Retro Comic Recap: Raiders of the Lost Ark #3

Hi everyone,

Today's topic is the final issue of Marvel's adaptation of the Raiders of the Lost Ark movie. The cover to this issue showed Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood tied to a post together, as Belloq prepared to open the Ark and unleash its contents, with several Nazi soldiers looking on. The issue had a cover date of November 1981.

Things got started with Narion falling into the Well of Souls after having been tossed down there by Toht. Indy grabbed her before she could reach the ground. Belloq, Toht, and their associates then slid the stone slab back to its original position, trapping the heroes inside. 

Marion and Indiana held torches to keep the snakes writhing about at bay. Indy climbed one of the tall statues and was able to eventually swing it so that it came crashing down into one of the walls. It didn't take the adventurers very long to escape afterward. They emerged near a makeshift Nazi airbase. 

As the Americans plotted their escape, their presence didn't go entirely unnoticed. A pair of guards spotted them, and the larger one engaged in a brief fight before falling to the floor, firing his pistol as he did so at the airplane and subsequently setting off an explosion. 

A short while later, Indiana grabbed Sallah and whisked him inside the tent where he and Marion had been hiding out. Sallah was overjoyed to see his friends and informed them that their enemies were taking the Ark to Cairo by truck. Indy knew he had to follow them, even though he didn't have a plan just yet.

Jones rode on horseback until he was able to catch up with the lead truck. He got close enough to the moving vehicle to open the passenger door and wrestled the driver from his post. He was able to drive the truck and its precious cargo back to the village that Sallah and his family occupied. A bit of tidying, including sweeping away tire tracks, and the occupants of Belloq's car could not tell what had happened to the stolen vehicle.

Later that night, Indiana and Marion secured passage aboard a ship run by Sallah's friend, Captain Katanga. He was willing to take them and the Ark to their next destination. The couple finally had some time to reconnect, until Indy noticed the engines had stopped. He ran to find Katanga and saw the German U-boat that had forced such action.

Indiana escaped the troops and saw a pair of them taking Marion away rather forcefully. Indy remained in hiding as the Captain lied to the invaders about killing the archaeologist. Jones waited until Marion and the Ark had been carted off to pursue his foes. He swam to the U-boat and lashed his whip to the periscope to keep it there until they reached a hidden base. 

Belloq ordered the Ark to be brought on land. Indiana watched the procession until it stopped at their destination. The Frenchman changed into a religious outfit and oversaw the ceremony. Indy was interrupted by a threat to blow up the treasure and everything near it with the bazooka that he'd stolen. 

What Jones didn't know was that a pair of soldiers had crept up behind him, and the American was now staring at the barrels of several pistols pointed at him. He and Marion were tied up together as the ceremony continued. Marion was tempted to look at what lay in store until Indiana commanded her to close her eyes.

Everyone else in attendance watched as the contents of the ancient vessel burst forth into the air. The Ark was the repository of the original Ten Commandments once given to Moses. It was also God's reply to evil men, as Belloq and his comrades soon discovered. It would be the last thing that they would ever see. 

A short while later, it was all over. Marion and Indy freed themselves before examining what was left behind. They returned the Ark to America and met with the Army brass in Washington, D.C. Indiana stressed the importance of researching such a powerful entity, and was told that top men would take care of it. Indy was still disgusted by the government response as he and Marion departed. While they decided what to do next, a lowly worker was carting the crated artifact into a spacious warehouse, where it would take up space alongside many other similarly sized boxes. 

Even though there were a few things from the film that were not included in this adaptation, and Indy's threat to destroy the Ark was shown out of chronological order, this was still an age-appropriate, satisfying conclusion to this miniseries. I was used to writer Walt Simonson's artwork on the Star Wars title, and this was my first exposure to his writing abilities. I felt that he took the source material seriously and made his best efforts, as did penciler John Buscema and inker Klaus Janson.

Like many other fans, I was eager to read about more exploits of Indiana Jones and company. As it turned out, we didn't have to wait very long. Next time, I'll discuss the first issue of the ongoing series The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. It was a fun beginning of a two-part story, co-plotted by John Byrne. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Raiders of the Last Ark #2

Happy Tuesday, everyone,

Hope all is well. It's time for me to discuss the second issue of Marvel's Raiders of the Lost Ark movie adaptation. The cover to the middle part of this Marvel Movie Special showed Indiana Jones descending a rope toward the bottom of the Well of Souls, with his friends watching from above and dozens of snakes awaiting him below. The issue had a cover date of October 1981.

The story began right where the previous issue left off. Marion Ravenwood was being held by a henchman hired by the German named Toht, who was about to interrogate the owner of the tavern in Nepal as to the whereabouts of the headpiece that would be placed on the Staff of Ra. However, before any evil could be carried out, the familiar strands of a bullwhip wrapped around the poker in Toht's hand and flung it toward a curtain.

Indy reappeared, with his whip in one hand and pistol in the other, ordering the villains to step away from Marion slowly. Toht and his gang scattered right before the first shots rang out. Indiana returned fire, and his shots rang true, taking out one foe immediately. Marion dove under the bar as the man who'd been keeping her captive set his sights on the American archaeologist. 

While the heroes were fending for themselves, Toht found the medallion in a small blaze. He reached out for it, not realizing how hot the metal icon was. He dropped it in pain before ordering Jones' execution.

Indiana was able to defeat the gunman as Toht ran outside to douse his burned hand in the cold snow. Marion fled with Indy right after she retrieved the medallion. She lost her bar and the money Indy had paid her for the bauble, but he'd gained a partner in her. 

The next day, the couple flew to Cairo, where they soon met with Jones' old friend Sallah. Sallah was well aware of the Germans' activities, noting that Belloq was aiding in those efforts. Indy learned that there was an associate of Sallah's who might be able to help them translate the symbols carved on the medallion. Sallah expressed concern about the dangers that the Ark of the Covenant might pose. 

Indy and Marion walked together down city streets the following morning. They ran into a few unsavory characters and were eventually forced to separate during the fracas that ensued. Marion hid in a basket and cried out Jones' name before he saw the basket being loaded into a truck. Indy fired at the truck's driver, causing him to crash his vehicle, which exploded spectacularly moments later. It appeared that Marion had perished in the explosion as well. 

A distraught Jones later rode with Sallah to the home of Imam. The wise old man was able to translate the markings on the medallion. He said that the staff should be six kadam high (about 72 inches), and noted that the back of the medallion said to take back one kadam to honor the Hebrew god that the Ark belonged to. Sallah remarked that the medallion he had seen Belloq use only had markings on one side of it, which meant that he and the Germans were digging in the wrong location. 

The next day, the two friends drove out to the site where the Nazis had begun their search some time before. In disguise, they made their way slowly to the map room of Tanis. Sallah lowered a rope down for Indy. As Jones was getting his bearings and trying to figure out where to position his staff and medallion, Sallah was interrupted by a Nazi who assumed he was part of the hired help. 

Sallah grudgingly assisted his enemies, which postponed his return to help Indy. Jones found the correct location to dig in and called for Sallah. He had to wait a while, but was soon assisted. Sallah explained his tardiness, and the arrival of more Nazis forced the duo to part temporarily. 

Indiana ducked into a nearby tent, where he was surprised to see Marion tied up and sitting on a chair. He deduced that their foes must have switched baskets and gave his love a fierce kiss before being forced to leave her bound and gagged. Indy explained that if he freed her, the Nazis would scour the grounds for the two of them, and that was something he simply couldn't risk then. 

Jones promised to return for Marion before setting off to find Sallah. The two longtime colleagues ventured further into the desert and located the correct spot to start digging. Meanwhile, Belloq and his allies were conversing about their progress. The Fuhrer wished they had accomplished more by then, but Belloq was confident that they would succeed. During the conversation, Toht entered. As he saluted Hitler, we could see the medallion inscription burned into the palm that had touched the medallion back in Nepal.

After several hours, the outline of a stone block was finally cleared. Indy, Sallah, and their crew moved the heavy stone aside and finally peered down into the Well of Souls, and a box on the floor that had to contain the Ark. Indiana tossed a torch down to reveal a multitude of snakes that slithered about the surface. Indy was deathly afraid of snakes, but still gathered enough courage to rappel down toward the floor. A few well-placed torches and the canister of gasoline he'd brought down with him helped to clear a path that was safe enough to traverse across.

Back in the camp, Belloq removed Marion's gag and expressed his regret for her captivity. Belloq offered her food and a new dress, which she accepted. While the Frenchman was admiring Marion, Indiana, and Sallah were marveling at the Ark of the Covenant that they'd just brought up out of its container. They loaded it into a crate and had it hauled up to their associates. 

Indy was the last one left in the Well of Souls and asked for the rope, which fell at his feet. He looked up to see Belloq holding his companions at gunpoint. Once again, his rival had taken something from him that he'd found. Toht did not want their foe to be left there all alone and threw Marion down into the pit, much to Belloq's frustration. Indy stood there for moments as she fell several stories in the final panel of this issue.

Once again, there were a few minor details from the movie that writer Walt Simonson omitted, like the swordsman in the city melee that Indy shot and the monkey that Marion had briefly adopted, but they didn't detract from the overall story. John Buscema and Klaus Janson worked very well together in this collaborative effort, and I found myself reading it eagerly, wondering what would happen next with each page that I turned. 

Tune in tomorrow to find out how things turned out for Indy, Marion, and Sallah. We'll see what Belloq, Toht, and the Nazis did with the Ark, and how the heroes attempted to thwart the evil plans. We'll also learn where the historic treasure made its final resting place. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Raiders of the Lost Ark #1

Good morning, peeps,

May the Fourth be with you! I'm done covering Star Wars titles for a while, but I decided to kick off this week by recapping another series that was co-created by George Lucas. It begins with a discussion of the first issue of Marvel's three-part adaptation of the 1981 film, Raiders of the Lost Ark. This "Marvel Movie Special" was also collected in a single volume Super Special. The cover for this particular issue showed the German mercenary Toht giving a salute, where we can see part of a medallion's inscriptions burned into his palm, and Indy running from Hovitos warriors. The issue had a cover date of September 1981.

In Peru in the year 1936, an American archaeologist and his crew approached the remains of an old temple. Jones' colleagues, Barranca and Satipo, talked amongst themselves along the way until they finally found the building that was once used by Chacopoyan warriors. Some of the crew were frightened by what they saw, including the indication that the Hovitos warriors were indeed nearby. 

While Indy was reviewing the map just before they were about to enter, Satipo noticed something that froze him where he stood. Jones turned around and swung his trusty bullwhip in time to disarm Barranca, moments before his former ally ran off. It was up to Indy and Satipo to venture inside. Jones took the lead, wondering what had ever happened to his rival Forrestal.

It turned out that he didn't have to wonder very long, for as they neared one passageway, Indy tossed a stick inside, and a series of spikes sprang out, carrying the body of Forrestal on them. Jones correctly deduced that his now former opponent must have broken the light beam, which in turn triggered the spike mechanism. He and Satipo crawled across slowly, careful not to break the beam. 

They soon found themselves in a narrow hall, with a large stone missing. The gap was wide enough that they couldn't jump across. Indiana tossed his whip up to a beam above the break in the path, which allowed he and Satipo to cross safely. Before long, they saw the idol they'd been searching for mere feet in front of them. 

However, Indy knew that it couldn't be that simple. He used the butt end of their torch to tap the tiles that stood between them and the idol. He learned that the light tiles were okay, and that pressing on the dark tiles caused poison darts to shoot from holes littered across each wall. He made his way nimbly across them until he could leap up to the pedestal. 

Jones eyed the golden icon for several moments before pulling a pouch from his bag. He knelt before the pedestal, filling the small bag with sand. Indy hoped that the weight would be the same, as he substituted the icon for the bag. 

Things were fine, but only for a short while. The pedestal eventually began to descend, and the chamber started collapsing. Indy crossed the tiles carefully and reached the hall with the large gap. Satipo offered him the whip if Jones would throw over the idol.

Indy realized he had no other choice and obliged. Satipo grabbed the treasure and ran off. Jones made a running leap and barely caught the edge of the other side of the floor. He had finally pulled himself up when he heard an agonizing scream. Indiana ran forward, making sure not to trip the light beam, and found that Satipo had forgotten that trap. He pulled the idol from the dead man's hands and continued on. Indy had to outrace a giant boulder before he could finally exit the tomb.

Jones had no sooner landed on his face when he heard a familiar voice next to him. It belonged to another rival, a Frenchman named Belloq. Indy surrendered the idol and his pistol to Belloq, who raised the icon before the Hovitos. Jones took advantage of their inattentiveness to run through the woods and would live to see another day.

Some time later, back at the university where Jones taught, Indy was describing his recent adventure with Marcus Brody and expressed his interest in returning when Brody informed him that several members of Army intelligence were there to speak with him. Major Eaton and Colonel Musgrove had arrived to speak with Jones about his experience. They already knew about some of his history, including the fact that he'd studied under Abner Ravenwood.

Jones admitted that, adding that they parted on difficult terms. He then learned that the Army was engaged in a race against the Nazis in attempting to discover the Ark of the Covenant, the legendary vessel that was rumored to contain the pieces of the tablets of Moses, the original Ten Commandments. A communique intercepted by the Nazis indicated that the Germans had found Tanis, a place where the Ark had supposedly been hidden within the Well of Souls. That section had long since been covered by sandstorms and was presumably lost to time.

Abner had dedicated most of his career to finding the Ark and had located a few pieces, including the headpiece for the staff of Ra, which was supposedly a key component to finding the Well of Souls' location. Indy agreed to join the search after being promised that the Ark would become property of the university's museum.

In a small watering hole in the Himalayas, a big, burly man known as Red was engaged in a drinking competition with the tavern's proprietor. It was a contest that he lost. The owner, Marion, was cheered on by her patrons just before she shooed them out for the evening. Marion was ready to close up until she saw someone sitting in a booth.

She ordered him to leave until she saw that it was Jones. Marion swung at him before yelling at him to leave. Indy explained that he was looking for Abner, but was informed that he'd arrived two years too late. Abner was never found after an avalanche buried the site he had been working at. Marion then worked at the very bar before the previous owner left one day, screaming as he was taken away.

Marion still bore a grudge against Indiana for hurting her years earlier. He knew what he did was wrong, and that he'd never meant to hurt her. Jones described the piece he was looking for, which Marion said she might know where it was located. Indy gave her $5,000 in cash before being told to return the next day. He walked away, not knowing that the headpiece was on a chain around Marion's neck.

As she thought about what she could do with the cash, Marion was alerted to an unfamiliar voice behind her. She informed her guests that the bar was closed, to which the stranger dressed in a black overcoat informed her that they were not thirsty. The man named Toht said that he was after the same item that Jones was. He was prepared to offer more money, but was not about to wait for it any longer. His men grabbed Marion by the arms as he walked toward the fire. Toht took a poker, dipped it into the fire, and came closer to Marion with each passing step, so that he could show his captive what he was accustomed to. 

The final page of content was a breakdown of the movie's crew and production staff. This adaptation was written by Star Wars artist Walt Simonson and illustrated by John Buscema and Klaus Janson. There were a few minor details, like Barrana's death by Hovito poison darts and the seaplane scene that showed Indy's disdain for snakes, but I know it's nearly impossible to fit everything from a two-hour-plus movie into a three-issue limited series. I had the Marvel Super Special adaptation as a child that I'd ordered from a school book fair and read it until the cover came off, so I'm glad that I acquired this miniseries a few years back. I loved the storyline and admired "Big" John's artwork. Janson's inking was a bit spotty at times. Sometimes, it complemented the pencil work perfectly. In other panels, it was rather rough. All in all, this adaptation was rather faithful to the original movie script and honored the themes and character roles. 

Tomorrow, I'll tackle the middle part of this adaptation. We'll find out what happened to Marion and where Jones ended up afterward. We'll also learn how the Nazis neared Tanis and if the Ark actually existed. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

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.