These '90s Star Wars Comics Might Hold a Spoiler For the Big Palpatine Twist in 'The Rise of Skywalker'
When Disney purchased Lucasfilm back in 2012, Kathleen Kennedy made it clear that Star Wars would be facing some substantial changes. These modifications would include new characters, planets, films, video games, animated series, etc–but also the elimination of major Star Wars stories. For years, fans of George Lucas's iconic spacefaring adventure saga enjoyed peripheral stories that filled in the gaps of the major films, fleshing out entire century's worth of narrative exploration in the brand's decades-spanning IP. Anything that happened outside of the main saga of the franchise was known as the Star Wars "Expanded Universe."
Well, two years after Disney acquired Lucasfilm, the House of Mouse announced that the stories of the "EU" would no longer be canon to Star Wars. Disney decided to retcon a staggering wealth of material to give "maximum creative freedom to the filmmakers and also preserve an element of surprise and discovery for the audience." Their announcement on StarWars.com said that the only works in 2014 that would still be considered canon are "the six Star Wars episodes, and the many hours of content he developed and produced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars."
Fans were baffled and outraged–many of these peripheral stories had garnered cult followings of their own. But as the Disney phase of the saga continues, we've begun to see shadows of the stories of the old "Expanded Universe" appear all throughout the new works. It's become clear that the current storytellers working on Star Wars are looking at touchstones of the EU (which are now referred to as Star Wars Legends) for reference and inspiration. And chief among these influences is the Dark Empire comic book series from 1991, which seems to be a major point of reference for J.J. Abrams's upcoming Rise of Skywalker finale.
What were the Dark Empire comics?
Released between December 1991 and October 1992, Dark Empire was a Dark Horse Comics series of comic books written by Tom Veitch and illustrated by Cam Kennedy. You may recognize some of the vibrant, moody art that appeared on the title pages of the bi-monthly series—it's become pretty iconic in its own right. The series picks up six years after the Battle of Endor, aka the central events of Return of the Jedi. Starring all the famous faces from the franchise except for Darth Vader (he's been toasted by this point), the series sees Luke and the gang fighting against a newly reborn Empire who is striking against a struggling Rebel Alliance. Han and Leia have a son, and the Emperor has mysteriously returned, despite his death at the end of Episode VI. Sound familiar?
Countless elements of Veitch's narrative have been scooped for the current Star Wars trilogy. The concept of a re-ignited, more extreme Empire (or in the new films, the so-called "First Order") is all Dark Empire. Ships with technology to destroy entire planets, like the modified Death Star technology that was seen at the end of Last Jedi, is unmistakably similar to Imperial machinery from Veitch's books. And Luke Skywalker's big line from the end of Last Jedi where he explains to Kylo Ren that he will "not be the last Jedi?" The Luke Skywalker of Dark Empire says almost the same thing, explaining in the books' finale, "The Jedi Knights will rise again."
So it's no argument that Dark Empire has made its mark on the current wave of Star Wars films. Although it's not canon to the Disney iteration of the franchise, it's undeniably set a precedent for storytelling beyond the events of Return of the Jedi. And, as we near the much-anticipated conclusion to the Skywalker saga in The Rise of Skywalker, some details from Dark Empire appear to be more important than ever, based on the trailer footage we've seen of Episode IX so far.
Force Storms
Disney revealed a ton of new footage from the upcoming film at their recent D23 celebration in August. One of the most familiar elements of the new film is what appears to be "force storms." Fans of Star Wars will remember these massive, force-fueled lightning storms from Dark Empire. In the books, they're enacted by Palpatine to rupture the Rebel fleets. Yeah–that's right–the Sith have the ability to create gigantic "hyperspace wormholes" of energy, unleashing full-on weather catastrophes. Luckily, though, if the Rise of Skywalker is indeed taking direct precedent from Dark Empire, the force-sensitive folks on the light side are also capable of manipulating these storms–and in the case of Dark Empire, turn them against the Sith. With the gigantic waves of First Order (or Imperial?) starships seen in the Skywalker trailers so far, force storms may be the Resistance's only hope for survival.
The Rebirth of the Empire
From the looks of the trailer footage, there may be something bigger than the First Order at foot here. We've heard the sound of Emperor Palpatine–and it's been confirmed that the character is appearing in the film. We've seen waves of Star Destroyers and technology that looks strikingly similar to planet-canceling Death Star lasers. And, we've seen the remnants of The Death Star itself. I think it's safe to say the Empire–not the First Order–but the old-school Empire may be back in fashion in this film. In Dark Empire, Palpatine's contingency plans are put into work. Not only is he brought back to life (through a confusing series of clones as demon-like possessions of corporeal shells), but Ol' Sheev (yes that's his first name) himself is able to take the reins of the reborn Empire. And how does he do it? With the power of the Dark Side.
The Sith Troopers
The concept of The Emperor using the power of the Dark Side to lead a technologically-advanced war effort comes straight from Vietch's books, hence the title, Dark Empire. The starships seen in Empire are more powerful than ever before–and that's thanks in part to Sheev's wielding of Sith powers. Now, we haven't exactly seen any Dark starships in the trailers–but we have seen the so-called Sith Troopers. In the entire new Disney trilogy of the franchise, we've not seen any Sith shit at all. Kylo Ren is not a Sith. And as far as we know, neither was Snoke. But all of the sudden, we're seeing the word "Sith" associated with these new stormtroopers. Is it possible that Palpatine is using the energy of the Dark Side to fuel superiorly powerful stormtroopers in The Rise of Skywalker? I mean, Disney has lifted a ton from Dark Empire already. Seems like a pretty safe assumption to me.
Emperor Palpatine's Return—and Demise
He's back. Our favorite laughing old man. The wrinkly, demonic, Benjamin Button-ass Emperor, Sheev Palpatine. If we're talking the enduring influence of Dark Empire, the rebirth of Palpatine is probably the story's greatest narrative feat. Bringing the slain Sith leader back to life isn't easy. The story sees Palpatine transfer his mind and consciousness into a series of clones. As expected, the spooky old dude is seeking immortality–a notion that, for any fan of the prequel trilogy, we know is very much canon to Star Wars. In Veitch's story, Luke falls for Palpatine's tricks, becoming the Emperor's new apprentice. Now, in our new continuity, Luke is very much dead. But it's not hard to imagine that Rey–especially with her dark duds and red lightsaber from the recent D23 trailer–may take Luke's place in this iteration of the story. It's Luke's sister, Leia, who actually sways the Luke and helps him overcome the Emperor, in the end. Perhaps we can anticipate the same sort of twist–except this time, it will be Ben Solo who rescues Rey from the Emperor's grasps and redeems himself once and for all.
We don't know for sure exactly how much inspiration J.J. Abrams is drawing from Dark Empire. We'll find out on December 20, 2019, when Rise of Skywalker finally premieres.
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