Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #43

Good afternoon all,

It's time for me to discuss the forty-third issue of the first Star Wars comic book title. This issue was the fifth of the six-part adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back. The cover showed Chewbacca, Princess Leia Organa, and Han Solo preparing to defend themselves against a trio of as yet unnamed people. The tale was titled "Betrayal at Bespin!" The issue had a cover date of January 1981.

Following the splash page exclusive to this issue, we saw the Millennium Falcon heading toward Cloud City, an artificial facility raised high above the planet Bespin. Solo's ship was allowed to land, and he soon greeted his old friend Lando Calrissian and his entourage. After a bit of agitation, the two old friends started laughing. Lando led Han and his companions around the city. On the way, C-3PO was distracted by the sounds of an R2 unit. He went off on his own to investigate and soon found himself in trouble, and the familiar whine of blaster bolts could be heard.

On the planet Dagobah, Luke Skywalker was about to enter a cave. Master Yoda advised him that it was a domain of evil, and what lay in store was only what the young student took with him. Luke entered it with his weapons and soon encountered what he thought to be Darth Vader, only to see his own face staring back at him after defeating his foe.

Back on Bespin, Leia was wondering about Threepio's disappearance. Han offered to have Lando search for him, only for Chewie to arrive with a box full of droid parts. The Wookiee explained that he'd found the protocol droid in a dumpster. Han said that Lando's men could fix him, but Leia was still a bit wary of their host, who arrived moments later to invite his guests for some refreshment.

Luke continued to learn and could now see visions of the future. He saw a city in the clouds, and grew concerned about the well-being of his friends. Yoda advised that the future was always in motion, and there was no guarantee that what he'd witnessed would come to pass. 

On their way, Leia and Han asked Lando more about his affiliations. The administrator stated that he'd just made a deal that would keep the Empire out of his city for good, right before opening a chamber door that revealed the Dark Lord of the Sith sitting at the head of a banquet table. Lando apologized, saying the Empire had arrived right before they did. That was little consolation to Han, who pulled his blaster from its holster and squeezed off several shots, all of which were deflected by Vader before using the Force to grab the weapon from his hand. With Boba Fett at his side, the Imperial leader said that they would be honored if Lando's guests would join them.

Meanwhile, on Dagobah, Luke continued to despair for his friends. He felt like he had to help them. As he and R2-D2 readied his X-Wing for flight, Yoda and the ghostly apparition of Ben Kenobi reminded Luke of the dangers he faced if he rushed to confront Vader. Kenobi said that he could not interfere, which Skywalker understood. He wasn't about to sacrifice Han, Leia, or Chewie, but promised to return to finish what he'd begun. As the fighter took off, Obi-Wan said that Luke was their last hope, to which Yoda replied that there was another.

In another section of Cloud City, Han was being hooked up to a torture device. His pained screams could be heard outside the chamber by several Imperial Stormtroopers, Fett, and Calrissian. Vader promised Solo to Fett after he had Skywalker. Leia and Chewbacca were not to leave the city, which was an alteration Vader made to his deal. It was an arrangement that Lando confided to his associate Lobot was getting worse all the time. 

Inside a holding area, Chewie was working on repairing Threepio. The protocol droid could see, but was incensed over being backwards. Moments later, troopers tossed Han into the cell. He was weakened by torture, and noticed that he was never asked any questions. Lando entered then, stating that Han was being given to the bounty hunter. He added that they weren't Vader's real target, and that the Sith was after someone called Skywalker. Leia remarked that they were the bait, but it was a trap well seet, since Lando noted that Skywalker was already on his way there. Han struck his friend, only to be battered by several Bespin guards who were protecting their superior. They left the cell minutes later, leaving Leia to console Han while commenting on his interpersonal skills.

Vader had moved on to the city's carbon freezing chamber. He thought it would be sufficient to preserve Skywalker for his journey to the Emperor. However, it still needed to be tested, and Captain Solo would be the test subject. 

Luke and Artoo were just about to land on Cloud City when Han and his friends were herded to the carbon freeze chamber. Fett wondered about his payment if Solo didn't make it. Vader assured him that the Empire would compensate him properly in that instance. Han was about to face his fate, just as Skywalker started making his way toward his friends. 

The last content pages in this issue were pinups drawn by Terry Austin, Michael Golden, John Byrne, Marie Severin, and Frank Miller. Some of them have been reprinted in Dark Horse collections of this series, but it's nice to see them in their original issue. I felt like this issue was paced well, and although some things weren't in the exact order as they were in the film, they still moved the story along well, and no key parts were missed.

Well, that's all I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll wrap up this adaptation with my recap of the forty-fourth issue of this series. We'll find out what happened to Han and what his friends did afterward. There'll also be the long-awaited battle between Luke and Vader, and a startling revelation that happens during that meeting. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #42

Good morning everyone,

This morning's topic is the forty-second issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. It's the fourth part of their Empire Strikes Back adaptation. The cover showed bounty hunters Dengar, Boba Fett, and Bossk. The story was called "To Be a Jedi!" The issue had a cover date of December 1980.

After the splash page, the tale began on Dagobah, where Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 had arrived in their X-Wing to find Yoda, the Jedi Master who had once trained Obi-Wan Kenobi. Just as Luke was setting up camp on the swampy planet, a diminutive being interrupted them, who later said that he could take them to Yoda.

In another part of the galaxy, Imperial Star Destroyers were firing laser beams at an asteroid where the Millennium Falcon was hiding. C-3PO learned from the ship's computer that its power coupling had been polarized, so Han Solo and Chewbacca went to replace it. A little later on, Han had another run-in with Princess Leia Organa, and the pair had their first kiss, which left each of them feeling something for the other. 

Darth Vader's Super Star Destroyer moved out of the asteroid field for a while so that the Sith Lord could communicate with the Emperor. The Empire's leader informed his subordinate that the son of Skywalker posed a significant threat, but if he could be turned, he might become a great asset. Vader vowed to his master that Skywalker would either join them or die.

Back on Dagobah, Luke grew impatient inside their host's hut. He wanted to find Yoda, not realizing he'd been with him all along. His impatience wearied the wizened Jedi Master. It wasn't until he spoke aloud and was answered by Kenobi's voice that Luke learned the truth. Yoda expressed doubt over Luke's ability to become a Jedi, but Luke tried to assert his confidence, stating that he wasn't afraid. That was something Yoda was sure would change.

After finding out that something was crawling outside the Falcon, Chewie and Solo went out to investigate, followed by Leia. Han spied and shot a Mynock, who had probably been chewing on power cables. He was convinced that there were probably more of them close by. The trio noticed the unusual nature of the cave until Han decided to shoot at the cavern floor. That action caused an unearthly rumbling, and he ordered everyone back inside the ship. As the Falcon prepared to leave, it seemed like the cave entrance was collapsing. However, this was no cave. The Falcon had roosted inside the mouth of a large space slug and narrowly escaped as it soared into outer space.

At the same time, Luke was beginning his Jedi training. The exercises Yoda planned for him tested his mental and physical strengths and abilities, but he continued to improve over time. Unfortunately, when Artoo alerted him of their ship sinking into the swamp, Luke was unable to raise the X-Wing, and it sank even deeper. Yoda was able to raise the vessel and lift it onto solid ground. Luke found that feat to be unbelievable, which is why Yoda said that his student had failed. 

Back on Vader's Star Destroyer, the Sith Lord was talking to the bounty hunters who had been recruited to find the Falcon. Vader gave instructions to Dengar, IG-88, Bossk, Boba Fett, 4-LOM, and Zuckuss (not pictured). He wanted the ship's crew alive, with no disintegrations. No sooner had those words been spoken than an Imperial officer ran toward Vader, decrying that they had their quarry.

The Falcon was now within firing range of the Star Destroyers. Han got creative and made what appeared to be an attack run, flying toward one of the Star Destroyers. Afterward, the ship no longer appeared on any of their scopes. What they didn't know was that the vessel in question was positioned on one side of the ship's command tower.

On Dagobah, Luke was learning the difference between the light and dark sides of the Force from Yoda. Yoda stated that the Dark Side was quicker, easier, and more seductive. Once someone went down that path, it would forever dominate their destiny, like it did to Obi-Wan's apprentice, Darth Vader.

Still unable to find the Falcon, Vader instructed his fleet to calculate possible paths along its last known trajectory. The Imperial ships then dumped their garbage into space before going into lightspeed. The Falcon then detached from the Star Destroyer it had been sitting on, and floated along with the refuse. As they did so, Han looked for a place to hide out, and came up with Lando Calrissian, a name from the past who Han was sure had no love for the Empire. Unbeknownst to the Falcon and its crew, Boba Fett's ship, the Slave I, was also lying hidden in the garbage, waiting for the Falcon to make its next move. 

The rest of this issue's content was cover pages from the British Star Wars Weekly magazine. Some additional covers from this publication were also shown in the first Star Wars annual. Because of the popularity of the Mandalorian and Boba Fett, this issue and issue #68 are two of the issues in this series that are the hardest for collectors to find, and can run a pretty penny for copies in good condition or better.

One fun fact about the bounty hunters: Kenner initially incorrectly mislabeled the 4-LOM and Zuckuss action figures. I remember receiving the Zuckuss action figure, which was labeled on the package as 4-LOM. The real 4-LOM action figure was a C-3PO body with a different head sculpt. Neither of these two featured prominently in this series, but would play larger roles and be more fleshed out in the Bounty Hunters comics in recent years by Marvel.

The action really ramped up in this issue. We finally got to see Yoda, the bounty hunters, and the Emperor, although he only appeared in a shadowy form in a single panel. The original version from the film was rather rough and was spruced up for the special edition years later. This issue covered some of the key plot points from the movie and kept moving the story along at a good pace.

Next time, I'll cover the forty-third issue of this series. Part 5 of the adaptation shows us where the Falcon went next. We'll meet Calrissian and his crew and learn what the new character had in store for his old friend. We'll also see more of Luke's Jedi training and what tempts him to leave Dagobah. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #41

Good afternoon,

This afternoon's focus will be on the forty-first issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. This issue is the third installment of their six-issue adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back. The cover showed the Millennium Falcon entering an asteroid field with an Imperial Destroyer and several TIE fighters close behind. The tale was titled "Imperial Pursuit!" The issue had a cover date of November 1980. 

After the opening splash page, the story started right where the previous issue had left off. Luke Skywalker was emerging from his crashed snowspeeder as a pair of Imperial All Terrain Armored Transports (AT-ATs) were headed his way. Luke ducked inside the cockpit to grab a couple of items before his vehicle was crushed underneath one of the walker's legs. He used a harpoon gun to fire a slender cable that he ascended quickly. Skywalker then used his lightsaber to cut a hole in the vehicle's underbelly and tossed a proton grenade inside the newly created opening. Luke jumped to safety moments before the Imperial transport began buckling from internal explosions and eventually crashed to the snowy ground on Hoth.

Inside the Rebel command center, Leia Organa was giving evacuation instructions. Han Solo arrived to ensure that she and C-3PO got out before the Empire arrived. A cave-in prevented the trio from reaching the Rebel ships, so they headed toward the Falcon and a waiting Chewbacca. The trio entered the Correllian vessel just as Darth Vader and his snowtroopers were infiltrating the headquarters.

Han had a few tricks up his sleeve, which defended his ship as they prepared to launch, and soon left Hoth's atmosphere. Their departure was noticed by Luke and several of his fellow pilots. A pair of Star Destroyers was right in the Falcon's path, and the TIE fighters they dispatched meant that Han and Chewie had to think of something fast. 

After departing the planet, Luke informed his X-Wing copilot, R2-D2, that they weren't going to rendezvous with the fleet like originally planned. He set a course for the Dagobah system. Meanwhile, the Falcon's crew was occupied with more repair work until they ran into another obstacle. This time, they noticed that they were approaching an asteroid belt. Despite Threepio's announcement of the odds against it, Han decided to enter the belt, thinking that it would pose a bigger problem for their pursuers.

Inside his Super Star Destroyer, Vader's meditation was interrupted by the announcement that the Falcon had entered the asteroid field. The Dark Lord of the Sith wasn't concerned by that. He wanted the ship, not excuses. After a bit of careful navigation, Solo found a hiding spot that might work for a while. At the same time, Luke and Artoo were entering Dagobah's atmosphere, where they wanted to find the Jedi master who'd instructed Ben Kenobi. It was someone whom they'd encounter before they even realized it. 

The rest of the content in this issue was a five-page bonus print and pictorial section about Marvel's development of the adaptation for this film. It was a nice insight into the creative process and their interactions with Lucasfilm. It also showed how the concepts evolved, and was something that wasn't included in the Marvel Super Special adaptation of the movie. 

By now, you probably know how much I admire this adaptation. It was wonderfully done. It was one of my first introductions to the Star Wars universe, and it was very faithful to the film in most aspects. A few details here and there were added or omitted, but I know it's not easy to include everything in an adaptation, especially if there are differences between the script and the final film. It can also be difficult to interpret things that aren't fully described or fleshed out before a movie is released. This adaptation was a significant upgrade in storytelling from the regular monthly stories, and I felt that the quality continued to improve for the most part afterward. Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon would also illustrate the Return of the Jedi adaptation, and Williamson, the regular artist for the Star Wars newspaper strip at the time, would pencil an additional issue of this title post-ROTJ. 

That's all I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the forty-second issue of this series. It's part four of The Empire Strikes Back adaptation, where we'll see Yoda for the first time. This highly-sought after issue also features a brief appearance of six bounty hunters, and the debut of the mysterious Emperor, as well as some more bonus material. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #40

Good morning,

This morning's topic is the fortieth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. This issue is the second part of the company's adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back movie. The cover showed Luke Skywalker wielding his lightsaber in front of a downed snowspeeder as an Imperial All Terrain Armed Transport (AT-AT) points its guns at him. A few more AT-ATs and snowspeeders can also be seen in the background. This chapter was called "Battleground Hoth!" The issue had a cover date of October 1980.

After the initial splash page (these splash pages were only found in the monthly magazine, and not the Marvel Special Edition movie adaptation), we see several Rebel soldiers preparing for incoming Imperial troops. The attention then shifts to C-3PO and R2-D2, as they listen to a captured Wampa before heading to see their master, Luke Skywalker, who was in the medical wing, recovering from his recent encounter with one of those creatures (as shown in the last issue).

Luke's scars are healing well, according to medical droid 2-1B. Princess Leia, Artoo, Threepio, Han Solo, and Chewbacca soon arrive to check in on their colleague. We see a bit of a romantic triangle form among the three movie leads before attention is averted to Darth Vader's Super Star Destroyer.

The Sith Lord was just informed by General Veers that the Rebels have erected an energy shield on the fourth planet in the system by General Veers. Vader realized that Admiral Ozzel brought their fleet out of lightspeed too close to the system. He made sure that the admiral paid the ultimate price for his failure before promoting Captain Piett to fill the now late admiral's role. 

Meanwhile, Leia and other Rebel leaders are preparing for the imminent Imperial assault. The base's ion cannon is being activated to defend outgoing ships, and ground staff are being instructed on their leaders' strategy. Han and Chewie are still working on repairs to the Millennium Falcon, which aren't going as well as hoped.

The ion cannon proves to be effective, as its blast strikes one of the Star Destroyers in the path of the first Rebel transport to leave the system. Luke and Han wish each other well before Skywalker goes to join his snowspeeder gunner, Dack Ralter. Luke will be leading Rogue Squadron in their aerial defense of the Rebel base. 

It doesn't take very long for the first AT-ATs to arrive on the scene. The large Imperial Walkers pose a formidable threat to the relatively smaller Alliance forces. Luke and his squadron try an aerial assault, only to find that the walkers' armor is too strong for blasterfire, as Chewbacca and Solo see the falling rubble above them and know they have to leave sooner rather than later.

While General Rieekan and Leia advise the remaining ground staff to evacuate, things turn for the worse outside. Luke loses his gunner, but his friend Wedge decides to attack from below, using his speeder's tow cables to successfully constrict and bring one of the AT-ATs down. However, Luke has little time to celebrate that victory, as his ship is soon hit. He navigates as best as he can with a damaged ship as the remaining walkers continue to advance, including one that appears to be heading right for him. 

I can't say enough good things about this movie adaptation. Although there are a few bits and pieces from the film that are omitted or were shown in this adaptation but cut from the movie's final draft, it's still a very accurate and beautiful story. The artwork is superb, and the story pacing is just right. It's a significant upgrade over the adaptation for the first film and shows just how seriously Marvel took this project. 

That's all I have for now. Next time, I'll recap the third part of this six-part adaptation from Star Wars #41. We'll see the conclusion of the Battle of Hoth, and find out what happens to the movie's major stars as they go their separate ways. The Empire remains in hot pursuit of their targets, and another popular character makes their debut. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #39

Good afternoon,

It's finally time for me to tackle Marvel's Empire Strikes Back adaptation. They released a Marvel Super Special (which I still have in my collection) and adapted the movie into six parts in their monthly Star Wars comic. This article will touch on the first part of that adaptation in the thirty-ninth issue of the title. It featured Darth Vader on the cover, with a Super Star Destroyer and several other smaller Star Destroyers in the background. This was also the first issue to feature R2-D2 and C-3PO in the front corner box, instead of the usual image of Luke Skywalker with an ignited lightsaber. The issue had a cover date of September 1980.

After the front splash page, the tale began on the ice planet Hoth. Skywalker was on patrol astride a native Tauntaun. He had just radioed to Han Solo that he was going to check out a meteorite strike when a large arm knocked him off his mount. Luke didn't get to see the strange robot that had emerged after arriving on the planet.

A little while later, Solo and his Tauntaun returned to the Rebel base. After dismounting, he yelled up at his copilot, Chewbacca, who was busy working on repairs to the Millennium Falcon. A nearby officer offered remorse at Han's decision to leave, which Han replied to by saying that the bounty hunter they ran into on Ord Mantell (a tale that was covered in the Star Wars newspaper strip by this issue's artist, Al Williamson) had changed his mind. 

Han then ran into Princess Leia in a hallway, and the two engaged in a spirited debate about Solo's decision to leave the Alliance. Afterward, we saw another similar-looking alien arm break open one of the interior walls of the base. Meanwhile, Luke awoke and found himself hanging upside down inside an icy cavern. He spotted his lightsaber on the ground and used the Force to bring the blade to his waiting hand.

He then used the laser beam to free himself and to swing defensively at his captor before running for safety. While their master was trying to make his way back, Artoo and Threepio were on their way to the Falcon. Threepio wondered if anyone had heard from Luke. Han certainly hadn't, but wanted the latest from the deck officer closest to his ship. 

Moments later, Solo was conferring with a pair of Rebel officers who were inspecting a Tauntaun that had been attacked. Han couldn't take a speeder to find his friend, since they hadn't been properly adjusted to the cold weather just yet. He decided to go out on Tauntaun, knowing that the weather was becoming an increasing danger to his friend. 

Luke had just about reached the point of exhaustion when an apparition appeared in front of him. It was the image of his former mentor, Obi-Wan (Ben) Kenobi. The Jedi instructed him to go to the Dagobah system to learn the ways of the Force from Yoda, the Jedi master who had instructed him. Luke passed out moments before Han found him.

 Solo raced to Skywalker, just before his Tauntaun collapsed from the cold. Han worked feverishly to erect a portable shelter, while Artoo tried to use his limited scope to find their friends. Major Derlin (played by the future Cliff Clavin, John Ratzenberger) advised Leia that nothing more could be done and that the shield doors had to be closed. She reluctantly agreed, hoping for the best for her colleagues.

The next morning, a Rebel pilot out on patrol in his speeder located the missing Rebels. Luke was soon rushed to the base's medical facility and was placed in a bacta tank where his progress was monitored by the droids 2-1B and FX-7. Luke's friends knew that he'd run into some kind of trouble but weren't sure just what as of yet.

As Luke was improving, more danger loomed. Several soldiers fended off an attack by the same type of creature that attacked Luke (which was in a scene that was cut from the movie). Later, technicians detected a metallic visitor. Han and Chewie went out for a closer look. The droid blasted at them, before a lucky shot fired from Han's pistol caused a self-destruct.

The unwanted guest was an Imperial probe droid. It was a good guess that the Empire now knew of the Rebels' hiding place, and General Rieekan ordered the beginning of their evacuation. On board a massive Super Star Destroyer somewhere in the galaxy, Imperial Admiral Ozzel was informed of a possible lead in the Hoth system. While the commander demanded proof instead of leads, Darth Vader was convinced that was where the Rebels, including Skywalker, were hiding. He ordered an immediate course direction to that system. 

This adaptation was developed by writer/editor Archie Goodwin and artists Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon. It's said that Garzon and Williamson would take turns on pencils and inks in this adaptation, as well as the one for Return of the Jedi. Goodwin and Williamson had already been working together on the Star Wars newspaper strip, so this felt like a natural evolution. I loved the artwork in this adaptation and wished that Williamson had drawn more Star Wars comics after the newspaper strip ended. He sets scenes wonderfully and was a marvelous artist for many years. 

Well, that's it for this article. Part two of this adaptation will be in the fortieth issue of this title. The battle for Hoth begins as both Rebel and Imperial forces wage a ground war. Find out how this battle begins, and what roles the major characters from the movie play in this conflict next time. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #38

Hi everyone,

This article will be dedicated to discussing the thirty-eighth issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover showed Luke Skywalker trying to free Princess Leia Organa from a set of strange green tentacles, while a yellow robot wielding a lightsaber prepared to attack from behind. The tale was titled "Riders in the Void!" The issue had a cover date of August 1980. 

The story started somewhere in the galaxy, as Luke and Leia's ship was suddenly being attacked by a pair of Imperial TIE fighters. Luke wasn't about to let their foes distract him. He soon made the jump to lightspeed, but on that voyage, the ship started experiencing several mechanical issues.

Luke slowed the craft to sublight speed, and he and Leia soon noticed that the stars had disappeared. It appeared as though the galaxy itself had disappeared. Off in the distance, Leia spied a bright source of light. As they drew nearer, the Rebels saw something that looked very much alive.

The smaller ship was drawn into the larger mass. After confirming that the interior atmosphere was breathable, Leia and Luke exited their ship and started exploring their new surroundings. Several minutes later, they fell through the floor that they had just been standing on. 

Both heroes were under attack before long. Leia fended off several alien tentacles, while Luke encountered a robot who engaged him in a saber battle. The mechanoid seemed to improve with each move, but the young Jedi soon defeated his opponent. Afterward, the ship tried to violently expel both of its new guests.

Leia and Luke struggled to save themselves and help each other. These selfless acts of bravery were recognized by whoever was in control, and the violent winds that had tried to cast them out ceased just as suddenly as they had started. A voice invited the pair into an inner chamber, where we saw a strangely garbed being who had been observing everything from his viewscreen.

The being explained that he'd seen the ravages of war long ago. It had taken many of those that he knew, and things got to a point where he'd become linked with the very vessel they were traveling in after he chose to flee conflict. It seemed that the current struggles were nothing more than amusements for him, although both of the Rebels knew that their battles were all too real.

Not long afterward, the bioship exited hyperspace right in front of an Imperial Star Destroyer. The Imperial vessel opened fire, and its opening salvo buffeted the ship, but didn't do much damage. Several TIEs were dispatched to defend the Empire's vessel, only to be taken out by bulbous anti-matter pods. The pods continued to disperse until they had eventually eliminated the Imperial threat entirely.

The ship's owner then allowed his companions to resume their travels. Their ship was repaired and could depart at any time. As the heroes boarded their craft, their host stated that their world was too real for him. They took off, watching the biovessel retreat further into the stars, perhaps to a place where its owner could continue his contentment in peace. 

This was a rather unexpected, offbeat story that was published because of deadline and format issues at the time. Marvel wasn't quite ready to begin their Empire Strikes Back adaptation at the time, so this story ran in its place. It's a visually stunning book. I'm used to penciler Michael Golden's artwork from the first year of the initial Micronauts title. He doesn't stay on regular comic titles for very long, but he's definitely one of the best artists in his field. The art would only continue to improve over the next several issues.

Well, that wraps up this piece. Next time, I'll begin Marvel's six-part adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back. We'll start with the Rebel base on Hoth. Luke runs into a bit of trouble after going out on his own to investigate a meteor strike, and we'll see just how doggedly the Empire is pursuing the Rebellion. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #37

Hello there,

It's time for me to discuss the thirty-seventh issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover showed Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 ready to do battle, with an asteroid field in the background and a black glove holding a red-bladed lightsaber in the foreground, and a shadow cast before the heroes that could only belong to Darth Vader. The tale was titled "In Mortal Combat!" The issue had a cover date of July 1980.

The story started at dawn on the planet Monastery. Lady Domina Taage was directing Luke and Vader toward opposite paths that would eventually join up. Once the participants met, the battle could begin. Vader set off first. Luke was a little hesitant, knowing that Artoo couldn't join him. Once both fighters had left, Domina smiled, thinking that this contest could spell the end for both of them.

Skywalker took his time familiarizing himself with the terrain. He soon learned that moisture in the area could cause crystals to sprout from the ground, and that attacking those crystals had explosive results. As the hero raced on, Vader stood still, observing his surroundings. Meanwhile, the Millennium Falcon flew over the range, partly due to the influence of their unwanted guest, Baron Orman Taage, who held its pilot, Han Solo, at gunpoint.

The Baron wanted to protect his sister while simultaneously wishing to have his revenge on both Skywalker and Vader, each for separate reasons. An abrupt landing on the planet distracted the baron enough for Princess Leia Organa to wrest the blaster from their enemy's hand. Chewbacca alerted Han to the approach of a pair of Imperial TIE fighters, who were soon taken out by the Falcon's guns. However, that skirmish had preoccupied the crew so much that they didn't notice Taage had fled from their ship.

Luke was continuing on his way when Artoo arrived from behind. He was still connected with C-3PO, who was still aboard the Falcon. The translator droid knew the way out of the dangerous crystal field and encouraged Artoo to lead their master to safety. That was information that the baron probably wished he'd had, as he ventured out to confront his opponents by himself.

It didn't take long for Orman to run into Vader. He was no match for the Sith Lord, who soon convinced the baron to perform a task for him, after Orman was informed that his formerly innocent sister had been corrupted by the Empire. While Han and Leia were running to inform Domina that her brother Orman was in the meadow, Luke went up against what he thought was Darth Vader.

The long-awaited struggle began. Luke sensed fear in his foe and noticed that his opponent's moves were not what he was expecting. Artoo continued to follow his master, and Threepio, through his link with the astrodroid, informed Skywalker that his sensors were detecting something that human senses couldn't pick up. 

After a final slash, Luke learned that he'd been facing Orman Taage. He was surprised by the deception and was about to confront Vader himself, who'd appeared by the two combatants, before realizing that the only way to win Vader's game was not to play. By the time Domina heard the news from Leia and Han, Vader had already taken off in his personal TIE fighter.

Luke arrived moments later and was chastised by Domina for not saving her brother. She was angered by both sides and allowed the Falcon to leave, but not without her warning. Han, Leia, Luke, Chewie, and the droids were thankful that the ordeal was over and talked about what they'd learned during their flight.

Elsewhere in space, a ship came across the ruined Star Destroyer that was once hijacked by Crimson Jack. The being that this comic called Jabba the Hut (last seen in issue #28, who was later retconned as a Nimbanel by the name of Mosep Binneed, who worked for the Hutt and sometimes operated using his boss' name) stated that he'd financed the refurbishment of that vessel. In retaliation for the damage done to Jack's ship, Jabba placed a substantial bounty on Han's head, which made our favorite spice runner a wanted man once again. 

This was Orman Taage's last appearance in this series. It's assumed that Luke's blow was a killing one, even though it wasn't really confirmed in this issue. Domina would return in another issue after the ESB adaptation and then remain dormant for three decades. She basically worked for herself and had long since abandoned the Monastery religious group by the time she reappeared, mainly in the Doctor Aphra books. The Taages brought a new perspective to the galactic conflict, but were pretty much forgotten after this storyline, for the most part. That can happen when books change creative teams, I guess. 

Next up is the thirty-eighth issue of this series. Luke and Leia take a journey into an unexpected corner of the galaxy, in the final story before Marvel's adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back began. The yarn was beautifully illustrated by Michael Golden and is a bit out of the ordinary, but nonetheless appealing. Be here when I describe it in greater detail. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.