Star Wars: Crimson Empire

Set in the tumultuous era between Return of the Jedi and the rise of the New Republic, this six-issue Dark Horse miniseries from 1997–1998 follows the last surviving member of Emperor Palpatine’s elite Royal Guard. Written by Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley with moody, cinematic art by Paul Gulacy, the story offers a gritty, character-driven look at a fallen empire’s loyalists. It’s a key early example of the expanded Star Wars comics universe, carving out a memorable corner of the saga focused on honor, revenge, and the cost of fanatical devotion.