Shattered Empire…and Shattered Expectations

A year ago today, Marvel Comics released the first issue of the Star Wars: Shattered Empire miniseries.  It was an exciting and central piece of Disney’s “Journey to The Force Awakens” celebration.  With the old Expanded Universe of stories “thrown out,” this was our first look at the new Disney Canon’s version of what happened immediately after the Battle of Endor.  In the year that’s followed I’ve read seventy comics, eleven novels (five were YA), watched two full seasons of Star Wars: Rebels and (obviously!) seen The Force Awakens (a ridiculous nine times in theatres).  I’ve approached the Disney Canon excitedly, eager to see their new vision of a post-Return Of The Jedi universe…and, honestly, I’ve been disappointed.  For me, it’s not as good as the old EU.  I’m sad, a little frustrated, and (perhaps weirdly) still very hopeful. 

My on again/off again Relationship with Darth Vader

In the fall of 2015, it was Star Wars that finally brought me back to the world of comic collecting after my seventeen year absence.  Admittedly it felt a little weird returning to Books Galore after so long a time away.  I felt a bit out of place, like coming home to find everything you remember similar…yet different.  But the oddity of my return was soon eclipsed by feelings of excitement.  I was back!  I was reading comics again!  Yay!  And I was excited (after Jeff’s constant urging) to explore the Star Wars stories Marvel was adding to the new Disney Canon.  Of all their comics, I was most excited for Darth Vader.  As the months rolled by however, I found myself wrapped in a passionate yet frustrating relationship with the Dark Lord of the Sith.