Framed Assorted Empire Vintage Comic Books. The Galactic Empire (colloquial: the Empire) is a fictional autocracy featured in the Star Wars franchise. It was first introduced in the 1977 film Star Wars and also appears in its two sequels: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983) and is the main antagonist faction of the original trilogy. By the time of the sequel trilogy, which starts three decades following the events of the original trilogy, the government has collapsed and is remembered as the Old Empire. The Empire's origins are depicted in the prequel Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005), where it replaces the Galactic Republic at the end of the Clone Wars orchestrated by Palpatine, who was then the Republic's Supreme Chancellor. Palpatine is also secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious who intends to purge the Jedi and restore the Sith to power in the galaxy. PLEASE NOTE: Styles vary. For Ages: 6+
