Dr. K's Waiting Room

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May 4^th is known the world over as Star Wars Day thanks to being one of the most fitting and amusing puns ever devised (“May the Fourth be with you” in place of the traditional “May the Force be with you”). The first and most popular of what can easily become a three day celebration of the influential science-fiction series, the day stands as the perfect excuse for Star Wars fans to celebrate the beloved franchise!

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Published: 1 May 1996 to 2 October 1996
Writer: John Wagner
Artist: Kilian Plunkett

The Background:
Nowadays, Star Wars is a nigh-unstoppable multimedia juggernaut the includes not just live-action movies, but cartoons, toys, videogames, books, and comics. Following the completion of his Original Trilogy, George Lucas licensed the property to continue in a series of novels, later dubbed “Legends”. Later, in 1994, Lucasfilm’s publishing director Lucy Autrey Wilson met with Bantam editor Lou Aronica  and author Steve Perry to discuss a Star Wars crossover multimedia event that would feature the all media and marketing of a film release without producing a movie, all to tie-in with the impending release of the 1997 Special Editions of the Original Trilogy. Shadows of the Empire would take place between Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (Kershner, 1980) and Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (Marquand, 1983) and was comprised of Perry’s novel, a divisive videogame, an extensive toy line, and this six-issue comic published by Dark Horse Comics. Excerpts from the comic featured in Nintendo Power magazine and two separate mini-comics accompanied the Micro Machines and Ertl toys. Reviews largely praised the comic, though it was noted to be just one part of a larger whole. Still, Perry returned to write a follow-up two years later and characters and elements featured, to different degrees, in Legends media and Star Wars videogames. Unfortunately, Shadows of the Empire was another casualty of Disney’s acquisition of the franchise as they de-canonised Legends media, though Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy was stated that characters like Dash Rendar have come up when discussing additional Star Wars projects.

The Review:
Like the movies, Shadows of the Empire begins with the traditional open text crawl that brings readers up to speed with the story so far. Set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, the story begins with the Rebel Alliance still reeling after being forced from their Hoth base, young Jedi-in-training Luke Skywalker struggling with the knowledge that the evil Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader, is his father, and Princess Leia Organa and the mighty Chewbacca grieving the loss of charismatic scoundrel Han Solo, who was frozen in carbonite and spirited away by bounty hunter Boba Fett. Whilst the Rebel fleet is traversing the vast void of space, they’re detected by the malevolent Galactic Empire) and, eager to get back into action, Luke moves to aid Wedge Antilles and Rogue Squadron against the threat. However, he is convinced by Leia and his service droids, C-3PO/Threepio and R2-D2/Artoo, to rest and become properly acclimatised to his new robotic hand. Wedge and his team engage the Strike Cruiser and its Twin Ion Engine (TIE) Fighters, outmanoeuvring the clunky craft and blasting the cruiser to smithereens. However, the victory makes General Crix Madine wary and leads to him altering the fleet’s course, delaying their arrival on the desert planet of Tatooine, a necessary precaution that Leia believes will buy Luke more time to heal, both physically and psychologically. Though she’s unaware of the revelations Luke learned, she can sense something’s amiss but gives Luke his space to work through whatever’s bothering him. Meanwhile, across the galaxy, Darth Vader is chastised by his master, Emperor Shev Palpatine,  aboard his flagship, the Executor, for failing to turn Luke to the Dark Side. When Palpatine questions Vader’s motives, the Dark Lord affirms his allegiance to his master and vows to track down the wayward Jedi, though Palpatine brings the conversation to a close to attend to more pressing matters: namely, the construction of the Death Star II. Thus, Palpatine orders Vader to meet with Prince Xizor on Coruscant to arrange his services in delivering essential materials to the construction.

Xizor’s ties to the Black Sun criminal organisation and distrustful nature make Vader wary, concerns Palpatine shoots down as foolhardy. Upon ending the communication, it’s revealed that Xizor is already in attendance with the Emperor. A regal, lizard-like figure, Xizor questions whether Vader’s emotions are clouded by his feelings for Luke but Palpatine assures Xizor of his minion’s loyalty and his commitment to the Death Star II’s construction. Following the meeting, Xizor orders his beautiful android aide, Guri, to arrange a separate meeting with crime lord Jabba the Hutt and contact bounty hunters to intercept Luke and gain further favour with the Emperor. Elsewhere, Boba Fett arrives at Tatooine with his quarry, the aforementioned frozen Solo, gloating that the once cocksure smuggler is now little more than a work of art to be displayed. After disposing of a homing beacon placed on his ship while he was on Cloud City, Fett detects and destroys a probe sent by his bounty hunter rival, the malicious robot IG-88. Although Fett’s ship, Slave-1, is badly damaged by IG-88’s sneak attack, the Mandalorian blows his rival out of the stars and limps his way to nearby Gall, reasoning that it’s too dangerous to land on Tatooine. Word of Fett’s detour reaches an enraged Darth Vader, who orders his unscrupulous agent, Wrenga Jixton/Jix, to integrate himself into Jabba’s cut-throat swoop bike gang and await Luke’s inevitable arrival on the desert world and capture him alive, on pain of death. Although we don’t see the meeting between Vader and Xizor, Xizor relates to Guri how he did everything that was expected of him short of kissing the Dark Lord’s boots to keep him placated and form a business relationship with the Empire. Xizor’s goal is the exact opposite of Vader’s; he wishes to kill Luke and make it seem like the Empire, if not Vader himself, is responsible to diminish the Emperor’s faith in his apprentice in favour of the crime lord.

Meanwhile, Lando Calrissian (co-piloting the Millennium Falcon alongside Chewbacca and still atoning for betraying Han) arrives at Gall alongside Rogue Squadron, where Luke is finally back at the controls of his X-Wing, having been tipped off about Fett’s detour. Since Gall is home to an Imperial enclave, Lando has enlisted the aide of mercenary Dash Rendar, who flies alongside them in his Falcon-esque Outrider and is very much a stand-in for Han, both visually and in terms of his cavalier attitude. While Leia is wary of trusting such a man, Lando vouches for him, mentioning Dash aided their escape from Hoth. While Luke, Wedge, and Rogue Squadron engage the Star Destroyer and its TIE Fighters, Dash leads the Falcon to the spaceport where Slave-1 is docked, only to abandon them since he was only paid to be a guide. As if that wasn’t bad enough, one of Rogue Squadron goes haywire and opens fire on Luke amidst a tough dogfight, though Luke’s connection with the Force allows him to disable his comrade. On the planet’s surface, Fett meets with fellow bounty hunters Bossk’wassak’Cradossk and Zuckuss, who bid for a share of Fett’s bounty, a request that leads to a good, old fashioned bar fight. This is merely a distraction, however, so that 4-Lom and his minions can break into Slave-1. When Fett’s alerted to this, he dispatches the bounty hunter and takes off while Rogue Squadron make a tactical retreat and the Falcon engages with the TIE Fighters defending the Gall spaceport. Unfortunately, the Falcon is damaged and forced to land, meaning Fett slips through their fingers once more. Reconvening on the planet, the Rebels learn that a technician was bribed to tamper with Rogue Six’s X-Wing, which Leia theorises is the work of Black Sun. Although Lando and Chewie advise against tangling with the criminal organisation, Leia insists they send someone in to prove that Xizor is out to assassinate Luke and arranges for Luke to hide with Artoo at Obi-Wan Kenobi’s old shack on Tatooine. His travel plans coincide with Jix’s successful infiltration of the swoop bike gang, which he accomplishes by challenging their leader, “Big Gizz” Gizman, to a race and impressing the backwoods biker with his cutthroat attitude and dirty tactics.

The gang is called to Jabba’s palace and begrudgingly accepts the new recruit after Big Gizz vouches for him. Jabba then orders the bikers to head to Kenobi’s shack and kill Luke and, though Jix questions this since he knows Vader wants Luke alive, Big Gizz isn’t fussed and leads his riders off to a big payday, unaware that Dash is listening in on their boastful ranting at the bar. At the shack, the bikers attack Luke just after he completes his new lightsaber. Though not expecting to test his new weapon so soon and so violently, Luke cuts down one of the bikers and steals his ride, leading to a merry chase through Beggar’s Canyon. Jix is forced to fake an error with his bike to keep Big Gizz from shooting Luke, breaking his leg and then bashing Gizman’s brains in following their crash. Though Luke impresses with his riding and lightsaber skills, the bikers are driven off when Dash unexpectedly arrives to help. The two then find a message from Koth Melan, head of the Bothan spy network, that speaks of the Empire’s secret project. With Leia on Rodia infiltrating Black Sun, Luke meets with Koth on Bothawui alongside Dash, who tags along to “earn [his] pay”. At the Imperial Palace on Coruscant, Vader objects to Palpatine’s plan to deliver the Death Star II’s computer to Bothawui via a lone, unguarded freighter; an objection summarily dismissed by his dark master and overheard by Xizor. Against Guri’s objections, Xizor orders that the freighter’s movements be provided to the Bothans to ensure that Black Sun benefits no matter which side wins the war. Meanwhile, Boba Fett is suddenly ambushed by his fellow bounty hunters while in an asteroid field thanks to 4-Lom repairing itself and signalling help. Though literally disarmed by a laser shot, 4-Lom disables Slave-1’s weapons before being executed, leaving Fett at the mercy of Bossk’s boarding party. Though Fett tries to weasel his way out by taking Zuckuss and the others hostage, Bossk demonstrates his ruthlessness by opening fire on Slave-1, confident that Solo’s carbonite block would survive the ship’s destruction. Thus, Fett surrenders but easily gives his one inexperienced guard the slip and rearms himself, offing the others and forcing Zuckuss to lull Bossk in. Fett then dumps the bodies on Bossk’s ship and sets off an explosion before blasting to hyperspace.

While Jix and the other bikers are reprimanded by Jabba for their failure, Xizor discusses Luke’s threat with the Emperor, where it’s revealed that the plot to leak the Death Star II’s plans to the Rebels was conjured by Xizor in order to lead them into a trap. Unaware of this deception, Luke meets with the surviving Bothans, who are working to crack the Imperial’s code and discover their secret, only for their stronghold to be attacked by lizard-like bounty hunters under the command of Skahtul. Despite having great respect for the Jedi, Skahtul captures Luke and reveals that there are two bounties out on him, one that wants him dead and one alive, and they’re waiting to get the best deal before deciding what to do with him. Palpatine orders Vader retrieve Luke, reasoning his presence will only further convince the Rebels of the validity of the Bothan’s data, however Luke uses the Force to coerce his guard into releasing him. Luke quickly retrieves his lightsaber and uses it to cut down the bounty hunters when he’s discovered, only to be saved by Lando’s timely intervention thanks to a tipoff from Dash. While they escape in the Falcon, Leia assumes the identity of deceased bounty hunter Boussh and Chewie is dressed up as Snoova, courtesy of Guri, and meets with Xizor on Coruscant, where Leia finds herself strangely attracted to the enigmatic crime lord. While conversing over tea, Leia is enamoured by Xizor’s allure and ends up kissing him, only regaining her composure when Chewie intervenes. Once back in Xizor’s chamber, Leia keeps her distance and distracts herself with tea while Chewie manhandles his guards in an escape attempt, breaking Xizor’s spell by kneeing him in the crotch. Angered that his pheromones and sexual lusts have been thwarted, Xizor has Guri confine Leia to her room. While Fett makes his way back to Tatooine, Vader interrogates Luke’s captors. He’s impressed by Luke’s advancing skills with the Force and angered to learn that Black Sun wants Luke dead, realising that Xizor wishes to embarrass him by killing his son. Back on the Executor, Jix tells Vader that Xizor has implicated Vader in the death warrant, so Vader heads to Coruscant to bring his evidence to Palpatine.

Speaking of Coruscant, Lando, Luke, and Dash gingerly navigate the Falcon past the Imperial blockade surrounding the city planet and land on its surface, where they navigate the putrid sewers to reach Xizor’s palace. Although Chewie slips and alerts the guards, the group easily guns their way through. Xizor sends Guri to get Leia, leading to her being knocked out when the princess escapes, but seems largely nonplussed by the attack since it’s all part of his grand plan. Reuniting with Leia, Luke leads them to the rooftops, only to run head-first into an unwinnable blaster fight with Xizor and his men. Thus, Luke pulls out a thermal detonator and threatens to blow them all up unless they’re given safe passage. Though Xizor calls his bluff, Lando reveals the bomb has a five minute delay and dumps it in the garbage chute, forcing Xizor to flee. Everyone escapes just before the palace explodes and Xizor flees to his skyhook space station, ordering his ships to attack the Falcon. Luckily, Dash offers some firepower from the Outrider. All our stories converge as Rogue Squadron and the Rebel fleet engage with Xizor and the Empire as Vader converges on the skyhook, leading to a momentary alliance between the Rebels and the Empire in an impressive space battle. Enraged, Xizor threatens to tell on Vader to the Emperor but Vader risks his master’s reprimand and obliterates both Xizor’s fleet and his skyhook. Unfortunately, while the Falcon makes it through the skyhook’s debris, Dash isn’t so lucky and is unceremoniously killed off panel during the escape. In the aftermath, Jix is spared execution at Jabba’s hands when Fett finally arrives with Han, only to be ambushed by the bounty hunters. Jix slips away in the fracas and Fett fools his rivals with 4-Lom and Zuckuss, allowing him to deliver Jabba his prize and claim his reward. Finally, Vader arrives at Endor, where the Death Star II is in orbit, still determined to sway Luke to the Dark Side and overthrow Palpatine.

The Summary:
I’ve wanted to read Shadows of the Empire for a long time, ever since I played the Nintendo 64 game (which it seemed everyone owned back in the day). It’s not easy to come by, with the Dark Horse omnibus being out of print and Marvel Comics sneaking their reprint into one of their Essential collections. To this day, I really enjoy the concept and am annoyed that we haven’t seen something, either a live-action or animated venture, that officially fills the gap between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It’s important to note, however, that each piece of merchandise in the Shadows of the Empire experience tells a different part of the story. The videogame focused on Dash Rendar and his adventures, the novel is similar to the comic and touches on some of the same story beats but mostly focuses on Luke and Leia, and the comic places greater emphasis on Boba Fett. You really need to experience all three to get the complete story, which is a bit of a shame, and it does impact the narrative here. For example, Lando mentions that Dash was on Hoth, something we play through in the videogame but gets no further context here. Dash, especially, comes out of nowhere and dips in and out of the narrative with little characterisation beyond being a Han Solo knock-off. It’s a shame as he has an awesome ship, a cool look, and a mercenary attitude that’s very appealing. I liked the idea of Leia hiring him to be Luke’s bodyguard, but it barely factors into the plot here. I’d also wager Luke could’ve handled the swoop bikers without Dash and infiltrated Coruscant without his smuggling contacts (especially as they have Lando on side). Dash is also abruptly killed right at the end of the story, off panel no less, and Luke barely even acknowledges it. If you’ve played the game, you’ll know that Dash faked his death, but he’s just snuffed out here after barely getting a chance to do much and disappearing in the background of some panels. This really bothers me as I liked Dash in the book and the game and he was set up as one of the principal supporting characters of the Shadows of the Empire experiment so it’s kind of insulting to see him done away with so callously.

That leaves us with our other new character, Prince Xizor. Xizor also gets way more backstory in the novel, which is the be expected; it delves into his background, his pheromones and abilities, and his true motivations for manipulating the Emperor and Vader. Most of that is still here but it’s very shallow and one-dimensional; he has a unique look and alluring presence but seems to be playing both sides simply for the fun of it. He tries to sow the seeds of doubt into Palpatine regarding Vader and seeks to humiliate the Dark Lord by killing Luke and framing him for it, thereby denying the Emperor a new apprentice, all with the vague idea that he and Black Sun will profit in the end. It’s a wonky plan, one immediately undone the moment Vader interrogates Xizor’s underlings, and Xizor’s vast criminal network and resources, as impressive as they are (in the book, anyway) are nothing compared to Vader’s raw power. Thus, we’re left following an unusually loquacious Boba Fett as he desperately tries to deliver Han Solo to Jabba the Hutt and is constantly attracting the wrath and jealousy of his fellow bounty hunters. Fett’s monologuing reveals his hatred of Solo and his keen guile; he’s seen to be resourceful and adaptable, surrendering, setting traps, and fooling his opponents to get out of scrapes and come out on top. It’s ancillary media like Shadows of the Empire that really fleshed Boba Fett out, I feel, and added to his surge of popularity at the time. In the films, he’s visually interesting but otherwise unimpressive, portrayed as a klutz and a cry-baby. But here, he’s regarding as “the best” of his kind and shown to be a wily and capable bounty hunter. Luke, Leia, Lando, Threepio, and Artoo are more like supporting characters here. There’s some rumination on Leia’s part regarding Luke’s demeanour but he doesn’t dwell much on Vader’s revelation and we don’t get much insight into how he’s feeling. You’ll need to read the book for that, which also covers the construction of his new lightsaber in far more detail. The comic briefly touches upon Xizor’s effect on Leia but it’s a brief sequence, though one that does show how fiery she can be in a fight, and the droids may as well be absent since they don’t do much of anything save for a comedic sequence at the end where they fly the Millennium Falcon.

Visually, Shadows of the Empire is very appealing. I’ve found the art in the Dark Horse Star Wars comics to be a bit hit and miss but Kilian Plunkett captures the likenesses of the actors well. He really shines in his depictions of space battles and armoured characters like Boba Fett and Darth Vader, who are intricately detailed and get all the dynamic “hero shots”. The writing is…okay, except for Vader. I don’t feel John Wagner really captured the essence and awe of Vader, especially in his conversations with the Emperor. Palpatine fared much better in this regard, taunting and questioning his apprentice throughout, as did Fett, though I could’ve done with his soliloquys being rendered as thought bubbles. Shadows of the Empire is an essential story to Star Wars canon; it shows the lengths the Rebels went to try and retrieve Han, how Luke recovered from his duel with Vader, and fills in a few blanks in the narrative between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. This is why it irks me so much that it’s been disregarded as canon and hasn’t been replaced with something else or re-adapted into a new, similar story. I feel there’s a lot of potential to explore this period and that Shadows of the Empire should be re-canonised to fill that void, especially as this adventure with Xizor and Dash has a lot of intrigue behind it. It explores Vader’s conflicting feelings regarding Luke, his desire to reunite with his son and overthrow the Empire, and gives him a rival for the Emperor’s affections in Xizor. I like the cat and mouse game between Vader and Xizor, though it’s not as prominent in the comic, and Xizor manipulating different parties to target Luke. It’s nice to spend more time with Boba Fett and explore his motivations and abilities, and it’s fun touching upon little things like Luke making a new lightsaber and the Emperor’s leaking of the Death Star II plans. Unfortunately, the comic is very disjointed and suffers from the story being spread across different media. It’s decent enough but it’s merely an appetiser, or a small piece of a larger puzzle, meaning you need to read the book and/or play the videogame to get the whole story.

My Rating:

Pretty Good

Did you enjoy Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire? Which of its media productions was your favourite? Were you a fan of Dash Rendar and Prince Xizor? What do you think to Darth Vader’s portrayal and his rivalry with Xizor? Were you happy to see Boba Fett get more time in the spotlight? Which Star Wars comic was your favourite? How are you celebrating Star Wars Day today? Whatever your thoughts and memories of Shadows of the Empire, feel free to leave a comment below and be sure to check out my other Star Wars content across the site.