12 Star Wars Graphic Novels You Must Read Before You Die
5. The Emperor Returns
Considered by many to be the highlight of the Dark Horse Comics era, Dark Empire details the return of the Emperor in a clone body, as well as all sorts of superweapons and galaxy-threatening shenaniganry. The linchpin of the story is Luke Skywalker's journey to the Dark Side in an attempt to understand why his father fell sway to the Emperor.
Although it is a bit of a retread of the original saga, it is a self-aware one, which allows for the Emperor and Luke to reflect on both the similarities and differences between Luke and Vader (and the two story arcs). Leia is also given plenty of time to shine here, as she plays the Luke to Luke's Vader from Return of the Jedi, rescuing her brother and bringing him back into the light, defeating the Emperor once more.
Dark Empire II and Empire's End bring the cloned Emperor's story to a close in satisfying fashion, but it's the first six issues in the saga that wove their way into the hearts of fans everywhere.