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Star Wars Legends Epic Collection #22
Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Empire Vol. 4
Collects Star Wars: Darth Vader And The Cry Of Shadows #1-5; Star Wars: Jabba The Hutt — The Gaar Suppoon Hit, The Hunger Of Princess Nampi, The Dynasty Trap And Betrayal; And Star Wars: Boba Fett — Enemy Of The Empire #1-4 — Plus Material From Star Wars Tales #7, #11-12, #15 And #18-20; Star Wars Visionaries Ogn; Dark Horse Presents Annual '99; And Free Comic Book Day 2012: Star Wars.
Bring on the bad guys! A former trooper, left for dead during the Clone Wars, hears word of a new, great warrior worthy of following: Darth Vader! But can he prove himself to the Dark Lord as a stormtrooper? Jabba the Hutt steals the spotlight in four stories of bartering, backstabbing and betrayal! And when Vader hires Boba Fett for an important job, will the bounty hunter end up an enemy of the Empire? Plus: Young Luke Skywalker goes on a walkabout, Han Solo and Chewbacca have a falling out, and more!
Bring on the bad guys! A former trooper, left for dead during the Clone Wars, hears word of a new, great warrior worthy of following: Darth Vader! But can he prove himself to the Dark Lord as a stormtrooper? Jabba the Hutt steals the spotlight in four stories of bartering, backstabbing and betrayal! And when Vader hires Boba Fett for an important job, will the bounty hunter end up an enemy of the Empire? Plus: Young Luke Skywalker goes on a walkabout, Han Solo and Chewbacca have a falling out, and more!
496 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 13, 2020
For the most part, this volume contains what made other Star Wars Legends Epic Collection books great: fun stories with great artwork set in a galaxy far, far away.
However, some of these stories fall flat due to poor artwork, lame attempts at humor, a bit of blood, hideous androids, immodestly dressed female humanoids, disgusting moments, etc. Especially surprising was a usage of the s-word; it hasn't been that long since that profanity wasn't allowed on network television.
So, like usual for a comic book omnibus, this was a mixed bag.
However, some of these stories fall flat due to poor artwork, lame attempts at humor, a bit of blood, hideous androids, immodestly dressed female humanoids, disgusting moments, etc. Especially surprising was a usage of the s-word; it hasn't been that long since that profanity wasn't allowed on network television.
So, like usual for a comic book omnibus, this was a mixed bag.
December 3, 2024
The biggest flaw of the epic collection series is their horrendous decision to include "tales" stories where they don't belong. The entire point of these collections is to put everything in order yet they constantly screw that up, and throw tales stories in every single issue for absolutely no reason at all, when they aren't a part of this timeline.
I'm not sure there's a better example than volume 4 of The Empire. You just went through the Dark Times series, and you follow that up with mostly stories that aren't a part of the time line?
The collection itself collects stories that (mostly) weren't meant to be taken seriously. The middle of "The Empire" era was not the place for them.
The stories themselves aren't great, but enjoyable enough. The collection? Highlights the flaws of the "Epic Collection" series. It reminds you that buying the original Omnibus collections is a better idea (if you can find them) more often than not.
I'm not sure there's a better example than volume 4 of The Empire. You just went through the Dark Times series, and you follow that up with mostly stories that aren't a part of the time line?
The collection itself collects stories that (mostly) weren't meant to be taken seriously. The middle of "The Empire" era was not the place for them.
The stories themselves aren't great, but enjoyable enough. The collection? Highlights the flaws of the "Epic Collection" series. It reminds you that buying the original Omnibus collections is a better idea (if you can find them) more often than not.
December 20, 2024
Star Wars: The Empire, Vol. 4 picks up where vol. 3 left off, continuing collecting story arcs and one-offs exploring the ride of the Galactic Empire up to the events of A New Hope.
There are a few decent arcs and single issues, though the collection is a mixed bag in terms of quality, making it an uneven read overall. The standout stories are undoubtedly “Darth Vader and the Cloak of Shadows” and “Boba Fett: Enemy of the Empire”.
The former delivers an atmospheric tale that captures Vader’s menacing presence and inner conflict, accompanied by some of the better artwork in the volume, all told from the POV of an ex-clone trooper who’s hatred towards the Jedi inevitably leads him to teaming up with Darth Vader. It’s a tight and compelling story that feels essential to both the post Clone War era and adding more depth to Vader’s mythos.
“Enemy of the Empire”, on the other hand, is an entertaining, albeit somewhat silly entry into this collection. Written by John Wagner and illustrated by Ian Gibson, both of Judge Dredd fame, and I was pretty excited to read it. Boba Fett’s ruthless efficiency is on full display, but the story leans heavily into outlandish elements that can take you out of the narrative. It’s fun, but it borders on parody at times…which, if you consider it, isn’t surprising considering its’ author and artist who excelled at these kind of stories with Dredd and 2000 A.D.
Unfortunately, the other arcs in the collection, like the lengthy Jabba 4-part miniseries, don’t maintain the same level of engagement. The artwork is inconsistent, with some sections feeling rushed or lacking the polish expected from a Star Wars comic. While never outright terrible like apt of the new canon stuff Marvel keeps churning out, the stories, a lot of them fail to deliver the depth or excitement that fans might hope for.
In the end, The Empire, Vol. 4 is a decent read for diehard fans, but it lacks the consistency to make it a must-have. If you’re a fan of Darth Vader or Boba Fett, their stories here are worth checking out, but the rest are just ok.
There are a few decent arcs and single issues, though the collection is a mixed bag in terms of quality, making it an uneven read overall. The standout stories are undoubtedly “Darth Vader and the Cloak of Shadows” and “Boba Fett: Enemy of the Empire”.
The former delivers an atmospheric tale that captures Vader’s menacing presence and inner conflict, accompanied by some of the better artwork in the volume, all told from the POV of an ex-clone trooper who’s hatred towards the Jedi inevitably leads him to teaming up with Darth Vader. It’s a tight and compelling story that feels essential to both the post Clone War era and adding more depth to Vader’s mythos.
“Enemy of the Empire”, on the other hand, is an entertaining, albeit somewhat silly entry into this collection. Written by John Wagner and illustrated by Ian Gibson, both of Judge Dredd fame, and I was pretty excited to read it. Boba Fett’s ruthless efficiency is on full display, but the story leans heavily into outlandish elements that can take you out of the narrative. It’s fun, but it borders on parody at times…which, if you consider it, isn’t surprising considering its’ author and artist who excelled at these kind of stories with Dredd and 2000 A.D.
Unfortunately, the other arcs in the collection, like the lengthy Jabba 4-part miniseries, don’t maintain the same level of engagement. The artwork is inconsistent, with some sections feeling rushed or lacking the polish expected from a Star Wars comic. While never outright terrible like apt of the new canon stuff Marvel keeps churning out, the stories, a lot of them fail to deliver the depth or excitement that fans might hope for.
In the end, The Empire, Vol. 4 is a decent read for diehard fans, but it lacks the consistency to make it a must-have. If you’re a fan of Darth Vader or Boba Fett, their stories here are worth checking out, but the rest are just ok.
July 16, 2018
The Star Wars Legends: The Empire series has consistently been my favorite of the Star Wars legends, until volume 4....
Honestly, volume 3 tied up the storylines perfectly, so I didn't think there would be a 4, and apparently there shouldn't have been.
This volume isn't a series of linked or even coherent stories. The only central line is the time period.
The beginning is interesting enough, telling the story of a clone survivor who joins up with the storm troopers, but has a penchant to individualism.
Everything after this arc is not great though. There is an awful young luke skywalker arc, young as in 6 years old (BLEH), and some very Boba Fett centered stories.
Honestly this was a huge disappointment. Unless you want to read more about Bobba Fett (which I don't want to) then pass on this volume.
Honestly, volume 3 tied up the storylines perfectly, so I didn't think there would be a 4, and apparently there shouldn't have been.
This volume isn't a series of linked or even coherent stories. The only central line is the time period.
The beginning is interesting enough, telling the story of a clone survivor who joins up with the storm troopers, but has a penchant to individualism.
Everything after this arc is not great though. There is an awful young luke skywalker arc, young as in 6 years old (BLEH), and some very Boba Fett centered stories.
Honestly this was a huge disappointment. Unless you want to read more about Bobba Fett (which I don't want to) then pass on this volume.
July 20, 2026
This was a pretty rough epic collection. Very few of the comics did I enjoy. The majority of them either had a weak story or weak art.
Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows was the best of the bunch. I really enjoyed the story of the clone in it, though I wonder why they decided to name the comic after Vader when he really is in a small portion of the comic.
The Jabba comics are okay. I liked how they schowcased Jabba's cunning, something we really don't get to see much of despite characters always talking about how clever and powerful Hutts are. The issues are a product of their time in the 90s though, and the artwork didn't hold up for me.
The Tales issues were mostly lame. I've never been much of a lover of the Tales comics anyhow.
Boba Fett: Enemy of the Empire was a disappointment.
Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows was the best of the bunch. I really enjoyed the story of the clone in it, though I wonder why they decided to name the comic after Vader when he really is in a small portion of the comic.
The Jabba comics are okay. I liked how they schowcased Jabba's cunning, something we really don't get to see much of despite characters always talking about how clever and powerful Hutts are. The issues are a product of their time in the 90s though, and the artwork didn't hold up for me.
The Tales issues were mostly lame. I've never been much of a lover of the Tales comics anyhow.
Boba Fett: Enemy of the Empire was a disappointment.
July 6, 2021
I really enjoyed every page of it. I've read the first three books in a couple of days, and started this, but after the first five part story I wanted to put the book down because the next stories are short stories and whatnot. I think that first story belongs to the previous book. But after resting it a bit, (or a lot actually) I picked up the book again, fresh, and I really liked the short stories, the artwork, everything. This is my first series from the epic line to read, but still. Now I have to get the remaining to books of the series.
December 28, 2019
Very disappointing
This book is very disappointing compared to the previous 3 books of the series the main story finishes and the short stories are a real let down and the artwork is absolutely appalling in my opinion not worth the money if you ask me
This book is very disappointing compared to the previous 3 books of the series the main story finishes and the short stories are a real let down and the artwork is absolutely appalling in my opinion not worth the money if you ask me
September 6, 2020
This volume gets a lot of hate from people who enjoyed the dark times series collected in earlier volumes, but there are so many gems in this, tons of indie artists and writers show up and take a shot at some really fun characters.
January 20, 2022
Well...yeah this a weak link in the Empire run. Not surprising, given all the Tales and Jabba stuff at this point in the timeline.
2/5 A couple of fun stories, but feel free to skip or skim, if you're not obsessed with reading everything.
2/5 A couple of fun stories, but feel free to skip or skim, if you're not obsessed with reading everything.
May 1, 2025
Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadow is a 5* story easily - interesting concept and themes, good story, great art. Everything else in this volume is deeply mediocre (even the stories with Boba Fett, which was super disappointing).
November 9, 2020
eh, it was ok.
July 13, 2022
Worth it for the Jim Woodring Jabba stories alone.
October 30, 2023
Particularly enjoyed the Jabba the Hutt stories and the “Cry of Shadows” storyline, with a few memorable shorter stories in between, but much of it felt like bad Boba Fett fan-fiction.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews