According to Veitch, he pitched franchise creator George Lucas the idea of a different character wearing Darth Vader's armor, which Lucas rejected but said he would allow Palpatine's return, as well as his use of a clone body. After difficulties with Marvel, the project was picked up by Dark Horse Comics. Veitch and Kennedy were approached by Lucasfilm based on their success with The Light and Darkness War. The Dark Empire I story was originally developed by Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy for Marvel Comics. Although the comic was amongst many works declared non-canon to the franchise in 2014, the final film of the Skywalker Saga, The Rise of Skywalker (2019), utilized the plot element of Palpatine returning via cloning. As of 2000, over 100,000 issues had been printed. Audio dramas and action figures were produced, and the series has been referenced in various other Star Wars media. The series received mixed-to-positive reviews, and is credited as helping revive interest in the franchise in the early 1990s. Other highlights include Luke Skywalker temporarily succumbing to the dark side of the Force, the return of Boba Fett (who seemingly died in Return of the Jedi), and the first appearance of Princess Leia and Han Solo's youngest son Anakin Solo. The story deals with the resurrection of primary series antagonist Palpatine, revealed to have cheated death by transferring his spirit into a succession of cloned bodies.

Part of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, the trilogy picks up six years after the events of Return of the Jedi and just a year after Timothy Zahn's Thrawn trilogy (1991–1993). The initial series is notable for being one of the first Star Wars comics to be produced by Dark Horse, which retained the comic rights to the franchise for over two decades. It consists of a six-issue limited series written by Tom Veitch and drawn by Cam Kennedy, followed by a second six-issue limited series by Veitch and Kennedy, followed in turn by a two-issue limited series written by Veitch and drawn by Jim Baikie.

Dark Empire is a Star Wars comic book metaseries produced by Dark Horse Comics.

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