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Series Title: Star Wars: Dark Empire
Issue Number: #1
Grade: VF
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Publication Date: December, 1991
Writer: Tom Veitch
Artist: Cam Kennedy
Cover Artist: Dave Dorman
KEY FEATURE: The Legendary Return of the Star Wars Saga! Six years after Return of the Jedi, this monumental premiere issue revitalized the entire Star Wars franchise and launched the modern Expanded Universe. Set six years after the Battle of Endor, the Empire strikes back with devastating new World Devastators, forcing Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the Rebel Alliance into a desperate fight for survival on a ruined Coruscant. This historic issue features the iconic resurrection of Emperor Palpatine and sets Luke on a dark path that shook the fandom. Wrapped in a legendary, breathtaking painted cover by master illustrator Dave Dorman.
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Grade: VF (Very Fine)
Cover: Strong visual appeal with excellent structural integrity. The front cover presents beautiful, deep Dave Dorman colors and original surface gloss, though it shows some standard signs of handling and superficial surface wear upon closer inspection.
Spine: Strong and securely bound with completely intact staples. The spine displays some minor handling wear and light stress ticks, but retains a solid, square structure with no major spine roll.
Interior: Clean and well-preserved. The interior pages are crisp, complete, and entirely free of major reader folds or page tears.
Overall: While not a perfect book, this is a beautiful, tight, and highly presentable mid-to-high grade survivor. It serves as an exceptional, high-quality reader copy or a fantastic mid-grade filler specimen for a classic 90s collection.
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AN ABSOLUTE COPPER AGE MODERN MYTHOLOGY KEYSTATION! Long before the Disney era, Dark Empire was the definitive, Lucasfilm-approved continuation of the original trilogy. Finding first-print copies from 1991 that haven't been completely read to pieces is a major win for any nostalgic or investment-minded Star Wars collector.
The Foundation of the Expanded Universe: Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy’s dark, atmospheric epic redefined what a Star Wars comic could be, introducing concepts, ships, and lore that influenced the franchise for decades to come.
Dave Dorman’s Masterclass Art: Dorman’s painted covers for this series are widely regarded as some of the greatest comic book art ever produced, perfectly capturing the gritty, cinematic grandeur of a galaxy at war.
Perfect Balance of Value & Appeal: Avoid the ultra-premium pricing of high-tier slabs while securing a structurally sound, highly presentable specimen that you can actually open up, read, and enjoy exactly as it was experienced over 30 years ago.
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✅ International shipping available ✅ Combine Shipping across all listings—pay one price for multiple items. ⚠️ Import duties are not included in the item price or shipping cost; buyers are responsible for any additional fees. 📜 Grades are my personal assessment and are not guaranteed by CGC. I strive for accuracy, but grading is subjective.
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