Happy Friday, all,
Today, my focus will be on the ninety-ninth issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover depicted Han Solo holding a weakened Lando Calrissian in his arms, threatening an unidentified alien with Luke Skywalker behind the stranger and a large fleet of ships in the sky above them all. The tale was titled "Touch of the Goddess." The issue had a publication date of September 1985.
The story started on Endor, with Luke thinking about his friend Kiro, who was last seen engaged in battle with the Nagai Den Siva on Kinooine (in issue #97). Neither of them emerged from the waters they had fallen into, and Kiro was presumed dead. He and Lando talked about him and how his supposed loss affected the Zeltron Dani. Lando observed that she wasn't the only Zeltron affected by recent events.
Princess Leia Organa was conferring with the Mandalorian Fenn Shysa (last seen in issue #s 68 and 69), to the dislike of the four male Zeltrons on the same platform. If you're wondering about Han Solo, he was offworld on a mission with Admiral Ackbar, along with Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2. The Alliance members and the half-Correllian childhood friend of Solo's, named Bey, were meeting with Godoans on their world.
Their contact was Fumiyo, a Godoan who knew the Galactic standard language. They had arrived to learn more about a disease that several of the natives had contracted and that their guests had been inoculated against. Han was surprised to see receptacles containing very valuable flame gems posted around the city. Fumiyo explained that the sickness started at about the time he said that they failed their goddess.
Fumiyo led his guests into their worship center, which Ackbar realized was a techno-organic construct. The droids set to translating the hieroglyphic characters that adorned a far wall. There was a large statue in one corner of the room, which, when uncovered, was something that Han recognized. He knew that he had to return to Endor and talk to Lando.
Once they were back, Solo explained that the statue he'd seen was a larger version of the Dancing Goddess. Both that idol and the Minstrel were smaller trophies that Lando had won in a card game several years back. The person he acquired them from claimed that they were very valuable, but Calrissian had no idea about their importance until just then.
Lando explained that one statue was with the gangsters Lemo and Sanda. The other he'd given to his former nemesis Drebble. He and Chewie decided to head to Stenos to talk to Drebble, and Han and Luke would travel to the prison world where Sanda and Lemo were being detained.
It took some cajoling, but Luke and Han finally convinced the crooks to disclose where they were keeping the Minstrel. Lemo admitted that it was still back on Arcan IV. However, those two weren't the only ones in the vicinity who heard the news.
Chewie and Calrissian set Lando's ship, the Cobra, down on Stenos. They were on their way to approach Drebble about the Dancing Goddess when someone from behind declared that Lando would be sorry he'd arrived. The two heroes ducked into a nearby alley just before the first shots were fired.
Meanwhile, things weren't much better for Solo or Skywalker on Arcan IV. They were nearing the gang's hideout when they had to duck to evade blaster fire. The duo finally entered the building after giving the code word and talked to Sanda and Lemo's associates. They walked out with the idol, right after dispatching the spy who'd been tailing them since they were on the prison planet.
Back on Stenos, Lando and Chewbacca were returning shot for shot, until a loud voice cried, "Stop!" Lando turned and saw that it was Drebble who asked for the ceasefire. (Note: Drebble was dressed in an outfit that resembled the one that Calrissian wore in his Captain Drebble disguise on Arcan IV in issue #79.) Drebble offered Lando a hand and led him to his quarters. Calrissian explained why he needed the statue back, and Drebble was more than happy to oblige. He thanked his comrade, and he and Chewbacca soon plotted a course to the Godoan homeworld.
Han and Chewie placed the statues in their appropriate slots in the wall of the city center, just as Fumiyo was starting to feel ill. A short while later, everything was fine again. The heroes left, on their way to finish a weapons delivery assignment. The Alliance members had reconvened on the Falcon and were reporting in to Fumiyo when Lando started feeling ill. Unfortunately, he'd rushed to the planet before receiving the same inoculations that his colleagues had taken earlier.
Solo knew that Lando had to return to the temple for treatment, but when he radioed Fumiya, he was told that would be impossible since that building was now sealed. Desperate, Han claimed that he had the power of the Alliance fleet behind him, and that he wouldn't hesitate to call upon it if his friend didn't receive the aid he needed.
Things were tense for a while, but the Correllian had the backing of his fellow pilots, Wedge Antilles, Nien Nunb, Trif, Maggie, and Shysa. The countdown to action reached two before Fumiya acquiesced and agreed to allow the Rebels to return. A short time later, Lando had been cured. He thanked his longtime friend, unsure if he would have carried out his threat or not.
This issue was the last appearance of the Dancing Goddess and the Minstrel icons, as well as Drebble, Lemo, and Sanda. It gave closure for those items and characters, although I still would like to see a story someday that explained how Lando and Drebble became enemies in the first place. Frenz's work was great as always, and I was sorry to see him go, but I knew he was already assigned to penciling the Amazing Spider-Man book at the time.
Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll discuss the one hundredth issue of this series. The double-sized issue shows the Alliance pilots embarking on new objectives. We'll learn more about the connection between Han and Bey, and see the final conflict on Endor. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.







