Star Wars Empire Vol 1 Betrayal TP Darth Vader Emperor 1st print NM Dark Horse

Description

Star Wars: Empire, Vol. 1: Betrayal TP
by Scott Allie (Author), Ryan Benjamin (Artist), Curtis Arnold (Artist)

In the weeks before the events in Star Wars: A New Hope, as the Death Star is readied for its fateful first mission, a power-hungry cabal of Grand Mofs and Imperial Officers embark on a dangerous plan to kill Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader and seize control of the Empire!

When word that a “Jedi” has made an appearance on a backwater world lures Vader away from his master, the cabal makes its move. But even the galaxy isn’t enough of a prize to sate the ambitions of some of the conspirators, and before long the would-be assassins are turning on one another. Their plans are further complicated by the actions of bounty hunter Boba Fett. And, of course, they may have fatally underestimated the cunning of their primary target: Emperor Palpatine! This is the first in a new line of graphic novels set during the early days of the Rebellion, when the Empire controlled the galaxy!

Publisher Dark Horse
Paperback 104 pages

The premise is interesting – months before the first Death Star is completed a group of Imperial officers try to assassinate the Emperor and Vader.

The set-up is well done. We meet a mix of experienced officers and ambitious young turks out to end the ‘Sith theocracy’. The leader, Grand Moff Trachta, has bred stormtrooper clones loyal only to him, they’ve planned ahead, taken into account the Emperor’s ability to predict the future and have lured Vader away.

The Emperor is in power, but his grip is not yet secure. A cabal of senior Imperial Officers, mostly Moffs and a General or two, decide that perhaps it is time for a change at the top. Led by Moff Trachta they decide the Empire can not be led by Sith. They view it as an archaic religion and want to remove Palpatine and Vader whilst replacing them with a military officer or Moff.

Trachta’s plan calls for the use of clone troops that have been trained to be HIS stormtroopers. Knowing how difficult it is to try to kill the Emperor outright, not to mention the superb elite Royal Guardsmen that protect him and the presence of Lord Vader, he devises a complex plan of assassinating them both.

Vader is sent by the Emperor to find out why there are reports of a light-saber wielding killer of Imperial troops on a planet. Trachta’s plan calls for Vader to be killed on the planet which is peopled by pirates, mercenaries and bounty hunters. If that fails his “personal” detachment of Stromtroops are Trachta’s Clones.

Meanwhile using a fake assassination explosion he kills off half the Royal Guard and then replaces them with his Stormtroops as a “temporary security measure”. Once this is done the trap is sprung! Or so says the fool who has never tried to play these games with Sith Lords.

What follows is a great Imperial story. Full of betrayal and violence it not only shows the true nature of the Empire, but the truly astounding abilities of Vader and Palpatine. There are amazing scenes of Vader and Palpatine showing just why it takes Jedi to kill Sith. Perhaps some of the best scenes are Vader in the marketplace versus a score of freelancers and the wickedly satisfying conclusion to the “trap” sprung on the Emperor.

Intelligently written, action packed, beautifully illustrated, complex plot and a satisfying ending make this one of the best Star Wars volumes out there. If you’re a fan of the Empire or the Sith (who isn’t?) you’re doing yourself a disservice by not reading this book. Highly recommend.

Collects Star Wars Empire 1-4. Near mint, 1st print.