Saturday, November 9, 2013

Empire & Rebellion


Series: Empire
Publication Date: 2003 – 2006
# of Issues: 40

Era: Rise of the Empire Era
Galaxy Date: 0 BBY* 
*Before Battle of Yavin











Series: Rebellion
Publication Date: 2006 – 2008
# of Issues: 16

Era: Rebellion Era
Galaxy Date: 0 ABY* 
*After Battle of Yavin







Imperial Biggs

The premise behind these two comic series kind of turn your world upside down and the implications could be debated for years. Think back to that famous scene in A New Hope where Luke is talking about joining the Academy with his friends. Alright, now which Academy is he talking about? Did you assume it was an academy for Rebel soldiers? Well, according to the Expanded Universe, you would be wrong!


Star Wars: Empire assumes that Luke’s friends submit their applications to the Imperial Academy. That’s right, Biggs Darklighter & Luke Skywalker seek to become Imperial Pilots. Biggs actually succeeds in this task. Empire issues #8 - #9 deal with how he discovered the empire was evil and how he defected to the Rebel Alliance.

Therefore, if the droids had never come to Tatooine and the Sandtroopers never torched Luke’s foster parents, Luke would have joined the Imperials instead of the Rebels. There are deleted scenes from the original film that show Luke & Biggs on Tatooine and Biggs is on leave from the Academy. Luke hugs Biggs and tells him that they'll be together soon. As Imperials! Has your mind been blown yet? (Because the Death Star certainly would not have been blown in that situation).



Luke’s friend, “Tank”, was first mentioned “A New Hope”. After Uncle Owen tells Luke “It’s only one more season”, Luke says to his Uncle “That’s what you said when Biggs & Tank left”. Tank is first introduced in Empire #16 - #18 (probably the strongest story arc in the series), although, when the audience meets him he is Lt. Janek Sunber, an imperial officer. Though he is Imperial he is quite likable and the audience can’t help but root for him.




Later in Rebellion #1 - #5, Luke & Sunber meet up during a battle and have a brief, happy reunion, until they suddenly figure out that they are on different sides in the war. The reader actually is having conflicting feelings about which one to root for. It’s not obvious who is good and who is bad. This type of moral ambiguity is common in Star Wars comics and the novels of the Expanded Universe.

There is one more character that makes this comic series worth the read: Darth Vader. The inside flap of Empire #14 claims
This is Vader as you never seen him before!” and it's true. This issue starts as Vader is fleeing the Battle of Yavin. The Death Star has just blown and his ship is damaged. He crash lands on a hostile, savage, planet.


Vader has no dialogue in issue #14, but through his actions you can see his raw power and mercilessness as he fights off a pack of wild beasts. Also on the planet is a small Imperial outpost where some lazy officers prefer to relax and have fun, rather than do actual work. This comic relief is well balanced with Vader’s story. Near the end of the comic, Vader finds the outpost, and let’s just say, he is not a forgiving boss.




Despite wonderful issues like these, Empire & Rebellion lack a strong central storyline. Therefore they will probably never be seen as classics. I will still give them 3.5 out of 5 lightsabers, and recommend them to loyal readers.




Dark Horse Comics
 (
Link)

Dawn of the Jedi  Dawn of the Jedi

Tales of the Jedi Tales of the Jedi

Knights of the Old Republic Knights of the Old Republic

Star Wars: Republic Star Wars: Republic
Dark Times Dark Times
Empire & Rebellion Star Wars: Empire & Star Wars: Rebellion
Brian Wood's Star Wars Brian Wood's Star Wars
Dark Empire Dark Empire
Crimson Empire Crimson Empire
Invasion Invasion
Legacy Vol. 1 Star Wars: Legacy
Vector Star Wars: Vector
Legacy Vol. 2 Legacy Volume 2
Infinities Infinities
The Star Wars The Star Wars

Star Wars Tales Star Wars Tales

Marvel Comics

Original Marvel Comics Original Marvel Comics
Star Wars #108 Star Wars #108
Alan Moore's Star Wars Comics Alan Moore's Star Wars Comics

Han Solos Vs. Space Crocodile Han Solo vs. Crocodile in Space

Marvel's New Star Wars Line Catching Up With Comics

Age of Republic Age of Republic
Age of Rebellion Age of Rebellion
Age of Resistance Age of Resistance

Star Wars #1... Again Star Wars #1... Again
Ewoks in Comics Ewoks in Comis
Who is Doctor Aphra Who Is Doctor Aphra

The Last Jedi Expanded Universe The Last Jedi Expanded Universe
Who is Jaxxon Who Is Jaxxon

IDW Comics
Tales from Vader's Castle Tales from Vader's Castle

Return to Vader's Caslte Return to Vader's Castle

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