Episode 52 of The Trigan Empire
The Man with a Mission
aka The Rocketeer
The Mission of Lukaz Rann (The Collection)
De gelofte van Lukaz Rann (Dutch title)
The Vow of Lukaz Rann (Dutch title, translated)
Written by Mike Butterworth
Illustrated by Don Lawrence
The Man with a Mission was originally published in 10 instalments in issues 699 (7 June 1975) to 708 (9 August 1975) of Look and Learn magazine.
It is reprinted in Volume 11 of The Trigan Empire—The Collection (the Don Lawrence Collection).
It is reprinted in Volume 5 of The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire (Rebellion).
Plot summary
Lukaz Rann wants to break his own rocketeering height record. He succeeds, but his parachute fails, and he falls thirty-three thousand fromms into the waters of Trigan Bay. Doctors operate on him, and he survives the fall, but Peric has to tell him that he only has a few months left to live. To leave a legacy for the people of Elekton, Lukaz decides to eliminate the six most evil inhabitants of the planet.
He starts with Zorza, the barbarian wreaking havoc and destruction on the southern hemisphere of Elekton. Flying his heli-jet to Zorza’s encampment, he is captured but claims to be an acrobat and is allowed to perform. During the performance, he knocks Zorza unconscious and kidnaps him. He takes him to his home, a Vorg castle outside Trigan City, and imprisons him there.
His next target is Vallu, a criminal genius from Tharv who has invented fiendish chemical and biological weapons. Lukaz infiltrates Vallu’s fortress, perched atop a high rock, despite heavy security. Vallu notices Lukaz on his surveillance screens and has him fall through a trapdoor that nearly drops him into a chamber filled with ravenous beasts. Lukaz barely holds on to the edge of the pipe through which he fell before clawing his way to safety. Meanwhile, Vallu and his assistant Forri have just invented a bomb capable of destroying a city ten times the size of the capital. However, Vallu doubts its safety and asks Forri to recheck the calculations, offending Forri, who insists he never makes mistakes. During a car ride, Lukaz manages to abduct Vallu and also takes him back to the dungeon in his castle.
Yackrass, a politician promoting xenophobia, is Lukaz’s third target. Yackrass hosts a weekly audivision programme. Currently he is promoting xenophobia, inciting Trigans to attack Catons, Lokans, and Tharvs. Lukaz kidnaps Yackrass as well. However, the abductions backfire. Yossa, Zorza’s successor, proves even more ruthless and wages war on the northern hemisphere, conquering entire cities. Rizzoldo, who has taken over Yackrass’s programme, capitalises on this by calling for the destruction of the barbarians using the bomb invented by Vallu and Forri. Tharv’s leaders approach Vallu to ask if the bomb is ready. In Vallu’s absence, they strike a deal with Forri, who assures them the bomb’s detonation poses no threat to the planet. Tharv deploys a plane to drop the bomb on the barbarians.
The broadcast of this event catches Lukaz Rann’s attention. He immediately confesses everything to Peric, who decides to convince Tharv’s government that detonating the bomb will trigger a magnetic chain reaction that could destroy the entire planet. Peric believes Vallu might be able to persuade Tharv’s leaders. Zorza, Vallu, and Yackrass are retrieved from the castle and brought to Trigan City. Peric convinces Vallu that the bomb would obliterate the planet. They contact Tharv, but it is too late—the bomb has already been dropped. However, the bomb does not detonate because its ignition mechanism was poorly constructed.
Trigo now demands action against the barbarians, but Zorza promises to put an end to their hostilities in exchange for his freedom. Yackrass gets his audivision programme back but has transformed into a man who advocates peaceful coexistence.
When winter arrives, Lukaz Rann is still alive. Peric examines him and declares that all his injuries have healed and that he will survive. Lukaz even goes on to break his own altitude record again.
Links
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https://www.catawiki.com/nl/l/3339175
https://www.catawiki.com/nl/l/9763943
https://www.catawiki.com/nl/l/1404207
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https://www.catawiki.com/nl/l/64065351
https://www.catawiki.com/nl/l/40550031
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https://bookpalace.com/acatalog/info-LawrenceTrigan0029.html
https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?Piece=499191
https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?Piece=499192
https://bookpalace.com/acatalog/info_LawrenceTrigan0030.html
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https://www.catawiki.com/nl/l/32467373
https://www.catawiki.com/nl/l/40032187
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https://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/story-page/don-lawrence-the-trigan-empire-the-rocketeer-story-page-30-original-art-look-and-learn-fleetway-/a/7273-61132.s
https://www.catawiki.com/nl/l/32052929
https://www.catawiki.com/nl/l/39033935
705
https://www.2dgalleries.com/art/the-trigan-empire-131458
https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=499194
https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?Piece=499195
https://bookpalace.com/acatalog/info-LawrenceTrigan0032.html
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https://www.catawiki.com/nl/l/39865539
https://www.2dgalleries.com/art/trigan-148816
https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/36819871
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https://www.catawiki.com/nl/l/3339187
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https://www.catawiki.com/nl/l/3339227
https://www.catawiki.com/nl/l/32282095
Plot summary (Dutch)
Downloads
MediaFire via British Comics Compilations
The Non Lawrence Collection [PDF]