Reign of the Empire Era

In Lucasfilm’s official Star Wars timeline, the Reign of the Empire era covers the time between the end of the Clone Wars and the early days of the Rebellion. The era starts with Palpatine proclaiming the Galactic Empire and purging the Jedi Order.

Liberty dies, and darkness falls. The Sith Lord’s long-running plan finally comes to fruition.

After the Clone Wars, people crave peace and stability. But the Empire’s authoritarian rule subjects the galaxy to oppressive policies. The military and Imperial-backed industry scour planets for resources to build the ultimate weapon.

The new regime includes forced conscription and enslaved labor. Imperial Security Bureau agents are the new regime’s unblinking eye.

Darth Vader learns his new role and adapts to his new life. At the same time, he leads other dark-side Force-users in the hunt for remaining Jedi. Those that can’t stay hidden face a cruel fate at the hand of these ruthless Inquisitors. The Sith rule casts a long shadow. These are dark times, indeed.

The Battles of Scariff and Yavin are still a long way off. Nevertheless, sparks of hope remain. From Coruscant to the Outer Rim, secret networks form. The exploitation and oppression trigger resistance, and small groups of Rebels emerge.

‍The stakes are high, and the odds are long. Being caught means certain death. Yet, even as the Empire seems to thrive, the seeds of its demise begin to take root.

While all this is happening, people across the galaxy get by the best they can, including a young man breaking free from Corellia’s mean streets. In the Unknown Regions, a soon-to-be legendary Imperial admiral begins his career in another civilization’s military.

Their appointments with destiny lie in the future, but their stories start here.

The era includes the films Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Solo: A Star Wars Story, as well as the television series The Bad Batch, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Andor. The video games Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor also occur during this time.

The galaxy’s upheaval makes for rich storytelling. With so much change, we’re left with questions. What became of some of our favorite characters? How did the galaxy evolve to where we find it in A New Hope?

This era has the answers. Creators have steadily been providing us fascinating looks at life in the ashes of the Republic as the Empire tightens its grip and rebellion begins to stir.

Some plot lines from the prequels and The Clone Wars find a resolution. Others turn in new directions. We find backstories for some of the Original Trilogy’s central characters and events. It all makes for engaging viewing and reading.

Here at Youtini, we’ve selected what we feel are some of the best books and comics from the Reign of the Empire Era. Of course, this just scratches the surface.

You can find even more titles to enjoy on our Canon Timeline. New books and comics come out all the time, so be sure to check our Release Schedule!