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Star Wars: Empire #6
Star Wars: Empire, Vol. 6: In the Shadows of Their Fathers
Luke Skywalker confronts the legacy of the Jedi father he never knew in an epic story involving Princess Leia, Darth Vader, and the fate of an entire planet!
When Luke and Leia travel to Jabiim recruiting allies for the fledgling Rebellion, they unwittingly set into motion events that will ignite one man's betrayal of his people, pit rebel hero against rebel hero, and attract the attention of the Empire's deadliest enforcer-Darth Vader!
• This action-packed tale sheds new light on Anakin Skywalker's actions at the Battle of Jabiim during the Clone Wars.
When Luke and Leia travel to Jabiim recruiting allies for the fledgling Rebellion, they unwittingly set into motion events that will ignite one man's betrayal of his people, pit rebel hero against rebel hero, and attract the attention of the Empire's deadliest enforcer-Darth Vader!
• This action-packed tale sheds new light on Anakin Skywalker's actions at the Battle of Jabiim during the Clone Wars.
144 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2006
2 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Scott Allie
235 books21 followersScott Allie is an American comics writer and editor, best known as an editor and executive at Dark Horse Comics from 1994 to 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 20, 2021
Star Wars Legends Project #258
Background: In the Shadows of Their Fathers, released in October of 2006, collects issues #29-34 of Empire (February-August 2005). "In the Shadows of Their Fathers" (#29-30, 32-34) was written by Thomas Andrews (a pseudonym of Jeremy Barlow. The first four issues were drawn by Adriana Melo, and the last issue was drawn by Michel Lacombe. "The Price of Power" (#31) was written by Scott Allie with art by Joe Corroney. Barlow has Star Wars credits in the dozens, particularly when you include his work as an editor. Melo and Lacombe have both drawn several issues, mostly for Empire or Rebellion. Allie has only a few issues to his name, and Corroney, though he has drawn few other Star Wars comics, has done quite a bit of art for other Star Wars merchandise, notably trading cards.
In the Shadows of Their Fathers is set 8 months after the Battle of Yavin. The main characters are Luke and Leia, along with Darth Vader (and several flashbacks to Anakin Skywalker), Artoo, Wedge Antilles, and Hobbie Klivian. Most of the story takes place on Jabiim, aside from a brief interlude on Tiss'sharl.
Summary: The fight against an Empire-backed government on Jabiim is only the latest battle being waged by a resistance that stretches back decades to a conflict between Republic loyalists and Separatists. During the Clone Wars, a fateful decision made by Anakin Skywalker doomed the loyalists to this existence of perpetual struggle. Now, a prominent Jabiim leader, a man whose father was there the day Anakin abandoned the planet, has tentatively invited the Rebellion to a discussion of how they can help each other . . . and what strings might be attached to such an arrangement. Unfortunately, he has no idea that Luke Skywalker, the son of the biggest villain in recent history, will be with the delegation. And Luke has no idea that he's walking into the middle of an army bristling with a lifetime of resentment against his father.
Review: I hated the Jabiim storyline in Republic (you can read my full review here), so I really didn't know what to expect from an arc based so heavily on it. So to say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. This is one of my favorite things to see a Star Wars story do . . . Take some piece of canon that we're stuck with even though it was terrible and didn't work, and polish it or rework it or riff on it to create something amazing.
I remember vividly how annoyed I was by Anakin's actions at the Battle of Jabiim, and they've taken that emotion and not just affirmed it, but spun it into a whole cascading sequence of events. There's nothing more narratively satisfying in a long-running franchise, where so many elements are recycled and writers often lack the freedom to really change the status quo, to see a momentous event actually have consequences in the storytelling. And it's so well done here, with events and conversations full of genuine emotional weight. I never felt like I knew where the story was going or how it would turn out as it dug into juicy themes about whether it's possible to break cycles of bitterness and hatred that have been built up over a lifetime. I loved this glimpse of Luke, pre-Darth Vader's revelation, first wrestling with the possibility that his heroic father might have been a flawed individual after all.
In the midst of this multi-part story they've dropped a one-off where Darth Vader does some stuff with some raptor people. It probably suffered from the fact that it interrupts such a compelling main storyline . . . but honestly, it's halfway decent as well. They tie it in to the events happening in the other story in such a way that it almost feels like part of the same arc. And it's really nice, for once, to see a Darth Vader story where he does something that involves strategy, intelligence, and subtlety, rather than just crashing around swinging his lightsaber and Force-choking everyone.
So, all in all, a volume of Empire that is well worth your time and attention!
A-
Background: In the Shadows of Their Fathers, released in October of 2006, collects issues #29-34 of Empire (February-August 2005). "In the Shadows of Their Fathers" (#29-30, 32-34) was written by Thomas Andrews (a pseudonym of Jeremy Barlow. The first four issues were drawn by Adriana Melo, and the last issue was drawn by Michel Lacombe. "The Price of Power" (#31) was written by Scott Allie with art by Joe Corroney. Barlow has Star Wars credits in the dozens, particularly when you include his work as an editor. Melo and Lacombe have both drawn several issues, mostly for Empire or Rebellion. Allie has only a few issues to his name, and Corroney, though he has drawn few other Star Wars comics, has done quite a bit of art for other Star Wars merchandise, notably trading cards.
In the Shadows of Their Fathers is set 8 months after the Battle of Yavin. The main characters are Luke and Leia, along with Darth Vader (and several flashbacks to Anakin Skywalker), Artoo, Wedge Antilles, and Hobbie Klivian. Most of the story takes place on Jabiim, aside from a brief interlude on Tiss'sharl.
Summary: The fight against an Empire-backed government on Jabiim is only the latest battle being waged by a resistance that stretches back decades to a conflict between Republic loyalists and Separatists. During the Clone Wars, a fateful decision made by Anakin Skywalker doomed the loyalists to this existence of perpetual struggle. Now, a prominent Jabiim leader, a man whose father was there the day Anakin abandoned the planet, has tentatively invited the Rebellion to a discussion of how they can help each other . . . and what strings might be attached to such an arrangement. Unfortunately, he has no idea that Luke Skywalker, the son of the biggest villain in recent history, will be with the delegation. And Luke has no idea that he's walking into the middle of an army bristling with a lifetime of resentment against his father.
Review: I hated the Jabiim storyline in Republic (you can read my full review here), so I really didn't know what to expect from an arc based so heavily on it. So to say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. This is one of my favorite things to see a Star Wars story do . . . Take some piece of canon that we're stuck with even though it was terrible and didn't work, and polish it or rework it or riff on it to create something amazing.
I remember vividly how annoyed I was by Anakin's actions at the Battle of Jabiim, and they've taken that emotion and not just affirmed it, but spun it into a whole cascading sequence of events. There's nothing more narratively satisfying in a long-running franchise, where so many elements are recycled and writers often lack the freedom to really change the status quo, to see a momentous event actually have consequences in the storytelling. And it's so well done here, with events and conversations full of genuine emotional weight. I never felt like I knew where the story was going or how it would turn out as it dug into juicy themes about whether it's possible to break cycles of bitterness and hatred that have been built up over a lifetime. I loved this glimpse of Luke, pre-Darth Vader's revelation, first wrestling with the possibility that his heroic father might have been a flawed individual after all.
In the midst of this multi-part story they've dropped a one-off where Darth Vader does some stuff with some raptor people. It probably suffered from the fact that it interrupts such a compelling main storyline . . . but honestly, it's halfway decent as well. They tie it in to the events happening in the other story in such a way that it almost feels like part of the same arc. And it's really nice, for once, to see a Darth Vader story where he does something that involves strategy, intelligence, and subtlety, rather than just crashing around swinging his lightsaber and Force-choking everyone.
So, all in all, a volume of Empire that is well worth your time and attention!
A-
August 20, 2020
Please note that this comic series is now part of Legends, and is no longer canon within the Star Wars expanded universe.
This volume has two tales :
1) Political dinosaur aliens deal with the Empire, Vader and assassins - I enjoyed seeing aliens that were visually a bit more exciting than the the usual humanoid;
2) Vader hunts down the Rebels while the Rebels try to gain allies.
I really liked the repeating theme of this volume, of how history and the people who came before you cast shadows when you try to follow their footsteps. During this mission (set soon after Episode IV), Luke finds out that the people of the planet Jabiim remember Anakin Skywalker. There was also a quick juxtaposition of Luke and Leia that shows they are not so different: Leia can face a room of hostile people without missing a beat, while Luke does the same facing fighters in the sky.
Regarding the art, it was generally good, even if I thought the decision to put Leia in a skintight purple jumpsuit was really stupid. There were two panels in the second story where the quality of the art was less than expected: in one panel a character's head was just really wonky; and in the other the art seemed unfinished like they forgot to erase the pencil and ink the details. There was a noticeable artist change at the end of the second story that I also found a bit jarring. However, these minor issues did not prevent me from enjoying the volume.
On to the last volume!
This volume has two tales :
1) Political dinosaur aliens deal with the Empire, Vader and assassins - I enjoyed seeing aliens that were visually a bit more exciting than the the usual humanoid;
2) Vader hunts down the Rebels while the Rebels try to gain allies.
I really liked the repeating theme of this volume, of how history and the people who came before you cast shadows when you try to follow their footsteps. During this mission (set soon after Episode IV), Luke finds out that the people of the planet Jabiim remember Anakin Skywalker. There was also a quick juxtaposition of Luke and Leia that shows they are not so different: Leia can face a room of hostile people without missing a beat, while Luke does the same facing fighters in the sky.
Regarding the art, it was generally good, even if I thought the decision to put Leia in a skintight purple jumpsuit was really stupid. There were two panels in the second story where the quality of the art was less than expected: in one panel a character's head was just really wonky; and in the other the art seemed unfinished like they forgot to erase the pencil and ink the details. There was a noticeable artist change at the end of the second story that I also found a bit jarring. However, these minor issues did not prevent me from enjoying the volume.
On to the last volume!
April 16, 2019
Finally, a long-form story within these many Empire volumes! Five-ish issues are spent on Jabiim as Leia, Luke, and a host of nameless tag-a-longs bring Rebel support to the existing insurgency on the planet. Unfortunately, Luke's papa, ol' Anakin Skywalker, is none too popular with the locals, having abandoned the planet to the Separatists during the Clone Wars. Just as Luke's getting his clocked cleaned by angry rebels, the Empire arrives, guns a'blazin'. It's an exciting confluence of events that is generally well portrayed! More importantly, it's finally a storyline that has some heft, one that feels like it could leave a mark on our heroes.
There's also a back-up story about...lizard beings? Who bicker and politic with Darth Vader? It's best ignored and forgotten.
There's also a back-up story about...lizard beings? Who bicker and politic with Darth Vader? It's best ignored and forgotten.
May 20, 2024
The Jabiim arc in the Clone Wars era comics is one of my undisputed favourites and I'm delighted that a follow up emerged, showing the consequences of Anakin's actions - it was fascinating to see how they affected Luke many years later. I do think the story could have been a bit tighter, but it's still quite strong and sows the seeds for doubt in Luke because at the end he finds himself wondering what else Ben didn't tell him...
January 27, 2026
8/10:
It only took until issue #29 of this series to see a long-form story take place! It’s more about Luke Skywalker living in the shadow of his Anakin Skywalker’s legacy (his father), but it’s done in a way that’s very exciting and shows how the sins of Anakin impact both of his children as well as his future, villainous self: Darth Vader.
There’s only one more trade paperback in this series and I’m curious to see if this one will finally tell a story from the Empire’s perspective!
It only took until issue #29 of this series to see a long-form story take place! It’s more about Luke Skywalker living in the shadow of his Anakin Skywalker’s legacy (his father), but it’s done in a way that’s very exciting and shows how the sins of Anakin impact both of his children as well as his future, villainous self: Darth Vader.
There’s only one more trade paperback in this series and I’m curious to see if this one will finally tell a story from the Empire’s perspective!
April 24, 2021
I enjoyed this comic because it shows a different side of Anakin as well as of Luke.
August 27, 2018
It's a pretty decent mid-size mid-era mid-quality Dark Horse Star Wars affair, with slightly better than average storytelling from Scott Allie et. al. The art style, however, is on the wack side - I don't mind sketchy, but this just seems to have been done with haste being prioritized over quality. Also I'm not quite sure about Leia wearing a very long high pony that still extends below her waist; it doesn't seem particularly practical for things like riding a speeder on a dusty planetscape. That said, in certain panels, the likenesses are spectacularly good; in others they're terrible, and in some panels the characters don't even get any features even suggested on their faces. I'm not saying that's mandatory, but it can be done more gracefully than it's done here. Anyway, I've seen better and I've seen worse, and I don't begrudge the time I spent reading it.
June 27, 2010
This comics series is overall extremely disappointing. I enjoyed Darklighter, but the other stories have been drab dead ends, and the art work has been terrible. This volume of Empire does seem to fit in with the overall Star Wars EU story arc a bit better, but the art work is so poorly executed, I couldn't really care. The art is poor enough that characters are recognizable only by what they're wearing rather than their actual appearance - especially facial appearance. The story in this work had a lot of potential - emotional conflict, revisiting the past, living up to a reputation, or living down a reputation, and it was all dealt with in a supremely unsatisfying way.
August 2, 2012
Ths book with the story about Anakin Skywalker abandoning a planet during the clone wars to fight for itself leads his son Luke Skywalker to the planet to help the Rebels break free from the Empire however when Luke tells them his name he's in for a big suprise as they want to kill him. To make matters worse someone told the Empire Luke & Leia are there. The clutches of Darth Vader are making a effort to capture Luke & Leia and end the war.
May 14, 2018
The story isn't bad per se, but it is a case of having seen the prequels and knowing what Anakin was really like takes it down a notch. This particular story would have been better suited if it were written 20 years ago when there was still mystery around the character, then story could be its own thing instead of an okay sequel to a previous Anakin adventure.
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January 20, 2017I find it fascinating going into these stories and seeing how Anakin is still being portrayed and viewed by members of the alliance, and how his son views his father's legacy, even thinking him as some sort of hero.
August 16, 2011
We all have fathers right? Well some of us are from tube, but that counts too. Luke and Leia were on the mission and Lord Vader had his fun. I did not like this one too much. I simply survived it.
August 2, 2012
Interesting romp through the years between A New Hope and the Empire Strikes Back. Luke Skywalker must come to terms with what it means to be the son of Anakin Skywalker. Good read.
August 26, 2016
Moderately entertaining, but not enough to read the rest of the series.
October 11, 2023
3.5 stars.
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July 5, 2010SW empire v.6
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews