Star Wars: Empire
The first issue of Star Wars: Empire landed on newsstands on the 4th of September 2002. Dark Horse Comics published this monthly series that ran for exactly forty issues until its conclusion in late 2005. The final story arc concluded with issue number 40, which marked the end of the run before the title transitioned into Star Wars: Rebellion. Each month brought a new chapter to the expanding universe between Episode IV and Episode V. Readers could follow the ongoing narrative through these regular releases without interruption.
On Coruscant, Darth Vader tested the blaster accuracy of a battalion of newly trained stormtroopers. He ordered them sent to escort Governor Wilhuff Tarkin to the Death Star after seeing their skill. Moff Kadir objected because the men were assigned to his Coruscant City Guard. Vader threatened him by mentioning that the previous commander of Coruscant Security also made demands for more soldiers. Kadir was told he should be silent if he did not wish to share his predecessor's fate. Grand Moff Trachta later hinted at a solution to the Sith problem while expressing annoyance with the dark lord. Emperor Palpatine asked Trachta to provide a skilled detachment of stormtroopers for his own escort to the Death Star. They both suspected it could be one of Vader's children when hunting down a lightsaber-wielding criminal on Dargulli.
Commander Akobi led Imperial forces against what was supposed to be a small rebel cell on Ralltiir four years before the Battle of Yavin. The Rebels used women and children to defend themselves during the conflict. During an Imperial bombing run on a Rebel supply depot, the TIE bomber sensors failed. Akobi ordered them to go on anyway despite the malfunction. The Bombers bombed a Med Center by accident, killing scores of civilians. The Imperials covered it up and made Akobi into a hero. TK-622 saved Akobi from a Rebel attack while trying to get power back up. A nearby surface impact caused debris to fall on a Technician, killing him just as the traitor confessed to the attacks. TK-622 watched as Luke Skywalker's X-wing starfighter fired into the Thermal Exhaust Port. He knew the station was about to explode in his last seconds.
Randy Stradley wrote the two-part story arc titled Princess Warrior which first appeared on the 5th of February 2003. Paul Chadwick developed the four-part Darklighter arc with its first issue published on the 21st of May 2003. Ron Marz contributed multiple arcs including Idiot's Array and A Little Piece of Home starting in mid-2004. Welles Hartley wrote To the Last Man and The Wrong Side of the War over several months beginning in early 2004. Thomas Andrews penned In the Shadows of Their Fathers which ran from February 2005 through August 2005. These writers expanded the timeline between Episodes IV and V by creating specific stories that filled gaps in the official chronology.
Boba Fett appeared in Sacrifice, the seventh issue originally published on the 9th of April 2003. Han Solo faced betrayal when he revealed his Rebel involvement to Sheel Odala an old acquaintance. Chewie helped her save Han after she had a change of heart during their ordeal. Luke Skywalker led a squad of Rebel soldiers who infiltrated an Empire-run fueling depot. They attempted to steal much-needed fuel and rescue a valuable prisoner while disguised as Imperial officers. Princess Leia visited Raal Panteer on a moon of Ryloth where they were attacked by creatures that inhabit it. Panteer died during the attack leaving Leia regretting putting another society into danger.
Dark Horse Comics collected individual issues into trade paperback volumes for long-term preservation. Star Wars: Empire Vol 1 contained Betrayal covering issues one through four. The third volume titled The Imperial Perspective included issues thirteen through nineteen. Boba Fett: Man with a Mission collected issue seven specifically for fans of the bounty hunter. The Wrong Side of the War became Volume 7 containing issues thirty-five through forty. An Omnibus edition combined multiple story arcs including At War with the Empire Vol 1 which covered issues one through six plus ten and eleven. These collections made the series accessible to new readers and preserved the stories for future generations.
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Common questions
When did the first issue of Star Wars: Empire land on newsstands?
The first issue of Star Wars: Empire landed on newsstands on the 4th of September 2002. Dark Horse Comics published this monthly series that ran for exactly forty issues until its conclusion in late 2005.
Who wrote the two-part story arc titled Princess Warrior in Star Wars: Empire?
Randy Stradley wrote the two-part story arc titled Princess Warrior which first appeared on the 5th of February 2003. Paul Chadwick developed the four-part Darklighter arc with its first issue published on the 21st of May 2003.
What happened during the Imperial bombing run on Ralltiir in Star Wars: Empire?
Commander Akobi led Imperial forces against a rebel cell on Ralltiir and ordered bombers to attack despite sensor failures. The bombers accidentally destroyed a Med Center killing scores of civilians before the Imperials covered it up and made Akobi into a hero.
Which Boba Fett story was collected as Boba Fett: Man with a Mission in Star Wars: Empire?
Boba Fett appeared in Sacrifice the seventh issue originally published on the 9th of April 2003. This specific issue was later collected by Boba Fett: Man with a Mission for fans of the bounty hunter.
When did Thomas Andrews pen In the Shadows of Their Fathers in Star Wars: Empire?
Thomas Andrews penned In the Shadows of Their Fathers which ran from February 2005 through August 2005. These writers expanded the timeline between Episodes IV and V by creating specific stories that filled gaps in the official chronology.