CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: CLOSE QUARTERS COMBAT!

Back in 1997, the return of the Classic Trilogy to cinemas was a big thing, but so too was its reinvigorated merchandising areas, especially in the realms of the booming computer games market, as LucasArts/Playstation launched their now cult favourite Star Wars - Masters of Teras Kasi, in which Luke Skywalker and friends were pitted against the fighting skills of the Teras Kasi martial artist Arden Lyn, under command from a behind the scenes Emperor Palpatine.

It was nice to see this form of physical combat, prior introduced in Shadows of the Empire novel, onscreen used by the formidable Qi'ra in Solo: A Star Wars Story, having been taught its lethal ways by her Crimson Dawn overlord Dryden Vos. I bet fans of the game got a real big kick out of this classic reference, presumably slipped in by the Lucasfilm Story Group.

https://screenrant.com/solo-movie-teras-kasi-rogue-one/

'SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE' AT 20: IN XIZOR'S DOMAIN!

On a mission to discover the truth about the murder attempts on Luke Skywalker, and to see if Prince Xizor's offer to join the Rebel cause is truly genuine, Princess Leia Organa, in her pre-ROTJ Boushh disguise, gets more than she bargained for in her first encounter with the Falleen overlord, in this great art by Hugh Fleming for the popular STAR WARS GALAXY magazine Issue 7, Spring 1996, specially promoting the SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE multi-media experience.

'SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE' - AT HOTH AND BEYOND

Smuggler and reckless wiseass Dash Rendar takes centre stage in the heroism department, flanked by a variety of bad guy Imperial and Bounty Hunter figures, plus the ominous background presence of the manipulative Prince Xizor, for the cover of another popular multi-media incarnation of the SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE computer game, this time for PC, from 1997. If anyone knows the artist here, please get in touch.

It was nice to see a YT-2400 freighter similar to Dash's efficient Outrider vessel (originally designed by Doug Chiang for the STAR WARS Special Editions) in the latest Season Three episode of STAR WARS REBELS, Iron Squadron.

STAR WARS REBELS imagery: DISNEY XD.

Rebels Recon #3.07: Inside "Iron Squadron" | Star Wars Rebels - YouTube

'SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE' AT 20: WHO'S FLYING THE FALCON?

Together, they're not quite the "Plan B" you'd expect for a major rescue operation, but Threepio and Artoo, despite their constant but lovable bickering, are just about competent enough to handle the delicate controls of the Millennium Falcon and race through the packed Coruscant skylines to spirit their human friends away from the clutches of Black Sun, in a fun moment from Steve Perry's SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE story, artistically realized by the Hildebrandt Brothers for the spin-off's best-selling TOPPS cards run of 1996/1997.

This scene was also cleverly referenced by an unhappy Han Solo in Brian Daley's audio adaptation of RETURN OF THE JEDI, also released in 1996, which brought in other Expanded Universe ties within its six enjoyable episodes.

'SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE' AT 20: BLASTER TIME!

One of its key aspects was to provide some welcome new storytelling for our Classic Trilogy heroes in the gaps between EPISODEs V and VI, but let's face it, LUCASFILM were also keen to merchandise the characters - and the new heroes and villains they'd be mixing with/fighting against - to the maximum inside this multi-media extravaganza, especially for the ever advancing world of computer gaming, as the SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE Nintendo 64 game arrived to a million sales from STAR WARS fans and game players worldwide, making the most of the shadier sides of Steve Perry's written adventure, notably Black Sun's Prince Xizor and the smuggler for hire in Dash Rendar.

If anyone knows the artist/s of the above promotional art piece, please get in touch.

'SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE' AT 20: CANTINA CONFRONTATION!

He's snagged his biggest bounty yet in the carbonized Han Solo he plans on delivering to Jabba the Hutt, but actually getting to Tatooine in one piece to claim that subsequent monetary prize? Well, that's gonna be a lot harder than Boba Fett thinks, especially when his rivals also want a share of the pie, as seen on the cover of SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE's comic adaptation Issue 2, from 1996. Great art from Hugh Fleming for DARK HORSE COMICS.

'SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE' AT 20: BALANCE OF POWER!

The galaxy stands at a crossroads as the forces of good and evil prepare to clash anew- a Dark Lord seeks to find his son, as a vicious crime lord rival waits in the wings planning to eliminate them both, whilst a desperate Princess searches for her carbon frozen lover. The epic saga of SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE continues its multi-media dominance of 1996 with the 100 card TOPPS set featuring all-new art from the legendary Hildebrandt Brothers, a compilation of their fine work immortalized in this sneak-peak advert from the then STAR WARS GALAXY magazine.

FLASHBACK REVIEW: 'SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE'

Beware the SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE! Art: Drew Struzan.

The rescue of carbonite frozen smuggler hero Han Solo from the clutches of Boba Fett and his paymaster Jabba the Hutt isn't just the opening catalyst to the events of RETURN OF THE JEDI but also the danger and intrigue that came before it, with the ingenious and fun middle ground bridging adventure between EPISODE VI and the prior THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK conceived by Howard Roffman and LUCASFILM back in 1996: Steve Perry's fun and genuinely fast moving SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE, now celebrating its Twentieth Anniversary this year.

Reptilian baddie Prince Xizor makes his debut.

I remember the building excitement of this book's premiere release back in the day, and all the subsequent spin-offs around it (all designed to keep the SW brand in the public consciousness with the run-up to the SPECIAL EDITIONS: SHADOWS saw new figures, a comic series, cards, a classy soundtrack, and a video game, though an animated movie of this would have been the icing on the cake!). I quickly picked up an author pre-signed copy on release at BORDERS bookstore whilst vacationing in Orlando, Florida. It was a perfect summer read, for sure. At the time, however, and upon quickly consuming it, I kinda remember thinking it felt rather wisp-ish compared to the big and lengthy tomes of the epic first Timothy Zahn saga, but, over the years, and especially now with the return of our old characters with THE FORCE AWAKENS, I've appreciated and cherished this unique adventure a whole lot more- Perry's interpretations of the heroes is very good, especially Lando and Leia (who gets to show her mettle against the evil Prince Xizor and his lustful hormones!), though the author, for continuity sake, clearly has to be careful not to make Luke Skywalker's persona too much siding towards the confident and resourceful end of his Jedi development seen in action against Jabba's empire at the start of EPISODE VI. The majority of Perry's linkages between V and VI work well (i.e. where Leia got her Boussh bounty hunter costume, some rushed but fun scenes with the Bothan spies, and an interesting build-up to Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker's need to be re-acquainted with son Luke (which gets an all-new depth with the Sith "Rule of Two" established with the later Prequels). There's also other worthy tributes from all around the Classic Trilogy (a "I have a bad feeling about this" here and there, and even a "1138" reference), plus some genuinely cool, wish we could have seen that on screen, sequences (the swoop bike chase predicting the Pod racing, and the final dizzying space battle above Imperial Centre/Coruscant, also featuring the building-in- popularity Wedge Antilles and his Rogue Flight X-wings. Only the aforementioned Fett's absence is felt- though he gets his part of the story covered in the subsequent comic series, brought to life magnificently in that specialised arena by writer John Wagner (no stranger to crafting charismatic anti-heroes via his UK work on Judge Dredd for 2000AD), alongside later THE CLONE WARS animation artist Kilian Plukett's eye-capturing visuals.

Another capable STAR WARS female: the cyborg assassin Guri. Art by Greg and Tim Hildebrandt.

The idea of developing the underworld of STAR WARS, notably the galaxy-spanning Black Sun organisation seen here ultimately proved a good one (Prince Xizor's daily operations very much in the realms of Mario Puzo or THE SOPRANOS at times), and has blossomed creatively ever since in books, comics and via things like THE CLONE WARS, which would ultimately use the Falleen race in its fifth season. Xizor, introduced early and literally into the events of EMPIRE with SHADOWS opening chapter, is a worthy participant in this unique phase of STAR WARS history: calculating, controlled, and hateful of Darth Vader, out to get revenge on the Sith Lord via Luke's death, in payback for the demise of his family years earlier. Xizor's female cyborg assistant, Guri, is an interesting foil to him, also, and certainly a better and sexier aide to anything Lando had at Bespin with Lobot! Also on a shady path, but working more to the heroes side of things, let's also not forget the young rogue smuggler, following in the best swaggering Corellian/Han Solo tradition, that is Dash Rendar: cocky, talented and egotistical, and also one of the galaxy's best pilots, who speeds his way in and out of the storyline in ways that are never bothersome- indeed, its a shame that his character at the time was "killed off" by book's end.

Dash Rendar and his Outrider ship.

Definitely worth re-reading, SHADOWS is genuine nostalgic fun, harkening back to the kind of lively days enjoyed early on within the Expanded Universe, and at a time when we truly savoured the Classic Trilogy, thinking we'd never see its characters ever return to the big screen again.

AFICIONADO RATING: 4 out of 5

Get it here: Shadows of the Empire: Star Wars Legends (Star Wars - Legends) eBook: Steve Perry: Amazon.co.uk: Books

SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE: THIS TIME IT'S PERSONAL!

Deep in the foul depths of a sub-sewer in Prince Xizor's castle on Coruscant, Luke Skywalker has a second encounter with a slippery, scaled Dianoga creature, but this time nothing's going to drag him underwater, especially not now that he's armed with a lightsaber, as seen in this fun artwork for the SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE TOPPS CARD series art by the iconic Hildebrandt Brothers, from 1996/97.

CLASSIC ART: AGAINST THE 'SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE'!

The emergence of the vast criminal underworld called Black Sun and the introduction of a new supervillain to the STAR WARS saga in the calculating alien Prince Xizor, the continuing search by the dreaded Darth Vader for his elusive son, Luke Skywalker, and the growing-in-powers boy and his friend's (including fiery pilot Dash Rendar) continuing quest to free their carbonite-trapped friend Han Solo from the clutches of Boba Fett, and his paymaster Jabba the Hutt. Our iconic heroes and villains caught in a web of deceit, danger and explosive action via the wonderful UK team of writer John Wagner and artist Kilian Plunkett (better known now for his character conceptual art for THE CLONE WARS and STAR WARS REBELS series), with John Nadeau, joining forces for the six-issue DARK HORSE COMICS adaptation of Steve Perry's enjoyable bridging/merchandising opportunity book- the epic and lively Shadows of the Empire, set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

All six issues of the glorious comic adaptation, which featured new scenes, action and material (with a heavy emphasis on Boba Fett's perilous journey back to Tatooine (pursued by other Bounty Hunters)), had gorgeous cover art provided by Hugh Fleming, though I believe the above image was a special limited edition print linked to its original 1996 release. Its certainly terrific art, and I don't think I've ever seen Carrie Fisher/ Princess Leia looking so smoulderingly sexy as she does here!

Book art by Drew Struzan.

Shadows of the Empire celebrates its Twentieth Anniversary this year, so look out for regular celebratory entries on it, and its important part in the Expanded and Official universe, within STAR WARS AFICIONADO during the months ahead.

AFICIONADO REVIEW: " SHADOW GAMES"

AFICIONADO REVIEW: "SHADOW GAMES"


A novel by Michael Reaves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff


Published in the UK by ARROW BOOKS


Reviewed by Scott Weller


It's STAR WARS meets THE BODYGUARD in this new literary confection from popular Expanded Universe authors Michael Reaves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff, as that popular and cocky Corellian smuggler from the early nineties SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE multi-platform storytelling arc, Dash Rendar, returns for a spirited new adventure: SHADOW GAMES, published in paperback in the UK from ARROW BOOKS.

And this time, Rendar really has got his hands full in a shortly before A NEW HOPE set storyline that sees him and the crew of his Outrider smuggling ship- the wisecracking smart arse droid with a touch of FRASIER's Niles Crane about him: Leebo, and the mysterious and talented Nautolan co-pilot Eaden Vrill- having hit bad fortune from the prior blasts of an Imperial Star Destroyer chase, soon find themselves in the unlikely commission of a galaxy popular music star, Javul Charn, whom they quickly have to protect from the clutches of a deadly, and so far untraceable, stalker. The only problem being that said menace has a motus operandi so sophisticated and clever that he/she/they could be working either inside or out of the colourful and persuasive singers universe: and a killer whom could be lurking/operating from within her key staff and entourage located inside her expansive universe travelling private yacht, or being safely embedded within the millions of fans-human and alien- who flock to her ambitious concerts and relentlessly adore and pursue both her and her music career. Even the Galactic Empire itself, alongside the seedy underworld of the Black Sun criminal organisation, the latter of whom she seemingly has unseverable and life-threatened links, may have ties to this unrecognised foe. Dash may have the skills to unravel and remove the complex strands of lies, deceit and attempts on Javul's life- a woman of whom he is now well and truly under the beguiling spell of- but can even he ultimately guarantee her safety?

Authors of recent STAR WARS books have hit or miss incorporated elements from our own modern times into their series (I'm assuming so as to try and capture new younger readerships who have previously stayed away from the saga in its printed form). There has previously been a look/focus at the way news has been reported and manipulated in the FATE OF THE JEDI series, and here we have under the spotlight the life, times and world of a singer whose presence and popularity is Beyonce-like: Javul Charn is sassy, beautiful and consistently under the spotlight. Throughout the book, her position as a popular music star is certainly well explored amidst the drama and action of George Lucas's universe, where she comes across as a mostly well-developed character: feisty and possessing brains and absolute beauty, soon proving a fine, if secretive, sometimes elusive, foil for the big-headed, but ultimately big-hearted Dash Rendar in their journey of life, death and the entertainment industry. As for Rendar himself, with the prior SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE set between the important events of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI, his appearance at that then point in the saga saw him as an almost replacement for Han Solo, what with Harrison Ford's popular smugger now taken away to Jabba's palace on Tatooine, life-binded in Carbon Freeze. Now SHADOW GAMES presents us with a fun situation where both Rendar, having escaped Solo's limelight, has no choice, and despite some intense bitterness, but to call upon his old smuggling rival, pre-EMPIRE, for help, resulting in the character fireworks soon flying as they work to save Javul's life. Ultimately, theirs a fun pairing- an intriguing combination of Lucas and Expanded Universe creations, and the writers obviously have a lot of enjoyment creating their traded insults and oneupmanship as they take on all manner of weird and wonderful creatures, a recurring nuisance bounty hunter and the wrath of Black Sun's evil Falleen leader, Prince Xizor. The lovable Chewbacca the Wookiee, co-pilot of Solo's trusted Millennium Falcon, may not be in the tale, but his absence explanation is well thought out, especially if you like The Holiday Special! The authors interpretation of Solo, not always easy to bring to life on the written page (or Kindle), also works for the most part, and there's fun referencing/ linkages to future events and very familiar characters, as well as the usual mixing of worlds from across the three separate strands of STAR WARS universes: films, expanded and animation.

So, like all of Reaves prior tales in a galaxy far, far away, the ingredients are there for an interesting side road STAR WARS yarn. It may not be in the ambitious mega-league of Timothy Zahn-like books, but its strongly structured, full of wit and well described action (some of which feels a little James Bond-like, too), making it a perfect holiday read.


AFICIONADO RATING: 3.5 out of 5

CLASSIC ART: WHEN VILLAINS MEET!

Here's another great piece of Hildebrandt brothers art from SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE- a classic scene where the mighty Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader, meets his new rival in the hunt for Luke Skywalker: the reptilian Prince Xizor of the galaxy spanning criminal empire, BLACK SUN.

CLASSIC ART: ESCAPING IMPERIAL ENTANGLEMENTS!

Getting the New Year off to a bang, here's a wonderful space battle image from the finale of 1995's Steve Perry written STAR WARS adventure SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE, where our Rebel heroes in the Millennium Falcon, accompanied by Dash Rendar, try to escape Coruscant and the clutches of Prince Xizor and Darth Vader in this amazing art from the esteemed Hildebrandt brothers- commissioned for the TOPPS card series released that same year.

Click the pic to see the image in its full widescreen glory.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

CLASSIC ART: TO SEDUCE A PRINCESS!

The evil head of the Black Sun criminal organisation, the reptilian Prince Xizor, prepares to use his natural pheromones to make Princess Leia (wearing her Boushh bounty hunter disguise) his next conquest, in this scene from the movie that sadly never was: SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE. This great art for the LUCASFILM marketing and merchandise campaign, created to test and generate fan interest for the soon to be re-released Classic Trilogy SPECIAL EDITION movies in 1997, was one of many pieces done in TOPPS card form back in 1995/6 by the esteemed Hildebrandt Brothers.

We've got THE CLONE WARS series and its great. Now, c'mon Mister Filoni and the gang, make SHADOWS an animated reality!

Greg Hildebrandt: 1939-2024 | Lucasfilm.com