Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #81

Happy Friday, everyone!

Welcome to my three hundredth retro comic book blog post!

Today's topic is the eighty-first issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover, beautifully illustrated by inker Tom Palmer, showed Han Solo as the focus, but also depicted the Millennium Falcon, Boba Fett, Princess Leia Organa, R2-D2 and C-3PO, Chewbacca, and several Jawas and a Sandcrawler. The story was called "Jawas of Doom." The issue had a cover date of March 1984.

The tale began on Endor, shortly after the destruction of the second Death Star. Solo was trying to persuade a Rebel pilot to lend him money. However, Solo still hadn't repaid the pilot the money he'd lent him back on Hoth. Han's explanation didn't hold water for the pilot, who regretted lending him money in the first place and went off grumbling that the Sarlaac should have swallowed the Correllian. 

Moments later, Leia approached Han from behind. He accepted her embrace and explained his money problems. Leia offered to lend him credits, adding that the Alliance could advance him money. Han refused, asserting that he'd always made it on his own and that now was no different. He stormed off, leaving Leia confused and saddened.

Wedge Antilles, Lando Calrissian, and Luke Skywalker happened by just then, singing the Ewoks' praises after their celebration the night before. Luke immediately sensed that something was wrong with his sister. He went up to her, and she explained what Han had just said. Leia noted that Han had just recently come out of hibernation and needed some time to adjust. 

Meanwhile, Han was admiring the Falcon. He stepped inside, making his way to the cockpit. He smiled when he reached up and found the dice that he'd won the ship with. By then, Chewbacca was there to comfort his longtime friend. 

A short while later, Han took off in the Falcon with Leia and Artoo. Chewbacca had stayed behind to learn more about the Ewoks' hunting techniques. He set in a course for Tatooine, where he was sure he still had some credits. At the same time on that very planet, a bird circling the Sarlaac was grabbed by one of the monster's tentacles. Not far away was a familiar figure who had been on Jabba's sail barge and inadvertently knocked into the Sarlaac's mouth before using his jet pack to fly away.

Boba Fett's sand-encrusted body was later found by Jawas. Their protocol droid assumed that the bounty hunter was some type of artificial being. He said nothing as he was taken to the nearby Sandcrawler before it moved on.

The Falcon gained landing clearance at Mos Eisley, and Han and Leia disembarked shortly afterward. Artoo stayed behind to keep an eye on the ship and recharge. Leia learned about the rise in activity by Jawas and Sand People from a local resident while she waited for Han outside a bank.

Solo's experience didn't go so well. He was informed that he couldn't have his credits because the bank had been informed that he'd been frozen. Han stormed out after being told that he'd have to explain his situation to a computer. Leia caught up with him, and the pair went to a casino to decompress.

Leia suddenly realized that Artoo could talk to the computers in question. However, by the time they returned to the docking bay, the astrodroid was nowhere to be found. Han's luck didn't get any better when he asked the mechanic, Garrick, who'd been occupied with speeder repair work all day, if he had seen anything.

Han and Leia then decided to borrow a pair of landspeeders and search for the droid. By now, Artoo was in the same Sandcrawler that contained Fett. Artoo quickly came around and recognized the infamous mercenary, who was still oblivious to anything. He had no idea about his past or why he had been lying before the Sarlaac earlier. 

Before long, Han and Leia were on opposite sides of the crawler and shot at its sides to rouse attention. While several Jawas returned fire, Artoo seized the opportunity to try to plug into a terminal. Unfortunately, he learned too late that access was forbidden.

Han moved closer to the Sandcrawler after asking Leia to lay down some cover fire. What neither of them knew was that Sand People were also firing on the crawler. By the time Leia noticed that some of the fire was coming from behind them, one blast took out her speeder and sent her sprawling down into the sand below.

Solo eventually got close enough to the crawler that he could jump onto the side, just before his speeder crashed. He crawled up and was nicked by a laser blast that sent him falling down the top hatch. When Han came to, he found himself facing his old nemesis, Fett. 

Leia yelled from outside that the Sandcrawler was heading toward the Sarlaac pit. Fett still had amnesia and didn't know Han at first. Solo convinced the bounty hunter to help him carry Artoo. He tossed the droid safely offboard and was about to reach for Fett until Leia's repeated stating of Han's name revived his memory. Han was waiting to pull up Fett when he found the same blaster point at him, this time with purpose. 

Han had no choice but to jump to safety right before the Sandcrawler, and everything in it continued on its path straight into the Sarlaac's maw. The three Rebels stood close by afterward. Han knew he could have saved his old enemy if Fett had just given him the chance to do so.

Even though this is the only issue in this series that features Boba Fett as a major character, it's less expensive than issues #42 and #68, which show him very minimally at most. I loved Palmer's inks and Ron Frenz's pencil work, but for me, the difference between Palmer and Tom Mandrake's inks in this issue was night and day. Despite that, this was still an entertaining yarn that happened almost immediately after the events chronicled in the Return of the Jedi movie. 

That's it for this article. Next time, I'll cover the eighty-second issue of this title. After the Empire's defeat, the Alliance is now concerned with reaching out to worlds that were affected by Imperial occupation. Luke makes a return trip to a planet that we just saw a few issues earlier, where he runs into some old friends and encounters some unanticipated resistance. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Return of the Jedi #4

Hello there,

It's time for me to recap the last issue of Marvel's Return of the Jedi adaptation. The Bill Sienkiewicz-drawn cover showed Luke Skywalker flanked by Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader. The chapter was called "The Final Duel!" The issue had a publication date of January 1984.

After the title page (which, as usual, featured another Sienkiewicz illustration on the bottom half), we saw the Rebel fleet gathering. They waited for Admiral Ackbar's command to enter hyperspace en route to the planet Endor to take on the second Death Star. Meanwhile, on that forest moon, one of the native Ewoks was busy distracting the guards outside the Imperial bunker, allowing Han Solo, Princess Leia Organa, Chewbacca, and their fellow Rebels to sneak inside and start planting explosive charges.

On the massive space station, the Emperor was greeting Skywalker, who was accompanied by his father. Luke was certain that he would not be turned to the Dark Side as Vader had, but Palpatine remained confident, noting that everything was proceeding according to his plans. The Rebels were walking into a trap. He was the one who allowed the Alliance to learn the shield generator's location. Luke was stunned by this revelation, but made no move to retaliate just yet.

A short while later, the Rebel fleet reached its destination. Lando Calrissian and Nien Nunb aboard the Millennium Falcon could not ascertain if the station's shields were still active. The Rebels were then stunned by the sight of a deadly blast emanating from the Death Star. They assumed that the incomplete station's weapon systems weren't operational. 

True to Palpatine's prediction, a squadron of Stormtroopers entered the other side of the bunker and quickly outnumbered the Rebel forces. After some time, Luke finally felt compelled to use the Force to bring his saber hilt to his open hand. He ignited the blade, which was met by Vader's own lightsaber. Father and son began to duel once more.

On Endor, C-3PO and R2-D2 waited on a hill before drawing the Imperials' attention. What the soldiers hadn't counted on was the Ewoks' decision to fight for their world. Their unexpected assistance allowed Han and his colleagues to make another run for the bunker, just as the Alliance fleet was making strategic strikes on larger Imperial vessels.

Luke had knocked Vader down the Emperor's steps before opting to end the hostilities for the moment. He vowed not to fight until Vader searched his feelings and learned the truth about his sister. Vader proposed that if Luke would not turn to the Dark Side, then perhaps she would. That set Luke off, as he struck fiercely to avoid that possibility.

Several Scout Walkers joined the conflict on Endor, but they were no match for the traps that the Ewoks had laid in wait for them. When Artoo was hit by a stray Stormtrooper rifle blast, Leia and Han tried to hotwire the door. Leia was struck by another shot, but her wound wasn't serious. Things looked grim as another Scout Walker stood before them. 

Lando led the smaller fighters through the maze of Imperial ships, saying that there was still hope while they had ships left to fight with. Inside the Death Star, Luke continued to advance on the now weakened Sith Lord. He pressed the attack until his foe clung desperately to a railing. Luke made one final slice that severed the hand that had held his father's saber. He then looked down at his own mechanical right hand, remembering the similar fate he'd suffered from Vader back on Cloud City. 

The Emperor descended the steps from his throne, observing Vader's defeat, adding that Luke should take his rightful place at his side. Luke declined, stating that he was a Jedi, like his father before him. Palpatine soon reasoned that if Luke could not be turned, then he would be destroyed, and summoned lethal bolts of lightning from his hands, which struck the former Tatooine farmboy swiftly.

Luke struggled as his father gradually got to his feet and stood next to his master. He stood there for several long moments before coming to his senses. He grabbed Palpatine and walked to the nearby pit. The Emperor continued to fling lightning, much of which hit Vader as he tossed his former leader down into the chasm below. The Emperor screamed as he fell, before all was suddenly silent.

Inside the bunker, the crew received a transmission stating that the Rebels had retreated into the woods. The commander ordered his forces outside, not knowing that it was a trick. Chewbacca and a pair of Ewoks had gained control of a Scout Walker, which allowed Han to come up with this ruse. They surrounded the Imperials and went inside to continue setting up explosives. Moments later, the bunker went up in a spectacular detonation.

Once the shield was down, the Rebel fleet made its attack run. Lando led the charge, guiding the fighters through the maze within. He and Wedge Antilles (in his X-Wing) were the first ones to reach the reactor. The Falcon fired, followed by Wedge. Their shots were direct hits, and the damage was immediate. 

As both ships were racing to escape, Luke struggled to bring his father to safety. Knowing he didn't have much time left, Anakin asked his son to help him remove his mask. Even though it would mean his imminent demise, he wanted to see Luke one time with his own eyes. Luke then boarded an Imperial shuttle and took off, evading the explosion just as Lando and Wedge had. 

Later that evening, a celebration was held in the Ewok village. The Rebel ground crew was slowly joined by the heroic pilots, including Lando and Luke. Luke looked away at one point before being drawn back into his circle of friends, knowing that the galactic threat was finally over. 

The remaining content pages were pin-ups of Ackbar and other Mon Calamari aboard their ship, the Ewok Logray and a trio of Imperial helmets on posts, a Rebel B-Wing fighter, Luke Skywalker before the shadow of Vader, and the Force ghost images of Anakin, Yoda, and Obi-Wan Kenobi that Luke saw in the final minute of the original version of the Return of the Jedi film. That scene was altered later on by George Lucas to show Hayden Christensen as Anakin instead of the original actor, Sebastian Stan.

I felt like this was a fitting conclusion to this miniseries. There were a few things omitted, like Vader's face reveal and the burning of his corpse on Endor, but I know that Marvel had to condense a two-hour-plus movie into this four-issue limited series (and single-volume Marvel Super Special). I appreciate the extra content that was included in each issue of this series. They also had to take the fact that their primary target audience was children into consideration. 

That's it for this article. Next time, I'll resume my coverage of the original Star Wars title with a recap of the eighty-first issue. Han has to decide what to do next now that he's back in circulation. Leia and Artoo go along for the ride as he visits an old haunt, but runs into a familiar opponent. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Return of the Jedi #3

Good afternoon everyone,

Today's topic is the third part of Marvel's Return of the Jedi adaptation. The Bill Sienkiewicz-drawn cover showed who I assume is Princess Leia in Endor gear, Han Solo, and Chewbacca. The chapter was called "Mission to Endor!" The issue had a cover date of December 1983.

After the title/splash page, the story started with an image of the Rebel fleet that had gathered near the planet Sullust. In one of the command ships, Lando Calrissian was conferring with Han and Chewie shortly before the proceedings began. Han was congratulating Lando on being selected to lead the attack and his advancement to general. Leia stated that she and Han were staying with the fleet. 

Mon Mothma began the meeting by bringing up a hologram of the new Death Star. Admiral Ackbar explained that the station was protected by an energy shield that emanated from the forest moon of Endor. The shield had to be deactivated if an effective attack on the station could be made.

General Madine then said that they'd acquired an Imperial shuttle, whose crew would land on Endor and take out the shield generator. He then asked General Solo if his strike team was ready, to the surprise of those around the Falcon's captain. Solo replied that his strike team was ready but that he lacked a command crew for the shuttle. Chewbacca was the first to volunteer, followed closely by Leia, and then by Luke, who'd recently returned.

Leia hugged Skywalker after seeing something in his facial expression. He told her he'd tell her later. Shortly thereafter, in the hangar deck, Solo told Calrissian to take the Falcon, since it was the fastest ship in the fleet. Lando promised he wouldn't get a scratch on Han's beloved ship. As the pirated Imperial shuttle left, Han expressed his concern that he might not see the Falcon again.

A short time later, the shuttle Tydrium approached the Super Star Destroyer that hung in space before the second Death Star. Solo transmitted the codes they'd received, which were older but still valid. Darth Vader was on the command ship and had a strange feeling about the shuttle, but allowed them to pass after stating he would deal with them himself.

The Tydrium landed a safe distance away from the shield generator. Han and his crew advanced slowly, making sure to be as quiet as possible. Unfortunately, the snap of a twig beneath Solo's boot caught the attention of a pair of biker scouts. Han and Chewie took on some of them, while Luke and Leia pursued two more on speeder bike.

Before long, Luke jumped from the bike he and Leia had been sharing to the one occupied by an Imperial right next to them. He commandeered the speeder after skaking off its driver. His bike eventually became entangled with another Imperial's bike, and Luke was forced to crash his bike into a large tree. He got up quickly, ignited his saber, and sliced off his attacker's control vanes, causing his foe to crash explosively moments later.

On the Death Star, Vader was informing the Emperor of his discovery that a small Rebel group had penetrated the shield and landed on Endor. Palpatine was a bit surprised by the revelation that Vader's son was with them, but instructed his subordinate to wait for him on the sanctuary moon. He was confident that Luke would seek him out, and then Vader would bring his son to him.

By then, Luke had rejoined Han, Chewie, and the droids. Leia was missing. They found two more wrecked speeders and what they assumed to be Leia's helmet. They were trying to avoid fearing the worst when Chewie was distracted by the scent of a dead animal hanging from a tree. Little did they know that it was a trap, in the form of a net that carried the heroes up into the sky.

Luke asked Han to reach for his saber, while Artoo was busy using his saw attachment to slice through the ropes, sending him and his comrades crashing back to solid ground. They rose to find small native creatures surrounding them. As soon as they saw Threepio, several of the beasts began bowing in reverence. Threepio was able to roughly translate their words, but learned that they viewed him as some sort of god.

The beings known as Ewoks confiscated the heroes' weapons and led them to their home. The humanoids were to be featured courses in a banquet honoring their idol. Han was placed on a spit, since he was about to be the main course. Not even Princess Leia, who had been found in the woods by the Ewok named Wicket and had arrived at the camp before her friends, could persuade the creatures to release her companions.

Luke finally asked Threepio to tell the Ewoks not to anger him, or he would use his magic. Threepio did so, but achieved nothing at first. Luke closed his eyes and used the Force to levitate the protocol droid around the area, which scared the natives enough to cut the bonds and free the heroes. 

Later that evening, Artoo and Threepio recounted their experiences against the Empire to the Ewoks. Afterward, the Rebels were declared part of the tribe. Han then asked Threepio to get their weapons back, fresh supplies, and the quickest way to the shield generator.

While Han was barking orders, Luke slipped outside quietly. Leia noticed his retreat and followed him. Luke saw her, and asked Leia if she remembered her mother. She replied that she only remembered images and feelings. Luke had no memory of his mother. He said this because Vader was on the same moon that they were now on. He had to face him because Vader was his father.

This news stunned Leia. Luke went on to say that the Force was strong in his family. He had it. His father had it, and his sister had it. Luke looked at Leia, and she knew that she was his sister. Somehow, she'd always known. She tried to convince Luke to leave, but he couldn't because he had felt good in him, and he had to at least try to bring that out in their father. He softly bade her goodbye before walking off. 

The next morning, Vader walked down the Empire's landing platform on Endor to meet a commander and his troops emerging from an AT-AT. Skywalker was their prisoner. He surrendered himself and his lightsaber to the Imperials and stated that he arrived alone. The commander was sure that there were other Rebels in the area. Vader dismissed the commander and his stormtroopers after allowing them to search for the companions, which were to be brought to him. 

Once they were alone, father and son spoke. Luke admitted that he knew the truth that Vader was once Anakin Skywalker, and that he had forgotten his true self. Vader replied that name no longer had any meaning for him, although his son knew that the Emperor hadn't driven the good side from his father fully. He asked his father to release his hate, but Vader knew how powerful the Dark Side was. He had to obey his master and bring his son before him. It was too late for him. Luke then realized that his father was truly dead.

The remaining content pages from this issue were pin-ups of an Imperial Biker Scout on a speeder bike, General Lando Calrissian, Admiral Ackbar's Mon Calamari command ship, The Emperor sitting on his throne on the new Death Star, and a trio of Imperial TIE Interceptors. 

Rereading these issues brings back some good memories for me. I was just thinking about the speeder bikes that I put together for my brother and myself at my Aunt Helen and Uncle Jack's home in Saint Paul after shopping with my aunt, mother, and brother some forty years ago. Except for omitting Leia's meeting Wicket and a coloring error on the last page of the story that showed Vader holding Luke's lightsaber hilt upside down with a red blade emitted from the butt end, everything else was pretty much spot on with the movie itself. I thoroughly enjoyed writer Archie Goodwin and artists Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon's adaptation of what would be the last Star Wars movie for more than 15 years. 

Well, that wraps up this article. Tomorrow, I'll cover the final issue of this limited series. We'll find out what happens when Luke meets the Emperor. We'll also see how Han, Leia, Chewie, and the droids take on the shield bunker with a little help from the natives and how Lando's attack fleet engages in battle against the second Death Star and its many defenses. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Return of the Jedi #2

Happy Tuesday afternoon, everyone!

Today's topic is the second part of Marvel's four-issue adaptation of the Return of the Jedi movie. The cover, drawn by Bill Sienkiewicz, showed a red-robed Imperial guard, Darth Vader, and an Imperial officer. The title of this chapter was "The Emperor Commands!" The issue had a cover date of November 1983.

After the introduction/splash page, the story resumed at the Pit of Carkoon on the planet Tatooine. C-3PO was offering Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Luke Skywalker a chance to beg for mercy before being dropped into the maw of the Sarlaac. No pleas would ever be forthcoming, but those on the desert skiff and Jabba's sail barge paid rapt attention to the proceedings.

R2-D2 moved to the balcony of the barge and waited for the signal from his master, which was made moments later. A portion of his dome opened, jettisoning a small item which we soon learned was the hilt of the new lightsaber that Luke had constructed. The Jedi waited patiently for the weapon to fall into his waiting hand, and a battle began aboard the skiff. 

A few of Jabba's guards on the skiff fell overboard and into the waiting clutches of the hungry Sarlaac. The bounty hunter Boba Fett activated his jetpack and flew to the skiff to engage the rebels. Meanwhile, Princess Leia Organa took advantage of the distraction to grab hold of the chains that connected her to the vile gangster and wrapped them around his throat, pulling on them vigorously until the Hutt had finally breathed his last breath.

Now all Leia had to do was cut herself free of the chains. She saw a blaster nearby, but it was still out of reach. While Luke was defending his friends, he was unaware that Lando Calrissian (in his Skiff guard disguise) had fallen overboard and was clinging to a fraying cable. Luke then jumped over to another skiff to continue the conflict.

By then, Fett had landed on the initial skiff and was preparing to fire at the young Jedi Knight. Solo had been trying to rescue Calrissian, but when he heard Chewie announce Boba's arrival, he swung around, inadvertently striking him with the staff he'd been carrying, which ignited the jetpack and sent the bounty hunter flying off uncontrollably. He crashed into the barge before dropping into the Sarlaac pit.

As Han's eyesight (which had been weakened due to being encased in carbonite) continued to improve, Artoo arrived to cut Leia's chains. By that time, Luke had made it to the deck of the sail barge. He fought Jabba's crew valiantly and only suffered a minor injury when a blaster struck his mechanical hand. 

Artoo rescued Threepio from torment at the hands of Jabba's associate, Salacious Crumb, while Lando continued to crawl desperately up the sandy pit. Leia and Luke continued to confront Jabba's hired guns on the sail barge deck, just before an explosion rocked the vessel and sent Luke's droids tumbling from the craft.

Chewbacca gave Han a pistol, and Jabba's former employer shot a tentacle that would have dragged Calrissian into the pit. He then pulled his friend up, just as Leia and Luke were pointing the sail barge's main cannon at the deck. Luke kicked the firing pedal right before they swung over to the skiff to rejoin their friends.

The heroes retrieved Threepio and Artoo and sailed off to safety as the sail barge was going up in flames. A short while later, the Millennium Falcon and Luke's X-Wing exited Tatooine's orbit. Luke promised to join his colleagues soon, after he fulfilled a promise with an old friend. 

Meanwhile, a welcoming party on the new Death Star was preparing for the Emperor's shuttle to arrive. The wizened leader descended the landing ramp and affirmed that the son of Skywalker would soon join their cause. He was confident that everything would proceed as he had foreseen. Emperor Palpatine ordered the fleet to be sent to the far side of Endor, the jungle planet that provided the power for the station's force field. When Vader asked about reports of the Rebel fleet amassing near Sullust, his superior expressed no concern, adding that the Rebellion would soon be crushed and that Skywalker would be one of them. He then dispatched Vader to the command ship to await further instructions. 

On Dagobah, Luke explained to Yoda that he'd returned to finish his Jedi training. The legendary Jedi master told him that he required no further training, because he already knew all that was necessary. Luke asked Yoda if Vader was indeed his father. Yoda reluctantly replied in the affirmative, adding that it was unfortunate that he rushed to face him, and that he wasn't ready to face that burden at the time. He reminded his young student that he must not underestimate the Emperor, and that when Yoda was gone, Luke would be the last of the Jedi.

Shortly after exiting Yoda's hut, Luke had a conversation with Obi-Wan Kenobi's Force spirit. His first Jedit tutor explained that what he'd told Luke about his father initially was true, from a certain point of view. Kenobi took it upon himself to teach Anakin Skywalker in the ways of the Force after being amazed by how strong the Force was with Anakin, but his pupil eventually became corrupted by the Dark Side. When that happened, the good man that he once knew had ceased to exist. 

Obi-Wan thought he could teach Anakin just as well as Yoda. His mistake had great consequences for the galaxy. He knew now that Vader was more machine than man, twisted and corrupted by the Dark Side of the Force. Luke was their only hope, except for another. It didn't take the former Tatooine farmboy very long to realize that Leia was his twin sister. Kenobi had kept them separated shortly after their birth because he knew how much of a threat they could pose to the Emperor. Kenobi advised Luke to bury his feelings for his sister, because although they did him credit, they could be used to serve the Empire. He and Luke both knew that another confrontation with the Sith Lord was inevitable. 

The rest of the issue's content was pin-up pages, featuring Boba Fett, a pair of Imperial Royal Guards, the Falcon leaving Tatooine, and a portrait of Obi-Wan and Yoda on Dagobah. In place of a letters page was a house ad for the monthly Star Wars comic that used the cover illustration from its seventieth issue. 

The only real plot points that were missing from this particular issue were Yoda's death and the fact that Yoda had told Luke that there was another shortly before his demise. I don't blame the Marvel staff for changing this too much, because the other was explained at the end of this story. I also wish that the people who created the additional pages of art in issues 2 through 4 of this limited series that were exclusive to this adaptation (and not the single-volume Marvel Super Special) were credited accordingly in the title page. I picked up on the differences from Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon's work right away, and while they were nice, they were still very noticeably different. 

I can't say enough good things about this adaptation. It wasn't perfect, but it was ideal for the eleven-year-old me. I first picked this up at the local Woolworths store. While my female cousins from out of state were in town looking for Jellies shoes, I was more interested in the further adventures of the protagonists from my favorite science fiction series. I didn't want to believe that Vader was Luke's father until this movie and its adaptation made me realize that was actually true. At first, I thought it was just a lie told to try to sway Luke's favor. It was an interesting twist that significantly impacted the franchise moving forward. 

Well, that's all I have for today. Next time, I'll discuss the third issue of this limited series. We'll see what the Rebellion is planning and what lies in store for them on the planet Endor. We'll also find out how much the Emperor knew about the Rebel efforts, and watch as Luke takes the final step toward his final meeting with his father. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Return of the Jedi #1

Hello there,

Hope all's well with everyone. Today's focus is on the first part of Marvel's Return of the Jedi adaptation. It was released as a four-part monthly miniseries, and the full adaptation was chronicled in Marvel Super Special #27. The first issue in the limited series had an Al Williamson drawing (taken from his adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back) in the top left corner box, and Lando Calrissian (in Skiff Guard disguise), Luke Skywalker, and Leia Organa (in her slave girl costume), all drawn by Bill Sienkiewicz. This issue had a cover date of October 1983.

After the title/splash page (which had another illustration by Sienkiewicz that was unique to this limited series), the story began with the movie's title crawl and the arrival of Vader's shuttle at the new Imperial base. Vader met with Moff Jerjerrod and communicated the Emperor's displeasure at the commander's apparent lack of progress. The commander assured the Sith Lord that the new Death Star would be operational as planned, but that he needed more men. Vader replied that he could address that concern with the Emperor personally when he arrived, noting that his master would not accept further delay. 

Chapter one, entitled "In the Hands of Jabba the Hutt!" started on Tatooine, as C-3PO and R2-D2 neared the vile gangster's hideout. Threepio expressed doubt, noting that Lando Calrissian had yet to return from the compound. After a hasty introduction, the front gate opened, and the two droids entered. They were soon met by Jabba's aide, Bib Fortuna. The Twi'lek was unable to ascertain the reason for their visit, except for Artoo's insistence that their message could only be delivered to Jabba himself.

A few moments later, Luke's faithful companions had their audience with the repulsive slug. Artoo then showed a hologram of Luke, who now referred to himself as a Jedi Knight. He asked for an audience with Jabba to bargain for Han Solo's life. He offered the droids to him as a token of his appreciation. This was obviously news to Threepio, who was certain that his counterpart had played the wrong message.

Jabba accepted the gift and ordered them away. He had no intention of giving up his favorite decoration, which was Solo on the opposite wall, still frozen in carbonite. The droids then met with EV-9D9, who assigned Threepio to serve as Jabba's translator and sent Artoo to serve on his master's sail barge after fitting each of them with a restraining bolt. 

The usual revelry continued shortly thereafter. At one point, Jabba's dancing girl refused the Hutt's commands. A trap door opened under her feet, and the female Twi'lek was soon heard screaming, much to the delight of the crowd. A short while later, the amusement was broken up by the arrival of Chewbacca, who was being led to the Hutt by a masked bounty hunter.

The bounty hunter known as Boushh demanded a reward of fifty thousand credits for the Wookiee. When asked why, the mercenary pulled a thermal detonator from a pocket. Jabba laughed at the bounty hunter's inventiveness and offered a sum that was more practical. Boushh agreed, much to Threepio's relief. Chewie was led away by a pair of Gamorrean Guards, and we then saw Lando in his Skiff Guard disguise. 

Later that evening, while all was quiet, Boushh quietly made his way to the man encased in carbonite. A few buttons were pushed on the side of the slab, and the block began to melt. Solo fell to the floor. Unable to see, he asked who his savior was. It was soon revealed that Boushh was actually his love, Princess Leia. However, before they could take another step, they heard the Hutt's laugh. They turned and found Jabba and his crew amused at the escape attempt.

Han offered triple the reward that had been on his head, but Jabba wasn't interested in anything that his former employee had to say. He had Solo taken away and preferred to keep Leia close by his side, against her wishes. Han was then reunited with Chewie, who filled him in on what he'd missed. He was skeptical of the plan and that Luke was now a Jedi.

A short while later, Luke arrived. He used a Jedi mind trick to convince Fortuna to grant him an audience with his leader. Luke tried the same tactic on Jabba before being informed that such an effort would be useless against the Hutt. He was still determined to bring his friends back with him. Before Threepio could warn his master, the trap door began to open once more. Luke used the Force to bring a blaster from a nearby guard to his hand, but all he could muster was a wasted shot at the ceiling before falling through with a Gamorrean Guard.

Skywalker was now inside a dusty pit and found himself facing a Rancor towering over him. He evaded the monster's grasp a few times before making a break for the gate. He tossed a skull at the control panel just as the creature was underneath. The gate came slamming down on top of the Rancor, killing the mighty beast. 

Jabba was incensed by this action, and soon recalled Luke, Han, and Chewie to his chamber. Leia had taken the role of dancing girl now. Threepio translated the Hutt's words and informed his colleagues that they were about to be taken to the Dune Sea and thrown into the Pit of Carkoon, where they would be slowly digested by the powerful Sarlaac over the next thousand years. Luke warned the crimelord that he'd regret this, but it was a threat that Jabba ignored.

The entourage traveled in Jabba's sail barge to the Sarlaac pit, where a skiff bearing the Rebel heroes was waiting to drop the prisoners. Jabba promised Leia that he'd grow to appreciate his company before giving his next order. Threepio ran into Artoo, who had been serving drinks on the barge at the time. Han wondered what was next. Despite the danger, Luke advised him to just stay put. The former Tatooine farmboy seemed assured that everything would work out to their advantage, although it certainly didn't look like it at the time. 

Following this part of the story were pin-ups of Fortuna, Sy Snootles and the Max Rebo band, the Kowakian lizard monkey called Salacious Crumb, and an Imperial shuttle. In the place of a letter column was a house ad for the Star Wars monthly comic, featuring the same image of Vader that had been used for the cover of the third Star Wars annual.

Writer Archie Goodwin teamed up with Williamson and Carlos Garzon on this adaptation. The trio worked so well together on The Empire Strikes Back adaptation, and this time around was pretty much at the same standards of excellence. Goodwin and Williamson had been working on the Star Wars newspaper strip for several years at this point, so they weren't about to let the storytelling standards slip. There were a few deviations and omissions, which are understandable given the task of condensing a two-plus-hour movie into a four-issue limited series, but they covered all of the key aspects and paced each issue well. The limited series had splash pages, pin-ups, and additional art pages that were not included in the single-volume versions of the ROTJ adaptation. 

That's it for this issue. Next time, I'll recap the second issue of this limited series. We'll find out what happened at the Pit of Carkoon. We'll also see the Emperor's arrival and Luke's return to honor his promise with an old friend and the stunning truth that he discovers. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #80

Good afternoon all,

This post is dedicated to the eightieth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover showed a droid holding a wounded rebel, while staring at the spectre of Darth Vader. The tale was titled "Ellie." The issue had a cover date of February 1984.

The tale began on an unnamed planet. An Imperial Stormtrooper squadron was making its rounds, not knowing that Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, and C-3PO were observing them from a nearby corridor. The soldiers walked past, and the Rebels breathed a sigh of relief after thinking that Threepio's voice might draw them to their hiding place. The sector was off limits to civilians, so they had to move fast.

This was the next destination on the search for fellow Rebel Tay Vanis. He and his droid were carrying the Bothan tapes that described the Imperials' latest super weapon. They inspected the hangar bay, but didn't expect to find Vanis' specially modified X-Wing fighter there. They then reached the manifest area, and were greeted by a female protocol droid designed LE-914, or Ellie for short. 

After receiving their ship's clearance code for departure, Luke asked if the computers had any information on Vanis. Unfortunately, requesting that information triggered an alarm, which sent Stormtroopers running. A battle ensued shortly thereafter. At one point, Ellie shielded Threepio from a laser blast with her body, and was unharmed. 

The quartet then ran in the rain to the Millennium. Falcon. Ellie provided the coordinates that allowed them to find Vanis' downed fighter. Luke retrieved a message from the ship and brought it back to the Falcon to play back. A prerecorded message began, showing an image of Vanis. The pilot explained the reason why he and Yom Argo separated. At the end, he said that if he was not heard from within two planetary days, Ellie would destroy the Bothan tapes.

Threepio had noticed Ellie had disappeared before the message ended. Luke decided to return to the castle that they had just left, because he wanted answers about Vanis, Ellie, and the Bothan tapes. The trio found an unguarded entrance and were disgusted after overhearing a pair of Imperial officers describing the wanton slaughter of the planet's populace. 

The group then made their presence known to those Imperials. One of them informed them that what they were looking for was just behind the door in front of them. A hologram of Vader appeared. It took the Rebels by surprise and allowed one of the commanders to grab Leia's blaster. She then borrowed Luke's pistol and took out the thief. The hologram explained that he'd expected Skywalker's arrival. He presented him with what was left in the cell. 

The door opened. Luke, Leia, and Threepio entered the room and were saddened by its contents. The broken man that was Tay Vanis sat in a corner, oblivious to anything. The sound of Ellie rose from behind them. She knew the danger that her master had represented to the Empire.

Ellie then opened a chest compartment and gave the Bothan tapes to Threepio. She had kept them even after Vanis had ordered her to destroy them, and was now sure that they would be in good hands. Ellie explained her reasons for overriding that command and went to comfort her master one last time. Her allies watched from the hall entrance as the two perished together. They then returned to the Falcon. Luke reported to Admiral Ackbar via comlink that they'd accomplished their mission and that there were no survivors. The last panel showed Threepio in the rain, and it appeared that even the droid was crying. 

I initially wondered why Marvel's creative staff seemed to drag out storylines before their Return of the Jedi adaptation. Stories like this answered that question. It now made sense that the pirated files were the Bothan tapes, a development that Marvel probably didn't know about until Lucasfilm shared that information with them. Ellie was one of the most compassionate droids I'd ever read about in this title. It's a pity that we didn't get to see a bit more of her or Vanis' backstory. Maybe someday Marvel will provide more.

Well, that's it for me for today. Tomorrow, I'll begin my coverage of the Return of the Jedi film adaptation. I'll cover the four-issue ROTJ limited series. The adaptation was also chronicled in Marvel Super Special #27. After that, I'll resume my recaps of the regular series with issue #81. Until tomorrow, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #79

Good morning,

Hope everyone's having a great Sunday! It's time for me to discuss the seventy-ninth issue of the first Star Wars comic book title. The cover showed Lando Calrissian (in his Captain Drebble disguise) clutching a wanted poster of Han Solo and Chewbacca. The story was called "The Big Con." The issue had a cover date of January 1984.

The tale began with a picture of Han Solo (a reproduction of his headshot that was prominently used in press features to promote the Return of the Jedi movie) that had been placed on the wall of a tavern on the planet Arcan IV. Several patrons discussed their contempt for their fellow scoundrel before booing and tossing items at the picture. Some expressed regret at not collecting the bounty that had been posted for Solo. 

The criminals who had gathered in the seedy establishment were lamenting Han's capture, because they knew that he would have been valuable to their pursuit of the lost Dancing Icon and Minstrel icons. A few mimutes later, Chewbacca pounded at the door of the bar, and was quickly allowed in. He sat by himself for a few moments, before the reason he'd arrived spoke up. Lando, in his Captain Drebble disguise, stood in front of the patron. He introduced himself before taking a seat at Chewie's booth.

Lando layed it on thick, saying that he and his Wookiee friend had heard about their caper, and that they were willing to help for a cut. The gang's leaders, Lemo and Sanda, decided to hear him out. Lando explained that he knew what they were looking for and that Solo was an expert at finding artifacts. He was talking about the affair on Stenax (recounted in issue #70) when one of the patrons pulled a blaster on him. The alien was stunned to see a knife embedded in his chest shortly thereafter. He fell to the floor before uttering his final word of amazement.

The group turned and saw that one of the knives was missing from Drebble's bandolier. That left no question as to who had thrown the weapon, which Drebble apparently preferred after stating that blasters made him nervous (even though Lando carried a holstered pistol at his side). Lando and Chewie departed after annoucing where their ship was docked.

Inside the Cobra, the two Rebels had a chance to relax. Lando knew that what he said was hokey, and admitted that he preferred using the name of a formal rival as his alias. He added that he had possession of both idols that Lemo and Sanda's gang were searching for, after winning them in a card game several years ago. He took one of them with him after the duo were invited to dinner by the gang.

After a few appetizers and drinks, Lando drunkenly admitted that they were searching for Han, and had even been to Tatooine, where he had not arrived yet. He went on to say that Solo had other enemies right before several blasters were pointed at him. Chewie tossed a table, and grabbed his friend. They took the nearest hovercar and escaped, with the gang members in hot pursuit.

Lando asked a streetwalker for directions a short while later, not knowing that he'd been given false information. He headed straight into oncoming traffic, but still managed to avoid trouble. At one point, Chewie lunged at their attackers, leaving Lando to fly alone. It wasn't long before both Chewbacca and Lando's cars collided with each other.

Dafi was the first gang member to catch up with the heroes. However, she was too preoccupied with possessing the Minstrel statue that fell out of Lando's pocket to eliminate her foes. She grabbed the idol and fired wildly at her companions, allowing Lando and Chewie to retreat. In space, Lando recapped the mission. They were no closer to finding Solo, and lost one of the statues, but still had the Dancing Goddess.

Instead of a traditional letters page, the last page of content was a story featuring assistant Eliot R. Brown showing readers a cheap way to make a Darth Vader costume until George Lucas intervened. This issue was published during the infamous assistant editors' month, when the regular editors and management had gone to California for a convention. Many issues from that month contained some humorous content, or ran stories that deviated from their regular storylines.

The one thing that bugged me about this story was that Lando, as Drebble, said that he abhorred blasters, but wore a blaster at his side. He also allowed Chewbacca to carry his bowcaster rifle. Lemo and Sanda were interesting, and we'd see more of them in the future. I don't think that Dani survived, though. 

That's it for this morning. Later today, I'll discuss the eightieth issue of this title. This was the final issue before the Return of the Jedi adaptation. Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and C-3PO journey to a world under Imperial control. There, they finally learn the fate of missing Rebel pilot Tay Vanis and his faithful droid. It would also be the last time that Darth Vader appeared in this series. Until then, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another.