1996 Topps Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire

The 1996 Topps Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire set is a collectible series of trading cards produced by Topps in 1996, as part of the Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire multimedia project. The set, comprising 100 cards, features original color illustrations by artists Greg Hildebrandt and Tim Hildebrandt and was designed by Becky Foote.^[3]

Each card features a color illustration on the front, depicting a scene or concept from the novel, with a detailed narrative or descriptive text on the back, relating to the theme of the illustration; as such, the backside narratives of the first 72 cards form a complete summary of the novel. Cards 73-82 of the set were special character foil cards. Cards 83-88 highlighted starships and vehicles from Shadows of the Empire with a brief history and description. Cards 89-94 featured artwork inspired by the Shadows of the Empire comic series by Dark Horse. Cards 95-100 featured artwork inspired by the LucasArts Shadows of the Empire video game.

Card list

1. Xizor is Lurking
2. Leia's Recurring Nightmare
3. Luke Feels the Dark Side
4. Leia Defends Herself
5. Reunion on Tatooine
6. Xizor Greets Vader
7. Xizor's Dirty Handiwork
8. Ferreting Out a Traitor
9. Beautiful... and Lethal
10. Xizor Summons Jabba
11. Leia Meets Dash Rendar
12. Vader Stays Sharp
13. Xizor Relishes the Good Life
14. Fancy Flying
15. Luke Scores a TIE
16. "Help Me, Obi-Wan..."
17. Boba Fett Escapes From Gall
18. Narrow Escape
19. Dealing with Dash
20. Vader Grows Wary of Xizor
21. Xizor Wants it All
22. The Emperor Insists
23. It'th Greedo'th Uncle
24. The Waiting Game
25. Luke Hones His Lightsaber Skills
26. Swoop Troop Attack
27. Luke Axes a Swooper
28. Good Ol' Beggar's Canyon
29. Vader Destroys the Rebel Base
30. Guri Does Xizor's Dirty Work
31. Luke and Dash's Bothan Mission
32. Dash's Persuasive Charm
33. Attack on the Suprosa
34. Leia Meets Guri
35. Luke and Melan Are Ambushed
36. Luke's Taken Prisoner
37. Guri Turns the Tables
38. Boarding Guri's Stinger
39. Chewbacca in Disguise
40. Leia and Chewie Go Underground
41. Leia Visits Spero's Plant Shop
42. Vader Seethes Over Luke's Escape
43. Leia Arrives at Xizor's Palace
44. Leia Finally Meets Xizor
45. Leia is Smitten
46. Vader Senses His Son
47. Leia Prepares for Xizor
48. Hyperspace... At Last!
49. Xizor Prepares for Leia
50. The Kiss
51. Take That, Xizor!
52. Xizor Sharpens His Claws
53. Dash Does it Again
54. Luke Becomes One with the Force
55. Xizor's Troubled World
56. Vader Uncovers Xizor's Secret Past
57. Same Beast, Different Sewer
58. Dash Fires the Guide
59. Artoo and Threepio Helm the Falcon
60. Luke Blocks Xizor's Fire
61. Will Xizor Call Luke's Bluff?
62. Five Minutes Until Impact
63. Guri Goes Toe-to-Toe with Luke
64. Xizor Narrowly Escapes
65. Xizor's Castle Blows Up
66. Battle Over Coruscant: Part I
67. Battle Over Coruscant: Part II
68. Battle Over Coruscant: Part III
69. Good Riddance, Xizor!
70. Watch Out, Dash!
71. Dash's Secret Getaway
72. Luke Plans Han's Rescue
73. Luke Skywalker
74. Leia and Chewbacca
75. Lando Calrissian
76. R2-D2 and C-3PO
77. Dash and Leebo
78. Xizor
79. Guri
80. Darth Vader
81. Jix and Big Gizz
82. Boba Fett
83. Millennium Falcon
84. Outrider
85. Virago
86. Stinger
87. Swoop
88. Slave I
89. IG-88's Bold Attack on Boba Fett (Dark Horse 1 of 6)
90. Fett Fends Off Fellow Bounty Hunters (Dark Horse 2 of 6)
91. 4-LOM Tries His Luck Against Fett (Dark Horse 3 of 6)
92. Another Narrow Escape for Boba Fett (Dark Horse 4 of 6)
93. Fett Deals with Zuckuss (Dark Horse 5 of 6)
94. At Last, Fett Delivers Han to Jabba (Dark Horse 6 of 6)
95. Dash Battles AT-ATs on Hoth (LucasArts 1 of 6)
96. Dash Uncovers the Swoopers' Plot (LucasArts 2 of 6)
97. Dash Aboard the Suprosa (LucasArts 3 of 6)
98. Dash Attacks Xizor's Skyhook (LucasArts 4 of 6)
99. Dash Rides Ord Mantell Hovertrain (LucasArts 5 of 6)
100. Dash Battles IG-88 on Ord Mantell (LucasArts 6 of 6)

Development

The brothers Hildebrandt read the novelized story and marked the characters, scenes and environments they felt should be included. The choices were thinned out by Bob Woods of Topps, and their business representative, Jean Scrocco. Although the brothers found the scene of Vader meditating in his medical chamber impressive, this scene was not included.^[5]

Thumbnail sketches took four months to draw, where they took care of the general design, layout and lighting. After Topps approved the rough composition, the artists proceeded with staging the models (with costumes) and lighting.^[5] Linda Siegal and Greg Hildebrandt's children Mary and Gregory, and daughter-in-law Olga, were among the models who posed for the characters. Tom Kyte posed as Dash Rendar and Xizor.^[6][7] The paintings were made on boards using acrylic. For the project the brothers were conscious that the final illustrations would be reduced in card size, and avoided details that would be cluttered. Topps shot transparencies of the paintings before making digital separations. Before gong for print, the brothers approved the proofs.^[5]

Continuity

In an apparent continuity error, the card #41 of the series shows Leia having removed her helmet to talk with Spero,^[8] while in the novel she was masked all the time, never revealing her identity.^[9]

Card #42 shows Vader interrogating one of the bounty hunters who abducted Luke, being human.^[10] In the comic adaptation, Vader interrogates a Barabel.^[11]

The card #53, shows Luke and Lando hiding in the Southern Underground with their regular attires^[12] whereas according to the novelization, they were disguised with the red armor of the Coruscant Guard.^[9]

Card #58 shows the killed Guide as a normal medium-statured and well-built man.^[13] All other sources, describe and show Benedict Vidkun as a thin and short goblin-like figure.^{[9][5][14][15]}

Card #66 shows Coruscant Guards stationed on the Falleen's Fist^[16] suggesting that the Guards were employed by Xizor. The comic book adaptation also shows Xizor's Palace defended by red-armored Guards.^[15]

Sources

Notes and references

External links

• 1996 Topps Star Wars Shadows of the Empire on the Trading Card Database (backup link archived on November 3, 2023)

Books Novel (unabridged · abridged) · Junior novelization Comics Shadows of the Empire: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 Trade paperback · Omnibus Kenner Special: 1, 2 · Galoob · Ertl · Battle of the Bounty Hunters Evolution: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · Trade paperback Legends Collections Epic Collection: Rebellion Vol. 5 · Rebellion Vol. 6 · New Republic Vol. 1 Marvel Omnibus: Rebellion Vol. 3 · New Republic Vol. 1 Reference material The Secrets of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire · Sourcebook · Planets Guide The Official Strategy Guide · Game Secrets · Limited Collector's Edition Multimedia Video game · Soundtrack · Trading cards · Toy line Micro Machines · Embossed Metal Collector Cards Related material Assignment: Decoy · Secrets of the Sisar Run · Shadow Stalker The Art of the Brothers Hildebrandt · Star Wars Omnibus: Wild Space Volume 1 Return of the Jedi radio drama · Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance
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