Star Wars: Crimson Empire III – Empire Lost #4
Written by Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley
Pencils by Paul Gulacy
Colors by Michael Bartolo
Cover Art by Dave Dorman
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: February 08, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

Now past the halfway mark, Star Wars: Crimson Empire III launches its acceleration to the incoming conclusion of the series. The fourth issue of Empire Lost finds Kir Kanos determined to stop the planned attack of Devian, warlord of a splinter element of the Imperial Remnant fixed on bringing both the New Republic and Grand Admiral Pellaeon’s Empire into his own demented grasp.

Empire Lost #4 kicks off in space, with a New Republic naval force under command of General Han Solo. We’re introduced to a subplot involving a character named Ndigo who is tasked with investigating the disappearance of the New Republic ship Endor, seen at the beginning of the first issue. Trailing this, Kir Kanos – surprisingly – ends up landing on Coruscant, surrendering to the authorities, and demanding to see Mirith Sinn to warn her of Devian’s impending attack.

Star Wars: Crimson Empire III – Empire Lost #3
Written by Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley
Pencils by Paul Gulacy
Colors by Michael Bartolo
Cover Art by Dave Dorman
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: December 28, 2011
Cover Price: $3.50

The ongoing Crimson Empire III saga continues, now in its third issue, opening with a surprise appearance by Han Solo – with a story that finally progresses with more action and decision by our main character, former Imperial Guard Kir Kanos, swept and maneuvered into actions that are (perhaps) beyond his control.

Following the previous issue, which was mildly disappointing due to the lack of Kanos, the third issue quickly rectifies this with a great deal of interaction with (and action taken by) our main character. Detained by Boba Fett and delivered into the hands of a rogue Imperial operation (unsanctioned by Admiral Pellaeon), Kanos discovers that the man in charge of the hidden base is a man called Devian.

Star Wars: Crimson Empire III-Empire Lost #2
Written by Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley
Pencils by Paul Gulacy
Colors by Michael Bartolo
Cover Art by Dave Dorman
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: November 30, 2011
Cover Price: $3.50

The Crimson Empire saga from the Expanded Star Wars Universe resumes with Issue #2, the second part of a six-part story entitled Empire Lost. In the previous issue, we learn where former Imperial Royal Guardsman Kir Kanos has been hiding, when Boba Fett brings him to secret Imperial headquarters. Meanwhile, Mirith Sinn, the New Republic operative from the previous Crimson Empire chapters, is now in charge of security for Chief of State Leia Organa Solo; while her brother Luke Skywalker senses a disturbance in the Force at his Jedi Academy on Yavin IV.

Star Wars: Dark Times: Out of the Wilderness #2
Written by Mick Harrison
Art by Douglas Wheatley
Colors Dan Jackson
Letters Michael Heisler
Cover by Pablo Correa
Dark Horse Comics
Release Dat: September 7, 2011
Cover Price: $2.99

One of the most original Star Wars comic titles in recent years is Dark Times. For those of you who haven’t read this series, let me lay down the background. The story takes place in the time period between the prequel Star Wars trilogy and the original Star Wars trilogy. The story of this book has Darth Vader trying to track down an assassin who killed a prisoner he was trying to interrogate about the location of former Jedi Knight Dass Jennir. Jennir’s former crew members are trying to find him with the help of another Jedi named Beyghor Sahdett, which leads them to attack an Imperial holding facility to find out where Jennir is, they find out Jennir has left the planet. When we see Jennir he has be stranded on a desert moon with a companion who is a lair and a cheat. But little do they know they are also being tracked by the same assassin who thwarted Vader.

Star Wars: Crimson Empire III-Empire Lost #1
Written by Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley
Pencils by Paul Gulacy
Colors by Michael Bartolo
Cover Art by Dave Dorman
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: October 26, 2011
Cover Price: $3.50

Being a Star Wars geek, the 1990s were a great time to be an Expanded Universe enthusiast. George Lucas had opened the gates to authors, writers, artists, and video game designers to assist in developing the canvas of the Star Wars saga beyond the span of the movies. There are several highlights from those years, and one of the titles that stand out from that time was the Crimson Empire comic book series.

Dark Horse Comics had taken a solid hold on the comic book front as far as Star Wars was concerned, and many fans believed that FINALLY the galaxy far, far away was at long last being treated with the serious outlook it deserved. While the novels paved forth a road for Luke Skywalker to resurrect the line of the Jedi Order, the comics complemented this, and in some cases, expanded past it.