Customer Reviews

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire-evolution

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For fans of the 'Movie Without The Movie' Event: Shadows of the Empire, this is a great little epilogue. Author Steve Perry takes the opportunity to explore life for Guri without Xizor and the future of Black Sun in this collected series.
The Empire is directionless, yet still dangerous, as the post-Jedi years continue on. Looking for allies, Luke, Leia, and Han get caught up in this tale that is artistically lighter than its predecessor. And also, learn Dash Rendar's true fate!

Recommended for die hard Star Wars nuts, and a nice read for an occasional fan.

I am reviewing Shadow of the Empire  Evolution ISBN 156971441X A Dark Horse TPB Ccomic published Feb., 2000 at 120 pages, printed in Canada. This is the one with the blond Guri dominating the cover. Not the one with Boba fett dominating the cover. Sorry for all that, but some of the reviews here are for the first SHADOWS comic based on the novel. This comic, Evolution, is not based on a book but rather collects 5 issues into one story called a TPB.

Evolution picked up after the apparent death of Xizor in SOTE, which took place between ESB and ROTJ in year 3 After New Hope on the timeline. Evolution takes place at about the same time as ROTJ in year 4 ANH. This is a story featuring Guri, Xizors personal assassin. She is a beautiful, blond human-replica droid who likes reflex blue outfits and wonders if a droid can dream. Steve Perry, the author that brought us the SOTE journey joins Dark horse as the story writer.

This comic was produced at a time that the inking, coloring and manufacturer techniques were starting to produce superior looking comics. Because it was made in Canada, the binding is excellent, a problem with later TPB comics made in China.

The art style is cartoonish, one I generally do not care for, but it works here. Regardless of whether you like the cartoonish style, the pencil art is excellent and detailed. An interesting thing that I noticed was that special care was taken to draw Luke and Leia to look like the real actors that they are. Dark horse has been criticized by me and others for allowing their artists to just wing in when drawing Luke, Leia and Lando. The SW reader knows what these 3 people are supposed to look like, and a lazy pencil artist cant fly that one past us. Well I say all that to congratulate the Artist and editor here for getting Luke and Leia right.

Oh yes, if you like to look at the female body as an art form, you will like this comic. At times it is sexy without being obscene so you can still read it to your 5 and 6 year kids.

The inking and color here are almost awesome. By 2002 the process that they are evolving will mature into jaw dropping visual art. This one was pretty close.

SPOILER!! Guri doesnt die in this comic. I seem to remember listening to a book on tape where Guri came up in the story, but I cant recall if it was a NJO or Prequel book.

With the pencils, ink and color all rated at 3.5 to 4, and a story that is good, 3 to 3.5 I decided that this is a 4 star effort and a recommended read.

At first glance, Shadows of the Empire: Evolution is a very good and interesting book. The continuing story of Guri, Xizor's second in command, is supplemented by good artwork and not too much boring dialogue, and complimented by plenty of action.

Unfortunately, when you look at it again a bunch of little details crop up. First of all, why didn't Xizor's niece have that huge spinal ridge thingie? It has been established that all Falleen, male and female, do have it, so why didn't she? So she would fit into her human costume? So she would be easier to draw?

Next is another minor technical thing. Supposedly taking place immediately after Return of the Jedi, but before Vandelhelm Mission and all that, it just doesn't fit in properly. If they'd made it take place during the same time as the early Rogue Squadron comics it would have been much better.

All the females in the comic for some reason are unrealistic. The Pikkel sisters, who have mastered Teras Kasi among various other martial arts, are in pretty good condition, but are too buxom. In my experience, most female dancers and athletes don't have such huge breasts. Leia is also too slender and buxom, as is the Falleen, and all of the other women in the comic. I know it's probably more fun for the illustrator's that way, but it's unrealistic.

The inclusion of Dash in this comic was kind of a corny stretch as well, and the Imperials at the beginning were kind of random. Since when does a Star Destroyer on random patrol randomly open fire on a civilian ship legitimately passing through the sector? And since when can a "full spread" of all of five or six proton torpedoes destroy an ImpStar? Oh well.

I applaud the authors for some other details, though. All of the aurebesh really translates, it's not just random lines, and all of the art is pretty good. There wasn't excessive dialogue, but there was some good humor, and a neat look at Guri's past. Besides the fact that the story is completely inconsequential in the grand {Star Wars} scheme of things, it's quite nice.

If you want some nice Star Wars eye candy with lots of action and a few questions answered, this is for you. Otherwise, skip it.