Description

Star Wars: Crimson Empire 2 – Council of Blood          Comics Lot
Writers: Mike Richardson & Randy Stradley
Artist: Paul Gulacy
Inker: Randy Emberlin
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Editors: Diana Schutz & Ben Abernathy
All Covers by: Dave Dorman

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…

Star Wars is an American epic space opera franchise centered on a film series created by George Lucas.  The film series began with Star Wars, released on May 25, 1977. This was followed by two sequels: The Empire Strikes Back, released on May 21, 1980, and Return of the Jedi, released on May 25, 1983. Then more than two decades after the release of the original film, the series continued with a prequel trilogy; consisting of Episode I: The Phantom Menace, released on May 19, 1999; Episode II: Attack of the Clones, released on May 16, 2002; Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, released on May 19, 2005; and  finally the epic saga concluded with Star Wars: The Force Awakens released on December 18, 2015;  Star Wars: The Last Jedi was released on December 18, 2017. And Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was released on December 20, 2019.

In 1998, Dark Horse Comics followed up their epic six-issue mini-series featuring a post – Return of the Jedi storyline with Star Wars: Crimson Empire 2 – Council of Blood. This continuation of the Crimson Empire saga is set about seven years after Return of the Jedi. After the events of Crimson Empire 1… with Emperor Palpatine dead, the crumbling Empire is ruled by an Interim Council consisting of alien races from throughout the Empire. This Council of Blood is torn by political intrigue and warring factions, and to make matters worse, someone is killing off members one by one. The Council suspects the culprit is Kir Kanos, last surviving member of the Emperor’s Imperial Guardsmen and a deadly killer who considers the Council to be traitors to the Empire. But Kanos is secretly engaged as a bounty hunter to the ruthless Grappa the Hutt. At the same time, beautiful and tough Mirith Sinn has pledged to work for Grappa if he will help her find Kanos. Meanwhile, the mysterious Nom Anor lurks in the background. Is he the real culprit behind the slayings? And… as always… the impressive Star Wars cover paintings by Dave Dorman add to the epic excitement.

Now… a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… Crimson Empire 2 – Council of Blood! Following the death of Imperial Guard turncoat Carnor Jax at the hand of the last Guard, Kir Kanos, the Galactic Empire suddenly finds itself devoid of a leader, and an Interim Council is assembled to rule the Empire until a new Emperor can be selected. But when Council members become targets for assassination, Kanos becomes the prime suspect and again stands at the center of a storm!

Story/Spoilers
In issue #1, Following the death of Carnor Jax in the first Crimson Empire series, the Empire suddenly finds itself devoid of a strong leader. The Interim Council is assembled to manage the affairs of the Empire until a new emperor can take the throne, yet something is amiss. Assassinations begin to whittle down the numbers of the council, causing panic and suspicion. Increased raids on otherwise “safe” Rebel trade routes arouse concern within the Republic. And just where, exactly, has Kir Kanos gone?

Carnor Jax, former Imperial Guardsman and would-be Dark Lord, is dead – killed by the only other surviving member of the late Emperor Palpatine’s Guards, Kir Kanos. Now the interm Council, assembled to manage the affairs of the Empire until a new emperor could take the throne, is in turmoil. With Jax gone, each member is trying to consolidate his or her power and take control of the Council. At the same time, all are concerned about the threat posed by Kanos, who views the Council members as traitors to Palpatine and has vowed to destroy them. But Kir Kanos is not the only danger faced by the Council. The forces of the New Republic have recently won several stunning victories over the Imperials; the criminal Black Sun organization has grown bold during the disruption of Imperial control; and the powerful Mining Guild, on whose raw ore the Empire relies, has bypassed the Council and negotiated for itself a number of strategic truces between New Republic and Imperial forces…

Next in issue #2, As the death toll rises, so do the stakes for the future of the Empire. Who is committing these assassinations of Interim Council members and who within the Empire has the most to gain? Why has Mirith Sinn abandoned the New Republic to fulfill a personal vendetta? And how does Kir Kanos fit into this jigsaw puzzle of intrigue?

Since the death of Emperor Palpatine, the Empire has been under the control of an assembly of political, military, and business leaders, each with a vested interest in maintaining the Empire’s hold on the galaxy. The goals and desires of individual members of this Interim Council were kept in check while the would-be Dark Lord Carnor Jax was alive. Now the Council is rife with intrigue as various members plot against one another for ultimate power. That power comes at a high price, Burr Nolyds, acting head of the Council, is assassinated – possibly by the fugitive and former Imperial Guardsman, Kir Kanos. In a move to put the Council under the control of a puppet-ruler, one faction manages to get the unassuming career bureaucrat Xandel Carivus elected as new acting head. But Carivus has plans of his own and is working with a mysterious being known as Nom Anor. Meanwhile, on the other side of the galaxy, former New Republic commander Mirith Sinn has gone to work for a Hutt criminal named Grappa who has offered to help her find Kir Kanos. However, Sinn and Grappa are unaware that Kanos has also hired on the Grappa, in the guise of bounty hunter Kenix Kil…

Next in issue #3, While Grappa’s pirates turn up the heat on the Rebel cargo routes, the Interim Council sinks to unprecedented depths under the leadership of Xandel Carivus. Mirith Sinn finds herself the victim of the greatest deception of all when an old “comrade” finds her amidst Grappa’s thugs. Meanwhile, where has Kir Kanos gotten himself to?

The Interim Ruling Council formed to oversee the affairs of the Empire after the Emperor’s death is in turmoil. Xandel Carivus, the unassuming bureaucrat picked to head the Council, has proven himself to be a man of far-reaching ambition and greed. Unbeknownst to the other Council members, he is working in league with the mysterious being Nom Anor. Meanwhile, other Council members pursue their own agendas. But Anor’s plans and internal conflict are not the only threats to Imperial control. Kir Kanos, the last surviving Imperial Guard , has sworn vengeance on the Council for its part in the Emperor’s death, and criminal organizations such as Black Sun have set in motion their own plans to expand their power. One criminal group, run by the notorious Grappa the Hutt, has also begun targeting the forces of the New Republic…

Next in issue #4, The pieces of the mystery are slowly coming together as Kir Kanos races towards the Zanibar homeworld, Xo, in an attempt to save Mirith Sinn from a fate worse than death. But will he be in time? Will personal animosities between the two be too great? Meanwhile, Grappa the Hutt finds himself in an awkward situation, with the heat of the Black Sun starting to make him sweat.

Claiming to have left the New Republic in order to follow her vendetta against Imperial Guard Kir Kanos, Mirith Sinn joined the ranks of Grappa the Hutt’s criminal organization. Grappa had no reason to disbelieve Sinn’s story until she was betrayed by Massimo, one of her former soldiers. Massimo revealed to Grappa that Sinn’s real mission is to confirm that Grappa is behind the rash of recent attacks on New Republic supply ships. As a reward for betraying his former commanding officer, Massimo is condemned by Grappa to suffer the same fate as Sinn: the two of them are turned over to the aliens known only as the Zanibar. Too late, Grappa has discovered that Kir Kanos was also in his employ, working under the guise of bounty hunter Kenix Kil. Now Kanos has escaped Grappa’s clutches and is racing to rescue Mirith Sinn…

Next in issue #5, It’s revelation time, as the series begins to accelerate toward its thrilling conclusion. A hair-raising rescue attempt on the part of Kir Kanos goes afoul while the Interim Council finally collapses beneath its array of intrigues. And Grappa learns the meaning of “caught between a rock and a hard place.”

Kir Kanos’ dramatic one-man raid on a Zanibar village led to his rescue of Mirith Sinn and a narrow escape for both of them. After a harrowing night in the jungle and the discovery of an ancient, forgotten fortress that predates the Old Republic, Kanos and Sinn thought they were finally safe from Zanibar, but…

Finally, in issue #6, As the Baron’s forces lay waste to the Interim Council’s guarded planet, Sinn and Kanos hurtle toward the heat of the battle in an attempt to thwart the escape of Feena D’Asta’s clone. But will they arrive in time? And what happened to the treacherous Grappa the Hutt? Has he escaped unscathed from all the trouble that he raised?

After a surprise attack on Grappa the Hutt’s fortress, New Republic commander Mirith Sinn has freed the last surviving Imperial Guard, Kir Kanos, whom Grappa had planned to turn over to the Imperial Council for a substantial reward. Meanwhile, chairman of the Imperial Council, Xandel Carivus, has disbanded the Council, jailed his fellow Council members, and assumed the throne left vacant since the Death of Emperor Palpatine. Angered by the dissolution of the Council, several planetary groups threaten to break away from the Empire. But none of them goes as far as Baron D’Asta, who launches an all-out attack against Carivus headquarters on Ord Cantrell in an effort to secure the release of his daughter, former Council member Feena D’Asta…

Comics lot contains: Star Wars – Crimson Empire 2 Council of Blood (1998 – 1999) Issues #1-6.  Dark Horse Comics.

Comics are bagged & boarded and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

All First Printings
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Publication Date: 1998 – 1999
Format per comic: FC, 32 pages, Comic, 10.25″ x 6.65″
UPC: 761568977752

Collectible Entertainment note: Comics #1,2,3,4,5,6 are in Very Fine to Very Fine + condition.  Beautiful Set!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Star Wars collector and/or enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Very Highly Recommended.

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