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 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. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #7

Good afternoon,

Today's topic is the seventh issue of Marvel's initial Star Wars run. The cover had Han Solo urging his first mate, Chewbacca, to grab a blaster since they were surrounded. Chewie's hands were filled with a pair of foes at the time, as he stood in front of a wall that had a wanted poster featuring both of them on it. The story was called "New Planets, New Perils!" The issue had a cover date of January 1978.

The tale started on Yavin 4, not long after the destruction of the Death Star. Han and Chewie opted to return to Tatooine to pay back Jabba the Hutt with the credits they'd earned escorting the Rebels to their base. It wasn't long before their ship, the Millennium Falcon, was attacked by space pirates. They soon had no choice but to surrender and allow their vessel to be lifted via tractor beam into the main frigate.

The motley crew of mercenaries was led by a man known as Crimson Jack. The Correllian pilot was familiar with the pirate. Jack's crew soon discovered the cache of credits and took them for themselves, before leaving the Falcon to drift in space alone. Han realized that they probably had to lie low in an outer world, hoping that Jabba's reach might not extend that far.

They selected Aduba 3 as their hideout. It was a smaller world that was less active than many other civilized systems. The Falcon set down out of town, and Han and Chewie made their way toward civilization. In the nearest town, they found a fracas outside of one of the local watering holes.

An alien wielding a two-edged spear appeared to be outnumbered by the crowd, and Han and Chewbacca rushed to help him. The skirmish was brief, and the crowd soon began to dissipate. The alien was trying to transport the body of a cyborg who'd passed away the night before via bantha to Spacers' Hill. He gave Han the borg's sack of coins as payment for agreeing to take the body to its final destination.

Of course, the attack resumed once the alien had left the scene and Chewie and Han embarked on their mission. They were forced to blast their way to safety before the conflict ended. The alien returned to take on a few of their opponents as well. Unfortunately, the bantha had been struck by a stray blaster bolt and slain. That meant that Chewbacca, being the strongest of the three, would have to carry the heavy metal coffin to its burial place.

It was a longer journey, but they eventually reached the graveyard. The coffin was lowered into the ground slowly and a prayer ritual was performed. Then the work was done. 

Han and Chewie relaxed afterward in a cantina in the spaceport. They had a few beverages and got acquainted with several patrons before a group of robed men approached Han. They came to the offworlder with a proposition that they felt might be agreeable, unless the pilot had an aversion to dying. 

There was a lot of demand at the time for more Star Wars stories, and Marvel probably had no choice but to make this book an ongoing monthly title. The first six issues had already been reprinted and collected in larger collectors' editions, due to the overwhelming interest in the film. This story would have fit in very well with the Han Solo and Chewbacca novels that were published around the same time The art was a bit better, but still choppy at times.

That's all from me for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the eighth issue of this title. Han and Chewie just learn what the natives' proposal is. We'll also meet some interesting characters along the way. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #6

Good afternoon,

It's time for me to recap the sixth issue of Marvel's adaptation of the first Star Wars movie. The cover showed a Y-Wing facing off against a trio of TIE Fighters, while Darth Vader took on Luke Skywalker on the ground with Princess Leia Organa looking on. The tale was titled "Is This..The Final Chapter?" The issue had a cover date of December 1977.

The story started with Rebel fighters zooming toward the massive space station known as the Death Star. Note: In this issue, the Rebel attackers identify their designations as blue, whereas in the film, they are red. Luke is one of those pilots who begins their attack run. Imperial gunners inside the station start to scoff at what they believe to be a futile attempt.

Vader soon realizes their danger. He decides to board his own fighter, knowing that they will probably have to destroy the fighters ship-to-ship. Those reinforcements are soon picked up by Rebel command back on the planet of Yavin 4. 

The TIE fighters pose a challenge to the Rebels. Biggs Darklighter's friend Porkins is the first Rebel casualty in the war. While Vader and his crew zero in on the intruders, the Rebel flight leader makes his attack run. Unfortunately, his proton torpedoes didn't enter the thermal exhaust port. They simply impacted on the surface. His craft is swiftly disabled, and the commander makes a last lunge at the station, sacrificing himself and his ship in the process.

Luke soon hears a familiar voice in his head, belonging to Ben Kenobi, the Jedi who took on Vader (in issue #4) and briefly taught the young farmboy in the ways of the Force before his ultimate defeat at the Dark Lord of the Sith's hands. He quickly assumes a leadership role and guides the remaining fighters down the trench toward the exhaust port.

The next casualty is Darklighter, one of Luke's wingmates and oldest friends from Tatooine. Vader's TIE Fighter is about to have Luke's X-Wing in his crossfire when a bolt from behind knocks out his TIE escorts, one of which crashes into his ship and sends Vader's craft careening helplessly out into space.

A hoot can be heard from the comms from the Corellian pilot Han Solo. It was his ship, the Millennium Falcon, that fired at the Imperials, clearing a path for the final blow. Luke turns off his targeting computer and trusts in the Force before releasing his proton torpedoes.

The missiles find their mark, and the Death Star erupts in a blinding flash of light minutes after the Falcon and the remaining Rebel fighters escape. A festive ground crew awaited the heroes back on Yavin. The only immediate concern was getting R2-D2 patched up after being blasted by a laser bolt from Vader's TIE.

A while later, a grand procession awaits the saviors. Luke and Han are awarded medals for their bravery by Leia, as Chewbacca, C-3PO, and a restored Artoo watch as those gathered around them cheer loudly. This was the first significant victory in the war against the Empire.

Although this issue skipped a few details from the movie, it did wrap up the adaptation in a satisfying manner. The inking really cleaned up Howard Chaykin's pencil art. The cover was nothing like the action inside the book, but that happens frequently in comics, especially when the cover artists aren't the same as the artists for the story.

This was just the beginning of Marvel's coverage of the Star Warriors. The series continued with issue number seven, which I'll cover tomorrow. Han and Chewie embark on a new adventure. We'll see where they end up and what happened to their earnings after delivering their passengers safely to Yavin. Until then, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #5

Good morning everyone,

Today's topic is the fifth issue of Marvel's adaptation of the very first Star Wars movie. The cover showed Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, Han Solo, and various Rebel pilots scrambling as their base was being attacked by the Death Star. The story was called "Lo, The Moons of Yavin!" The issue had a cover date of November 1977.

The tale began on the Millennium Falcon, as Han asked Luke to join them. The heroes had just escaped the Death Star, thanks in part to the sacrifice of Obi-Wan Kenobi (who perished in battle with his former student, Darth Vader). Solo led the farmboy to his ship's gun turrets. He took one chair, and Luke settled into the other.

Chewbacca navigated their craft, as Leia, C-3PO, and R2-D2 watched a squadron of TIE fighters approach. It took Skywalker some time to adapt to the controls, but he and Han eventually eliminated their pursuers. Afterward, Leia was glad that the astrodroid remained intact, adding that he was holding onto the Death Star's technical readouts. She hoped that her Rebel colleagues could analyze them and find a weakness, or else they may very well be doomed.

Meanwhile, on that very space station, Darth Vader was just informing Grand Moff Tarkin that the Falcon had just made the jump to lightspeed. Tarkin was wary of the plan and hoped that the homing beacon that was placed on board the ship was functional. Vader was confident that everything would go as planned. The day had already seen the end of the Jedi, and he was optimistic that it would also see the end of the Rebellion. 

Back on the Falcon, Leia told Han that she thought their escape was too easy, and that the Empire was probably tracking them. Han doubted those claims and told her that he was only in it for the money. Leia assured him that he would receive the reward he was promised.

She then retreated further into the ship, leaving Han and Luke at the controls. They talked about the princess, and their feelings for her started to surface. This was a bit of foreshadowing for the rest of the film trilogy.

Before long, the Falcon landed on Yavin 4. Its passengers disembarked and were taken via shuttle inside a massive temple. Once inside the hangar bay, Leia reunited with Rebel leaders. They were thankful that she'd survived the destruction of her home planet, Alderaan.

Leia told General Dodonna about the plans for the Death Star that R2-D2 had been given. The droid was soon hooked up to a transmitter that relayed the plans. Dodonna described them and their strategy to the pilots in the room, including Han, Chewie, and Luke.

The space station's vulnerable spot was an exhaust port just below the main port. They planned to use small short-range fighters to skim a long trench to access that spot, which they would bomb with proton torpedoes. There was some skepticism initially, but the Rebel pilots accepted the mission. 

Luke had joined the cause and donned a pilot's outfit. He was heading toward his ship when he saw Han and Chewbacca gathering boxes of credits onto the Falcon. Han told him he had some debts to pay with his reward. He asked Luke to join them, knowing the farmboy had already made up his mind. Luke was miffed as his friend's decision, but Leia reminded him that Solo had to make his own choices.

Moments later, Luke ran into his boyhood friend, Biggs Darklighter, who was also part of the pilot group. Their flight leader asked Skywalke about his experience, but Biggs vouched for his friend's flying ability. They then went to their own ships. Luke was looking forward to sharing his recent experiences with his old buddy after they accomplished their goal.

He was about to board his X-Wing when a technician asked Luke if he wanted a different astrodroid. Luke wouldn't accept anyone other than Artoo as his shipmate. While the Rebel leaders watched from a central command area, the fighters took off, preparing to meet the Death Star, which was rapidly approaching the planet's orbit. 

I have to say that this issue was a testament to writer Roy Thomas' experience. He knew just how to break this story down into six equal parts. There were still some things that weren't in the movie, but as I stated in a previous article, the Marvel staff had access to a script and not the completed film at the time they were preparing this adaptation. The art was a bit better, too.

That's all for this article. Next time, I'll discuss the sixth and final chapter of this movie adaptation. It's the climactic battle between the Rebellion and the Empire, and we'll see which side wins out in the end. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #4

Hi everyone,

It's time for me to discuss the fourth issue of Marvel's adaptation of the very first Star Wars movie. The issue showed Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia Organa preparing to battle the large spectral form of Darth Vader. The story was named "In Battle With Darth Vader." The issue had a cover date of October 1977.

The tale began in the corridor of a prison block where Luke, Leia, Chewbacca, and Han Solo found themselves cornered by a squadron of Imperials firing back at them. All appeared lost. The heroes were trapped, and their droid counterparts, C-3PO and R2-D2, were still in the observation tower (where we saw them last issue) with Imperial Stormtroopers about to barge in. 

Leia took the initiative to blast a vent, providing them with an escape route. What they didn't know was that the vent led to a garbage masher. The quartet soon found themselves knee deep in trash and muck. The walls and door were magnetically sealed, so they couldn't shoot their way free.

Luke was eventually grabbed by a creature lurking in the fetid waters (known as a Dianoga). The monster let him loose mere moments before the walls started to contract on them. The heroes tried to brace the walls and reach higher ground before they all got a lot thinner. 

Just when all seemed desperate, Skywalker remembered the droids. He took out his communicator and tried to contact them, not knowing that the robots were unable to respond at the moment. Threepio and Artoo were holed up inside a closet just before Stormtroopers burst through the door. After the closet was opened, C-3PO made up a story about madmen who had just been there and were heading for the prison level. He asked to take R2 to maintenance, which one of the troopers agreed to. Threepio took his communicator from the desk where it had lain and left with his counterpart. 

They proceeded down a hallway before remembering that they had the communicator. C-3PO used it and learned of his master's dilemma. He pleaded desperately with R2 to shut down all of the garbage mashers on the detention level. The plucky astrodroid accomplished that task with minimal time to spare. 

Meanwhile, Kenobi was moving carefully on a platform suspended between two towers. He stayed there long enough to manually deactivate the tractor beam controls. The Jedi left that post right before more Imperials arrived on their rounds.

Solo fired his blaster at the monster in the muck they'd just left after freeing themselves from the trash compactor, and set off for his ship. Little did he, Chewbacca, Leia, or Luke know that their other companions were heading toward the vessel, and also being careful to evade the notice of Stormtroopers. Luke radioed the droids and learned that they were right below them.

Their brief respite was broken up by the arrival of a squadron of Stormtroopers. Solo and Chewie charged after the soldiers, allowing Luke and Leia to escape in the opposite direction. The duo soon found themselves at a dead end. Luke shot the control panel to prevent troops from entering behind them, not knowing that the panel also contained controls that would have extended a bridge to safety.

He then used a grappling hook from his trooper belt and flung it upward, where it caught a pipe. After a kiss for luck, the two heroes swung to the other side, blasting at the troopers they'd left behind on the other side. 

While the pilot and first mate of the Millennium Falcon evaded Stormtroopers, Kenobi finally saw a path to their ship, only to be blocked by his former pupil, Darth Vader. The two engaged in a lightsaber battle, knowing that this would be a conflict to the death.

The struggle continued between the two trained in the Jedi arts, as Kenobi's counterparts regrouped. The lightsaber fight moved to an open area, catching the attention of more troopers. Knowing what he had to do, Kenobi sacrificed himself so that Luke and his companions could escape. Vader's blade swung at his foe, striking him down, as his body disappeared. Only his cape and saber hilt remained.

Luke was stunned by what he'd just seen. A voice in his head from Obi-Wan told him to flee, which he did, blasting at the door control as he did so. The blast doors swung down, cutting off Vader and his reinforcements from the Falcon. He fired at more Stormtroopers before heeding Leia's order to come aboard. 

The young farmer from Tatooine was mourning the loss of his new friend as their ship took off. Even though he knew Leia was right about there being nothing more he could have done, Luke couldn't help but somehow feel guilty for Ben's death. The Falcon broke free from the Death Star, but their troubles were far from over.

The artwork was a bit better in this issue, although Kenobi's demise was a bit more violent than how it was portrayed in the film. It was redemption for Vader. I was just reading the graphic novel Lucas Wars, and found it interesting how the concept of Kenobi's sacrifice was brought up, and that it took a bit of explanation to convince Sir Alec Guinness of his character's fate. It was a pivotal moment in the story that now makes perfect sense.

Well, that's all for this article. Next time, I'll recap the fifth issue of this adaptation. Han Solo and his crew realize the repercussions of escaping from the Death Star. We'll also see what the Rebels plan to do once the stolen data tapes are in their possession. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.