Star Wars: Infinities

Dark Horse Comics has a trio of Star Wars “Infinities” comics that take each movie of the original trilogy and asks “what if”? The artwork is uneven, but these alternate timeline stories are interesting enough.

What if the attack on the Death Star had failed?

In the Infinities version of A New Hope, Luke’s torpedoes hit the mark, but the chain reaction that should’ve destroyed the space station doesn’t happen because of faulty detonators. The Death Star is damaged enough to slow it down and Leia and some of the forces on the ground make it to their transports before Yavin IV is blown up. However, she is captured by Vader and taken to Coruscant.

With the rebellion now destroyed, Luke escapes with Han and goes to Dagobah, where he is trained by Yoda. Leia, in turn, is tutored by Vader, who moves her to the Dark Side (surprisingly convincingly, I might add!) by reasoning with her that she can be the person that transitions the galaxy back to peace once the Emperor, who is “ill” (yeah, right) has passed away. Vader doesn’t use any torture, he puts her up in a penthouse, gives her back Threepio as a companion, and he doesn’t go into any meaningless rants about “if you only knew the power of the Dark Side.” In fact, he doesn’t even mention the Dark Side. He doesn’t have to -- she’s sucked in by her own ambition. Five years after the destruction of the Rebel Alliance, Luke, with Han and Yoda, journey to Coruscant to bring Leia back to the Light and stop Vader and Palpatine.

The end of this comic is superior to what actually happened in Return of The Jedi. Yoda pulls the Jedi Mind Trick on Grand Moff Tarkin (yes, Tarkin. Pay attention. He's still alive 'cause the Death Star didn't get destroyed, okay?) and has him fire on the Imperial fleet, which is clustered around Coruscant to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the destruction of the Rebellion. Vader grapples with the Emperor long enough to keep him from frying his kids, and long enough for Yoda to commit suicide and kill the two Sith by having Tarkin crash the Death Star into the Palpatine's palace -- the former Jedi Temple.

That's kinda hot.

It occurs to me that an absolutely heinous number of innocent people would've been killed by this action -- the only thing worse than having the Death Star fire on your planet is having it crash into your planet! -- but it still would've been unbelieveable to see this on screen.

What if Luke had died on Hoth?

In the Infinities version of The Empire Strikes Back, Han’s tauntaun dies a mile before he reaches Luke. By the time Han does reach Luke, it’s too late. Luke dies after telling him “you must go to Dagobah to train with Yoda.” But it’s Leia he means, of course. Padawan Leia has a showdown with Vader on Dagobah, but it's Han who kills him with a blaster shot to the head.

Huh?

He had his helmet on! Darth Vader doesn't wear flimsy stormtrooper armor!

Whatever -- at the end of the comic, the Emperor is still at large.

What if the rescue of Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt had failed?

In the Infinities version of Return of The Jedi, the rescue falls apart, which causes Luke to delay going back to Dagobah to continue the search for Han, whose body has been taken by Boba Fett. The death of Yoda causes a ripple in the Force and the Emperor is able to foresee where Luke will be going. Luke is captured by Vader on Dagobah. At then end of the comic, Death Star II is destroyed, but both the Emperor and Vader escape. The latter, unconvincingly, is outfitted with white armor and vows to help his kids and the former rebels find Palpatine.

Oh, come on!

Mon Mothma would surely have put Vader’s ass in chains, then put him on trial for war crimes, which would have been great for the morale of the New Republic -- it's the trial of the millennium, woo hoo! -- but hell for the Skywalker family. This premise in itself would make a good Infinities story. Betcha Leia would support the trial and Luke wouldn’t. Luke would try to spring his father from prison and Leia would be expecting that. I’m digging this idea. I’m sure this premise has been tackled by someone in a (hopefully well-written) fan fiction piece.

I will investigate...