Summary:
The story is built around an incredible plot that only be improved if it was to continue in future comics or novels. The premise revolves around the fact that one of the Emperor’s most dangerous Royal Guards, Carnor Jax, has been plotting a betrayal against his master for years. Carnor and his fellow conspirators also convinced the Emperor’s personal physician to create defective clones so that regardless of the clone body the Emperor chose, it was inevitable that that body would decay. Thus, the Emperor was forced to pursue the Skywalkers in search of a more adequate body to contain his essence. Carnor Jax knew that this would be his opportunity to seize the Imperial throne. After the Emperor fell for the final time to Luke Skywalker, the remaining Imperial Guardsmen fled back to where it all had began for them…the training center for guardsmen on the planet of Yinchorr. A fellow guardsman who had escaped from Skywalker and his Jedi Knights exposed Carnor Jax’s plan to his brothers in arms. However, Jax being one step ahead had sent countless stormtroopers to destroy the remaining members of the Imperial Guard so he could rule the throne without any distractions from those still fiercely loyal to the fallen Emperor. However, one Royal Guardsman survived the attack and vowed to avenge his fallen Master, the Emperor. That man is Kir Kanos. At this point I should mention that the artwork used to depict both Jax and Kanos is excellent. Carnor Jax is visibly different from the other Imperial Guardsmen as he is wearing an all black cloak with a hint of red outlining his helmet. Whereas, Kir Kanos is seen wearing the typical Imperial Guard red cloak, but the red and black armor beneath this cloak excellently illustrates how dangerous a guardsman he truly is.
The story also delves deeply (via flashbacks) into the training that the Emperor’s Guardsmen were expected to endure in order to adequately serve their master. It appeared obvious that the Emperor wanted to be completely ready for any type of Jedi attack considering the fighting style and choice of weaponry for these guards. Absolutely no mercy was shown from Darth Vader or the Emperor when weeding out the best of the best in the selection process that often ended in the death of many unfortunate soldiers.
Kir Kanos presently finds himself among the New Republic forces on the planet of Phaeda. Mirith Sinn, the leader of the New Republic forces in this area, takes a special interest in Kanos after hearing his story. Kanos helps the Republic to some extent in defending against an attack on their hidden base. However, Kir Kanos ultimately makes it clear that their mission doesn’t fit into his plans. Those plans of course are based solely on avenging the death of his late master, the Emperor. Kanos, realizing Jax will not stop until one of them is dead, goes back to Yinchorr where this all truly started.
Carnor Jax journeys to Phaeda with two Star Destroyers with the full intention of annihilating Kir Kanos and the entire planet’s population. Jax leaves one Star Destroyer to destroy the planet of Phaeda and travels to Yinchorr in the other after discovering that Kanos has made his way there. Mirith Sinn has arranged a trap involving Rogue Squadron and General Antilles, who happens to posses his own New Republic Super Star Destroyer. Meaning, the Empire at Phaeda has been beaten at their own game.
Our story’s dramatic conclusion takes place in an epic encounter between Carnor Jax and Kir Kanos. Kanos has single handedly destroyed Jax’s Star Destroyer, but Jax is able to take a squad of troopers to the planet’s surface in an effort to eliminate his foe. Kanos makes quick work of the troopers and at last squares off against his ultimate adversary. The dialogue between the parties is quite interesting considering Jax offers Kanos a place by his side so that they can rule the galaxy together. Of course that should sound very familiar! Jax makes the statement that he believes he will one day be more powerful than Darth Vader if he isn’t already. Jax also states that it’s only a matter of time before he even surpasses the Emperor himself in terms of his power. I will say that Carnor Jax does exibit a better control of the Force than Kir Kanos, but he is ultimately killed by his opponent when Mirith Sinn interrupts their combat. For some reason Sinn appeals to Kanos that the New Republic needs Jax alive, which makes no sense at all. But Kir Kanos killed Carnor Jax just when it appeared that Sinn had talked Kanos into sparing his enemy’s life. Unfortunately, Kanos also killed Sinn’s second in command when he got too close to the action between the two former guardsmen. Mirith Sinn tries to talk Kanos into joining her and the Republic, but the former Royal Guardsman will have absolutely none of that. The story ends with Sinn vowing to get revenge against Kanos for killing her friend. However, the reader also gets the impression that Sinn is perhaps covering for Kir Kanos so he can escape before New Republic forces arrive on the planet.
Jedi Archive Opinions:
This storyline was totally awesome and well thought out to the extent that Dark Horse even released an audio version of this graphic novel (as was done with Dark Empire I & II) Our personal opinion is that Kir Kanos has the potential to be one of the coolest characters in the Star Wars Universe since Boba Fett. Carnor Jax was also a memorable character and probably deserves a bit more credit in the grand sheme of things for his contributions to the Empire and its history. Might we suggest a more extensive novel or even a series of novels about how Carnor Jax came to power and how Kir Kanos became the man destined to end his reign? We can’t remember any other stories possessing two such characters that had you wishing for so much more information about them. Well done Dark Horse Comics for your contribution to the Star Wars Universe. Long live Crimson Empire!