A comic preview is usually published before the release of a particular series or an upcoming trade paperback that collects individual issues. Sometimes a preview can be released to coincide with an event to draw attention to an older publication that might be peripherally related. None of these appear to be the case for the Star Wars: Dark Empire Preview published by Dark Horse in March 1996. The original 6-issue mini-series started publication in December 1991 and the first edition of the trade paperback was released in May 1993. The preview was also not timed to be released with either of the sequel mini-series. Dark Empire II #1 was released in December 1994 and the trade paperback followed in September 1995. Empire's End #1 was published in October 1995 with the trade paperback appearing in September 1997. Hasbro includes 4 action figures based on the Dark Empire title in their Expanded Universe sub-line but those were not released until 1998. Was the preview published to coincide with the release of the Dark Empire II hardcover the same month?
The entire comic, including the cover, is printed on newsprint. It is priced at $0.99 and has the same cover artwork as Dark Empire #1.
Star Wars: Dark Empire Preview a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (March 1996)
Regardless of why Dark Horse publishing this preview when they did, when it came out, the trade paperback was on it's 2nd edition. The trade paperback was clearly a good seller for Dark Horse and a 3rd edition was released in 2003.
Despite Star Wars being released on May 25th, 1977, May 4th has become known as Star Wars Day because of the catchy "May the Fourth be with you" pun. The phrase was first used on May 4, 1979 in an ad in London's The Evening News celebrating Margaret Thatcher's first day in office. It is now widely celebrated as an unofficial holiday and many retailers and licensees use this day to sell Star Wars related merchandise.
Marvel released a preview comic on May 4th, 2019. This comic contains 3 - 5 page previews of several titles in Marvel's Star Wars line including: Galaxy's Edge, Age of Rebellion - Boba Fett, and TIE Fighter. It also contains many ads for other Star Wars titles and interviews with Ethan Sacks, Greg Pak, Simon Spurrier, and Kieron Gillen. The standard cover uses the same artwork as the Princess Leia - Age of Rebellion #1 variant cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Elia Bonetti.
Star Wars May the 4th Previews a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (May 2019)
Wonderworld Comics also has an exclusive edition they distributed several weeks earlier at Star Wars Celebration 2019 in Chicago, Illinois from April 11 through April 15. The artwork for the exclusive cover is the same used on the Age of Rebellion - Jabba the Hutt #1 variant cover by Gerald Parel.
Star Wars May the 4th Previews b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (May 2019) Wonderworld Comics exclusive
The Empire Strikes Back Weekly #135 contains the last part of The Empire Strikes Back adaptation from Marvel. I love that Luke Skywalker is having an even worse day than was shown in the movie on this British cover. Apparently Darth Vader not only took his hand, but also broke his arm. And to make matters worse, instead of landing on a sturdy weather vane underneath Cloud City, Luke lands on a weather vane that breaks, sending him plummeting towards the surface of Bespin!The Empire Strikes Back Weekly #135a - Marvel Comics, England (September 24, 1980) last third of Star Wars #44
Dark Horse released seven Boba Fett one-shots between December 1995 and April 2006. None are as dark or satisfying as Boba Fett - Agent of Doom published in November 2000.
Written by John Ostrander with art by Cam Kennedy, the story opens with one of the few surviving Gulmarid, Brighteyes, telling Boba Fett how his species from the planet Gulma were forced onto the ship Azgoghk by the Empire a few months before the Battle of Endor. Onboard his people were either killed or forced to work for the Empire under appalling conditions. Their captors, Admiral Mir Tork and doctor Leonis Murthé, are loathsome characters. "Tork was committed to the Emperor's vision of cleansing the galaxy of all but humans." and "Murthé kept his laboratories going day and night, finding new means to make beings die..." The Rebel Alliance save a few Gulmarid when they force the Azgoghk to land, but Tork and Murthé escape. The survivors are dying and want to hire Boba Fett to avenge the genocide of their species. Fett argues the two were just obeying orders, but Brighteyes explains that the two have since retaken the Azgoghk along with slavers and continue to kill non-human species. Brighteyes offers Fett a meager one hundred credits and also explains no other bounty hunter wants the difficult job. Boba Fett's reputation is damaged due to the Sarlaac incident on Tatooine as well as Han Solo escaping him several times so he agrees to take the job to restore his name.
Back on the Azgoghk, Captain Tork and Murthé are seen torturing and killing. Murthé explains he "gave up any pretense at science a long time ago" and does the killings "for simple pleasure." Tork replies: "Doesn't matter to me so long as they wind up dead." The ship is landing on the planet Malicar 3 when Fett shoots it with an Ion Cannon, destroying one of the engines. Fett radios to the ship that he just wants Tork and Murthé and everyone else can leave. He then fights his way aboard, killing many slavers and freeing some prisoners. When Murthé confronts him, Fett lights him on fire and walks away while Murthé begs for Fett to kill him. Fett guns down Tork and is attacked by the still burning Murthé who Fett then dispatches. Outside the ship, Fett tells the escaped prisoners his name is Boba Fett. He then brings the heads of Tork and Murthe to Brighteyes who says he does not need the proof because "after all... you are... Boba Fett... Yes, you are."
Star Wars: Boba Fett - Agent of Doom a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (November 2000)
Boba Fett - Agent of Doom is a Western revenge story. Boba Fett is the lone cowboy and Tork and Murthé are the corrupt sheriffs. Fett telegraphs that he is coming and takes down the bad guys in a climatic shootout.
This is an extremely dark Star Wars tale. The Azgoghk is depicted as a Nazi concentration camp with Mir Tork acting as the commandant and Murthé as the Nazi scientist performing inhumane experiments on his captives. At one point in the story, Brighteyes mentions that Tork would occasionally kill a group of prisoners himself for no apparent reason. Ostrander and Kennedy do such a good job painting Tork and Murthé as despicable villains, you find yourself cheering when Boba Fett kills them towards the end.
In Star Wars #33, Baron Orman Tagge and his brother, Silas Tagge, are heading to a meeting with their younger brother and Imperial officer, Ulric Tagge, when Silas mentions another member of the family:
Silas Tagge:A veritable family reunion, Orman. Pity our dear list sister doesn't have a role in our scheme. Orman Tagge:Silas, your banter is not to extend to her. Ever. Be content that this meeting should spell doom for the Rebel Alliance.
While not mentioned by name, Silas is referring to their sister, Domina Tagge, who would appear two issues later in Star Wars #35.
Star Wars #33a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (March 1980) newsstand 1st mention of Domina TaggeStar Wars #33b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (March 1980) direct 1st mention of Domina Tagge
Star Wars #35 follows the defeat of the House of Tagge's plan to use the Omega Frost weapon to destroy the Rebel Fleet. The story, Dark Lord's Gambit, opens with Darth Vader learning Luke Skywalker's name. He then meets with Ulric Tagge and reveals he has recovered Orman and Silas Tagge unconscious but alive. Ulric is next in line to be Baron and Darth Vader tells him if he cooperates, he will not revive his older brothers. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker is on patrol with Blue Squadron when they come across a ship being attacked by Imperial TIE Fighters. The patrol chases off the TIE Fighters and escort the ship to the Rebel base on Yavin VI. On the ship is Sister Domina, priestess in the Order of the Sacred Circle from the planet Monastery. The Order of the Sacred Circle has a large following throughout the galaxy and she wants the Rebellion to send an envoy to Monastery to present their side before making a decision to side with the Empire or the Rebel Alliance in the galactic conflict. Upon hearing that the Imperial envoy is Darth Vader, Luke insists he is sent on the mission and Domina favors this choice. The Rebel council agrees to send Luke who escorts Sister Domina back to Monastery. On the planet's surface, Luke and Domina are attacked by a Nightshrike which Luke slays as Darth Vader appears. Luke barely controls his anger as Vader taunts him for his inexperience as a diplomat. As Luke questions his being there, Domina assures him "In all the Rebel Alliance, only you can fulfill what must be done here. I know this... as a priestess... as a woman!" Darth Vader's true intentions and Domina's family are revealed on the final page:
Domina Tagge:You used the force to make that Nightshrike attack, Lord Vader... It will impress the more superstitious of our followers. But weren't you afraid young Skywalker would expose it...? My instincts as a priestess tell me he, too, is familiar with the Force. Darth Vader:True. But he is still a novice. Worse yet... he is a romantic. Your overtures to him play on that... It confuses his thoughts and ultimately his abilities. Domina Tagge:Strange. My family placed me in the order so I could maintain my innocence... be free of the Galactic Empire's many intrigues. Yet here I am, deep in an intruge of my own... ready to betray the order. Darth VaderTo avenge the death of two brothers... including the one you loved most. Such desires often overwhelm everything else-- --particularly in a long, proud line like yours. Domina Tagge:Yes. Why else would i have allied myself with the man my brother, Baron Tagge, hated? But for all you did against Orman, you weren't responsible for his death... Luke Skywalker was!
Darth Vader's devious corruption of the youngest Tagge family member shows just how sinister he can be. Orman wanted to keep her innocent, so naturally Darth Vader taints her to get revenge on the House of Tagge for their ambitions to gain the Emperor's favor! Now that is evil!
Domina Tagge is the first of many red haired females Luke would be romantically attracted to.
Star Wars #35a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (May 1980) newsstand 1st appearance of Domina TaggeStar Wars #35b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (May 1980) direct 1st appearance of Domina Tagge
Domina Tagge has her first and only cover appearance in the following issue. The cover depicts the scene from the story where Luke kills a creature which appears to attack Domina. Red Queen Rising! is a fitting title for the story. It shows Domina gain the title of All-High Priestess as she announce the Order of the Sacred Circle will not side with the Rebel Alliance. Instead she proclaims that Darth Vader and Luke will duel in the Crystal Valley at sundown which was not part of Darth Vader's plan. It turns out that she has been scheming to eliminate two House of Tagge rivals, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader!
Star Wars #36a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (June 1980) newsstand 1st cover appearance of Domina TaggeStar Wars #36b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (June 1980) direct 1st cover appearance of Domina Tagge
Domina Tagge only appears in two more issues during the original Marvel run, in Star Wars #37 and #50. She also appears in Star Wars #108 which was published by Marvel in 2019. Set in the legend's continuity, issue #108 is a followup to the story published in Star Wars #50 way back in 1981.
Terry Dodson provides the artwork for the Mile High Comics exclusive covers for Star Wars #20 - 23. His earliest Star Wars work was penciling the interior pages for the Star Wars: Dark Force Rising mini-series from Dark Horse Comics. He also produced the artwork for the Princess Leia mini-series and other variant covers for Marvel's Star Wars line.
For these exclusive covers he depicts 4 different Imperial soldiers: a Sandtrooper, a TIE Fighter Pilot, a Scout Trooper, and a Snowtrooper. These four troopers, along with an AT-AT Driver, are my favorite Imperials visually and Dodson does a stellar job here. Each soldier is accompanied by a background showing them in their element.
Star Wars #20d - Marvel Comics, U.S. (June 2016) Mile High Comics exclusiveStar Wars #21d - Marvel Comics, U.S. (July 2016) Mile High Comics exclusiveStar Wars #22d - Marvel Comics, U.S. (August 2016) Mile High Comics exclusiveStar Wars #23e - Marvel Comics, U.S. (September 2016) Mile High Comics exclusive
Topps published Star Wars Galaxy Magazine quarterly from October 1994 to November 1997. Inside fans can find the latest news, interviews, and information about upcoming merchandise. Due to the magazine's emphasis on collectible merchandise including toys, trading cards, and comics, it ended with the 13th issue and was succeeded by the more appropriately titled Star Wars Galaxy Collector. Every issue contains a 8 page comic strip from Dark Horse.
The first issue contains a 8 page comic strip Droids - Artoo's Day Out. This strip is collected in the Droids - The Kalarba Adventures trade paperback.
Star Wars Galaxy Magazine #1a - Topps, U.S. (October 1994) contains 8 page Droids - Artoo's Day OutStar Wars: The Kalarba Adventures Harcover - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (June 1996)
Issues #2 - 4 feature standalone Tales from Mos Eisley strips: Hegg's Tale, Mostly Automatic, and Light Duty. These comics are collected in the Star Wars: Tales from Mos Eisley one-shot.
Star Wars Galaxy Magazine #2a - Topps, U.S. (January 1995) contains 8 page Tales from Mos Eisley - Hegg's TaleStar Wars Galaxy Magazine #3a - Topps, U.S. (April 1995) contains 8 page Tales from Mos Eisley - Mostly AutomaticStar Wars Galaxy Magazine #4a - Topps, U.S. (July 1995) contains 8 page Tales from Mos Eisley - Light DutyStar Wars: Tales From Mos Eisley a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (March 1996)
Issues #5 - 8 serialize the 4-part Boba Fett - Twin Engines of Destruction story. These are collected in the Star Wars: Boba Fett - Twin Engines of Destruction one-shot. Star Wars Galaxy Magazine #5a - Topps, U.S. (October 1995) contains 8 page Boba Fett - Twin Engines of DestructionStar Wars Galaxy Magazine #6a - Topps, U.S. (January 1996) contains 8 page Boba Fett - Twin Engines of DestructionStar Wars Galaxy Magazine #7a - Topps, U.S. (April 1996) contains 8 page Boba Fett - Twin Engines of DestructionStar Wars Galaxy Magazine #8a - Topps, U.S. (July 1996) contains 8 page Boba Fett - Twin Engines of DestructionStar Wars: Boba Fett - Twin Engines of Destruction a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (January 1997)
Issues #9 - 12 serialize the 4-part Shadow Stalker story. These are collected in the Star Wars: Shadow Stalker one-shot.
Star Wars Galaxy Magazine #9a - Topps, U.S. (October 1996) contains 8 page Shadow StalkerStar Wars Galaxy Magazine #10a - Topps, U.S. (January 1997) contains 8 page Shadow StalkerStar Wars Galaxy Magazine #11a - Topps, U.S. (May 1997) contains 8 page Shadow StalkerStar Wars Galaxy Magazine #12a - Topps, U.S. (August 1997) contains 8 page Shadow StalkerStar Wars: Shadow Stalker a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (November 1997)
The final issue in this title contains the first part of the 4-part The Jabba Tape story. That story is continued in the Star Wars Galaxy Collector magazine and is collected in the Star Wars: Jabba the Hutt - The Jabba Tape one-shot.
Star Wars Galaxy Magazine #13a - Topps, U.S. (November 1997) contains 8 page The Jabba TapeStar Wars: Jabba the Hutt - The Jabba Tape a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (December 1998)
