Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars #108

Happy Friday, everyone,

Hope all's well. I'm closing out this series with a summary of Star Wars #108, which was published by Marvel in July 2019. This was a continuation of the original title that ran from 1977 to 1986, and included contributions by writers and artists who worked on that series as well as the current runs, including Andrea Broccardo, Kerry Gammill, and Jan Duursema. There were several cover variants, but I like the version that I picked up at my local comic book store, which was a drawing of the bounty hunter Valance squaring off against Darth Vader by Walt Simonson, with a nice tribute to the late former Star Wars writer and editor Archie Goodwin.

The tale was broken into eight parts. Chapter 1 was called "The Legend of Valance the Hunter!" It went into Valance's history, from his days as an Imperial soldier who was injured by a bomb dropped from a Rebel X-Wing, and later became a cyborg who no longer fit the Empire's needs, to his days as a feared bounty hunter. This included his first encounter with Luke Skywalker and C-3PO, when the hunter learned that some droids were not afraid to sacrifice themselves for their human masters. 

Valance had last been seen on the planet Centares, where he engaged in battle with the Dark Lord of the Sith himself. Both villains were fighting for access to whom they thought was the man who'd destroyed the first Death Star (but was in fact another Rebel who'd fled his cause before that skirmish). Valance fell into the Rubyflame lake and was supposedly destroyed.

Several years later, a group of mercenaries was scavenging that area. The lake had long since dried up, and the crew was gathering whatever had been left behind in the lake bed. They even talked about it being the sight of Valance's last known battle. Little did they know just what they had uncovered.

The second chapter, titled "Near Misses & Narrow Escapes," began with Han Solo and his Wookiee counterpart Chewbacca in a tavern on the planet Stenos. They were talking with a rather unsavory character named Slider, who had the lead on a job that they wanted. After some cajoling, their associate pulled the Orakny bloom from a pocket, which needed to be delivered safely to another world. Unfortunately, the Correllian and his co-pilot weren't the only interested parties.

A fight broke out shortly after several others arrived on the scene. Our heroes had just left the cantina when Solo received a hearty kick in the face from his old ally Jaxxon. He and Amaiza were wondering why their former employer was looking for work after advancing to the rank of General in the New Republic. Han learned that Domina Taage was involved, a scoundrel who was best known in the galaxy for trying to spread the deadly Crimson Forever. 

Jaxxon shot a greedy Hiromi before more gun-toting aliens followed. The quartet quickly fled, heading toward the Millennium Falcon. Like it or not, they were now partners.

In Chapter 3, which was called "A Scavenger's Mistake," the mercenaries were delivering their cargo to their customers. They stood in front of a ship that bore the New Republic logo, but their clients didn't appear to be affiliated with that particular organization. Their boss talked to his superior via comlink and confirmed that he would let them know when he was certain they had enough and that what they'd acquired could not be traced back to his leader.

Chapter 4, entitled "Old Worries in the New Republic," took place in the Alliance's base on the planet Noquivzor. Princess Leia Organa stood by Threepio as she talked about the Tof threat with the Zeltron males Bahb, Jahn, Marruc, and Rahuhl. She was in the middle of a sentence when she instinctively ducked to avoid sniper fire from above. Leia pulled the blaster from her holster and returned fire, taking out the would-be Tof assassin.

Guards rushed to her side, but the princess was fine. She'd sensed the impending danger and reacted accordingly. Just then, Plif the Hoojib ran to inform the princess about an incoming ship that was nearing them. It was not responding to radio messages and did not have a landing clearance. He then said that ship was the Falcon. Leia went to meet it. The Falcon was soon suspended in mid-air by Leia's brother, Luke Skywalker. 

Luke used the Force to guide the ship down safely. A few moments later, Han, Chewie, Jaxxon, and Amaiza exited the craft. Leia admonished Han briefly before welcoming him home warmly. Jaxxon then informed her of the news he'd heard about Domina. The Taage had been recruiting spicers for a mission, and the four of them got mixed up in things and had been chased by several bounty hunters.

Leia remembered how Domina had blamed both the Rebellion and the Empire for her brother's death and had tried to retaliate in her attempt to spread the deadly Crimson Forever disease. The House of Taage had fallen quite some time ago, and Domina was last known to be somewhere in the Asteph'skaff system, where she'd mainly kept out of trouble. Threepio affirmed that, adding that Leia had sent the Zeltron Dani and a peacekeeping faction from the New Republic there, but that the crew had not reported back yet. He wondered if that might be related somehow.

Chapter 5, which was called "For Fear of What Might Wake," took place in deep space. The mercenary leader was reporting to his boss, Domina, that they'd taken care of the crew and that they'd cleaned the scrap. They now had plenty of durasteel, which was to be brought to her immediately. The Tof resistance was funding their expedition, so money was not an issue. However, the captain wasn't aware that part of what he'd purloined was activating at that very moment, and soon attacked him.

The transmission ceased shortly thereafter. Domina was not able to determine just what had happened, but told a subordinate to send Slider to investigate. The lackey replied that Slider had stated he was being pursued by bounty hunters when he last checked in. The bounty hunters were after Domina, but Slider was attempting to hire smugglers to bring the Orakny bloom to her. They had now lost contact with Slider, the smugglers, and the bloom. 

Domina was obviously upset by the failures, but still ordered that a course for the unknown regions be laid in. The pilot agreed, but wondered if they would make it without the durasteel to deliver the jewels or the bloom, which could counteract the symptoms. Domina assured him they would improvise.

By then, the resurrected Valance had reformed and taken out the humans on the ship, which he now occupied. He came across a translation droid designated FR-D 8T-KA, who informed him that the Emperor had long since fallen. He went on to talk about the storied life jewels of the Great Nebula, which intrigued the cyborg. Valance was informed that they could restore life, which he was very much interested in. FR-D said that the items were last seen in the unknown regions. Along the way, Valance asked for synthflesh, which would not be used for the now-deceased crew.

Chapter 6, "On the Way to Forever," took place in the Falcon's cockpit. Han and Chewbacca were pushing things to the limit until they were pulled out of hyperspace by the sun that was being partially blocked from view by the Star Destroyer, where the aforementioned jewels were last seen. Solo narrowly evaded the larger craft just before Domina's personal ship arrived. Han had a plan. They just had to keep out of Domina's sight for a while at first.

In Chapter Seven, called "Snatched Away From the Sun," the Falcon's escape pod launched toward the battered Imperial command ship. It landed with a crunch, and its passengers, Luke, Leia, Artoo, and Jaxxon, got out. The humanoids were decked out in space suits, and the four of them began searching their surroundings on foot. They came across a deserted TIE bomber, which might serve as an escape craft.

Han and Amaiza were working on repairs to the Falcon and spotted Domina's fighter touching down near their friends. A firefight broke out, during which a well-placed thermal detonator took out the bridge the allies had just crossed. Jaxxon found the first jewel before spying the second in the hands of a long-deceased occupant of the ship. 

Jaxxon was about to guide his comrades to safety when Domina stood in front of them, flanked by several gunners, including the bounty hunters Dengar, IG-88, and Bossk. Luke charged at their foes and held them off with his lightsaber, while Leia, Jaxxon, and Artoo retreated the way they came. Jaxxon was able to leap across the chasm and seemed about ready to betray his comrades.

Luke used the Force to pull a pipe down that would serve as a makeshift bridge. He and Leia crossed while he kept his trusty astrodroid suspended behind him until they reached the other side. Jaxxon had reached the bomber and was leaving his friends behind, but Leia was more concerned about how he might react to the Crimson Forever. Han then informed them that they were about to have more company.

The final chapter was listed as "The End of the Hunt." The company Han was describing was the mercenary ship now commanded by Valance. The pirated TIE bomber quickly crashed into it right before Valance jumped out. Domina and her hired guns attacked. They were the first to recognize the cyborg. 

Jaxxon jumped Valance, but his foe was well prepared for him. Luke pleaded for Jaxxon's release. Valance remembered Skywalker, a bit surprised that the young farmboy he'd once known was now a Jedi. He was right about Luke, and was only there for the jewels, which Jaxxon was more than willing to surrender.

Valance thought that the gems could help to restore what life he still had left. Perhaps they could even return his human aspects to their former conditions. Things were starting to change until Domina shot him from behind.

While Domina was trying to get her revenge against the Skywalkers, FR-D emerged at Valance's side. The droid decided to sacrifice himself by overloading his power core in the hopes that it would restart the cyborg's battery. He soon rose up and tore Domina off of Leia.

By then, the gems had been pitched into space. Valance explained that Luke had saved him once before jumping out for the jewels. He floated until he could grab a gem with each hand and slowly brought them closer toward his body. Luke explained to his friends how he'd once shown the bounty hunter how humanity was really the total of a person's actions. Although Jaxxon thought it was too late to save Valance, Luke countered that he had actually saved himself. Valance would go on to be a featured character in the Bounty Hunters series and, most recently, in the 2025 Star Wars title. 

The remaining content for this issue included a brief cover gallery and excerpts of interviews with writers Jo Duffy and David Michelinie, editor Louise Simonson, and artists Walt Simonson, Ron Frenz, and the late Tom Palmer. I felt like this issue was a nice way to tidy things up a bit. They ignored most of the mess that was the series last year or so, and brought back fan favorites like Jaxxon, Amaiza, Domina, and the bounty hunters. It also provided some closure to the Crimson Forever affair that was first chronicled in issue #50. I enjoyed the collaborative efforts from the past and present Star Wars creative teams, as well as the reflections on the original run that I remember quite fondly and am very proud to have finally collected in full. The only thing missing was Lando Calrissian, but by then, I was seeing plenty of that character in the most recent Marvel Star Wars books. 

With that, I bid adieu to this series of blog posts. I may cover the more recent Star Wars titles at some point, but that probably won't happen until 2027 at the earliest, as I've already decided upon the next several titles that I want to discuss. I will begin a new set on Monday, which will feature George Lucas' second most popular adventure franchise, one whose main character was well known for digging up treasures from the past and brandishing his signature bullwhip. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #107

Hello there,

Well, my friends, this is it! We finally made it to the end of Marvel's first Star Wars title. Today's article sums up the one hundred and seventh and final issue of that series. The cover showed C-3PO, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Han Solo, Princess Leia, a Hiromi, and a couple of Hoojibs. The tale was titled "All Together Now." The issue had a cover date of September 1986.

The story started on the planet Saijo, where Luke was ducking sniper fire in the rubble of a building. Skywalker (who looked like a blonde version of Sylvester Stallone's Rambo) was returning fire when possible and using the Force to prevent his allies, like the Nagai named Knife, from being gunned down. Den Siva and the Zeltron Dani reported nothing significant from their perch. 

They were gathered in the same area, along with Han, Leia, the droids, the pilots Trif and Maggie, the Mandalorian Fenn Shysa, and other former foes from the Nagai and the Empire. Leia talked about how leadership was finally able to reach a truce between the Alliance of Free Planets and the Nagai, whose true enemy was now the Tofs.

Den and Dani continued to argue, despite the words of others around them. Siva had fallen for the Zeltron female that he'd interrogated not that long ago. However, her feelings were rather cold, having remembered that experience and the struggle on Kinooine that she believed took the life of her beloved, the Iskalonian Kiro (who only Luke and Lando knew survived that battle and had since returned to protect the people on his homeworld). 

Luke thought back to the meeting hosted by Admiral Ackbar and Mon Mothma. There was no doubt as to the threat that the Tofs posed. Ackbar shared that they had made a base on Saijo, and that their leadership had made that planet their new base of operations. Many of those who attended that meeting were assigned to the ground force on Saijo, while Chewie, Lando, Wedge Antilles, and Nien Nunb were designated for aerial support. 

While the ground forces engaged in conversation within the group, the Tof cruiser Merriweather was about to send a supply ship to the planet's surface. Luke and company watched several Tof soldiers pass by and wisely decided not to engage them in combat just yet. This happened despite another argument, this time between Knife and Han, that Fenn had to break up. 

Once the squadron had passed by, Luke gathered Leia, Solo, Dani, Den, and Siva to march toward the Tof headquarters. Trif, Maggie, Artoo, Threepio, and Fenn would remain behind and stay in contact with the fleet. There was, of course, some more grumbling along the way, but at least everyone arrived at their intended destination in one piece. 

As the flight squadron waited for their orders to assemble, Luke's contingent reached the front steps of what used to be the planet's primary trading center. As they followed several Tof guards who had Nagai prisoners in tow, their Prince Sereno was having an audience with the lady Lumiya. She had previously allied herself with the Nagai (and in her true identity as Shira Brie was once an Imperial spy planted within the Rebellion to discredit Skywalker), but now found a better allegiance with the Tofs.

The guards arrived with their captives. However, the prince and his entourage didn't know about the allied forces that were lurking nearby. Knife made the first move, stabbing one of the Tof guards before drawing his blaster on others. Luke and Han ran into the skirmish, as did Dani and Leia shortly thereafter. 

During the battle, one of the Tof commanders radioed their ship asking for fighters to eliminate their foes' base. Lumiya was about to take out Knife when Leia intervened. Unfortunately, Lumiya soon acquired her blaster, leaving things a lot less hopeful than before. 

Meanwhile, Gold Squadron had been activated and proved that they were more than capable of dispatching the Tof vessels. The Millennium Falcon and their X-Wing support took out the enemy craft in near-record time. While that was going on in space, Luke had leaped across the room to find himself face to face with Sereno.

He and Han were busy with their own individual opponents to help Leia. It appeared that Lumiya was about to get her revenge on the princess, until she was shot from behind by one of the Tofs in the chamber. Just then, Lando radioed Luke with the good news that the aerial conflict was over and that it was time to celebrate their victory.

Hearing that information was enough to persuade the prince to surrender. He wondered why one of his men betrayed him. The man who had shot Lumiya then stepped out of the shadows and removed some of the makeup from his face, revealing himself to be the Correllian named Bey.

Bey explained that his disguise was a very closely guarded secret, under instructions from the admiral. He still felt loyal to his half-brother, Knife, and his childhood friend Han, adding that he was there to protect both of them. Luke joined the group after noting that he'd asked for an Alliance escort for the prince and that he'd designated Fenn to be in charge there. He and his friends realized that they now had the first real chance for peace, a goal that Skywalker was confident that they could finally accomplish. 

I first picked up this issue when I was fourteen years old at the same drugstore that I'd purchased my very first Star Wars comic at (issue #47). I hadn't read the series regularly in a while, after having lost interest following the first Cynthia Martin issue. It seemed to me like they'd run out of ideas after the fall of the Empire, and I wasn't really very surprised by how people had lost interest in the franchise, after seeing the Kenner toy line fade in favor of newer offerings like G.I. Joe and the Transformers. I wasn't very impressed with "Rambo Luke," but I was at least glad that the creative team was able to wrap up their storyline without ending on a cliffhanger. 

With this title's cancellation, there would not be another Star Wars comic book until 1991, when Dark Horse obtained the license. They published books until 2014, when Marvel reacquired the rights and began putting out more ongoing and limited series. Dark Horse just started publishing a few more Star Wars series that are aimed at younger readers a few years ago, a task that IDW had held for a while. 

I hope you've enjoyed this series of articles as much as I've enjoyed writing them. They've made me go back and revisit these issues, some for the first time in a long time. It's brought back some good memories and ideas for some of my own fiction writing. Please feel free to like, subscribe, or share these article links with others who may find them interesting. 

There's still one more piece for me before I begin a new series next week. Tomorrow, I'll recap the one hundred and eighth issue of this series, which was produced in 2019. Marvel went back to follow up on several fan favorite titles at the time, like Darkhawk, Master of Kung Fu, and this one. An all-star cast unites to share a few details from the past, tell us what happened to the Star Warriors after the events in this issue, and recognize the legacy that this series left behind. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #106

Good morning,

It's time for me to talk about the one hundred and sixth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover showed the Zeltron Dani and Princess Leia Organa posing with blasters. The tale was titled "My Hiromi" (a take on the popular song "My Sharona"). The issue had a publication date of July 1986.

The story began on the planet Zeltros, where Luke Skywalker, his Hoojib associates, and the Hiromi, who were busy celebrating their recent victory over the invading Tofs. Luke let his new allies savor their triumph before stating that he'd need their assistance in taking over the Tof command ship. This made the Hiromi understandably nervous, but they quickly overcame their resistance.

Meanwhile, in that very ship, the Zeltron teens Bahb, Marruc, Jahn, and Rahuhl were sitting in a prison cell. Marruc and Jahn weren't feeling well, so it was up to Rahuhl and Bahb to devise an escape plan. They had a momentary respite after a guard entered carrying a tray of food, but they underestimated their opponents' intelligence and savagery. The assigned guards beat their attackers before locking them up again.

By then, Leia and Dani were making their way around the palace grounds on Zeltros until they came across the Nagai Den Siva. Dani was about to line up a shot, until a Hoojib reminded her that Den had betrayed his own people to save them. She reluctantly agreed that wasn't the right move and continued on with Leia.

Luke was trying to ascertain any clues from one of their captured Tofs that might give them an advantage. Although he wouldn't respond to the Jedi or the Hoojib Plif, the Hiromis' sheer repetitiveness finally convinced him to disclose vital details. Afterward, the heroes advanced toward the Hiromi ship and soon left en route to the Tof command ship. 

As they were leaving, Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO, Lando Calrissian, and the rest of the Nagai hostages were being led through the royal grounds. Siva returned and dourly informed his subordinates that they were now prisoners themselves. The Tofs attacked moments later. Han approached one of the Tof commanders, who instantly ordered the execution of all like him.

That wasn't about to happen, thanks to Leia and Dani's timely intervention. Toward the end of the conflict, Den wound up taking out one of his soldiers. He offered himself up to the Alliance members as a hostage, or they could hear about the cooperative plan that he had. 

The Hiromi vessel had finally neared the Tof ship (which looked very similar to a pirate ship from centuries past), and Luke guided the crew to a point where they could fire safely and open an access port. Of course, he was using the Force to assist in their navigation. They landed, and Luke jumped out, immediately dispatching the Tof resistance that he encountered.

After the coast was clear, he coaxed the Hiromi out of hiding. They slowly descended the ladder extended from their ship and were assigned to defend against additional Tof forces, while Luke and the Hoojibs went to free the Zeltron teens and take care of the ship's security systems. 

Luke led the charge, and he and his companions set to work. The Hoojibs quickly deactivated all systems except for life support while the Hiromi found the cell that the Zeltrons had been placed in. They were unexpectedly attacked by the boys, who didn't know what side the Hiromi were on just yet. Luke entered the room to set things straight, and Hirog managed to blast the Tof guard who had crept up behind. Skywalker informed everyone about the charges he'd set in the ship, but they at least had a little time to celebrate another Hiromi victory before departing. 

I found this storyline to be rather silly, especially the Hiromi, who were much more scared than they initially believed themselves to be. I'm just glad that things didn't drag out for much longer. By this time, some of the stories seemed to be much more about the characters created by Marvel's creative staff than the ones that were established in the George Lucas films. 

That's it from me for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the one hundred and seventh issue of this title. The series finale showcased the last battle between the Alliance and Nagai forces against the Tofs. We'll learn who the victor was and what happened to a few supporting characters that we haven't heard from in a while. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #105

Good afternoon all,

Hope everyone's doing well. Today's focus will be on the one hundred and fifth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover showed Luke Skywalker and several Hoojibs engaged in battle with a pair of husky men in what appear to be pirate costumes (as you'll see in the inner pages, the strangers' flesh is miscolored on the cover). The story was called "The Party's Over." The issue had a cover date of May 1986.

The tale began on the planet Zeltros. Luke and the Hoojibs were the Hiromi's willing captives. Their captors were preoccupied with making themselves a few tasty treats in the palace's kitchen when a loud voice from the other side of the door yelled that the kitchen's occupants were to exit with their hands up, and that they were now the prisoners of the mystery intruders.

While the Hiromi pondered this, Luke reached out with the Force to sense the unfamiliar presence. The strangers then broke through the door moments later. The green-skinned beings, dressed in what seemed to be similar to the pirate garb of days long past, They had never encountered Hiromi before, and were disappointed to not find the Nagai that they were after. 

Plif, using his telepathy, found out that the intruders were Tofs, who came from the same system as the Nagai. Both sides were enemies. As their commander ordered his soldiers to sweep the building, Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, and the Wookiee Chewbacca were being held at gunpoint by the Nagai in the royal ballroom. One of the soldiers communicated with his superior, Den Siva, who had just tied up Princess Leia and Dani in one of the outer rooms. 

Han, Lando, and Chewie listened in on the conversation and learned Dani and Leia's fate. None of them knew that Siva was working with the Tofs. The Tof commander ordered that the female prisoners be taken away, along with the four Zeltron teens (who first encountered the Tofs in the last issue). He then demanded that Siva lead his allies to the rendezvous point and trick them into an ambush, or he would eliminate Dani. 

A few moments later, the Hoojibs rushed past them. They evaded the pirates' blasts, and Plif was able to fill Leia and Dani in briefly. He then rushed off, continuing the guise that the creatures were vermin that were not worth the marauders' attention.

One of the Tof leaders had one of Luke's saber hilts and was curious about its function. Luke acted before the Hiromi could be taken out and clubbed by activating the blade. The commander was furious, thinking that the ignition that slew his comrade was the Hiromis' fault. Luke, now freed of his bonds, explained that the sabers belonged to him, and he wanted them back.

The Tof who now held one of the sabers charged at the Jedi. Luke levitated the other saber hilt to his free hand and swiftly defeated and disarmed his foe. His Hoojib colleagues went on the offensive as well and jumped up to bite the Tofs multiple times. 

Some of the Tof soldiers ran after the Hoojibs, oblivious to Leia and Dani's presence. The Alliance members used that to their advantage and kicked out at them before ascending the nearest staircase. A few Tofs raised their blasters, only to find that they didn't work (probably because the Hoojibs had drained the weapons' energy), but rushed to attack.

Even though it wasn't fully shown in the story, the Tofs were defeated by Luke, the Hoojibs, and the Hiromi. Luke freed his sister and Dani. Afterward, the Hiromi celebrated another victory. Skywalker was happy for their enthusiasm, noting it would be good to have such positivity when he began his sneak attack on the Tof command ship, a declaration which suddenly made the Hiromi scared again. 

It seemed quite obvious to me upon first read that the Tof were based on pirate tales of yore. Except for the green skin, they were very similar to the characters shared in storybooks for many generations. How they came to despise the Nagai was not yet uncovered, but it seemed they were a bit more brutish, since they preferred to club their opponents rather than use the traditional weapons of the time. I found the premise to be about as silly as the rather cowardly Hiromi themselves.

Well, we're continuing to near the end of this series. Next time, I'll recap the one hundred and sixth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars book. We'll find out the fate of the four Zeltron teenagers as well as that of the ballroom occupants. We'll also see Luke's raid of the Tof ship with the timely aid of a few companions. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #104

Hello there,

It's time for me to talk about the one hundred and fourth issue of the first Star Wars comic. The cover depicted Luke Skywalker and a Hoojib being held hostage by a pair of Hiromi, as an unidentified couple burst through an opening and destroyed a chandelier. The story was named "Nagais and Dolls." The issue had a cover date of March 1986.

Skywalker was mobbed by female Zeltrons after setting foot on their homeworld. The Jedi was a bit stunned by all of the attention, but somewhat expected it (after receiving a similar welcome on Kabray in issue #77). Lando Calrissian received similar treatment, shortly before Princess Leia Organa and the four Zeltron teens arrived (fresh off their detour to Trenwyth last issue). 

The Millennium Falcon was approaching Zeltros' orbit at that time. Han Solo and Chewbacca were piloting their ship en route to regroup with their friends. C-3PO, R2-D2, several Hoojibs, and Dani were their passengers. Han tried to cheer Dani up, who was still under the impression that her love, Kiro, had lost his life (which we learned in issue #102 was not true). She was still upset with Kiro's attacker and now had a seething hatred for the Nagai. 

Little did anyone know that the Falcon's flight was being tracked by their new enemies. The Nagai were planning to land on Zeltros, but they weren't the only invading force. Lieutenant Hirog and his fellow Hiromi also had plans to take over that same planet.

Alliance members were greeted warmly by Zeltros' King Arno and Queen Leonie. Only the announcement of Governor Veertag's arrival, whose five daughters the teen Zeltrons were acquainted with, caused any immediate disruptions. Dani made her feelings toward the Nagai known to her associates, even though Leia had explained her recent encounter with a sole Nagai prisoner (as shown in the previous issue). 

Leia and Dani carried that conversation outside the ballroom, where they soon ran into Den Siva himself. Dani wanted vengeance on Siva and advised Leia to run. Unfortunately, both females were swiftly defeated by the soldiers.

Luke and the Hoojib Plif took a walk outside to discuss things. They came across Ackbar's former aide, Hirog, and were quickly placed under arrest by the Hiromi. Luke didn't sense any pending danger and decided to play along for a while. 

Everyone in the ballroom was having a grand time. None of them knew at the moment about the activities that were occurring outside the room. The Hiromi were very confident of their impending success and celebrated themselves a few times as they led their new prisoners inside the palace. 

The party was eventually broken up by the Nagai's arrival. While Han was the first to defend his friends, the four Zelton males were outside and were about to go back inside to help, until they ran into several strangers in their path. 

By then, the Hiromi had found the kitchen. Several of them were making snacks when they heard a hearty pounding of a fist from the other side of the door. There was a loud voice declaring that whoever was inside were now their prisoners. The order to surrender was quite a surprise to the aliens, who already had their own captives. 

It was good to finally see the Zeltrons' homeworld, but the art was still a bit messy at times. The Hiromi were a bit of comic relief, kind of like the Ewoks or Jar Jar Binks. If you think that the green-skinned people in this story looked a bit familiar, you may be on to something there. 

More will be revealed next time, when I recap the one hundred and fourth issue of this title. We'll find out a few details about those very beings and what their connection is to the Nagai. We'll also see what the Nagai forces have in store for the party goers, and learn what Luke and the Hiromi do to get out of their predicament. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #103

Good afternoon all,

It's time for me to discuss the one hundred and third issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. Princess Leia Organa, who was featured in the top left-hand corner box, was shown in the main image being held by a Nagai at knifepoint. The story was called "Tai." The issue had a cover date of January 1986.

The story started in the Nagai base, where Den Siva was looking at a hologram of their former prisoner, Dani. She was the first Zeltron ever taken captive by the Nagai, and Den was apparently fascinated with her. He was then called to the command area by Commander Knife. He reported to his superior that he was healing well (from injuries suffered battling Dani's love, Kiro on Kinooine), and informed Knife of reports regarding other warriors encountering the old enemy two days before.

That was the last report from their forces. Knife was sorry that several promising soldiers had perished in the confrontation, but was ready to move on to the current threat, which included interrogating the Alliance prisoner who now kneeled before them.

In the air above the planet Trenwyth, Leia and the four Zeltron teens were realizing that they had to set their ship down after a stray shot knocked out its stabilizers. They observed the remains of a great battle on the surface before landing. Leia was the first to disembark and soon found a Nagai pointing his blaster at her. However, her foe fainted before taking any further action.

Organa went to him to assess his condition. He awoke later to find the five strangers standing before him. He said nothing and allowed the visitors to scout their surroundings. Later that evening, Leia brought their prisoner a tray of food and was nearly strangled by him for her efforts. Bahb, Jahn Marruc, and Rahuhl leapt to her rescue. 

The Nagai continued to struggle even after Leia was freed. The Zeltron boys were forced to tie their captive up before returning to their campfire and resuming their meal. As he slept, the Nagai thought about his experiences at the hands of previous captors.

Some time later, Leia returned to the Nagai and sliced his bonds. She offered him food once more and was surprised to see him crying in her hands. Over the next several days, he started to gain their trust. The Nagai remained in their presence as the Alliance members worked on their ship.

One day, the heroes observed several tall, green-skinned soldiers making their way through the ruins. They didn't know yet if they were friend or foe. The ship was finally ready, and Leia informed the Zeltrons. She let their captive go. He finally spoke, saying that his name was Tai. They parted ways peacefully, and the ship departed shortly thereafter.

Some time later, wing leader Tai reported to Knife. He spoke in their language and informed his commander about what he'd experienced on Trenwyth. Knife was angered by the fact that Tai accepted mercy from their new enemies just to save his own life. He threw one of his namesake weapons, which struck the young warrior square in the middle of his chest, thereby ending his life.

This story was a bit of a morality tale, one for which the title character learned a fatal lesson. It also introduced a new species that we'd see more of in the remaining issues and expanded upon the relationship between Den and Dani. This was also the last issue of the series that was produced on a monthly basis. Beginning with the next issue, the series would be published bi-monthly for the rest of its run. This was a typical tactic for Marvel series at the time, whose sales had slipped or were simply underperforming. 

That's it from me for today. Tomorrow, I'll tackle the one hundred and fourth issue of this series. The Alliance delegation arrives on the planet Zeltros, just in time for a spectacular celebration. The party is in full swing, although it's not without some unexpected dangers and just a bit of humor mixed in. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #102

Good morning,

The focus of this article is the one hundred and second issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover, which was drawn by Sam De La Rosa and Kerry Gammill (who penciled the flashback story in issue #70), showed Luke Skywalker and Kiro in front of a starship, with several Chiaki in the water in the background. The tale was titled "School Spirit!" The issue had a cover date of December 1985.

The story began on the planet Iskalon. Lando Calrissian's ship, the Cobra, was about to land. He and Luke were aboard, and the two talked about how much the peaceful world had been changed by the Empire. Luke felt that he owed it to the natives to inform them about Kiro. who was assumed dead after battling with a Nagai soldier on the planet Kinooine.

Meanwhile, Nagai forces were scouring one of the landing areas and noted the arrival of a ship they didn't know. They didn't know its origin, but they were more concerned about the Iskalonians who now lay dead at their feet. They fought bravely, but were no match for the seasoned invaders. The natives were more resistant to them than they'd hoped, but the Nagai still had plans to enslave the surviving populace. Only a lone shadowy figure seemed to stand between them and their goals of conquest.

Several meters under the water, Mone and his followers paid attention to what was going on above ground. They heard the incoming ship and wondered if it was friend or foe. As they ascended, Mone smiled upon seeing his old friends again. Luke and Lando greeted Mone and his followers warmly, and they talked about the Iskalonians who had been slain by the Nagai.

Luke informed Mone of Kiro's fate on Kinooine. Mone rebuffed Skywalker's assertion that Kiro had perished, noting that they had seen him. Their hero had returned when his world needed him the most. 

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the water world, Nagai were trying to gather more information about the new ship. One of the commanders dispatched several soldiers and Imperial Stormtroopers to investigate. The forces were going to be armed with some of the new weapons that they wanted to try out. 

It didn't take very long for them to reach the heroes. Luke, Lando, and Mone fought valiantly, but they were eventually overcome by the sonic blasters employed by the Nagai. A stormtrooper adapted to the watery conditions shot a net over them just before Kiro arrived on the scene. He fled before Luke and Lando could fully recover, but there was no doubt that Kiro was indeed alive and well.

The Alliance heroes knew they had to go after the Nagai after noticing Mone's disappearance. They talked about the collective nature of the Iskalonians and how Kiro went against those patterns of thinking and behavior. They then went to their ship to break out their underwater gear before diving down toward the Nagai tower.

Luke and Lando used the Jedi's lightsabers to slice away at the tower's base. The native Chiaki offered no resistance, probably because their appetites were already sated from the recent violence on that planet. Kiro returned to protect his friends from the Nagai warriors who had crept up behind them. He then went to free Mone and the rest of the captured Iskalonians. Luke left soon thereafter, leaving Lando alone to deal with the tower.

Skywalker arrived inside the building just to see Kiro take a laser blast to his torso. He once again assumed the worst and rushed to free Mone and his companions before the tower collapsed underwater. This ended the Nagai threat for the moment.

Afterward, Luke sat alone for some time, thinking that he'd lost Kiro for good. However, his friend resurfaced, explaining that he'd moved away before being hit. He was glad to see his friends, but asked Luke not to let Dani know his fate. He loved her too much to reveal the truth, which was that he felt duty-bound to remain on his homeworld to help his people.

Kiro swam away moments later. Luke promised that he and Lando would keep Kiro's secret safe. Mone and his followers thought that Kiro's words and actions were what being a hero was all about. Luke had been mourning what he believed to be a dear friend's loss, but he now felt better knowing that Kiro had chosen his fate. 

This issue provided some closure for Kiro, Mone, and the planet Iskalon. It would be the last time that any of them were featured in this series. I felt sort of sad knowing that Luke couldn't tell Dani the truth, but she would eventually move on. I bought this issue because of Sal Buscema's artwork, and grew to appreciate the story inside. Oddly enough, it made me think about Dani's crewmates Chihdo and Rik Duel, who were pretty much forgotten until a brief revival a few years back.

That's it for this article. Later today, I'll cover the one hundred and third issue of this series. Leia and the Zeltron teens get stuck on another planet. There, they encounter a wounded Nagai and get their first glimpse of another new threat. Until then, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another.