Star Wars: Crimson Empire

Star Wars: Crimson Empire is a comic book series of three story arcs published by Dark Horse Comics and written by Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley. The first series, titled Crimson Empire, was launched in December 1997, concluding in May 1998. The followup series, Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood, was released in November of that year, concluding in April 1999. After the end of the second story arc, a third was planned for release in 2001; the one shot comic Hard Currency was released as an introduction to the new storyline. However, the project would ultimately be shelved for a decade, eventually being revived in 2011 as Crimson Empire III: Empire Lost, the conclusion to the series storyline.

Set in the New Republic era immediately following the Dark Empire comic series, Crimson Empire follows the life of Kir Kanos, a former Imperial royal guard whose duty in life was to protect Emperor Palpatine. Following the final death of Palpatine during the Battle of Onderon and the slaughter of the rest of his kin on Yinchorr, Kir Kanos is left with a blood oath against the enemies of the Empire, swearing death to all involved in the death of his former master. The first storyline focused on the conflict between Kanos and Carnor Jax, a former Imperial Royal Guard and aspiring Sith Lord who made a bid for the throne following Palpatine's death, while the followup series chronicled Kanos' time as a bounty hunter and his targeting of members of the Imperial Ruling Council. The third and final series focused on both Kanos' desire to kill Luke Skywalker, the Jedi Master who was the main rival of the former Emperor, and his conflict with Devian, a former Imperial "thug" leading a splinter faction of the Imperial Remnant known as the "Restored Empire".

In addition to the three story arcs and various one off comics, an audio dramatization of the first Crimson Empire was released in 1999.