Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #14

Good afternoon and Happy Valentine's Day/Singles Awareness Day, everyone,

My focus for this fourteenth day of February is the fourteenth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover showed Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, and C-3PO poised and ready for battle. The story was called "The Sound of Armageddon!" The issue had a cover date of August 1978.

The tale began on Governor Quarg's flagship. Chewbacca was striking at Luke, thinking that the Tatooine native had fired upon the Millennium Falcon (when in reality it had been another of Quarg's men). Threepio and Artoo stood by and watched, unsure how to assist their friends.

None of them fully understood that their ship was engaged in a full-scale war with the dragon riders. Multiple beasts attacked the very craft they were in. Quarg refused to let their sonic jammer cease operation for even an instant, since it was what they'd used to lure large ships into their vicinity.

That included the Imperial Star Destroyer that was being piloted by the pirate Crimson Jack's crew. They were frantically trying to figure out how to evade its impact. Jack then learned that the Falcon had escaped from its hold shortly after the jammer began to impact their vessel. 

As for the Falcon's pilot, Han Solo had been knocked off board (last issue). When he came to, he saw that he was being carried off by one of the dragon riders. Leia was still on his ship and preparing for any trouble that might cross her path, as the Correllian ship was being towed toward Quarg's flagship.

It wasn't long before Quarg and his associates realized how the Falcon's power could be used to boost their signal jammer. It was a task that Luke and his droids could help with, but they were busy fighting for their lives at the moment against a raging Wookiee. Artoo finally blasted his comrade with a burst of fire extinguisher, putting him down for the count. 

Not long afterward, Leia was reunited with Skywalker and the droids. Quarg instructed his new machinesmith on his work, while he took Organa captive. None of them knew that Han was very much alive, and had resurfaced in an underground cavern where Quarg's former technos had made a home for themselves and the dragons of Drexel.

One of them explained to Solo their peaceful coexistence with the creatures. He noted that ultrasonic sound, like that emanating from Quarg's sonic jammer, had been known to drive some of the larger beasts mad, which would explain their frenzied actions during the current battle. Continued use of such a weapon could even kill the dragons. Han was shocked to learn that, as well as the news that Quarg planned to use his ship to augment the jammer.

Han agreed to join the technos, knowing it was probably the only way he could return to the Falcon. Meanwhile, the conflict continued. The droids worked on the task, albeit not at a fast enough pace for the general's liking. Luke, Artoo, and Threepio were working on the connection when Solo returned. He arrived to stop them, but Luke fought off his old friend. 

Solo warned the farmboy that they were giving Quarg a weapon that could rival the Death Star's destructive capability before more dragons fell from the increased power of the jammer. Leia fled from the general moments before Chewbacca broke through his prison and attacked Quarg and his men. Luke explained to Han that the connection helped Quarg, but it also negated the jammer's effect on his ship. Everything was now fully functional again, including the weapons.

Han took the opportunity to man a gun turret. He aimed his scope at a beam right below Leia, who by then had been chased up that far ledge by the General himself. Luke swooped in and grabbed her mere moments before the Falcon's guns fired on the ancient ship. 

Quarg and his threat were now gone. The pirates wouldn't harm the dragon lords or their animal companions ever again. However, that didn't mean that the Rebels were out of trouble just yet. 

I still don't like how Carmine Infantino drew laser blasters, mainly because they were usually quite unlike anything shown in the Star Wars films. I understand writer Archie Goodwin's intentions of likening Quarg's ships to pirate ships of old, and can appreciate how he crafted Quarg into a kind of Napoleonic leader. I just wish that there had been more of a backstory or an aftermath involving the dragon lords. We were just starting to learn about them before this conflict was resolved rather violently.

Well, that's all for today. Tomorrow's topic will be the fifteenth issue of this series. The Falcon is finally free to leave Drexel. But before Han and his friends can leave the system, they still have to deal with Crimson Jack and his crew. Find out what happens then. Until that article is written, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #13

Good afternoon,

It's time for me to cover the thirteenth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars book. The cover, drawn by Uncanny X-Men artists John Byrne and Terry Austin, showed Chewbacca squaring off against Luke Skywalker and C-3PO, as R2-D2 looked on. The tale was titled "Day of the Dragon Lords!" The issue had a cover date of July 1978.

The story started on board General Quarg's ship on the planet Drexel. He was telling Luke and the droids about his ship's policies of killing all offworlders and cannibalizing all machinery and metal, policies which he was not abiding by after allowing Skywalker into his fold. Artoo was busy repairing one of the general's water skimmers.

Luke was soon sent out into the waters to test the repaired craft. He was supposed to fire its cannons at an old float. The weapons and other systems seemed to be working fine. The only problem was the fact that Quarg's master machinesman was still aboard the vessel and attacked Luke during his test run.

Skywalker's quick thinking and reflexes allowed him to overcome his opponent and complete his mission. Only the skimmer's canopy failed to return intact. Afterward, the droids were treated to lubrication baths, while Quarg confided in his new crewman.

Luke noticed his foe now hanging from one of the ship-base's masts. He clearly paid the price for his failure. Quarg started talking about how he and his family had first come to this water world. Quarg's father was a governor in the Old Republic. He was responsible for the Korteen belt, where some of his citizens preferred to sabotage incoming ships. Sonic jamming units were utilized to disrupt and disintegrate vessels, which were then salvaged, and a portion of the profits would go to him.

As their operations grew more successful, there was a need for more powerful equipment. Their activities also drew the attention of the Galactic Republic and its defenders, the Jedi Knights. Quarg and several of his followers escaped in a damaged craft, crash-landing in the waters of Drexel.

They soon began to adapt to their new homeworld. However, after studying their surroundings and the native creatures, the soldiers and technicians became divided. Eventually, the technos left and were able to control and ride the aquatic beasts. Quarq's family and loyalists remained behind. 

Quarg hoped that Luke and his robots would remain loyal to him in the war against his former allies. His ship still retained some of the powerful jammers, one of which had detected the arrival of a larger ship in the star system. Luke assumed a ship of that size might be an Imperial cruiser.

Little did Skywalker know just how right he was. Crimson Jack's captured Star Destroyer had entered the planet's orbit after being told by Han Solo that the Rebel treasury was there. The jammer's activation provided Han, Chewbacca, and Princess Leia with the distraction that they needed.

The trio high-tailed it to the Millennium Falcon and took off, knowing that Jack's crew would be hot on their trail. While Quarg was trying to bring the large craft down, Luke was part of the scouting crew that was dispatched to go up against the approaching dragons and their riders. The Falcon soon intervened in the conflict and was swiftly fired upon.

Luke was angered by his wingmate's attack on his friends and fired his cannons to vaporize it. He then went to his comrades' aid. He peered over the side of his ship, only to be grabbed roughly by Chewbacca (who thought it was he who had fired upon them) before that skimmer was destroyed.

A while later, Luke came too, hearing Threepio's familiar voice. The translator droid was warning him of Chewbacca's anger. Thinking his shipmates had been lost, the Wookiee was about to get his vengeance on their supposed attackers inside one of Quarg's ships.

I'm still not a fan of Infantino's artwork, mainly because of how he drew droids, weapons, ships, and technological items, but at least the story was starting to solidify a bit. We still didn't know much about the dragon lords, but at least we knew where they came from. I wasn't surprised to learn that Quarg and his men probably would have sided with the Empire in the galactic conflict.

Well, that's all for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the fourteenth issue of this title. We'll find out which side the Star Warriors ally themselves with. We'll also learn a bit more about the dragon lords and see how this conflict concludes. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #12

Hello everyone,

Today's topic is the twelfth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars monthly comic book. The cover showed Luke Skywalker (brandishing a red-bladed lightsaber, a color that's generally associated with the Sith) on a boat defending himself and his droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO, from four armed strangers who were after the robots. The tale was titled "Doomworld!" The issue had a cover date of June 1978.

The story began with the heroes from the cover floating in their ship's escape pod, watching a battle between a red dragon and a green monster that was being ridden by a humanoid. Artoo's sensors soon noticed the arrival of several mechanized crafts. They were similar to landspeeders, except that they skimmed across the planet Drexel's water surface.

The newcomers fired shots at both beasts. The red dragon descended and quickly rose up underneath one of the vessels. The ships continued to attack the creatures, and one of them eventually fired a pair of magnetic grappling hooks at the escape pod. 

Luke and his companions boarded the craft after being reeled in. Noticing that the crew was interested in the droids, Skywalker used his father's lightsaber to create distance between them. Being called a Jedi made the young farmboy think back to his mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi, who'd been slain in battle against Darth Vader on the Death Star.

The boy was far from a Jedi Knight, but that didn't mean he couldn't fend off the strangers. Artoo emitted a fine stream of lubricant so that the crewmembers would have a tough time approaching them. After a brief conflict, Luke persuaded the ship's occupants to take them to their leader. The base was an old ship (reminiscent of our pirate ships of old), which the scanners on Luke's spacecraft had apparently identified as a big land mass.

Luke was soon introduced to Governor Quarg, a rather Napoleonic character. He soon learned that Quarg and his associates were at war with the Dragon Lords, a race that rode the sea beasts. His crew had brought the Rebels aboard, thinking that the robots might compensate for the loss of one of their skimmers. 

While Luke and his companions were learning more about their situation, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Princess Leia were approaching the Drexel system in a Star Destroyer that had been commandeered from the Imperials by the pirate Crimson Jack. Han had convinced the thief that the Rebel treasury was in the system. 

Jack admitted that he'd acquired the craft by attacking the vessel, which had been damaged during the Death Star battle. It was relatively easy for them to overpower the crew that remained inside and repair the damage. 

Han and Jack's conversation was interrupted by crewmember Jolli, who had apparently sparked the tomboy's interest in love. Minutes later, Chewbacca barked that the ship had reached its destination. However, Jack grew suspicious once he learned that Drexel was a water planet. That meant Han had to come up with another clever story, if he valued the lives of himself and his friends. 

Despite the lightsaber blade coloring error and the unusual amount of house ads, this was another satisfying issue. It was one of the first Star Wars back issues that I ever read. I understand how much people wanted more tales of Luke, Han, and company after the events of the first movie, and as I grew older, I could appreciate the little tongue-in-cheek gags with some of the depictions of several supporting characters. The sea dragons were an interesting touch, one that sadly didn't extend beyond this particular storyline. 

Well, that's all for this issue. Next time, I'll write about the thirteenth issue of this series. That issue has a cover illustrated by X-Men artists John Byrne and Terry Austin. We'll learn what Quarg had in store for Luke and the droids. We'll also see what happened once the stolen Star Destroyer got closer to the water world. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #11

Hi everyone,

It's time for me to discuss the eleventh issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover depicted Luke Skywalker trying to defend his companions, R2-D2 and C-3PO, from a large snake, as the trio stood in a vessel that was in a body of water. The tale was titled "Star Search!" The issue had a cover date of May 1978.

The story began in space, as the Millennium Falcon was just leaving Aduba-3. Its pilots, Han Solo and Chewbacca, had just finished defending native farmers from a marauding group of pirates and a large monster. Solo recounted the losses of his comrades, Effie and Hedji, who were suffered during the conflict. Han decided that their next best course of action was to return to the Rebel base on Yavin 4.

After the Falcon exited hyperspace, the duo noticed a Star Destroyer right in their path. However, they recognized this vessel as the one commandeered by Crimson Jack (whom Solo and Chewie ran into back in issue #7). Han decided to play along and let the Falcon be taken via tractor beam.

Once inside the captured Imperial vessel, the heroes saw another familiar face, belonging to Leia Organa. She'd left Yavin in search of Luke and his droids, who had gone missing in their search for a new world that could host the Alliance, and evidently became a prisoner of these mercenaries who had recently stolen the reward Han and Chewie had earned for transporting its passengers from the Death Star.

The Correllian and his first mate soon engaged in a brief laser battle. Solo mentioned an offer that opened Jack's ears and was enough for him to end the hostilities and hear what he had to say. Han explained that his reward had been obtained from the Rebel treasury and got Leia to play along. The princess went on to say that their treasury was in the Drexel system, hoping that the pirate would get the hint and set a course for the system that Luke and company had last reported from. 

Jack took the bait and ordered his helmsman to set a course for the Drexel system. Han and Chewie stayed in the captain's quarters, while Leia was led to a cell by Jack's associate, Jolli. Jolli seemed to be a bit jealous of the (faux) affection that Han and Leia had shown each other, and lashed out at her prisoner before tossing her into a cell.

Leia wasn't offended. Her thoughts went back to Skywalker and his mission. She was determined to continue the search for the man who destroyed the Death Star, no matter what it took.

While Han was computing the route, Luke, Artoo, and Threepio found themselves under attack from a large creature. Their ship had crashed into the sea of the planet below, from which the monster rose. Luke's blaster pistol had little impact on their foe, who lunged for another blow. Artoo found the ship's escape pod, and the trio jetted off several yards away.

The monster seemed to lose interest after the ship's inhabitants had disappeared. Luke used his scope to investigate. He soon found that the creature was being approached by another humanoid astride a green sea alien. 

This was the beginning of writer /editor Archie Goodwin and penciler Carmine Infantino's run on the book. I was never a big fan of Carmine's work, mainly because the weapons and technological items he drew were far from how they'd been envisioned in the movies. Critics also said that he made R2-D2 look fat, which I can understand and agree with. Goodwin came up with some wacky stories, and I guess it made sense for him to put the farmboy from Tatooine on a world that was almost entirely water on the surface. I was happy to see more of Crimson Jack and his crew. His popularity remained for decades, and he was even featured briefly in one of the series after Marvel reacquired the Star Wars license in 2015.

That's all for now. Next time, I'll cover the twelfth issue of this run. We'll find out who the mysterious dragon rider was, and meet more supporting characters on Drexel. We'll also find out what happened when Jack's ship reached the system. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #10

Good afternoon,

Today's topic is the tenth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover showed Chewbacca and Han Solo firing their blasters at a large green alien monster. The story was called Behemoth From the World Below." The issue had a cover date of April 1978.

The tale began with Han and his companions in a pickle. They were engaged in battle with the space pirate Serji-X, aka the Arrogant One, and his crew. Both sides were also pitted against a large creature that had just emerged from rocky walls behind them. 

The beast's unexpected arrival posed a significant threat to both heroes and villains. He'd just been summoned by one of the village elders, who had repeatedly talked about such a presence that could protect their land. Unfortunately, he was also one of the savage's first victims, after being crushed by one of the monster's massive feet. That was enough for Serji, who retreated not long before his raiders succumbed to the massive alien.

Han, Chewie, and the farmland's protectors took a few minutes to regroup and devise a plan. Jaxxon led the initial charge before realizing the beast's potential for damage. Don Wan Kihotay, the self-proclaimed last of the Jedi Knights, then decided to strike out on his own. 

Meanwhile, Princess Leia Organa had just embarked on a solo mission to find Luke Skywalker and his droid companions, C-3PO and R2-D2. The trio had recently left Yavin 4 to find a new world that could serve as a Rebel base. When he made contact with his superiors, he told them about a planet in the Drexel system that might be suitable, before he suddenly stopped transmitting. Leia was determined to find her comrades, thinking on the way that they could use Han's assistance right about then.

Solo and the Wookiee were busy on Aduba-3, watching Kihotay attempting to draw the beast's attention. He did so after a few minutes and narrowly evaded a blast emitted from the creature's forehead. Hedji the spiner fired a few quills at their massive foe, and became the target of another blast from the monster, one that took the feline-like biped's life.

Amaiza and Han realized that the beast had been drawn to Kihotay's lightsaber. Chewie carried Solo closer to Kihotay, and Han grabbed the ancient weapon from the old man's hand. He thrust the saber upward into the creature's chest and dove for cover.

Moments later, there was a bright flash of light and the monster gradually disintegrated. The monster was no more, and the pirates had long since fled. The farming village was finally safe from harm.

Merri took the opportunity to thank her neighbor Jimm for his assistance. He decided to stay and help protect her and the others. Han, Chewie, and the rest took their leave. They weren't very well rewarded for their efforts, but they departed knowing they'd made a difference. 

This was the last issue of the monthly series for writer Roy Thomas and penciler Howard Chaykin. Both would go on to other projects for Marvel and other publishers over the years. Thomas and Don Glut were involved in the script, and somehow managed to not explain why Serji had abandoned his men or show their subsequent demise, or that Hedji had been killed (which wouldn't be noted until a later issue). Despite those errors, it was still an okay story and a satisfying conclusion to this storyline.

Well, that wraps up this article. Next time, I'll cover the eleventh issue in this series. We'll see where Han and Chewie head next. We'll also find out what happened to Leia, Luke, and the droids. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #9

Good afternoon all,

Today's focus is the ninth-ever Star Wars comic book. The cover showed Han Solo, Chewbacca, Amaiza, and Jaxxon defending their turf from a quartet of flying cloud-riders. The tale was titled "Showdown on a Wasteland World!" The issue had a cover date of March 1978. 

Chewie, Han, Jaxxon, Amaiza, Hedji, and Don Wan Kihotay were riding Banthas, as their companions Jim and Effie were all moving toward a farming village. The occupants of that land had approached the Correllian and his first mate (at the end of issue number seven) about protecting them from the pirates who plundered their territory mercilessly. The Aduba-3 natives didn't have much to offer, but the pilot still believed in their cause and recruited his new companions (as shown in the last issue) to join them.

The group had no sooner arrived when they found themselves under attack from above by strange-looking flying creatures. Each of the protectors used their own individual skills to fend off the intruders. At one point, Solo wound up saving one of the natives who'd found herself alone in a field.

After driving off the scavengers, the Millennium Falcon's pilots returned the girl Merri to the village. There, they were welcomed by her father, Oncho, and several of his fellow villagers. They were agreeable to assisting their saviors.

Back in the Rebel base on Yavin 4, Princess Leia Organa was trying to raise radio contact with Luke Skywalker. The Death Star destroyer had recently left with his droid counterparts, C-3PO and R2-D2, on a scouting mission to find a new planet that could serve as the Alliance's new base of operations. After establishing contact, Luke reported that he'd located a world in the Drexel system that might suffice when the signal was lost. Leia took this as a sign to go after her new ally and find out what trouble he was now in.

On Aduba-3, Han, Chewbacca, and their companions were gathering their resources in anticipation of another raid from Serji-X and his pirate crew. Merri's grandfather scoffed that their new protectors were not necessary. Another resident told Han not to mind the old man's words, adding that the elder saw himself as a shaman and would regularly talk about summoning a mythical beast to save their land. 

It wasn't long after that conversation that the Arrogant One and his assistants soared onto the scene. A high-pitched battle began moments later. The first casualty was Jimm the Starkiller Kid's faithful tractor robot, Effie. The droid gladly sacrificed itself to save its master.

No one seemed to notice the old man during the skirmish. He gestured wildly in front of a stone wall, asking someone from behind to emerge. By the time Han spotted him, he saw a large monster break through the rock wall. Solo now had to deal with this new menace as well as the ones that he'd originally been hired to take on.

This was definitely an action-packed issue. The supporting characters that Han and Chewie had recruited were still kind of hokey, but each of them played their part in the battle. The sub-plot involving Luke and the others was just getting going, and would be fleshed out in more detail in upcoming issues. I believe that Lucasfilm had some restrictions on what Marvel could do with the movie characters, so Roy Thomas, Howard Chaykin, and company came up with adventures like these to whet the appetites of Star Wars fans who were hungry for more tales following the beloved movie.

Well, that's it for this article. Next time, I'll tackle the tenth issue of this monthly series. We'll learn more about this large, scaly green behemoth and how he plays a role between Han and Chewbacca's legion and the space pirates. We'll also see what Leia did after Luke's ship suddenly stopped transmitting. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #8

Good morning,

Today's topic is Marvel's eighth issue of Star Wars. The cover showed Han Solo, Chewbacca, and six other unidentified characters facing off against an enemy only shown in shadow. The story was called "Eight for Aduba-3." The issue had a cover date of February 1978.

The tale began in a watering hole on the planet Aduba-3. Han and Chewie had just assisted a priest in burying a borg on Spacers' Hill (in issue #7) and were enjoying some refreshments when Han was approached by a trio of villagers (who looked a lot different in this issue than in the previous one) who were about to make him an offer. Before he could hear their pitch, Han was accosted by a large green alien.

His attacker was offended that the stranger had been talking to his blue-skinned girlfriend. A fight soon broke out, which was ended after Chewbacca's timely intervention. Once things returned to normal, Han returned his attention to the farmers who'd interrupted his reverie. 

They were looking for protection from a pirate named Serji-X Arrogantus, who was also referred to as the Arrogant One. He and his crew would routinely raid the farms and take what they wanted, including their women. Even though they had little to offer the pilot, Han felt sympathetic to their cause.

Solo knew that he and Chewie couldn't take on such a group all by themselves, and started recruiting others to join them. They held auditions in their hotel room. The first applicant was a cat-like humanoid called Hedji. He showed Han that he was a spiner by tossing some of his body's quills at the wall behind the Correllian. 

Han hired him and went on to interview Amaiza, leader of the infamous Black Hole gang. She was accepted, as was the next applicant, an old man called Don-Wan Kihotay (you can guess what famous literary character this was a parody of), who claimed to be the last of the Jedi Knights. Han and Chewie humored him and hired him on.

The line of applicants continued to grow outside Solo's door. One rather impatient candidate tried to cut in line, who happened to be the same green alien from the start of this story. He was confronted by a seemingly timid light green rabbit named Jaxxon. The rabbit's powerful leg kick knocked his foe down the steps, leaving him stunned.

Han witnessed that act and was impressed enough to invite Jaxxon to join his crew. The last members to join were a local farmboy named Jimm (who called himself the Starkiller Kid) and his faithful tractor robot FE-9Q, or Effie for short. Jimm reminded Solo of Luke Skywalker and made him wonder how his friend was doing.

Back on Yavin-4, Luke was about to begin a mission with R2-D2 and C-3PO. The trio was boarding a ship to search for a new world that could serve as a base for the Rebel Alliance. Princess Leia and other Rebel leaders were concerned that the Empire would resume its attacks on them not long after the recent destruction of the Death Star.

Once they were in orbit, Luke took some time to reflect on recent events. So much had changed for him lately. He thought about their mission to free Leia from the Death Star, and the battle between his new mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the dreaded Darth Vader. He also started to think about what Han might be up to. 

At the same time, Han was telling Jimm and Effie to come back in the morning. The group convened for the first time at dawn. They were soon met by Serji-X and his crew, one of whom was the green alien Han and Chewbacca had fought earlier. No question tipped off the pirates to the heroes' location.

The Arrogant One was about to make Solo an offer, but Han wasn't about to listen. He stood up for the farmer, even though they couldn't promise him much. Amaiza had to confront Jimm before he could attack the pirate. Serji flew off, but both sides knew they would meet again sooner rather than later. 

Tom Palmer's inking definitely improved Chaykin's pencil work in this issue. Palmer would only ink a couple of the initial issues, but would return later on, after the Empire Strikes Back movie adaptation. Some of the supporting characters were a bit hokey by today's standards, but they endured the test of time. Jaxxon and Amaiza have even been included in recent Star Wars comics. It was a fun story, and I appreciated the separate travels of Luke and the droids as well.

That's all I've got for today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the ninth issue of Star Wars. We'll see the first full-scale battle between Han and Chewie's crew and the raiders. We'll also learn a bit more about what happens to Luke and the droids on their quest. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.