The Galoob minicomic for Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire is a diminutive comic book that was bundled inside select Galoob Micro-Machines toys. It largely consists of reprinted sections from the original comic, but it also features some brand-new scenes crafted by writer Ryder Windham and artist Bill Hughes. While each of the three mini-comics has a unique cover design, the story contained within is identical across all issues.
The comic's narrative commences with Luke receiving his cybernetic hand, a scene familiar from the conclusion of Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. The storyline then shifts its focus to the conflict between Boba Fett and IG-88D, a battle previously depicted in the original comic, the Kenner special, and the Battle of the Bounty Hunters pop-up comic.
Another segment showcases Darth Vader honing his lightsaber skills against an ASP-series droid. After destroying the droid, Vader comments that he is "almost fully recovered" from his battle with Skywalker. He then receives a communication from the Emperor, who instructs Vader to disregard Skywalker and instead oversee the construction of the Second Death Star. Prince Xizor overhears Vader's intention to capture Skywalker alive. Consequently, he directs Guri to contact every bounty hunter in the galaxy, tasking them with Skywalker's assassination.
The subsequent scene portrays Dash Rendar arriving on Gall and spotting Boba Fett's vessel, Slave I. Remembering that Lando Calrissian offered a reward for Fett's location, Rendar contacts him. Simultaneously, on Tatooine, Luke Skywalker is shown inside Ben Kenobi's hut, constructing his new lightsaber. R2-D2, C-3PO, and Princess Leia Organa express concern about Luke, noting that he "has changed" since his duel with Darth Vader. Suddenly, Lando appears and informs them of Rendar's discovery, prompting the group to head to Gall. The concluding scene depicts Guri informing Xizor that all bounty hunters have been notified, to which Xizor responds that "the future promises to be most...interesting."