Star Wars continues to flourish long after the original trilogy's release thanks to one year that saved the franchise and still influences it today. The large quantity of Star Wars movies and TV shows may be common now, but there was a time when even book, comic, and video game releases were fairly limited. Star Wars content was scarce after Return of the Jedi was released in 1983, with only two short-lived cartoons, a handful of books, and a comic series that ended in 1986. With no Star Wars movie updates from George Lucas, it seemed that the franchise was winding down for good.
At least until one year came along that rejuvenated interest in new Star Wars stories and kept fans engaged until the release of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in 1999. Considering how little Star Wars content was available and that Lucas had yet to officially announce the prequel trilogy, this is exactly what the franchise needed to keep itself alive. The stories released in this one year became some of the most popular and influential pieces of Star Wars media that still define the franchise all these years later. If not for this one year in Star Wars history, the franchise certainly wouldn't be what it is today.
Rise Of Skywalker's Palpatine Return Came Straight From 1991's Dark Empire 
1991 put Star Wars back on the map with the launch of the modern Expanded Universe, and the Dark Empire comic series by Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy bears a striking resemblance to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Both stories feature a resurrected Emperor Palpatine, who survived by transferring his spirit into a clone body, returning to conquer the galaxy with a fleet of powerful ships. Dark Empire was one of the first new Star Wars stories set after Return of the Jedi long before the sequel trilogy became a reality. It also created interest for more Star Wars comic releases that haven't slowed down since 1991.
