The two-part comic book series, Kenner Shadows of the Empire Special, served as a promotional tie-in to the multimedia project Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire. The first issue chronicles events leading up to and surrounding the meeting of Darth Vader with Prince Xizor. The number 530104.00 is printed on the cover of this issue.
Emperor Palpatine, the dreaded leader of the Galactic Empire, is on the cusp of total victory, while the scattered remnants of the Rebel fleet desperately seek refuge and time to gather new allies.
Haunted by Darth Vader's revelation on Bespin's cloud city, a somber Luke Skywalker contemplates his destiny and the fate of the Rebel Alliance. Meanwhile, the search intensifies for Han Solo, held captive by the infamous bounty hunter, Boba Fett.
Now, Darth Vader must intensify his efforts to crush the Rebellion, as a new, clandestine enemy rises to power, seeking nothing less than Vader's position at the Emperor's side!
Following his duel with Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker is eager to return to flying, knowing his friends in the Alliance are risking their lives in battle. His droids, C-3PO and R2-D2, along with Princess Leia, caution him against this, pointing out that he has not yet mastered control over his prosthetic hand. We then see Rogue Squadron engaged in combat with Imperial forces, and just as they are about to transmit their coordinates to Darth Vader, Wedge Antilles eliminates them.
Darth Vader receives a communication from his master, the Emperor, who expresses his disappointment with Vader's failure on Bespin. Vader responds by stating that he has planted the seeds of the Dark Side within Luke, but the Emperor remains unsatisfied. The Emperor then instructs Vader to temporarily set aside his plans for Luke and instead accompany the Imperial Fleet to finalize arrangements with Prince Xizor. Vader, aware of Xizor's connection to the Black Sun, harbors distrust for him but is ordered by the Emperor to comply.
Xizor engages in a discussion with the Emperor, suggesting that Vader's emotions impair his judgment, but the Emperor disagrees with this assessment.
Darth Vader enlists the services of imperial agent Wrenga Jixton to observe what Vader anticipates will be a rescue operation involving Luke Skywalker when Boba Fett delivers his friend Han Solo to Jabba the Hutt. He commands Jix to capture Luke alive, under threat of death.
Xizor confers with his assistant Guri, revealing his true intention: to exploit Luke Skywalker as a means to undermine the Empire.