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Star Wars: Dark Empire #3
Star Wars: Empire's End
Emperor Palpatine has a new weapon -- one that can annihilate a planet. But he's not targeting a planet -- he's targeting the future of the Jedi, Leia's children. It looks like a hopeless situation for Luke Skywalker, who has the critical task of protecting the children. But it's not the first time Luke has found hope where none existed. The finale to the Dark Empire trilogy is collected here.
117 pages, Paperback
First published October 17, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 30, 2009
The concluding part of the Dark Empire series has the intention of cleaning up the mess that was Dark Empire II and end up in the situation that begins in Kevin J Anderson's Jedi Academy trilogy. Empire's End was originally suppose to be a 6 part series but the fans clearly lost interest after the last one so this was reduced to a rushed two parter. As a result, the very quick pace hinders the story somewhat, though still an improvement over Dark Empire II. And hey, some actual colour! What a difference that makes! I also do like the fact that the story implies Palpatine is a sith, which was something that was avoided in all other EU fiction before The Phantom Menace. Ultimately everyone who needs to die dies, the Emperor Reborn story is concluded (though the writing team seem to have forgotten Chief Okko in the whole mess), and we can all get on with our lives.
December 30, 2019
How many times do you need to kill the same man? It's becoming tiresome. He and his Even Bigger Gun.
I recommend looking the comics in the Youtube as "motion comics" by Nathan S - full cast audiobooks + comics with animation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybb5i...
I recommend looking the comics in the Youtube as "motion comics" by Nathan S - full cast audiobooks + comics with animation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybb5i...
January 1, 2021
This was a rushed ending to the series; I cannot help but wonder if it was supposed to be longer (six issues, like the prior two series) but the second storyline faired so poorly this was cut to two issues and ended the storyline. The entire Dark Empire run was supposed to occur between Zahn's Thrawn trilogy and the Jedi Academy trilogy; it seems like more of these stories were used in the Jedi Academy series than this series used from Zahn's story. In some ways, the artwork is a step above that of the first two series: the characters more closely resemble their film counterparts and it has more color than the first two series had. The character development is meh, the story is meh, and the ending is meh. It was a disappointing end, and they probably never should have brought Palpatine back (granted, they are bringing him back for the ninth movie, so there you go - probably another bad idea, but we'll see).
Palpatine was wasted as a villain in this series. He never really comes across as menacing or in complete control. He comes across as weak and spineless and constantly making threats he cannot keep. Despite being steeped in the Dark Side of the Force for years, he is easily defeated by weaker Jedi on a consistent basis. Whereas he was somebody to be feared in the original trilogy, he is reduced to being a has-been and fairly easily defeated (in the end).
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It was a bit of a disappointing end to a series that started out strong when it was first released and then immediately faltered by the third or fourth issue of the first arc. I wish two things: that it had finished stronger than it did, and that it had more of an impact upon the novels that were written. Continuity can be a wonderful thing, at times. In any case, it was fun to revisit this series that I had enjoyed, for the most part, when it was first released.
Palpatine was wasted as a villain in this series. He never really comes across as menacing or in complete control. He comes across as weak and spineless and constantly making threats he cannot keep. Despite being steeped in the Dark Side of the Force for years, he is easily defeated by weaker Jedi on a consistent basis. Whereas he was somebody to be feared in the original trilogy, he is reduced to being a has-been and fairly easily defeated (in the end).
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It was a bit of a disappointing end to a series that started out strong when it was first released and then immediately faltered by the third or fourth issue of the first arc. I wish two things: that it had finished stronger than it did, and that it had more of an impact upon the novels that were written. Continuity can be a wonderful thing, at times. In any case, it was fun to revisit this series that I had enjoyed, for the most part, when it was first released.
April 22, 2023
This two issue miniseries finale to the Dark Empire books felt like an apology letter to Star Wars fans for the previous two series. This wasn’t the worst thing I read, but I still wouldn’t say I enjoyed it.
December 13, 2024
not palpatine being murdered by han...
July 8, 2021
Star Wars: Empire's End marks the conclusion of Tom Veitch's Dark Empire trilogy, and is ostensibly an attempt to bridge the gap between the end of Star Wars: Dark Empire II and Kevin J. Anderson's Jedi Search. The story, here illustrated by Jim Baikie instead of Cam Kennedy, is sloppily rushed, offering a messy conclusion that leaves several questions yet unanswered.
The sloppy story, though, is really not all that surprising, given how messy and incoherent the previous installment to the trilogy is. Veitch's ideas seem to run virtually dry here, with the story's conclusion playing out virtually the same way as in Star Wars: Dark Empire. None of the characters are very well-written, the stakes for the galaxy feel tired by now, and the series on the whole feels exhausting.
The lack of Cam Kennedy's art also hurts this condensed conclusion. Baikie is not a bad illustrator by any means, but his illustrations don't have the same style or energy. Without the mean punk visuals, the story feels like poorly constructed fan fiction; it is mostly soulless, all function without significant style. Even the larger splash panels can't quite live up to the level of intricate detail and energy of Kennedy's layouts.
Veitch's trilogy isn't strictly all bad, but I think its principal mistake was making the story a trilogy instead of a single 6-issue miniseries. Dark Horse's efforts to recapture the magic and success of the first miniseries may have been well-intentioned, but the story ends up going nowhere and only serves as a reminder that sometimes a sequel really isn't necessary.
The sloppy story, though, is really not all that surprising, given how messy and incoherent the previous installment to the trilogy is. Veitch's ideas seem to run virtually dry here, with the story's conclusion playing out virtually the same way as in Star Wars: Dark Empire. None of the characters are very well-written, the stakes for the galaxy feel tired by now, and the series on the whole feels exhausting.
The lack of Cam Kennedy's art also hurts this condensed conclusion. Baikie is not a bad illustrator by any means, but his illustrations don't have the same style or energy. Without the mean punk visuals, the story feels like poorly constructed fan fiction; it is mostly soulless, all function without significant style. Even the larger splash panels can't quite live up to the level of intricate detail and energy of Kennedy's layouts.
Veitch's trilogy isn't strictly all bad, but I think its principal mistake was making the story a trilogy instead of a single 6-issue miniseries. Dark Horse's efforts to recapture the magic and success of the first miniseries may have been well-intentioned, but the story ends up going nowhere and only serves as a reminder that sometimes a sequel really isn't necessary.
February 28, 2025
This is the third comic series on my read-through of every Star Wars Legends book/comic.
I'll say this: the story of this little two-issue series is significantly more coherent than Dark Empire II. I actually understood what was going on and what the stakes were. The execution was rushed and the overall product is insubstantial, but it was an actual story, not a series of images. So, small victories.
The art, while not terrible, is at a weird midpoint between the stylized art of Dark Empire I+II and standard overly colorful 90s comic book art. The result feels...childish and a little indistinct. So it can't just fall back on its art to redeem it, as the last two series did.
The story, like I said, has good elements. Although the Emperor coming back was always a bit of a spit in the face to the themes of the original trilogy, Palpatine's ultimate demise in this series was actually fairly fitting -- just as sad and pathetic as you'd hope, even if the actual mechanics of it were convoluted.
This series leans a lot on pseudo-magic mumbo-jumbo and also has a lot of pseudo-tribal motifs. I know the author is borrowing elements from his Tales of the Jedi, but they feel so anachronistic here. I know people complain that it feels like the technology of the Star Wars universe doesn't advance enough, but this is the opposite problem, where you have pockets of weirdly low technology (a complaint I'd level against Dark Empire II as well).
And that's about all I muster in regards to this comic. I guarantee I am not going to remember reading this in a week. 4.5/10.
I'll say this: the story of this little two-issue series is significantly more coherent than Dark Empire II. I actually understood what was going on and what the stakes were. The execution was rushed and the overall product is insubstantial, but it was an actual story, not a series of images. So, small victories.
The art, while not terrible, is at a weird midpoint between the stylized art of Dark Empire I+II and standard overly colorful 90s comic book art. The result feels...childish and a little indistinct. So it can't just fall back on its art to redeem it, as the last two series did.
The story, like I said, has good elements. Although the Emperor coming back was always a bit of a spit in the face to the themes of the original trilogy, Palpatine's ultimate demise in this series was actually fairly fitting -- just as sad and pathetic as you'd hope, even if the actual mechanics of it were convoluted.
This series leans a lot on pseudo-magic mumbo-jumbo and also has a lot of pseudo-tribal motifs. I know the author is borrowing elements from his Tales of the Jedi, but they feel so anachronistic here. I know people complain that it feels like the technology of the Star Wars universe doesn't advance enough, but this is the opposite problem, where you have pockets of weirdly low technology (a complaint I'd level against Dark Empire II as well).
And that's about all I muster in regards to this comic. I guarantee I am not going to remember reading this in a week. 4.5/10.
January 1, 2026
honestly, as far as palpatine resurrecting himself is concerned, the rise of skywalker does a far better job than both, dark empire and empire’s end. in these comics, he is able to jump from one clone body to another with relative ease which i find really odd because cloning a force sensitive individual shouldn’t be that easy.
the sequels handle this way better with three clones of sidious — snoke, who is force sensitive but severely deformed, dathan — palpatine’s ‘son’ — didn’t possess the force and lastly, the main clone that we see in the film, which does have the force and it’s tremendous power, but is still malformed like snoke was.
yet, the emperor is given his due as villain, he is far more powerful in ep. ix — capable of draining the life force from rey and ben (who weren’t a pair of normal jedi, they were a dyad). in canon, palpatine was smarter, biding his time and turning vader’s grandson into his pawn, controlling not one, but two powerful fleets — the first and the final order. it took the combined effort of all the jedi to defeat him.
there is also great build up to palpatine’s contingency plan in the bad batch and mandalorian which is absent here.
the rise of skywalker, makes palpatine a more terrifying villain and while is far from the best star wars story (or the best among the sequels) takes the good elements of these three comics and delivers a far better story.
3.5 🌟
the sequels handle this way better with three clones of sidious — snoke, who is force sensitive but severely deformed, dathan — palpatine’s ‘son’ — didn’t possess the force and lastly, the main clone that we see in the film, which does have the force and it’s tremendous power, but is still malformed like snoke was.
yet, the emperor is given his due as villain, he is far more powerful in ep. ix — capable of draining the life force from rey and ben (who weren’t a pair of normal jedi, they were a dyad). in canon, palpatine was smarter, biding his time and turning vader’s grandson into his pawn, controlling not one, but two powerful fleets — the first and the final order. it took the combined effort of all the jedi to defeat him.
there is also great build up to palpatine’s contingency plan in the bad batch and mandalorian which is absent here.
the rise of skywalker, makes palpatine a more terrifying villain and while is far from the best star wars story (or the best among the sequels) takes the good elements of these three comics and delivers a far better story.
3.5 🌟
February 14, 2022
Again the plot is not all that great. Recycled ideas like bringing back the emperor, which they did TWICE in this comic series, and (like the Death Star 2) they made an Eclipse 2 after they destroyed the first one in Dark Empire 1. Even the idea of the “Galaxy Gun” is just another form of Death Star and frankly it feels like lazy story telling and paints the emperor as unimaginative and supremely arrogant to the point of comedic absurdity. They also show a row of what looks like WWII style tanks…again, no. To take inspiration is one thing, to copy and paste is lazy and breaks the illusion of being “in a galaxy far, far away…”
I will say the artwork is somewhat better from Baikie. It still follows the style set up in the previous 2 installments, though the line work seems more intentional and the color pallet is more dynamic. He uses a rainbow sort of gradient that while maybe doesn’t look “Star Wars” in the technical aspect, it does look certainly more interesting than Kennedy’s work.
I will say the artwork is somewhat better from Baikie. It still follows the style set up in the previous 2 installments, though the line work seems more intentional and the color pallet is more dynamic. He uses a rainbow sort of gradient that while maybe doesn’t look “Star Wars” in the technical aspect, it does look certainly more interesting than Kennedy’s work.
October 6, 2025
Куце продовження “Темної Імперії”, де знову живий Палпатін пуляється уберваффен-ракетами по повстанцях, забиває на ракети, намагається переселитися із слабкого тіла клона в Енакіна Скайв… Соло, але завдяки суцільній буфонаді програє. В коміксі є трішки класичної атмосфери ЗВ, але він виглядає дешево, бо зліплений нашвидкоруч, аби було. Після нього про Імператора в старому каноні можна забути, правда ж? Правда ж?! (стурбоване обличчя Падме).
Навіть порівняно з “Темною Імперією-2” це примітивно. А “Темна Імперія-2” вміла нагнати трешу.
Навіть порівняно з “Темною Імперією-2” це примітивно. А “Темна Імперія-2” вміла нагнати трешу.
December 16, 2019
This is really a 2-star effort but I am giving it an extra for two really great panels - one that accidentally foretells the fate of Han Solo, and one of just a sorceror screaming and gritting his teeth in a really classic horror expression, with some really banging coloring combining to create a single panel of eldritch beauty. Otherwise, it's on a level with the DH SW output of the time - unsatisfying but in a way that makes me want more. Like cigarettes!
June 13, 2024
Entertaining battles are not enough to save this lacklustre ending to the Dark Empire trilogy. It is wildly rushed, and ended in a very simple way that doesn't feel fitting for such a powerful villain. With just a little more space to breathe, this would be half decent, but the ending is relegated to a page of text, which is usually expected at the start of a Star Wars project!
November 18, 2016
Third verse barley better than the first... and the second. This one is saved by the fact that the fact that this plot could actually be a very cool way of showing the threat of what the other two were showing.
November 15, 2021
3.5, but I'll round to four. I liked the climax at the end, but I feel like it was a bit too short. I also wish Leia had gotten to do more. Did like seeing a tiny glimpse of the Solo kids! :) And Brand :(
January 30, 2023
As a boy, I remember buying with my allowance this comic at a second handstore..
They should have adapted this for television either its animated or continues after the original films. Better story, great characters and awesome suspense.
The illustrations is great too!
They should have adapted this for television either its animated or continues after the original films. Better story, great characters and awesome suspense.
The illustrations is great too!
July 4, 2017
This is a Good read, and it helps to fill in some important gaps, I must say that the comics from dark horse were very excellent, much better than the audio presentation.
August 14, 2018
The writing and the art quality steeply declined with this third entry in the Dark Empire trilogy. The first volume is great, but the subsequent two can be passed up.
February 17, 2020
Better than Dark Empire II.
April 26, 2022
A waste of time.
May 28, 2022
Not good, even compared to the first two.
October 9, 2023
The best part was when Han shot and killed the Emperor. Had me dying laughing, which was not what this book intended. Overall, the story felt weaker than the others especially because it was condensed into 2 issues. It just did not have the time to build up tension and make the whole payoff feel well earned.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2024
Like the second but worse haha. The art style changed for the worse...but the colors and textures look like they were done in colored pencil and look pretty sweet.
January 2, 2025
Not great - too rushed and no build to anything, no suspense
June 2, 2025
Just awful. I sincerely hope it's the bottom of the barrel of Star Wars content, but the fact it is so well-loved amongst the community makes me nervous.
March 29, 2026
honestly don't get why this has the reputation it has despite being truncated because the fanboys hated the project. i loved it!
December 18, 2020
A very odd conclusion for an otherwise incredible overall series. I’m guessing Veitch needed to tie up one giant loose end but I feel like another series of the same length would have done it better, this two issue volume just feels rushed and doesn’t have much to offer.
August 10, 2015
An unfitting end to a really good series.
The art I don't think was by the same guy, and the punch line of how old Bip Palpatine bought the farm is kind of stupid.
I include it in canon, because it ties the series up, but also quasi canon because it really could have ended better. If i'd known it would end like this, I would have said the emperor should have stayed dead at the end of ROTJ.
The art I don't think was by the same guy, and the punch line of how old Bip Palpatine bought the farm is kind of stupid.
I include it in canon, because it ties the series up, but also quasi canon because it really could have ended better. If i'd known it would end like this, I would have said the emperor should have stayed dead at the end of ROTJ.
April 10, 2014
wah-wah. the end. all in all, i enjoyed reading the star wars universe. i like most the ones set around the clone wars and episodes 1-3. i know that is kind of blasphemous, but jedi are way more interesting than the rebellion.
May 1, 2019
The story is interesting, but the art in this third volume doesn't live up to the other two (2009).
Read again in 2019, same conclusion.
Read again in 2019, same conclusion.
June 28, 2013
Not very good at all, except for the final fate of the Emperor. The cool, cyberpunk art is gone and is replaced with some sloppy imitation work. This whole trilogy wasn't very impressive.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews