Description

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire – Evolution                      Comics Lot
Writer: Steve Perry
Artist: Ron Randall
Inkers: Tom Simmons & Ron Randall
Colorist: Dave Nestelle
Letterer: Steve Dutro
Editors: Bob Cooper & Peet Janes
All Covers by: Duncan Fegredo

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 Shadows of the Empire: Evolution, a sequel to the original story by the author of the Shadows of the Empire novel, Steve Perry. The series was the first foray into comics by the best-selling author, Steve Perry. The story is set one year after The Empire Strikes Back, and more or less shortly after the events of Return of the Jedi. The Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire – Evolution mini-series focuses not so much on the core Star Wars characters, but on the characters that were introduced in the Shadows of the Empire novel; the fallen crimelord, Xizor, the leader of Black Sun,, and the human replica droid named Guri, that the crimelord had programmed as his personal assassin.

Now… a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire – Evolution. En route to Tatoonie following The Empire Strikes Back, hoping to rescue Han Solo from his carbonite imprisonment at the hands of Boba Fett, the Rebels are discovered by an Imperial fleet intent on capturing Luke Skywalker alive for Darth Vader. Vader is convinced he can sway his son over to the dark side of the Force. Unbeknownst to Vader, the Fallen Price Xizor, ruthless and cunning leader of the Black Sun criminal organization, intends to kill Luke and implicate Vader – hopefully gaining the trust of the Emperor and becoming his new right hand in the process. Part of Xizor’s plan, playing both sides against the middle, includes insinuating himself and his good graces of the Leaders of the Rebellion – then turning on them. Luke travels with his rebel friends from Gall to Tatoonie in an unrelenting effort to free Han, unaware that he’s caught in the middle of a deadly game being played out by two struggling factions of scoundrels – one ready to capture him in order to deliver him to Vader alive, the other dead set on killing him. Luke is eventually captured by bounty hunters and taken to Xizor’s castle on Coruscant. He narrowly escapes Xizor’s clutches with the help of Lando Calrissian, Dash Rendar, and the droids. The Rebels manage to destroy Xizor’s castle in the skirmish – and as Xizor retreats to his skyhoook above the planet, and angry Vader arrives with the Imperial Navy, threatening to destroy Xizor’s skyhook if he doesn’t call off his personal fleet. The skyhook is destroyed during the battle, and it’s assumed that Xizor is dead. Now, with Xizor ostensibly out of the picture, Black Sun is floundering. But there’s certainly no lack of eager lieutenants ready to step up and assume a leadership role – including at least one mysterious figure that no one in Black Sun was aware of before. Meanwhile, Guri is every bit as confused as the rest of Black Sun as to her future – not the least of which is due to her uncertainty about just how much “human” there is in a human replica droid.

Story/Spoilers
In issue # 1, “After the Fall”, Xizor, the leader of the Black Sun organization, has been destroyed, and Guri, a Human replica droid and Xizor’s personal assassin, is left wondering what her future will hold now that she no longer has anyone to answer to. Throughout the ongoing struggle for underworld supremacy, Guri endeavors to uncover hints of her Human side – if it even exists. Her search first takes her to the far side of the Rim looking for droid programming genius Massad Thrumble, in the hope that he can alter her programming.

Next in issue # 2, “The Journey of a Thousand Light-Years”, Human replica droid Guri continues her quest to discover just how Human she really is. She braves the dangers of the tropical planet Murninkam looking for the surgical droid known as Doc, who has been abducted by Spinda Caveel, a brilliant but more-than-slightly mad scientist, and his deadly cohorts, the Pikkel Sisters. Meanwhile, bounty hunter Kar Yang is hot on the trail of Guri at the request of the shadowy Azool, who wants Guri for reasons that will finally become clear in this issue. A comic-book sequel to the best-selling Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, written by Shadows novelist Steve Perry.

Next in issue # 3, “Dark Fires of a Black Sun”, Human replica droid Guri has located the only one potentially capable of altering her assassin-driven programming, the surgical droid known as Doc. But now she’s being pursued by a bounty hunter, Kar Yang. Savan, working in disguise as a Human female, is trying to secure her hold on the Black Sun organization — and realizes that Guri is the key. Luke, Han, and Leia, who are meeting with Savan on Coruscant in order to work out a peaceful end to the tumultuous turnover in Black Sun, have no idea who she really is, though.

Next in issue # 4, “Metamorphosis”, Now that Guri has found Doc, and the de-droiding procedure has been started, the search is on for Guri. Will Spinda Caveel, the Pikkel Sisters, Savan, or Han, Luke, and Leia be the first to find Guri and Doc? Will Doc be able to finish the Humanizing procedure on Guri before they are found? Just as we think things are going well, Luke gets a “feeling,” and Leia discovers the truth behind Savan.

Finally in issue # 5, “Reincarnation”, Guri, the most wanted droid in the galaxy awakens from surgery. Doc and Thrumble stand by to see if the surgery successfully removed the bad memories of Black Sun. Meanwhile, our gang is on the way to collect Guri and bring her to trial. What they don’t know is that Savan and her thugs are there to capture Guri for themselves.

Comics lot contains: Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire – Evolution (1998) Issues #1-5.  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
Format per comic: FC, 32 pages, Comic, 10.25″ x 6.75″
UPC: 761568969771

Collectible Entertainment note: Comics 1,2,3,4,5 are in 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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