Description

Star Wars: River of Chaos                                          Comics Lot
Writer: Louise Simonson
Artist: June Brigman
Inker: Roy Richardson
Colorist: David Nestelle
Letterer: Steve Dutro
Editors: Ryder Windham & Bob Cooper
Covers by: June Brigman & Roy Richardson

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. Star Wars: The Last Jedi, released on December 18, 2017. And Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was released on December 20, 2019.

Dark Horse Comics presents a ground-breaking four-issue series that takes readers behind enemy lines, to see the Rebellion through the eyes of an officer of the Empire! Star Wars: River of Chaos introduces Lieutenant Ranulf Trommer, an Imperial pilot… and now an Imperial Spy in service to the Emperor himself.

Now… a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… Star Wars: River of Chaos. On the planet M’Haeli, a member of the precognitive native race adopts a human infant, orphaned by the war between the rebellion and the Empire. Seventeen years later, child has grown into a young woman, Mora, and become a rebel sympathizer in a society that strives to remain neutral. Into this setting comes Lieutenant Ranulf Trommer, a skilled pilot and hero of the Empire. Trommer was assigned to M’Haeli because of rumors of a surviving heir of the ruling house but more importantly, to spy on the Imperial governor who has aroused the suspicion of the Empire. But the governor is aware of Trommer’s covert mission and has taken measures to eliminate him.

Story/Spoilers
In issue #1, Several months after the destruction of the Death Star, Emperor Palpatine sends an Imperial pilot to spy on the governor of a distant planet, M’haeli. Although Palpatine knows of certain Rebel activity on M’Haeli, he does not know of the presence of one particular Rebel: Princess Leia Organa! Can Leia undermine the enemy from within, or is she doomed to drown in a river of chaos?

Imperial TIE bombers attack the Rebel base on Aguarl 3, but the Rebels manage to stop all but one of them. The lone pilot carries out the attack as ordered, and returns to the Ravagor badly damaged. The pilot, Ranulf Trommer, survives, but must have a mechanical leg implanted when he loses his biological one. On M’haeli, a local “seer”, Ch’no, defends his adopted Human daughter Mora, and then has a vision of an Imperial attack on the planet. Shortly thereafter, Ranulf Trommer is called to Grand Moff Lynch with his father, Admiral Trommer, and given a promotion. He is to go to M’haeli and spy on local Governor Grigor. He and his father speak about the assignment and are overheard by Ambassador Jollie. On M’haeli, Imperials attack a Rebel cell that has been searching for the rumored lost heir to the M’haeli ruling family. The raid prompts two H’drachi, N’ton and R’han, to join the Rebels. At the Imperial garrison, Grigor is informed by Jollie that Lynch has sent Grigor’s new aide, Trommer, as a spy. Back in the capital city, N’croth, Mora is hired by two Rebels, Merrik and Jalose, to augment two swoops for guerrilla warfare. Ch’no then takes Mora to see the H’drachi elders, but their presence disrupts the Force-like meditations of the elders. Ranulf finally arrives on the planet after defending an Imperial dreadnought from attack by Rebels, under Leia Organa’s command. He is sent by Grigor to ingratiate himself with Mora in an attempt to integrate himself into the “junker” culture on the planet. He takes D-4R5, Grigor’s droid, shot by Grigor and thus in need of repairs, to Mora’s repair shop, but they are all accosted by stormtroopers seeking Rebels and to eliminate Ranulf for Grigor. Mora saves his life, with the help of Merrik and Jalose who have arrived to get their swoops. The two Rebels have been accompanied by Leia, whom Mora recognizes from her wanted posters, and N’ton, and along with Ch’no, they all board swoops and escape into the night.

Next in issue #2, The spy trade is a dangerous game, and if you lose you die. But there are greater dangers than death to those who cast false identities. There is the danger of forgetting who you are. In this second issue of Star Wars: River of Chaos, Leia is behind enemy lines with only a handful of Rebel spies at her command. But do they all want to break the Empire, or is there an Imperial in ally’s clothing amongst them?

They are attacked by Imperials, but make their escape without too much of a problem. Mora and Ranulf are sent to a cave near to the Rebel base, but not the base itself, until they can be sure of Ranulf’s loyalty. The other go to the Rebel base itself. In N’croth, the elders decide to turn against Ch’no and let the Empire destroy him, Mora, and the Rebels, thus saving their own selves. Based on Ch’no’s information, Mora and Ranulf take off for a dragite crystal mine that Grigor has been running without Imperial sanction. The Rebels could make certain use the information they would gather, which would help them to be trusted. Once there, Mora’s presence interrupts the meditations of several H’drachi, and see Imperials (well, scum hired by Grigor and dressed as stormtroopers) beating up R’han, N’ton’s friend. Mora and Ranulf manage to disrupt the operation and escape with a handful of dragite crystals to use as proof of the operation’s existence. When they reunite with the Rebels, they all rest for the night, but Ranulf believes that if he exposes Grigor to his Imperial superiors, Grigor will leave the planet and his replacement will be less cruel, thus eliminating the need for rebellion on M’haeli, which would allow him to be with Mora, whom he’s come to love. He makes his way into the Imperial facility where Grigor is sleeping without incident (using his Imperial credentials) and catches Grigor in his sleep. Ranulf is taken prisoner, though. His former allies are against him for being against Grigor, and the Rebels are warned against him as Merrik arrives back at the Rebel base after seeing Ranulf enter the Imperial compound unimpeded. They fear that they have revealed their base‘s location to the enemy and prepare to move to a new base.

Next in issue #3, Leia has uncovered Ranulf as an Imperial spy! She and her covert Rebel team are holding him prisoner and preparing his execution, but when the Empire has the Rebel Mora in its merciless grasp, it’s Ranulf who volunteers to rush to her rescue! Is it a plot to regain his freedom, or can an Imperial officer repeal the indoctrination of the Empire?

Ranulf is tortured, but does not reveal the Rebel base’s location to Grigor. In his absence, Merrik begins hitting on Mora, which make Jalose mad. At N’croth, the city is blasted apart by Imperials looking for the Rebels. The Rebels decide to assault the mine in retaliation. Back at the garrison, the bounty hunter Glott arrives to fulfill Grigor’s orders to find Mora. The Rebels are betrayed by Ph’dan and Glott heads for the mine to apprehend them. In the dungeon, Ranulf escapes thanks to his Imperial training. He arrives at the mine just in time to see the victorious Rebels attacked by Glott. He proceeds to beat Glott up before the Rebels, seeing him in stormtrooper armor, let Glott go and take him instead. Glott orders Mora to be registered and then executed, but when they run her identi-print, they realize that she is the lost heir to M’haeli. As a result, Grigor makes a planetary announcement—he will soon be marrying Queen Mora, thus cementing his power on M’haeli.

Finally in issue #4, The war of good against evil has been waged for centuries. It began long before Ranulf joined the Imperials, long before he was ever born, and the war will continue long after he is dead. But now Ranulf is forced to fight one battle of this war, a battle that rages in his soul. When Governor Grigor’s Imperial forces clash with Princess Leia’s Rebels, Ranulf must choose between his Imperial allies and the Rebel he has come to love…and the outcome of his personal battle may change the current of this River of Chaos!

In desperation, Ranulf tells the Rebels his entire reason for being on M’haeli, but is willing to help them save her. They assault Grigor’s base and rescue Mora. They are pursued by Glott. In the pursuit, Jalose gives her life to save Mora, her queen. Ranulf then kills Glott. Finally, the H’drachi rise in rebellion to the Empire and there is a massive battle in which Grigor is finally killed (Ranulf kicks his gun hand while he’s holding Mora hostage and it blasts his own head off). Shortly thereafter, Ranulf’s father, Admiral Trommer arrives to congratulate Ranulf in helping bring down Grigor, but when he says that they must now get rid of Mora due to her family’s ties to the Old Republic, Ranulf doesn’t take that too kindly and he assaults the Imperials holding Mora and the two escape to join the Rebellion. Their first act is to help the Rebels destroy the mine. Merrik dies in the assault, but at least now he is with Jalose.

Comics lot contains: Star Wars: River of Chaos (1995) Issues #1-4.  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: 1995
Format per comic: FC, 32 pages, Comic, 10.25″ x 6.75″
UPC: None Stated

Collectible Entertainment note: Comics 1,2,3,4 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.  Recommended.

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