Palpatine Faces Crimson Dawn In 'Star Wars: Hidden Empire' #1
Image Source: StarWars.com
Star Wars: Hidden Empire has officially begun. Written by acclaimed Star Wars author Charles Soule, this new comic miniseries serves as the third and final act to the writer’s epic Crimson Dawn trilogy. Beginning in June of 2021 with War of the Bounty Hunters, this crossover event began with Boba Fett losing the carbonite-encased Han Solo to the reemerged crime syndicate Crimson Dawn, led by none other than Han’s former lover Qi’ra. Throwing an auction on Jekara and inviting the galaxy’s largest crime families, Qi’ra used Han to gain the attention of the criminal underworld and restore Crimson Dawn to its former prominence. Though the auction was ultimately crashed by Darth Vader, Qi’ra managed to gain the allies and resources she needed to achieve her true goal: the death of Emperor Palpatine.
The trilogy’s second installment, Crimson Reign, followed Qi’ra and each of her most powerful allies as they undertook missions to prepare for their assassination attempt on the Emperor. The missions included Chanath Cha and the Orphans stoking a war between the rival crime syndicates, Ochi of Bestoon taking out the Emperor’s Royal Guards on Coruscant, Deathstick bringing a crime family heir named Cadeliah to Qi’ra, the Archivist attempting (and ultimately deciding against) recruiting Yoda to their cause, and the Knights of Ren stealing a device called the Screaming Key from Vader’s fortress on Mustafar. This culminated with the Archivist and the Knights of Ren locating an ancient dark side hellscape and obtaining an artifact known as the Fermata Cage. Now, all of this preparation is culminating in the miniseries Hidden Empire, the first issue of which was released yesterday.
Image Source: YouTube
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In the said issue, we see the Archivist, the Knights of Ren, and the newly recruited Kho Phon Farrus use intricate technology to activate the Fermata Cage. As they do so, Qi’ra sends the Vermillion to attack one of Emperor Palpatine’s interdictors. While hidden at another location, Qi’ra contacts Palpatine himself and explains her plan directly to his face. Years ago, the Fermata Cage was sought out by her former master, Maul, so he could unleash the ancient Sith spirit locked inside on his former master. However, the technology malfunctions, and the Cage remains unopened, allowing Palpatine to make his own move against Qi’ra, destroying the Vermillion and unleashing the full might of the Galactic Empire on Crimson Dawn’s agents across the galaxy.
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Palpatine then contacts Vader at his fortress and informs him of Qi’ra’s possession of the Fermata Cage. In turn, he tasks his apprentice with locating and destroying the Cage, along with anyone who knows of its existence. Meanwhile, the Knights of Ren, frustrated with Qi’ra’s failure and disregard for them, turn on Qi’ra and abandon Crimson Dawn to their fate. Despite Chanath Cha’s worry over the state of Crimson Dawn, Qi’ra assures her this is all part of her plan. However, the Archivist, who is retelling this story in the distant future, informs those listening to her that this wasn’t, in fact, part of her plan.
Hidden Empire #1 is an excellent beginning to the miniseries. Qi’ra’s plan to destroy Sidious with an ancient Sith spirit is appropriately insane and creates the possibility of Vader facing off with a long-dead Sith Lord. I love how Qi’ra’s overconfidence ultimately ends up being her weakness, as her ego and ambition lead to her entire plan falling apart and leaving Crimson Dawn vulnerable to Palpatine and his Empire. It is also a treat seeing so many connections to various Star Wars stories, such as the Knights of Ren from the sequel trilogy, Kho from Doctor Aphra, and even a cameo from Inferno Squad of Battlefront II, who assist in hunting down Crimson Dawn. Hidden Empire has set the stage for the final downfall of Qi’ra and Crimson Dawn as a whole. Only time will tell if Qi’ra, like Maul, will end up having to duel for her fate.
Rating: 9/10
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