Star Wars: Hidden Empire (Star Wars: Hidden Empire (2022-2023))

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February 2023 Marvel Comics solicitations: New X-Men series and Dark Web ends on AIPT (archived from the original on October 14, 2022)

Qi'ra escaped aboard Chanath Cha's ship yet urgently needs the Archivist to complete her work. The disturbance Meanwhile, the hooded figures who have been listening to the Archivist’s recording of this story in Crimson Reign and Hidden Empire are revealed to be Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa. Some of the greatest excitement came in the next reveal. For a while, we have all been wondering who the cloaked individuals are talking with the Archivist and hearing Qi’ra’s story. We finally learn it’s none other Than Jedi Master Luke Skywalker and his sister Jedi Leia Organa. Leia’s spirit comes out as she expresses her desire for Qi’ra to have come to them. The archivist believes Qi’ra to be long dead, and Leia deeply wishes Qi’ra was alive to have seen them win. STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA OMNIBUS VOL. 2 HC on Penguin Random House Comics (archived from the original)The issue starts similar to how Star Wars Crimson Reign started with Madelin Sun aka The Archivist telling Qi’ra’s story via hologram. I assume she ends up dying and this was her recording the events for the history archives before the end so that the story would live on. Similar to a Jedi or Sith recording events and teaching in a holocron before becoming one with the force. To me this is HUGE! I really hope it’s not a red herring and Qi’ra eventually fails. Also her mention of the Rule of Two narrows down the list of Sith this could be. Since Darth Bane instituted the Rule of Two the Sith Qi’ra mentions its logical to think that this Sith will be no older than he is. Vader and Palpatine want to reach the Fermata Cage so they can defeat the ancient Sith Lord or whatever else Qi’ra will attempt to unleash from it. This trap is not the only thing Qi’ra has up her sleeve as Doctor Aphra arrives to face Vader. Aphra is possessed by the Spark Eternal and wielding the Null Blade, a weapon that is designed to neutralize a lightsaber and kill Sith.

Star Wars: Hidden Empire, a five-issue miniseries starting in November, will be the third and final installment in writer Charles Soule’s unofficial Qi’ra trilogy, StarWars.com can reveal. The series, illustrated by Steven Cummings, will find Qi’ra and the Emperor on a collision course. “This is my hidden empire,” she defiantly declares in Crimson Reign #5, in a tease of what's to come. “Choke on it.” For Soule, who just saw the release of his 100 th Star Wars comic, Hidden Empire is the culmination of years of work. “This new story is designed to deliver the big finale to Qi'ra's story -- at least this phase of it,” he tells StarWars.com. “She emerged from years of hiding with an elaborate, incredible plan to bring down the Sith, and Hidden Empire is the endgame. It brings in players from all over the Star Wars universe, from Darth Vader to Doctor Aphra to the Knights of Ren, and I think it'll be really satisfying -- but tragic. As I had a character say in the very first issue of Crimson Reign, Qi'ra's story is a tragedy. But… in a good way.”

She nodded. "Yes my Lord. I wish to request access to the Rakatan archives, so that I may confirm if that region was once part of their empire." STAR WARS: BOUNTY HUNTERS VOL. 5 - THE RAID ON THE VERMILLION on Penguin Random House Comics (archived from the original) STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA 20 on Penguin Random House Comics (archived from the original on April 22, 2022)

Since he’s not named (it’s him though… see the image below) and is in only one panel many collectors will likely consider this a cameo first appearance rather than a full first appearance. Xizor’s story in legends is very connected to story after the Empire falls. To me this is more evidence that the comics will be moving past the destruction of the 2nd Death Star sooner than later. One of the weapons that Maul came across in his travels was an ancient Sith Artifact called the Fermata Cage. The issue was that to activate this artifact one needed a powerful Dark Side user. Which Qi’ra and the Archivist did not have. They only had the Knights of Ren and Ko Phon Farrus using The Ascendant technology. In the disc, she also left enough credits and resources to make for herself, whatever life she wants. For Cadeliah, she gives a choice in who she wants to be and how she wants to live. This freedom, something Qi’ra never had but always coveted, is now hers. Here we see the true heart and spirit of Qi’ra that I adore. She has played her hand about as well as she could. This cunning, fierce leader of the most powerful crime syndicate in the galaxy is also kind and caring and still have the tenderness she once had in her early years. Being forced to suppress it for many years didn’t erase it from her entirely. Now, she just finally had the chance to show it again. After WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS came CRIMSON REIGN… now in the midst of HIDDEN EMPIRE, Qi’ra has shaken the galactic landscape to its core! The final chapter in the unofficial Qi’ra trilogy is finally here. Charles Soule’s Hidden Empire #1 graced comic book shelves this week, and I’m happy to report that there’s hope.No surprise, for a better comprehension of the events taking place in Hidden Empire, you need to read at least the main series from the past two crossover events. For the complete experience, we recommend reading the tie-ins.