Star Wars 30th Anniversary Collection Volume 7: Darklighter

The seventh volume in the Star Wars 30th Anniversary Collection from Dark Horse reprints two story arcs from the Star Wars: Empire title, the 4-part Darklighter and the 2-part The Short, Happy Life of Roons Sewell.  The volume takes its name from the 1st story arc.  Like the other volumes in this series, it has a matte black cover with the text in silver.  Framed in a silver box in the center of the cover is a portion of the cover art from Empire #12 featuring Biggs Darklighter.  This volume retailed for $19.95 and was limited to initial orders.

Star Wars 30th Anniversary Collection Volume 7: Darklighter
- Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (September 2007)

Darklighter is told in Empire #8, 9, 12, and 15 and is written by Paul Chadwick who is best known for his creator-owned character Concrete.  The art is provided by Doug Wheatley whose artwork is as gorgeous in this story as it is in the Star Wars: Dark Times series.  The tale fills in the events surrounding the time Biggs, Luke Skywalker's best friend from Tatooine, leaves for the academy until his tragic death in the fateful trench run on the Death Star.  In addition to turning Biggs into a hero, this story naturally intertwines with the events from the movie and many notable characters make an appearance, none more important than Hobbie Klivian who is initially despised by Biggs but quickly becomes one of Biggs's friends when they both defect from the Empire to the Rebellion.

If you have never read Darklighter, I highly recommend it.  It is one of the better story arcs published by Dark Horse.