Taking place at the height of the Galactic Civil War, Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Rebellion Vol. 6 plunges readers into some fan-favorite confrontations between the Empire, the Rebellion, and the galaxy’s most ruthless criminals, bringing some well-known Expanded Universe storylines from the 1990s to the hands of modern readers. While the Shadows of the Empire issues don’t feel as strong as it did when first published, this collection of stories still offers a diversity in tone and approach to telling a Star Wars tale.
Collecting Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire #1-6, The Bounty Hunters — Scoundrel’s Wages #1, Return of the Jedi #1-2, Tales from Mos Eisley #1, Tag & Bink II #1, Sergio Aragones Stomps Star Wars #1, and Shadows of the Empire Minicomic #1-2 — plus material from Star Wars Kids, Star Wars Visionaries, and a selection of Star Wars Tales, there is an eclectic assortment comics in these pages. Best of all, the serious Star Wars issues are mixed with some of the line’s more off-kilter storylines.
Marvel Comics
Plot wise, this Epic Collection finds the Rebellion facing a critical moment, balancing on the edge of victory or disaster as they search for allies to oppose the Empire while confronting crime lords Prince Xizor and Jabba the Hutt. Lando Calrissian enlists Dash Rendar to rescue Han Solo from Boba Fett. We also jump ahead to see Lando, Luke, Leia, and Chewbacca fighting to destroy the Death Star and defeat Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine.
I still have a soft spot for the Shadows of the Empire era of Star Wars, and while the miniseries has fun moments, it simply doesn’t stand up to the novel. This comic adaptation essentially condenses Perry’s novel but introduces some differences, like altered dialogue timing and scenes that happen earlier or later than in the book. Kilian Plunkett and John Nadeau’s artwork reflects the Dark Horse style from the time, and the real standout is Hugh Fleming’s movie-poster-like covers. It does a fine job filling in the lore between Empire and Return of the Jedi, but ultimately doesn’t add much of great importance or provide new insight to these characters.
Marvel Comics
The Tales from Mos Eisley issue also suffers from the same problem as Shadows of the Empire: there is a longer, superior version in the form of a novel. The novel might be peak lore-creation within the Expanded Universe, with multiple authors providing backstories to creatures that received a few seconds of screentime in the first film. I read it multiple times in the ’90s, but it’s the spitting image of a book intended only for the most committed fans. The comic published here is fine, adding some detail to the “wretched hive of scum and villainy.”
Surprisingly, it’s the comedic issues within this trade that I found the most enjoyable. Tag & Bink, the followup to the satirical Rosencrantz and Guildenstern-inspired figures, and the Sergio Aragones Stomps Star Wars, were both charming and entertaining. Obviously, these were out of canon even during this era, but they provide an alternate take on the Star Wars ethos that is appreciated. As a Max Rebo fan, I loved Dave Cooper’s issue that found the blue elephant’s vehicle (along with all their musical gear) stolen by a Jawa. These are fun issues that let creators take a stab at telling different types of stories in the galaxy, far, far away.
There are ample supplementals, which is always appreciated, bookending another fine collection of Star Wars comics from the mid-1990s. These storylines collected in Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Rebellion Vol. 6 may no longer fit into the official canon, but that doesn’t mean they don’t help bring character and depth to the overall fandom. For new fans, just being able to experience Shadows of the Empire and see what enthusiasts were reading before the release of the prequels justifies a purchase.
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