Dark Empire Sequels
Off the success of Dark Empire, Dark Horse Comics made plans for a sequel. After all, there were more stories to be told! By this time the Jedi Academy Trilogy came out, with new Solo child Anakin Solo being already born. But, how to tell the story? After all, Palpatine had appeared to die a final death at the hands of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa Solo. But as he told Luke "It isn't the first time I died".
The biggest change for Dark Empire II was there were no West End Game supplements at the end of the issues as they did for DE1. Jedi Academy Trilogy writer Kevin J. Anderson wrote the intro for the Dark Empire TPB, and revealed not only did he work with Tom Veitch (DE writer) on getting to a starting point for his trilogy, plus something else they'd collaborate on called Tales of the Jedi.
As DE2 opens, followers of the Emperor try to keep the Empire from fracturing. Meanwhile Luke Skywalker has found his 1st apprentice Kam Solid as while Leia, who is about to give birth, wants to find the old Jedi woman Vima Da Boda, who she met on Nar Shadda. Luke finds a planet called Oasis, and meets a primitive race of Force users and after killing 2 of Palpatine's henchmen, Luke senses Palpatine is still alive. Luke finds romance with his new student Jem, but she dies in the final issue as the Emperor's new followers attack New Alderaan. Complicating matters is Palpy's new super weapon, that can launch planet killing projectiles and tested on the Rebels HQ planet. It ends with the Rebels safe and sound and Anakin Solo being born.
But what about Palpy?! Well, he lived. No fight with Luke. But his clone body is not ideal as it had been sabotaged by his former Royal Guard Carnor Jax (covered in Crimson Empire). Palpy track down Leia and her newborn son Anakin to Onderron where a final battle takes place. Palpy meets his end not by Luke or Leia, but from Empatojoyas Brand, a Jedi who absorbs Palpatine's essence into him as Han Solo shot Palpy in the gut. The 2 issue Empire's End isn't my favorite, and of course it was written before the Prequel Trilogy came to theaters. But the end sets up Luke for the novel Jedi Search and the New Republic taking back Coruscant.
But the sequels (to DE) aren't the lasting legacy of Dark Empire. Elements from Dark Empire have made their way on to movie screens. For Revenge of the Sith, George Lucas was so impressed with the idea of Luke crash landing a Star Destroyer on Coruscant that he wrote it into Revenge of the Sith for Anakin to do. Interesting note the DE comic never showed Luke's landing. For Episode 9, Palpatine came back. Just as he did years earlier in the pages of Dark Empire.
The other lasting legacy are the audio dramas. The 1st one is fairly accurate to the comics, with Billy Dee Williams back voicing Lando. The 2nd one is not so comic accurate, sadly. Currently on YouTube Wilkins Animation's channel is animating the Dark Empire audio drama, even adding elements from Episode 9 to tie everything together. After all these years, Dark Empire still resonates with fans, even if not all the writers of Legends liked it.
Next week: Dave Dorman's cover art, and all the toys!!
The biggest change for Dark Empire II was there were no West End Game supplements at the end of the issues as they did for DE1. Jedi Academy Trilogy writer Kevin J. Anderson wrote the intro for the Dark Empire TPB, and revealed not only did he work with Tom Veitch (DE writer) on getting to a starting point for his trilogy, plus something else they'd collaborate on called Tales of the Jedi.
As DE2 opens, followers of the Emperor try to keep the Empire from fracturing. Meanwhile Luke Skywalker has found his 1st apprentice Kam Solid as while Leia, who is about to give birth, wants to find the old Jedi woman Vima Da Boda, who she met on Nar Shadda. Luke finds a planet called Oasis, and meets a primitive race of Force users and after killing 2 of Palpatine's henchmen, Luke senses Palpatine is still alive. Luke finds romance with his new student Jem, but she dies in the final issue as the Emperor's new followers attack New Alderaan. Complicating matters is Palpy's new super weapon, that can launch planet killing projectiles and tested on the Rebels HQ planet. It ends with the Rebels safe and sound and Anakin Solo being born.
But what about Palpy?! Well, he lived. No fight with Luke. But his clone body is not ideal as it had been sabotaged by his former Royal Guard Carnor Jax (covered in Crimson Empire). Palpy track down Leia and her newborn son Anakin to Onderron where a final battle takes place. Palpy meets his end not by Luke or Leia, but from Empatojoyas Brand, a Jedi who absorbs Palpatine's essence into him as Han Solo shot Palpy in the gut. The 2 issue Empire's End isn't my favorite, and of course it was written before the Prequel Trilogy came to theaters. But the end sets up Luke for the novel Jedi Search and the New Republic taking back Coruscant.
But the sequels (to DE) aren't the lasting legacy of Dark Empire. Elements from Dark Empire have made their way on to movie screens. For Revenge of the Sith, George Lucas was so impressed with the idea of Luke crash landing a Star Destroyer on Coruscant that he wrote it into Revenge of the Sith for Anakin to do. Interesting note the DE comic never showed Luke's landing. For Episode 9, Palpatine came back. Just as he did years earlier in the pages of Dark Empire.
The other lasting legacy are the audio dramas. The 1st one is fairly accurate to the comics, with Billy Dee Williams back voicing Lando. The 2nd one is not so comic accurate, sadly. Currently on YouTube Wilkins Animation's channel is animating the Dark Empire audio drama, even adding elements from Episode 9 to tie everything together. After all these years, Dark Empire still resonates with fans, even if not all the writers of Legends liked it.
Next week: Dave Dorman's cover art, and all the toys!!
Comments
Post a Comment