Greg Goldstein's Comic Art Gallery

Tag: Dark Empire

Cam Kennedy — Star Wars, Expanded

Original Art and The Artists

Star Wars: Dark Empire II #1, December 1994

Hey Disney — if you had simply adapted and updated material from the Thrawn Trilogy (“Heir to The Empire.”) by Timothy Zahn, and the Dark Empire Trilogy (Tom Vetch) you would have had a sequel film series that people would still be talking about — favorably.

The Star Wars expanded universe was on fire in the early 90s, and these Dark Empire comics are among the standouts. Pretty much every painted page by Cam Kennedy is a masterpiece, and I’m glad to finally add one to my collection. Luke, Lando and the now ultra-essential Mon Mothma are featured here, along with that ridiculously cool war machine.

That was the Star Wars experience we deserved — then and now.

Jim Balkie — Empire’s End

Original Art and The Artists

Star Wars: Empire’s End #2, November 1995

Here’s a stunning Jim Balkie page from the Dark Horse mini-series, Star Wars: Empire’s End, a fitting sequel to the acclaimed Dark Empire saga.  

Both stories feature the writing of the talented Tom Veitch, although Cam Kennedy illustrated the Dark Empire series.

Each page — by either artist — is fully painted, and most of the originals I’ve seen, including this one, are terrific.

Nice Star Wars iconography on this page too, featuring Han and Leia, a great action shot of the Millennium Falcon, and of course the Emperor frying one of his officers who displeased him.

How did the Empire ever get anyone to sign up for the officer’s school?

Fun fact: The Emperor “lives” in this 90s saga because of — you guessed it — clones. If this storyline didn’t influence at least some of The Rise of Skywalker, well, we can chalk up to: “Great minds think alike.”