Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #98

Good afternoon,

Today's topic is the ninety-eighth issue of the first Star Wars comic. The cover, illustrated by Bill Sienkiewicz, showed an Imperial Stormtrooper fighting an unnamed person in a space suit, with the Millennium Falcon and a pair of TIE fighters in the background. The tale was titled "Supply and Demand." The issue had a cover date of August 1985.

The story started in the shipyards of Fondor. Han Solo was aboard one of the vessels and made a mad dash to the docking bay after noticing someone flying his beloved Falcon rather erratically. His old friend, Lando Calrissian, disembarked, noting that he'd owned the ship before Han did. However, it was his Death Star run copilot, Nien Nunb, who had actually been flying the Falcon there. 

Nunb was about to serve as Han's partner on his next mission, since the Wookie Chewbacca was taking some time off on his home planet. Lando would assume Han's place at the shipyards, while Solo and Nunb headed toward Vandelhelm to deal with a supply issue. 

On the way, the Falcon stopped at a world that was once used as an Imperial prison planet. Han met with another fellow Alliance member, but was less than pleased to learn that the passengers he was supposed to pick up were children. One was a teenage girl, and the other was a boy several years younger than her. Han loaded up his crew and headed toward their primary destination. 

Several ships had amassed in space around Vandelhelm. In one of the main frigates, Guildmaster Orrka was conferring with Imperial Admiral Mordur. The Empire's forces had been reduced significantly after their loss during the second Death Star battle, but that didn't mean that they were entirely extinct just yet. Mordur and his troopers were stationed on one of the cruisers, making plans for future endeavors.

While Han was trying to entertain his venerated guests, the Falcon suddenly dropped out of lightspeed and was heading right into an asteroid field. Solo ran to the cockpit to assist Nunb. He realized that the Falcon's shields were triggering the mines within the asteroids. Han switched off the shields, and his ship successfully navigated through the obstacle. 

A short while later, Orrk greeted the children and Han on the planet Vandelhelm. Solo was concerned about possible Imperial remnants and the station's production of raw materials. The Guildmaster assured the Correllian that all was in good order, pointing to several drone barges where such items were stored. He added that production had stopped until the children had been safely brought back. 

The quartet looked out from a nearby balcony to see a celebration in the streets honoring the children's return. Han said that since the Alliance fulfilled its promise, he would like to have those drone barges sent on to Fondor. Orrk replied that he'd need the control codes for his ship's computers, which he was willing to provide after the tradition of having the caravan blessed by the venerated ones had been completed.

Han returned to the Falcon, only to find Nunb being held prisoner by a pair of Stormtroopers. He turned around to see Orrk holding the children at gunpoint. The Guildmaster planned to bring the youths to Mordur, noting that if the children had perished en route to Vandelhelm, he would have blamed the Alliance for their deaths and used his influence to continue material production and price increases. Orrk swore that the children would still die and the planet's metalsmiths would stop work, driving up the value of the items already produced. 

What he didn't take into account was the children's spirits. Both of them fought their captor and quickly got away. Han blasted the troopers holding Nunb before lunging at the Guildmaster. Things looked grim for Solo as he found himself clinging to a ledge until the young girl blasted Orrk with the pistol that Han had dropped earlier. Orrk fell to his fate, and Han grabbed the children tightly. 

Solo ducked before more troopers arrived, but only because he'd heard the familiar snap of his Wookiee companion's rifle safety being switched off right before Nien Nunb fired it at the Imperials. The four headed back inside the Falcon and took off.

Their departure was being monitored by Mordur and his crew. The Imperial Admiral took that to mean that Orrk had failed. He ordered the ships to take the emergency course he'd planned. Aboard the Falcon, Solo noticed that the rest of the fleet was heading straight toward the planet's sun. Without the computer control code, there wasn't much he could do.

Han decided to journey to the main barge. When the Falcon landed on it, Stormtroopers were waiting. However, that's not to say that the ship's crew wasn't prepared for such a contingency. Nunb had piloted this ship, while Han donned a spacesuit and broke through the barge's front window before Mordur could do further damage there. 

Without artificial gravity, both men struggled. Han was finally able to enter the control code, but nothing happened. It appeared that the fleet was about to reach the point of no return when the ship was being lifted via tractor beam from a Rebel ship. Once inside, Lando and Admiral Ackbar explained to Han and Nien that the fleet was already turning back, and that they'd used the control code supplied by the children. 

Solo was surprised to hear that tidbit and asked why they didn't tell him earlier. The girl replied that he'd told them to keep quiet, and they were concerned that if they didn't do as he said, he wouldn't take them on any more fun adventures. The former smuggler smiled and seemed to warm up to the children, at least for a little while, anyway. 

This was a fun tale crafted by the men who were responsible for the Star Wars newspaper strip at the time (and Marvel's The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi movie adaptations, along with Carlos Garzon), writer Archie Goodwin, and artist Al Williamson. This was Williamson's first issue of the comic book title since his Han Solo flashback feature in Star Wars #50. He was brilliant, and I wished he'd drawn more Star Wars stories in this series. By the way, you can still pick up beautiful hard-bound editions of the newspaper strips. This was a must for me, ever since I never got to see how it ended, because my local newspaper replaced it when I was ten years old with a new feature called  Bloom County. I grew to appreciate Berkley Breathed's work when I was older, but at the time, I was mighty peeved at Star Wars' removal from that newspaper's comic section. 

That's all I have for now. Next time, I'll write about the ninety-ninth issue of this title. Ron Frenz returns for his final issue, chronicling a new adventure after the Star Warriors return home to Endor. We'll learn more about the history of the Dancing Goddess and the Minstrel statues, see the debut of a few new characters, and the return of some familiar faces. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #97

Hello there,

It's time for me to talk about the ninety-seventh issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. Except for the top left-hand corner, the cover was all about the bad guys. Four Stormtroopers and seven Nagai were the focus of the images drawn by Cynthia Martin and Art Nichols. The tale was titled "Escape." The issue had a cover date of July 1985. 

The story started on the planet Kinooine, as Imperial remnants and Nagai left their ships and began exploring their new surroundings on foot. Their fleet had arrived to establish a base on that world. The Nagai Den Siva and Lumiya were already there. Siva was interrogating a pair of Rebels, but Lumiya had not reported in after going after her nemesis, Luke Skywalker.

What the enemy forces didn't know was that Lumiya (aka Shira Brie) was not far away. She was being held by Luke and Kiro, who were eavesdropping on the new arrivals. Meanwhile, Dani was being tortured by an analysis grid as Den and the Rebel Faron watched. The Nagai was impressed by the Zeltron's fortitude, but wasn't so distracted tha the couldn't end Faron's life, after having observed him removing a knife from his captor's belt.

Luke tied Lumiya to his ship's front landing gear while Kiro recovered in the water. Skywalker assisted him in preparing a fresh water tank before the two friends went to free their companions. Minutes later, they encountered a Nagai patrol. Luke was able to use a Jedi mind trick to convince his foes to leave them be, until Lumiya brought them to their senses. Kiro was forced to kill some of their opponents because Shira had left him no choice.

Back on Endor, Admiral Ackbar and Mon Mothma had gathered Han Solo, Princess Leia Organa, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, the four Zeltron teens, C-3PO, R2-D2, the Hoojib Plif, and several Ewoks to discuss the Nagai threat. It had been confirmed that the Nagai had been working with Imperial collaborators. Plif and his telepathic Hoojib brethren had watched the Nagai prisoners. One of them, the man called Knife, had a connection to Han that made him despise the Correllian. Lando was just happy that he was able to get his ship back from the slaver who'd escaped with it on Kashyyyk.

Solo expressed concern about Luke and his team, since they hadn't reported back in a while. He offered to go retrieve him, which was turned down by their superiors. Mothma agreed with Ackbar's decision, adding that it would be up to the leaders to decide. Han stormed off, stating they could run their next war without him.

Back on Kinooine, Dani felt broken. Not even Siva's attempts at rousing her were effective. It wasn't until she saw her love, Kiro, again that she felt better. While Kiro was leading her away, Luke was skulking around the compound, looking for information that might be of use to the Alliance.

The Jedi was very stealthy and evaded detection by Nagai and Stormtrooper patrols. Once he had what he wanted, he left. Dani and Kiro were outside heading toward the ship when Siva blocked their path. He engaged the Iskalonian in a battle of blades, and the two combatants eventually fell into the waters below. 

Luke came across Dani, who was still standing on the ledge, looking for any signs of life from her paramor. The only thing that either of them saw was blood, which could have been from either Den or Kiro. Luke gradually coaxed Dani to press on, and the two returned to the ship. However, by the time they returned, Lumiya had escaped. 

This was the most serious issue of the series since Martin took over the penciling chores, but the art was still sloppy in places. Even the Stormtroopers on the front cover looked a bit askew. I was somewhat surprised by Mothma and Ackbar's resistance to Han's request, but I suppose that they had the greater good in mind, even though they weren't technically back at war at the time. Lumiya proved to be an interesting character and was even featured in some of the subsequent Star Wars novels. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I have a filler issue to discuss. Writer Archie Goodwin and artist Al Williamson return to chronicle a yarn that involves Han Solo and Nien Nunb. The two fly the Millennium Falcon together for the first time to a planet on a mission that Solo is less than enthusiastic about. They also encounter a familiar menace 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) #96

Good afternoon,

Today I'll be writing about the ninety-sixth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover showed Lumiya engaged in battle with Luke Skywalker. The story was called "Duel With a Dark Lady!" The issue had a cover date of June 1985.

The tale began on the planet Kinooine. The first seven pages were captionless and showed the confrontation between Luke and Lumiya. It ended with Luke's defeat. Lumiya later locked the unconscious Skywalker in a cell. Her associate Den talked with her about the long-awaited revenge that she'd finally accomplished. Den then examined Skywalker's saber hilt and observed how the weapon was unable to effectively compete against the dual electric and corporeal natures of Lumiya's whip. 

A short while later, the two villains reached the cell where the missing rebel scout and Dani were being held. Den wanted to interrogate the Zeltron personally. Lumiya allowed Den to have both prisoners, now that she had what she wanted.

Not far away, Kiro was recovering from his wounds suffered by the Dark Lady. He awoke in the waters near their temporary camp. There was no sign of Luke or Dani. He entered their ship, looking for the cold-weather survival gear that C-3PO was supposed to have packed. Instead, he found party dresses. 

He eventually found a helmet that would suffice as a breather and made his way to the enemy base. The Iskalonian silently dispatched the guards and found Luke's cell. He used a stinger gun from his homeworld to blast open the door. Kiro tended to Luke's wounds and gave his friend a few items for an idea that Skywalker had. Luke was thankful for his assistance and promised to teach Kiro the ways of the Force if he wished.

The duo soon found Lumiya standing atop a hill. Luke asked for his saber back and took it using the Force. He prepared for another battle, but this time he had an extra weapon, namely another lightsaber that he'd just constructed with a smaller blade to tackle the natures of his opponent's weapon. 

Using both sabers in tandem, Luke was able to force the whip from Lumiya's hand. It fell to the hill below. He then sliced through part of the protective armor, revealing more of the woman underneath. He'd figured out that his foe was Shira Brie, the former Imperial agent who'd been placed in the Rebellion as a spy (and shown in issue numbers 56 through 63 of this title). 

Shira blamed Luke for her condition. Luke explained that he didn't know at first who he'd fired upon. He tried to express what happened to Vader at the end. However, that was soon overshadowed by large ships entering the planet's atmosphere. The Nagai fleet was there. 

I'd guessed that Lumiya might be Shira back during her first appearance on Herdessa. I knew that a lot of regular fans were clamoring for her return, and that it took a while because creative teams had changed on the book since her initial storyline. Cynthia Martin drew Lumiya okay, but the Nagai fleets were less than impressive. They looked like a bunch of lines and odd-shaped objects connected together without much purpose behind them. 

That's all I have for now. Next time, I'll discuss the ninety-seventh issue of this series. We'll see who was aboard the Nagai invasion fleet, and learn more about the new foes. We'll also see the Alliance's reaction to this new threat and follow Luke and Kiro as they attempt to rescue Dani. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #95

Hello there,

Today, my focus is on the ninety-fifth issue of the first Star Wars comic book. The painted cover showed Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa in the foreground, with a mysterious hooded character in the background. The tale was titled "No Zeltrons." The issue had a publication date of May 1985.

The story started with the lady Lumiya interrogating a prisoner, with the aid of an unknown ally. The Alliance member claimed that he didn't know anything about Leia's whereabouts, adding that the only person he'd been in contact with was Luke. The mention of Skywalker's name appeared to draw upon something in Lumiya's memory.

Back on Endor, Admiral Ackbar was dispatching several of his colleagues to missions offworld. Han Solo and Leia were going to attend a function on the planet Kabray, along with four newly-arrived male Zeltrons, much to Leia's dislike. Han was okay with the young Marruc, Rahuhl, Jahn, and Bahb, at least until they mistook him for Lando Calrissian. 

Luke, Dani, and Kiro were headed to Kinooine to find members of their missing scouting party. C-3PO and R2-D2 had been assigned to equip both ships with appropriate gear for each mission. A short while later, Luke set his ship down and was about to set up camp. Kiro and Dani went off for some much-needed time alone and promised not to venture too far away. 

Meanwhile, on Kabray, Leia was upset that she didn't have a dress for the event. Han wasn't surprised, knowing that Threepio had been in charge of packing for their mission, and obviously mixed up the cargo. The only thing available was a dress that was a mess, but the Zeltrons managed to alter. It wasn't great, but it was all that they had at the time.

The boys worked diligently while Dani and Kiro heard something approach them on Kinooine. Suddenly, they were attacked by a swift-moving foe. Han led Leia down a set of stairs to join the delegates. They had no sooner started to mingle when they found one of their associates was being held at gunpoint. Solo raised his blaster, only to find another pistol pointed at the back of his own head. This one belonged to Knife, who was last seen on the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk. 

While Knife and his companion were occupied rounding up the party guests, Luke sat by himself at camp. He pulled up a hologram of his contact, wondering what had happened to him. Luke put it away when he heard a noise behind him. It was Kiro, who had returned, with his breather suit smashed. Skywalker brought his friend to the water to revive him. Kiro asked Luke to save Dani, which Skywalker promised to do once he was sure that the Iskalonian was safe.

Han, Leia, and the Zeltrons were placed in a cell without bars or windows. He thought about how they could escape, and he and Leia supposed that the slaver operations that they'd witnessed on Kashyyk and Herdessa might be related. Luke set out on foot while his friends on Kabray were plotting. He soon encountered Lumiya, who was prepared to face the Jedi.

Knife entered the cell, not seeing the Zeltron who had been clinging to the walls above him. The lad jumped down, knocking Knife out. The boys took his blaster and ran out, with Han and Leia close behind. Luke was trying to dodge the unique whip-like weapon wielded by his opponent as a fight for freedom broke out on Kabray.

It didn't take very long for Knife's associates to be overwhelmed, The Zeltrons held them at gunpoint, while the Rebels saw to the delegates. No one was harmed, and Leia and Han remarked how surprisingly well things went. However, Luke wasn't faring quite as well on Kinooine. The last page of the story showed a seemingly unconscious Skywalker with Lumiya's shadow looming over him. 

Lumiya looked remarkably different in this storyline than during her initial appearance on Herdessa. If you think that you might have seen her somewhere else before, you're right. More will be revealed soon (if you haven't read the upcoming issues already, it's new to you). The Zeltron teens reminded me of some of the pop artists and fashions that were prominent around the time this yarn was produced. Once again, except for the droids, the pencil art was a bit messy, especially when there were more than a few characters in a panel. I guess that I might have been spoiled a bit by the wonderful artwork from Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon, Walt Simonson, and Ron Frenz working with Tom Palmer. The issues that they worked on remain among my favorites from this series to this very day. 

That's all I have for now. Next time, I'll recap the ninety-sixth issue of this title. We'll find out what happened to Luke and Kiro, and Lumiya's true identity will finally be revealed. We'll also learn more about the alien race that Knife and his comrades belong to. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #94

Hello there,

It's time for me to recap the ninety-fourth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. Bear in mind, this issue is where I felt the series jumped the shark, but if you've followed along this far, I hope you'll see me through to the series' end. The cover for this issue showed Wicket W. Warrick standing, holding a spear in his left hand and resting his left foot atop an Imperial Stormtrooper helmet. The story was called "Small Wars." The issue had a cover date of April 1985.

The tale began on Endor, with C-3PO lamenting what he believed would be the end of the Alliance of Free Planets. He was busy describing the breakdown to his trusty counterpart, R2-D2. Luke Skywalker and Han Solo were resting against a tall tree, talking things over. Leia arrived moments later, followed by Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, Admiral Ackbar, and the admiral's new aide, Hirog. 

They had no good news to report. It seemed that discussions between the two parties had broken down, and despite the Alliance members' best efforts, nothing could be done to salvage the situation. Ackbar and Hirog left shortly thereafter to start preparing for the inevitable, which was that the Ewoks had just declared war on the Lahsbees. 

It is rather humorous that the peaceful Lahsbees would have offended the proud Ewok warriors, but apparently, something happened to bring them to that point. Luke tried to quell the tensions by inviting both groups to assist in his lightsaber practice. The Ewoks declined as they were gearing up for battle, while the fun-loving young Lahsbees jumped right in. 

A short while later, Hirog sat behind a tree, using his communicator to speak with others of his kind. He was the one who'd masterminded the tensions in the first place. He observed Luke's practice session from a safe distance away, not knowing what Lahsbees were like in their adult forms. 

The session began with some unexpected obstacles. Ewoks tossed stones at their mortal enemies, which Luke destroyed with his saber and deflected. One stone hit Hirog, who was a bit battered, but still faithful to his populace. The droids came across him at one point, but they didn't learn anything discriminatory.

Afterward, the battle began. Both sides took their positions, while Hirog readied a bomb in the bushes. Han bent down to talk to one of the Lahsbees, who took the blaster pistol from his hand. The little creature pulled the trigger, and its shot hit the weapon that now had a broken timing system but was still ticking away.

Meanwhile, the conflict continued. The Lahsbee who had taken Solo's gun became frightened by the oncoming Ewok assemblage and quickly matured into a large Huhk. He presented a challenge that both sides fought against. Eventually Hirog ran from his hiding place into the chaos. Upon seeing the Huhk, he fled. The beast then hurled a boulder, which happened to land right on the bomb, disarming it. 

Upon the cessation of Hirog's reports, his fellow Hiromi in a nearby ship assumed the worst. They'd heard his cries of terror and thought that he'd been lost for the cause. The vessel then flew off, as if Hirog had never existed. The skirmish was over, and things were calm for the moment. The Ewoks and Lahsbees had made peace with each other, and the only concern then was Hirog's, as he continued running away from the Huhk. 

I remember first reading this issue when I was twelve and realizing what a silly premise this story had. I was very unimpressed by the artwork. Except for the drawings of the droids, most of the pencil work was very sloppy. Not even Tom Palmer's incredible inks could save this issue. Martin would be the regular penciler for the rest of the title's run, and readers and subscribers just had to bear with it. I remember losing interest after reading this issue, although I would still go on and pick up the remaining issues years later. 

That's it for this article. Next time, I'll talk about the ninety-fifth issue of this series. Luke, Kiro, and Dani embark on a mission where they encounter a familiar foe. Han and Luke are dispatched on a diplomatic mission, where they're assisted by some new characters that the Princess is less than pleased with. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #93

Hi there,

Hope all's well. Today's topic is the ninety-third issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover showed Luke Skywalker and Han Solo facing a half-dozen strangers, including one pointing a blaster at them in the foreground. The story was called "Catspaw." The issue had a cover date of March 1985.

The action began in space, as an X-Wing was attempting to flee from a trio of Y-Wings that were firing at it. The pilot was trying to reach the planet Saijo unscathed, but unfortunately, that didn't seem likely. As the craft neared the planet's orbit, a targeted shot bracketed the pilot's cabin.

On the surface of that world, Luke, Han, and Princess Leia Organa were walking the city streets. Han was impressed by the hospitality they'd received from the locals. The trio was talked about in reverent tones as heroes of the Alliance. Just then, Luke pointed out the dogfight in the sky above them. They were surprised by seeing fighters that would normally be aligned together, but quickly decided which side to support. 

After reaching the Millennium Falcon, Han put his ship on a course that followed the fighters. Luke and Leia occupied the gun turrets and fired shots to protect the fleeing X-Wing from its attackers. They defeated her foes, but the female pilot's fighter still crashed on the planet. Lan retrieved her from the cockpit, and he, Luke, and Leia brought her to the medical facility on the base. 

A short while later, the pilot Minka informed her rescuers that she'd arrived from an asteroid base in the Cantros system. Her wingmates had been gradually picked off by her attackers, and she was under the assumption that they were still fighting against the Empire. Leia informed her of the Emperor's defeat, which Minka found hard to believe, stating that Imperial forces were still strong in her region. She began to wonder just who they'd been fighting. 

Minka returned to her home base on board the Falcon with Han, Leia, and Luke. She sought out her allies, Durne and Sami, to confer with her new friends. Han explained that they had maps listing Imperial strongholds, and that the closest one was past Saijo. Sami and Minka went with the Falcon's crew to check things out.

The ship neared the Imperial base they had just been talking about, and was soon fired upon. A few stray shots hit the Falcon, and Han did his best to avoid crashing. He landed safely in a gully, and the passengers disembarked. Luke used the Force to raise Leia and Minka out of the gully, but before he could do more, he, Sami, and Han were surrounded by more feline humanoids who took them prisoner. 

Inside a nearby cave, the captors discussed what to do next. One of their party condoned torture, noting that it went against what the Rebellion stood for. That utterance was shocking, but it made Luke think that someone had been deceiving them. That person was soon revealed to be Durne. 

Things shifted after Sami and Han informed the catwoman who'd spurned the plans for torture that they were also Rebels, and that Durne had lied to them. Luke freed himself from his bods right before Minka and Leia arrived on the scene. A firefight broke out, which Luke ended by deflecting Durne's blaster shots, which made him recognized as the Rebellion hero that the participants had heard stories about.

His companions were correctly identified as Han Solo and Princess Leia, which gave credence to their words. Durne tried to escape, but was tripped and tied up by his former compatriots. Sami and Minka talked to their former foes and realized how much they had in common.

While Durne sat outside tied up in front of a campfire, Han reflected on the victory. Luke was still concerned about the skirmish. Leia asked what was troubling him. He replied that Rebels had killed other Rebels, and that he'd feel better once he knew who employed Durne. Skywalker questioned what was going on in the galaxy.

The mistaken identity plot was okay, but Sal Buscema's art really saved this issue. This was the first of two issues that he penciled during this series' run. Regular readers of this blog know how much of a fan I am of Sal's artwork. I recapped his run on the ROM: Spaceknight title last year, and I'll talk about his Incredible Hulk run at some point in the coming years. He worked on many Marvel mags from the 1960s to the 1990s, and sadly passed away this past January, just two days before what would have been his ninetieth birthday. 

Well, that's all I have for now. Next time, I'll discuss the ninety-fourth issue of this series. Cynthia Martin, penciler for the last two issues' covers, makes her debut as series artist in a tale that takes place on Endor. Everyone's back together, just in time for a pair of unexpected tribes to engage in a small conflict. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #92

Good afternoon,

Today's focus is the ninety-second issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover box had Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia Organa, and Luke Skywalker in the familiar poses used for The Empire Strikes Back promotional materials, and an image of Luke going against Darth Vader. The story was named "The Dream." The issue had a publication date of February 1985. 

The tale began with Luke facing off against the Dark Lord of the Sith. He knew that Vader was actually his father, but still panicked when his opponent moved to remove his helmet. Then Luke woke up. He'd been having a dream in his quarters on the forest moon of Endor. 

He was comforted by his faithful companions, R2-D2 and C-3PO. They had arrived to inform him of a meeting that was being held for Alliance leaders. Admiral Ackbar led the conversation and discussed the recent missions that several of his colleagues had recently returned from. Leia, Han, and Chewie had encountered slavers on Herdessa and Kashyyyk, respectively. There were also Imperial remnants that still existed on other worlds.

Luke had been responsible for training some of the new Alliance members, and he reported that things had been going well. However, Leia noticed her brother's distractedness. After the meeting, she asked her brother what was bothering him. He explained the recurring dreams that he'd been having. He hadn't told anyone else about them, because he didn't want to reveal the truth about their parentage.

Skywalker continued to train new recruits like Barney, Rik Duel, Dani, Chihdo, and Kiro. He was reluctant to train anyone in the ways of the Force just yet, because he felt that he wasn't ready quite yet, and he feared the consequences if something went wrong. When asked about his own learning, he replied that he'd had a very good teacher who had since passed on.

He had the same dream again that night. When he awoke, he remembered that his father was closer to revealing his face behind the mask. Luke ran to find his colleagues after an alarm went off at the base. A small ship had entered Endor's atmosphere and had not identified itself. Rebel defenses were readied, but Luke asked to let it land, after reaching out through the Force to ascertain its occupants' intentions.

A short while later, its only passenger disembarked. He identified himself as Prince Denin of Naldar, a planet that had been taken over by the Empire. He hoped that he'd arrived in the company of members of the Rebel Alliance. When Luke introduced himself, Denin insisted that he was the one he'd been looking for, and that Skywalker had to teach him the ways of the Force.

Luke agreed to help, but added that he would not train him. Denin was adamant, and Leia helped him plead his case to Alliance leadership. Meanwhile, Barney, Han, Luke, and Leia waited. Barney thought about how Denin's plight was similar to his own. He brought up a hologram of himself, his former friend Flint, and his mother. When Flint's mother died after an Imperial attack (shown in the third Star Wars annual) on their home planet of Belderone, Flint joined the Empire. Barney wondered what had happened to the boy he'd known since they were children.

A short while later, Luke caught up with Denin. He reported that Ackbar had no fighter squadrons to send, but that he'd promised to send a team with him back to Naldar to assist. The group would depart in the Millennium Falcon the next morning. 

Luke later spoke to Yoda in his dreams. The wise old Jedi Master questioned why Luke had brought him there. Obi-Wan Kenobi appeared later on, trying to explain to his former pupil that Yoda was trying to stress that his teachers were there because Luke wanted to help them learn something. Luke started to understand, just as Vader's hand was placed on his shoulder.

Skywalker turned to face Darth once more. This time, he wasn't afraid. His father, Anakin Skywalker, complimented him and asked his son if he now recognized the figure before him. The image shimmered and turned into the metallic armor worn by someone else. He knew that he had to save this person, but the dream ended before he could remove their helmet.

He woke in the Falcon, which was just about to land on Naldar. Han and Chewie were piloting the ship, and he, Leia, Artoo, Threepio, Barney, Denin, and Lando Calrissian comprised the crew. Many of the buildings looked heavily damaged. Denin and Luke took to the ship's gun turrets right before incoming TIE fighters entered the Falcon's airspace.

Han was forced to crash-land his pride and joy. No one was hurt, but there were several circuits that needed to be replaced. Leia and the droids went out in search of those components. Before long, the trio found a computer terminal. Artoo plugged in immediately. He located the circuits they needed and learned some interesting facts about the planet's history.

Meanwhile, Denin, Luke, and Lando walked through the mostly deserted city streets around them. Denin soon found one of his citizens, who spoke to him with his last dying breaths. Denin had little time to mourn his comrade Foss, because Luke pushed his friends down just before lasers started firing. They looked up and quickly returned fire against the Imperial Stormtroopers in their midst. Denin fought well, but was saddened by his first kill in battle.

Artoo, Threepio, and Leia rushed back to the Falcon. Chewie and Barney were making repairs and used the circuits that Threepio provided. Leia hurriedly told Han that two years before, while defending the city against Imperial forces, Prince Denin died in battle.

Lando, Luke, and Denin soon found themselves surrounded and were introduced to the troop leader, who was someone that Luke recognized from his dreams. The figure was none other than Barney's childhood friend, Flint. He was now in command and ordered his subordinates to eliminate the Rebel threat. 

Luke knew he had to face Flint alone. Lando and Denin retreated to the Falcon, with the Stormtroopers close behind. Once inside, Leia confronted Denin. The person who said they were Denin admitted that they were actually Princess Vila. She'd assumed her brother's identity since his passing. Lando was more concerned about Luke's fate than this masquerade.

Flint had been trained in the Dark Side of the Force. He'd wanted someone to teach him in the ways of the Force, initially hoping that teacher would be Luke. He didn't know the truth about Luke and his father. When Luke tried to explain the truth, including how Vader had turned good at the end, Flint called those assertions lies and began their battle. 

The two Force users were rather evenly matched. Luke didn't want to fight and still tried to explain what had happened to his father. A stray Stormtrooper fired at Skywalker, clipping his arm right before his friends arrived. While Chewie and Lando tended to Luke's wound, Barney approached Flint.

He talked about the Alliance's efforts and asked his buddy to make a choice. When Flint failed to kill Barney, the Stormtrooper called his leader a traitor. He was about to shoot his commander when Vila intervened. She picked up the saber that had fallen and struck, right as the blaster bolt went off against her chest. Both forms dropped to the ground.

Vila slumped in Luke's arms. Leia quickly explained, and Luke replied that he was proud of Vlia, adding that she would be a fine Jedi Knight. Flint's last official act for the Empire was destroying his base. The last words spoken to Vila were that it's all right.

She then found herself somewhere else, reunited with her long-lost brother Denin. Vila was overjoyed to see him. He'd been waiting for her, as was her teacher, who could finally begin their training. The teacher was a small, green alien, who regular Star Wars fans had seen earlier in this issue. 

To me, this was one of the best issues in the last years of this title's run. I enjoyed the story and Jan Duursema's artwork. I understood Luke's reluctance to become a trainer, especially since he still had much to learn himself. The only thing that I felt was left dangling was Flint's fate. We never heard from him again after the events in this double-sized story. I also don't know the name of the lizard man whom Luke was training back on Endor, but that's a very minor detail. 

Well, that's all I have for now. Next time, I'll recap the ninety-third issue of this series. "Our pal" Sal Buscema joins Tom Palmer and Jo Duffy to craft a yarn that involves Luke, Han, and Leia's journey to another world, where they try to figure out which of the two opposing sides is really which. It's a fun story that's well-worth reading. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.