publisher’s summary:-
‘Six years after the Battle of Endor, the fight for freedom rages on. Darth Vader is dead, but a reborn Empire—under a mysterious new leader—strikes back at the struggling Rebel Alliance. Massive World Devastators, more powerful and unstoppable than the Death Star, ravage entire planets, while the ruthless heirs of Jabba the Hutt place a monumental price on the heads of Princess Leia and her husband, Han Solo. Along with Lando, Chewbacca, Artoo, Threepio, and other old allies, Han and Leia struggle to protect the future for their unborn child. But their greatest foe may be their closest friend: Luke Skywalker…’
Dark Empire II…
Released in 1994-1995. Obligatory Wookieepedia page - with information on each comic issue, re-releases and later editions…
Publisher’s summary:-
‘The Empire in retreat, Luke Skywalker is on a quest to rebuild the Jedi. But before he can revive that elite corps of protectors, he must first rebuild himself! He has spent time as the Emperor’s thrall, and the taint of the dark side still tugs at his subconscious. Can he pull together the Jedi, can he pull himself together, before the New Republic loses the upper hand, or will the Empire take root once more?’
Dark Empire III - Empire’s End…
Released in 1995. Obligatory Wookieepedia page - with information on each comic issue, re-releases and later editions…
Publisher’s summary:-
‘Emperor Palpatine has a new weapon—one that can annihilate a planet. But he’s not targeting a planet—he’s targeting the future of the Jedi, Leia’s children. It looks like a hopeless situation for Luke Skywalker, who has the critical task of protecting the children. But it’s not the first time Luke has found hope where none existed. The finale to the Dark Empire trilogy is collected here.’
The 1995 ‘Star Wars: Dark Empire - Collector’s Edition’ - a 5 CD audio dramatisation for the Dark Empire trilogy:-
'Listen to the entire full cast dramatization of the Dark Empire series in one exciting 5-CD collection, including the exclusive Empire’s End, available only in this special Collector’s Edition.
Dark Empire - The fight for freedom rages on as a reborn Empire - guided by a mysterious new leader - strikes back against the Rebel Alliance. But the Rebels discover that their greatest foe may be their closest friend: Luke Skywalker!
Dark Empire II - Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance face a terrible new threat as a group of “Dark Jedi” fulfill the Emperor’s final mission: Operation Shadow Hand, a devastating plan carried out by the deadliest dark side mind of all!
Empire’s End - This exclusive bonus CD features the final confrontation between Luke Skywalker and the Emperor in a battle to decide the fate of the galaxy!
Total Playing Time: Approx 5 Hours.’ - www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Dark-Empire-Collectors/dp/B000008PX5 (linked for info only)
Some information on the Dark Empire trilogy author and artists…
Tom Veitch… writer for all the Dark Empire trilogy comics.
Wikipedia | Wookieepedia | Fetttpedia | Tom Veitch Documentary - a 21 minute youtube video from Irvin Angeles
from the ‘RIP Tom Veitch, 1941-2022’ thread - for some quality information and links to articles…
Tom Veitch on The Rise Of Skywalker film featuring elements from his Dark Empire comic books: “I kinda like the idea that I wrote a billion dollar movie!”
People often forget it was Tom who persuaded George Lucas himself & also Lucasfilm that bringing back Star Wars would work, both artistically and financially, for the 1990s. And when it Tom proved it did work within only a couple of years, with what became the EU (books, comics and video games) as well as boxed home video re-releases of the Original Trilogy - which were all flying off the shelves, it was only then did George begin working on the Star Wars Special Editions in 1993 and hurriedly writing the Prequel Trilogy films on the back of that Star Wars revival a year later in 1994. Tom’s “Dark Empire” series offered us fans something we all desperately wanted: the story of what happened after Return of the Jedi. In effect, a Sequel Trilogy.
A handful or articles for anyone wanting to know a little more about the man who persuaded George Lucas that Star Wars could once again be popular, have artistic merit and also make money, who alongside Timothy Zahn, re-popularised and brought back Star Wars after the “Dark Times” fallow period of post-Jedi content:
https://starwarsinterviews.com/reviews/exclusive-16-pages-of-dark-empire-author-tom-veitchs-new-star-wars-book
https://www.starwarsunderworld.com/2016/08/interview-with-dark-empire-writer-tom.html
https://www.denofgeek.com/books/dark-empire-the-rise-of-skywalker
https://gizmodo.com/dark-empire-tom-veitch-star-wars-cycles-1848585214
https://www.vulture.com/2019/12/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-easter-eggs-and-references.html
https://www.bobafettfanclub.com/news/fettpedia/veitchkennedy-brought-back-fett
https://masterjitips.com/tom-veitch-the-comic-writer-who-helped-revitalize-star-wars-has-died-at-age-80
https://downthetubes.net/in-memoriam-comics-writer-and-poet-tom-veitch-family-seeks-support
It is a very sad day for Star Wars Fans (EckhartsLadder video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLEWSgDg9o8
and…
• Star Wars: Tom Veitch’s 10 Biggest Impacts On The Franchise - a 2022 article at CBR
• How Dark Empire expanded the Star Wars Universe and still continues to shape it today - a 2020 article at FanBasePress
• How Dark Empire kickstarted Star Wars comics for a new generation - 2018 article at the official Star Wars website
• Star Wars in the UK in the '90s - 2013 article at the official Star Wars website
• Remembering Tom Veitch, the Original Writer to Resurrect Palpatine in Dark Empire - at The Escapist
• How the Star Wars Expanded Universe Was Born - 2020 article at IGN; with quotes from both Tom Veitch and Timothy Zahn
• StarWarsInterview.com’s 2019 interview with Tom Veitch (an absorbing read)
• 10 Best Tom Veitch Comic Books Ever - a 2022 article at ScreenRant
• DC In The 80’s: The Tom Veitch interview - part one - 2018 article at DCInThe80’s
• DC In The 80’s: The Tom Veitch interview - part one - 2018 article at DCInThe80’s
• Remembering Tom Veitch (1941-2022) - a post by Ron Padgett.
Tom Veitch on there being a number of similarities between his Dark Empire trilogy and ‘Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker’:-
Cam Kennedy… the illustrator who did the inking, pencilling, and colouring for Dark Empire I & Dark Empire II.
Twitter | Website | Wikipedia | Wookieepedia | Cam Kennedy 1996 interview | GutReview’s article on Cam’s Star Wars art |
‘Veitch/Kennedy Brought Back Fett’ article | ComicFans site profile for Cam | From the Drawing Board videos | Instagram
Jim Baikie… the illustrator who did the inking, pencilling, and colouring for Dark Empire III - Empire’s End.
In Memorium | Jim Baikie: An Appreciation by Alan Moore | Life and Times of Jim Baikie: 1 - 2 - 3 | Wikipedia | Wookieepedia
Dave Dorman… the artist who did the cover art for all the Dark Empire trilogy comic issues.
Scroll down to the next post for information and cover art by Dave Dorman.
On why Cam Kennedy did not work on Dark Empire III, why it was only a two-part finale, and why it felt somewhat rushed…
Tom Veitch explains it in this interview, in a question about his cancelled ‘Lightsider’ novel, which was to take place between Dark Empire and Dark Empire II:-
^ a screenshot taken from the 2016 ‘Interview with ‘Dark Empire’ Writer Tom Veitch’ at StarWarsUnderworld•com
Some info, insight and reviews for the Dark Empire trilogy…
• From the Star Wars Library #132: Dark Empire - an informative & insightful 22 minute video review from Nathan Butler (2009)
• Star Wars: Dark Empire | FULL STORY - overview of the trilogy, a 33min video from the Fortress of Solitude youtube channel (2021)
• Star Wars Dark Empire Trilogy Review - an explanatory & factual 17min review video from the Django Fett youtube channel (2019)
• The Star Wars Sequel Trilogy is basically a REMAKE (of the Dark Empire comics) - a 15 minute video from EckhartsLadder (2019)
• In Defense of the Dark Empire - a 13 minute loose ‘comparison with TROS’ video from The First Okiro youtube channel (2022)
Other related OT•com discussion threads…
• Dark Empire (Fan Web Series) (2019 thread; adapting the Dark Empire comics as an animated web series)
• Dark Empire - Vader and Dark Empire Emperor Clones? (2006 thread)
• RIP Tom Veitch, 1941-2022 (2022 thread)
• Star Wars: Lightsider - by Tom Veitch (LEAKED) (2022 thread)
• Star Wars: Lightsider - Wookieepedia page : TheExpandedUniverse.com info page : StarWarsInterviews.com info page
• Tales Of The Jedi | 1993-1998 comic book series | a general discussion thread (2023 thread)
There are also a number of ‘KOTOR’ & ‘TOR’ novels / comics / games threads - inspired by Tales Of The Jedi - that may be of interest.
A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…
Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
‘How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com
A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)
… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.
