Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #48

Hello there,

It's time for me to discuss the forty-eighth issue of the first Star Wars comic. The cover showed Princess Leia Organa squaring off against Darth Vader, with R2-D2 to her left and an as-yet-unidentified figure lying before her. The tale, scripted by future G.I. Joe writer Larry Hama, was titled "The Third Law!" The issue had a cover date of June 1981.

The story started on the planet Aargau, which was known for its precious metal exports, strong armed forces, laws regarding weapons possession, and its stable currency. Leia, Artoo, C-3PO, and Viscount Tardi were just disembarking from their ship that landed on that world, and were being greeted by members of the local security forces. A small droid with a microphone attachment asked the new arrivals to speak clearly and announce their identities.

Leia and her friends had arrived in search of funding for a new squadron of X-Wing fighters. The quartet was escorted past the docking bay, and soon went by a scanner that was used to detect if outgoing guests were carrying any contraband on their persons. All the Rebels had to declare was a sealed diplomatic pouch, which was exempt from the planet's customs inspections.

Aargau had three laws. The first was that no precious metals could be removed from the world. The second stated that visitors could not own weapons. However, it was also illegal for Aargau's citizens not to be armed. The final law spoke about the wanton conspiring to discredit, deceive, or defraud the planet's bank. Leia and her crew had just tread and acknowledged those laws when a familiar voice spoke from behind them.

The mechanical voice belonged to none other than Darth Vader himself. The Dark Lord of the Sith was accompanied by a trio of aliens, instead of his usual complement of Imperial Stormtroopers, most likely due to the planet's weapon ban. Leia recognized Vader's porter as a high-gravity being from Rigel VII, his secretary as a shape-shifting alien, and his valet as a telekinetic. All three of his aides were also known members of the Assassins' Guild.

Before Leia could go on describing her foe's entourage, the X-ray scanner signaled an alert, as the person being scanned was found with gold implants on a pair of his ribs. The visitor fled, only to be swiftly gunned down by armed members of the planet's populace. Afterward, Leia realized that Vader was sent by the Emperor to stop the Rebellion's loan, a feat which could be accomplished by destroying the viscount.

The next morning, Threepio piloted a speeder that took the group through town. Leia rehearsed the day's schedule before noticing Vader and his assistants standing on a bridge above them. Moments later, his porter jumped down and began tearing the speeder apart with his bare hands. Leia reached for the diplomatic pouch and pulled a small hand-held device from it. She pushed a button on it, and the creature immediately disappeared from sight. 

A planetary patrol arrived shortly thereafter. Vader accused the princess of breaking the planetary laws regarding weapons use by non-natives, but Leia noted that the device in her hand was merely a typical gravitational field disrupter, which could be purchased in any spaceport duty-free shop. She'd used it to increase their attacker's density to the seventh power, sending him far beneath the world's surface.

As the princess and her colleagues moved on, Vader's subordinates questioned their employer's decision. Vader, never being one to accept being questioned, asserted that the assassins were nothing more to him than professional pawns. Those pawns could be sacrificed for the sake of other more important pieces on the playing board. 

Later on that day, in the garden of butterflies, Threepio marveled at the variety of butterfly species that were fluttering about. He told Artoo about his experience working for a previous employer who was an avid collector of butterflies. That knowledge would soon prove to be invaluable, as the translator droid correctly identified a bright red butterfly from the Antares system, which had a stinger that was capable of secreting a very potent nerve toxin. Artoo emitted a narrow spray of fire-retardant stream just before the butterfly was about to approach the viscount from behind. Leia then crushed the defeated pest under her foot, much to Vader's chagrin. 

After a while, dignitaries assembled on a small tower to oberve Aargau's military forces engaged in a training exercise. Vader's telekinetic hireling was able to subtly manipulate one of their fliers so that it eventually headed toward the viscount. As the craft exploded, it was revealed that its target was a hologram of Tardi that was being projected by Artoo. Leia was about to offer Threepio's services to Vader after the blast destroyed his telekinetic aide, but noted that the droid was being repaired.

That was a ruse, since Threepio was still back in Leia's quarters. He delivered a message to Organa that evening from Vader, asking for a meeting at the old spaceport. Leia agreed, and arrived at the rendezvous point with Artoo and Tardi. Vader expressed his true intentions to prevent the Alliance loan, before striking out at the viscount with his lightsaber. 

Leia sprung into action, firing her blaster at the Sith Lord. Vader stated that there would be no loan, since the viscount had expired. He then looked down to see that his foe was a robot. Artoo then projected a relay of the battle, proving that Vader had used a prohibited weapon, and that Threepio was safely ensconced with that evidence. 

The diplomatic pouch that Leia brought to Aargau contained the crown jewels of Alderaan. She knew that the viscount robot's inner workings would have undoubtedly shown up on the exit scanner, which would have disqualified their loan application. That's why Tardi had to appear to have been slain by Vader or his assassins. 

However, Vader then disclosed that his true objective had been the jewels themselves. He'd bribed a bank officer and added that the viscount's doctor was on his payroll and that the assassins were just a distraction. Vader brought out the jewels which he'd had all along. Leia would have her loan, but exposing Vader's real purpose to the local authorities might damage her credit rating. 

This was one of those odd single-issue stories with a mild twist at the end. I got the impression that Hama understood the characters he wrote about. Even though I still don't like Infantino's artwork, it did move the story along, and no key details were missed.

That's it for this article. Next time, I'll write about the forty-ninth issue of Star Wars. Luke Skywalker, Leia, and the droids travel to a different planet and answer a distress call. They'll also encounter new foes and allies, one of which is the reason for the story's title, which is the same as one of the recent Star Wars movie sequels. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #47

Good afternoon everyone,

Hope all's well. The focus of this article will be the forty-seventh issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover, drawn by James Sherman and legendary Daredevil artist/writer Frank Miller, showed R2-D2 and C-3PO on the run from an army of robots. The tale was titled "Droid World!" The issue had a cover date of May 1981.

The story started with Luke Skywalker's droids being attacked by a trio of robots who were occupying a large tracked vehicle. Threepio and Artoo argued about the reason for their plight until they reached a dead end. As they peered down into a smelting pit below, it seemed like this was the end for our heroes.

It was at that point that the story was brought back to its beginning, aboard a Rebel ship. Luke and another Rebellion commander were inspecting an Imperial warbot that had been retrieved from a recent conflict. Artoo and Threepio's job was to inspect the captured machine to see what they could learn from it. Unfortunately, Artoo's misinterpretation of his comrade's suggestion to go higher resulted in him fusing the warbot's innards. Instead of raising the lift he'd been on, the plucky astrodroid moved his probe further inside the Imperial construct, which caused the damage.

Artoo's scream brought Luke and the commander running. They inspected the results, knowing that it would now be indecipherable. However, a technician did suggest an alternative to their problem. A short time later, Luke and the droids were off in their ship, heading toward a place that might be able to help. It was a world known as Kligson's Moon, also referred to as Droid World.

As they approached the massive artificial vessel, the Rebels soon learned that humans were not allowed on the moon. Kligson was a veteran of the Clone Wars, and his experiences apparently led him to distrust other organics. He was now a cyborg, somewhat like Valance, the bounty hunter who was introduced in issue #16 of this series. 

Threepio announced that they had a robot that was so damaged that it was irreparable. Kligson accepted the challenge, on the condition that no organics set foot on his complex, and that he kept anything that he fixed. Threepio reasoned that he and Artoo could accompany the warbot and record everything that Kligson did, so that they would have a complete schematic. Luke was a bit skeptical, but allowed his droids to proceed on that mission by themselves. 

The Imperial warbot was loaded onto a tractor drone and was led to the examining chamber along with the Rebel robots. A remote-controlled scan was utilized to examine the machine's flaws. Kligson instructed his subordinate, Zee-Exthree, to dump the war machine into the core and put restraining bolts on his hosts. The latter instruction was negated after Threepio told the station's leader that he and Artoo enjoyed working with organics. That was something that Kligson wanted to learn more about personally, so he ordered that the droids be brought to his chamber.

On the way, ZX-3 explained that he was an experimental Imperial robot that had been designed to work in extreme conditions that Stormtroopers couldn't survive. He was eventually rejected by the Empire and claimed by Kligson. He then showed his guests the way to Kligson's station before moving on with the warbot. 

While Threepio was excited to learn more about Kligson, Artoo lagged behind and opted to follow ZX-3 instead. By the time he'd reached Kligson's chamber, Threepio finally noticed Artoo's disappearance. The diminutive astrodroid found a safe hiding place to watch and discovered that they already had another warbot body, which just needed the functioning weapon head that this model provided. 

As the transfer was taking place, a small ball-like floating droid informed ZX-3 of Artoo's presence. He was soon found and shot at by another protocol droid. Artoo escaped, but ZX-3 and his crew knew that it wouldn't be long before their plans to take over the artificial satellite were uncovered.

Artoo arrived in Kligson's room as Threepio was conversing with the station leader. He barely had time to inform them of the threat when ZX-3 entered, wearing a chest-mounted cannon. The unauthorized weapon was used to destroy Kligson moments later. It was the first salvo in the battle for control of Droid World. 

Threepio and Artoo escaped the chamber, only to find the newly repaired warbot waiting for them down one hallway, and a tracked vehicle driven by more of ZX-3's compatriots in the other hallway. They wound up at the dead end. Feeling the sweltering heat of the fire pit beneath them, Luke's robots had no choice but to jump, and were surprised to find themselves being attached to a pair of overhead magnetic grapples. 

Our heroes were saved, but the advancing tank couldn't stop in time and drove headfirst into the fiery pit. As they were being hauled up, Artoo and Threepio saw that their rescuer was none other than Kligson himself. Kligson later told them that ZX-3 had shot an android duplicate of himself. He was preparing for his associate's eventual betrayal, and had even prepared his own Imperial warbot for just such an occasion. 

By using the cannibalized parts from the warbot the droids brought to the planetoid, Kligson was able to employ the machine to counter the robot uprising. It was a decisive battle that Kligson's opponents had no chance of winning. Afterward, Kligson felt remorse for the losses that occurred. 

A while later, Threepio and Artoo were back on Luke's ship. Artoo had achieved the goal of acquiring a full warbot schematic, and Skywalker was complimenting them both on their success. Threepio noted that the events they'd witnessed had caused Kligson to retreat even further from humanity, as evidenced by the departure of his base from the planet it had previously orbited moments later.

This issue is a favorite of mine because it's the very first Star Wars comic book that I purchased as a child from my hometown drug store. I still have that copy, which is well-worn because I've read it dozens of times. It was my introduction to Marvel and this title's creative team. I noticed the stark contrast in art styles between Carmine Infantino and Gene Day immediately. This story was also converted to book and record format, and I had that version as well when I was younger. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll tackle the forty-eighth issue of this series. Princess Leia Organa, Artoo, and Threepio encounter Darth Vader on another world in a quest for additional financing for fighters to aid in their cause. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #46

Hello and Happy Friday, everyone,

It's time for me to recap the forty-sixth issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover showed a ghastly creature wrapping its hands around an Imperial Star Destroyer, as the Millennium Falcon flew below it. The story was called "Dreams of Cody Sunn-Childe!" The issue had a cover date of April 1981.

The tale began with the Falcon, flown by Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca. The duo was searching for the bounty hunter Boba Fett's ship, the Slave I, to try and rescue their friend, Han Solo, when they found themselves in an unfamiliar part of the galaxy. The only landmark in their immediate vicinity was a domed city nestled on a floating piece of a planet, where they soon landed.

Lando and Chewie then left the ship to examine their surroundings. Minutes later, Chewbacca was attacked by a large purple beast. Just when things seemed most dire, the creature was stunned by a striking figure from behind. Chewie's attacker vanished just as quickly as he'd appeared.

Calrissian recognized the stranger as Cody Sunn-Childe. He was remembered fondly as a hero of the Rebellion, although he preferred leaving those days behind. Sunn-Childe then led his guests into the city, which seemed to be quite peaceful and tranquil. A monk-like figure proclaimed that their city was a haven from the Galactic conflict, as the presence of another Wookiee seemed to calm Chewbacca. The person on a raised platform called himself Ansible Beelyard. Calrissian knew that name as the person who had been Sunn-Childe's right hand confidant until they'd vanished more than a decade before. That revelation made Lando wonder what was really going on.

 Meanwhile, not far away, a cadre of Imperial Star Destroyers were nearing the same dimensional rift that the Falcon had entered. Imperial Captain Plikk and Lieutenant Nizzon in the lead ship thought it was something worth exploring. They ordered their fleet to move closer to the anomaly, in the hopes that whatever they discovered would benefit the Empire.

Deep in a sub-basement in the city of dreams, Sunn-Childe was showing Lando their communications center. Calrissian was still surprised how Cody had distanced himself so much from the cause that he once fought bravely for. Sunn-Childe started talking about those days, and how much he'd loved the thrill of combat. 

Everything changed during one particular conflict, when Sunn-Childe was struck by a blast that knocked him down toward the very depths of the planet he was one. Cody was swallowed up by a mysterious flame, one that gave him incredible power, which he took time to learn away from the battlefield. Sunn-Childe also observed the natives around him and decided it was time to develop a better world. 

He decided to create a paradise from concepts that were already within his own mind. Lando noted Sunn-Childe had once been a role model to many others, and now he apparently chose to retreat from what he could no longer bear. Lando's accusations were made just as more purple beasts arrived. Once again, they disappeared into thin air, because they were manifestations of Sunn-Childe's repressed horrors. It was becoming more of a struggle to keep them at bay. 

Lando realized that even the Wookiee Chewbacca was talking with wasn't real. Lando continued to doubt Cody's motives. He finally evoked a bit of rage from the former Rebel hero, which was something that gave a glimmer of hope.

At the same time, the Imperial Star Destroyers were converging on the rift. Their ships entered the area moments before the Falcon, which had been repaired by Sunn-Childe's men, was ready for takeoff. Before departing, Lando reminded Cody that he was still fighting for the same cause that the city's leader once believed in. 

Their converation was broken up by an Imperial attack. Lando and Chewie left, after Calrissian told Sunn-Childe that it was time to consider what he believed. While the Falcon fought the oncoming Star Destroyers, Sunn-Childe's brow grew feverish, as he knew what he had to do.

One of the Imperial cruisers soon found itself under attack by a giant green creature. This being was an apparation from Sunn-Childe's mind. It briefly gave the Falcon a fighting chance to escape, and the strain of trying to follow the fugitive vessel soon proved to be too much of a strain for the Imperial ships. 

The Star Destroyers managed to destroy the planetoid that Cody and his followers had built, but at the expense of their hyperdrive engines. Lando and Chewie took a brief moment to mourn their loss before moving on, to continue their search for Solo. The Imperials sat there helpless, caught in what proved to be Sunn-Childe's ultimate revenge. 

This was another example of a character that had potential, but was eliminated in their debut. Cody Sunn-Childe could eventually have gone on to become renewed allies of the Rebellion, but were unfortunately extinguished way too soon. This was Lando's first issue since the series' adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back and it showed a side of the former Cloud City adminstrator, one that's more in line with how we got to know him as the franchise moved on. 

Well, that's all I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll continue with a recap of the forty-seventh issue of this title. This issue features R2-D2 and C-3PO in their first solo mission. It's one of my favorite issues from this run, one that was also adapted for a book and record version. Come back on Saturday to learn more. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #45

Hello all,

It's time for me to discuss the forty-fifth issue of the first Star Wars comic book title. The cover, drawn by Al Milgrom and future G.I. Joe scripter Larry Hama, showed Luke Skywalker battling a large Imperial Probe Droid. The tale was titled "Death Probe." The issue had a publication date of March 1981. 

The story started with a blockade runner that was suddenly breached by an oncoming vessel. The blockade runner's sensors indicated that there were no life forms aboard the intruder, which was revealed as a massive Imperial Probe Droid. The robot started extinguishing the crew, and prevented one of the officers from radioing for help before it started integrating with the craft's internal systems. 

Its activities were reported to the crew onboard an Imperial Star Destroyer somewhere in outer space. The ship's commander was pleased with its progress and was convinced that it would make him look more favorable to the Emperor. Meanwhile, an X-Wing containing Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 was on a routine patrol.

This was one of Luke's first sojourns since the events that occurred in The Empire Strikes Back movie. As he flew, the former farmboy from Tatooine thought back to his training on Dagobah with the Jedi master Yoda, and his recent confrontation with Darth Vader at Cloud City on Bespin, where he lost his lightsaber and right hand in battle with the Sith Lord, who claimed that he was Luke's father. If that were true, then it meant that Obi-Wan Kenobi had deceived him.

Luke's reverie was interrupted by an alert that indicated a blockade runner was in the area. Without warning, the blockade runner fired on and quickly destroyed the X-Wing. Luke and Artoo jetissoned their ship in time, but were left floating in space. Skywalker grabbed a hold of his trusty astrodroid and fired his pistol to bring them closer to their attacker. 

While Artoo magnetized his body to the underbelly of the vessel, Luke used his lightsaber to cut them an opening. They found themselves under attack once more upon entering and ran toward the control center. Artoo detected incoming Imperial transmissions just before an automated repair droid lunged at them. 

Luke was able to keep the mechanoid at bay, and several fuel drums from an overhead compartment dropped on top of it after the robot slammed into a wall, instantly setting the mechanism on fire. Artoo learned that something had overridden the ship's computer system, so he and Skywalker had to rely on other ways to put out the blaze while simultaneously keeping themselves safe.

Meanwhile, Imperial Admiral Krell continued to be informed of the probe droid's status and instructed his subordinates to proceed to the final cycle immediately. Not long after that, Luke and Artoo finally reached the ship's bridge, where they saw the large probe droid that had now become an extension of the ship itself. It was linked to the main reactor in addition to its computer systems, so any attack on the droid could cause the craft to build to critical mass and detonate the reactor. 

As the hijacked blockade runner drew closer to the fleet, the Rebels had to think fast. Luke lashed out at a cockpit door with his saber, only to be knocked unconscious by a corresponding power overload from a nearby wall circuit. Knowing that he had Skywalker in his grasp, the probe droid countermanded the Imperial Admiral's orders and planned to deliver his prisoner to the Dark Lord instead.

Luke recovered after the blockade runner took out a few more X-Wings that were on scout patrol. Skywalker used his lightsaber once more to disable a particular console. That action impacted the probe droid's ability to guide his ship. Luke and Artoo ran to an escape pod and took off just in time to avoid the blockade runner's collision with the Imperial Star Destroyer, and the subsequent explosion that destroyed both ships.

The pod was found and recovered a while later by another X-Wing. As they headed back to base, Luke thought about his recovery from his battle with Vader. He expected a challenge, but didn't think that the mission would be nearly as dangerous as it actually was.

As far as I can recall, this is the last appearance of a Probe Droid in this series. It was interesting to have a rogue probe that exceeded the programming of most of its kind, especially one that defied direct orders from an Imperial leader. I'm still not a big fan of Carmine Infantino's work, but thankfully, this was one of the last issues he worked on in this series. 

That's it for this article. Next time, I'll recap the forty-sixth issue of this series. We'll find out what happened to Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca after the events covered in The Empire Strikes Back. We'll learn what they've accomplished thus far in their quest to find Han Solo and see their encounter with a former hero. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #44

Good evening all,

Today's focus will be on the forty-fourth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars comic series. This issue is the last part of their adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back. The cover showed Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker engaged in lightsaber combat. The story was called "To Duel a Dark Lord!" The issue had a cover date of February 1981.

The tale began in the carbon freezing chamber of Bespin's Cloud City. Han Solo had just been frozen in carbonite. He was alive and in perfect hibernation. The bounty hunter Boba Fett claimed Solo, and Vader ordered the chamber to be reset for Skywalker. The pilot had just landed and was on his way soon. Vader adjusted his deal with Lando Calrissian by requiring that Princess Leia and Chewbacca (who had the disassembled C-3PO on his back) be taken to his personal ship.

Luke and R2-D2 happened along just as Solo was being led to Fett's ship, the Slave I. He engaged in a firefight with the Imperials guarding the block of carbonite, only to be warned by Leia that he was walking into a trap. Artoo was cut off from his master before Luke entered the carbon freezing chamber. There, he finally found himself face to face with the Dark Lord of the Sith all by himself for the first time.

As the long-awaited lightsaber battle began, Lando uttered a code that led several of his guards to surround the Imperials. They took the soldiers' blasters before leading the Imperials off to a detention area. Calrissian tried to explain that he was only trying to help, and that there was still a chance to save Han at the east platform, while being choked by the enraged Wookiee.

Artoo rejoined Threepio and his companions on the way to try to prevent Fett's ship from taking off. Meanwhile, the conflict in the carbon freezing area raged on. At one point, Vader engaged the carbon freezing unit controls as Luke fell in, only to see that Yoda's young pupil had jumped to safety before the mechanisms engaged. The two combatants moved on further, until Luke was sent flying backwards through a window after Vader used the Force to hurl objects at the unsuspecting lad.

While Luke was doing his best to remain calm, his friends were fighting their way through squadrons of Stormtroopers to reach the Millennium Falcon. Vader was the victor in his fight, after slicing the hand that held Luke's lightsaber from his body. As the weakened youth tried to retreat, Vader claimed that he was his father. Luke found this hard to believe, and eventually opted to take his chances by dropping into a lengthy pit rather than join the Sith Lord.

The Falcon had finally taken off, while Luke found himself hanging on an underhanging weather vane for dear life. Knowing Kenobi swore not to assist him, he called out with the force to Leia. Organa heard Luke's pleas through the Force and made Chewbacca go back to pick up their friend, just as he was about to fall. Lando brought him inside the ship just before TIE fighters rushed to attack.

Artoo was occupied with repairing Threepio when he noticed that the ship still wasn't able to go into lightspeed (which had been a constant issue throughout the film). He noted that the city's central computer told him that the system was deactivated, so he rolled over to the control and reactivated it. The Falccon burst out of view, just as Imperial Star Destroyers were preparing to use tractor beams to reel in the ailing vessel.

A while later, Luke was being fitted with a mechanical hand in one of the fleet's medical ships. He was there with Leia, Artoo, and Threepio. Chewie and Lando were about to depart on the Falcon on their quest to reclaim Solo. They promised Leia they'd find him. Luke wished them luck before promising to regroup with them on Tatooine, before the tale came to an end. 

The remaining content in this issue consisted of bonus pinups created by Walt Simonson, Joe Jusko, Fred Hembeck, Bob Layton, and Marshall Rogers. I felt like this was a satisfying conclusion of the adaptation. Writer/editor Archie Goodwin summed things up nicely and didn't leave anything essential out. Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon's art was magnificent throughout the entire adaptation. I'm glad that this creative team reunited to adapt the Return of the Jedi film. 

That's all the time I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the forty-fifth issue of this series. Luke and Artoo embark on their first mission since the events in ESB. We'll see the return of a popular type of character, which acts in ways that are quite unexpected. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

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.