Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #66

Good afternoon,

Today's topic is the sixty-sixth issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover showed Luke Skywalker outside the entrance to a cave where his X-Wing fighter had been stored, watching a quartet of Imperial TIE fighters fly past. The story was called "The Water Bandits!" The issue had a cover date of December 1982.

The tale began on the planet Beheboth, where Skywalker was forced to land after learning that his ship was unable to enter hyperspace and return to the Rebel home planet of Arbra (after suffering minor damage caused by a pistol shot on Golrath last issue). He hid out in a cave, watching TIEs fly by, not noticing him at all. He thought he had enough provisions to last a while, until he opened a container and discovered that his food had been infested by sand lice.

Luke then decided to venture out to the nearest town of Garrotine in search of food and water. The smell of baked bantha from a nearby establishment aroused his interest. He was able to use his credits to buy food, but was informed that water wasn't available for strangers. His pointed objection to that statement drew the attention of a trio of patrons. They tried to subdue him, and a fight broke out. Even though Luke held his own, the melee was ended by a warning shot from a native named Darial.

Skywalker's attackers knew that Darial was loyal to their plight against the brigands and understood why she stood up for the stranger in their midst. Luke was thankful for her intervention and was convinced to join her crew after seeing a trio of Stormtroopers searching for him just outside the restaurant. The pair then took Darial's landspeeder to her farm. The farm had a tall wall around it and was heavily guarded. 

It was a moisture farm, one that was not that dissimilar from the one Luke grew up working on back on Tatooine. Darial assigned Luke to protect the farm, even though the young Jedi doubted it needed much protection from him. She sat with him during his first watch duty that evening and explained how the employees had grown into a community where everyone trusted each other. Darial was about to say more when she suddenly fell ill, and a set of strange green telepathic organisms filled the air. Luke soon lost consciousness, much like Darial did.

Skywalker awoke the next morning to find Darial missing and the base had been trashed. One of her counterparts informed him that brigands had attacked and taken her. He pointed the way to her base, which was a destination that Luke was determined to reach. He made the journey alone and had no sooner entered the complex when he was taken by gunpoint to the brigands' leader, Gideon Longspur. 

The villain had indeed captured Darial. He was also holding the green organisms in a glass dome. They were called Terriths and were empathic organisms that were being forced to do the brigands' bidding. The beings were made of an energy mist that could be drawn into vaporators. Once inside, they would then combine with the existing condensation chemicals to create an odorless, colorless gas that could make humans unconscious. That would then leave their employers free to raid and pillage as they saw fit. 

Luke and Darial were then put in a cell together. They were weaponless, but still far from helpless. Several Terriths floated around in the air, wishing to help the farmers. They fluttered around the air in front of the guards, distracting them from their game of cards at the table in front of the cell. Luke then used the Force to open their cell and escape.

By the time that Darial and Skywalker reached the central chamber of the brigand fort, Longspur was waiting for them, with Luke's ignited lightsaber in his hands. Luke's attacker was reckless and used the blade to accidentally break the glass dome that held the rest of the Terriths. Luke then knocked out his foe and reclaimed his father's weapon.

Outside, dozens of soldiers were charging to attack. The Terriths asked their rescuers to trust them. They did, and Darial fired at the water tanks next to them. They broke open, and gallons of water flooded the plains, washing away the enemies in the process. Luke and Darial fled to higher ground, where they waited for some time.

Afterward, they returned to the farm with the Terriths. Their new friends were gracious enough to seed the clouds so that rain fell upon the land for the first time in years. The farmers could now collect as much water as they wanted. That image was one that Luke held onto as he eventually left the planet after having repaired his X-Wing and set a course for Arbra.

I didn't have this issue until just a few years ago. When it first came out, we didn't have comic book shops in my area, and I was lucky to find issues when I could at my local drug store or big box retailers. This was an interesting one-off, and I'm glad that I finally acquired it. It was an interesting story, featuring characters who sadly have yet to return to the Marvel Star Wars universe. This was also the last issue that Walt Simonson worked on. He would go on to be the writer and artist for The Mighty Thor and later team up with his wife, Louise Simonson, on the X-Factor title.

Well, that's it for now. Next time, I'll tackle the sixty-seventh issue of this series. A new penciler joins David Michelinie and Tom Palmer to chronicle an offbeat story that happened right before the Rebels were about to resume their search for Han Solo. It involves R2-D2, C-3PO, Chewbacca, several Hoojibs, and a mysterious character that none of them expected. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #65

Good afternoon all,

It's time for me to discuss the sixty-fifth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover, drawn by the issue's penciler and inker Tom Palmer, showed Princess Leia Organa going up against Imperial Leftenant Giel. The tale was titled "Golrath Never Forgets!" The issue had a cover date of November 1982. 

The story started in the Rebel base on the planet Arbra. Luke Skywalker was standing on trial before Leia and Generals Rieekan and Veertag. He'd been charged with desertion, murder, theft, and treason. Several screens throughout the complex recounted the acquisition of several Imperial TIE fighters that were used by Luke and his fellow pilots to infiltrate the Empire's armada. This battle apparently took the life of Luke's wingmate, Shira Brie.

Skywalker's ship fired upon Brie, and he was subsequently stripped of rank pending an inquiry. Luke and Chewbacca then left in the Millennium Falcon without permission for the planet Shalyvane, which Brie had claimed was her homeworld. There, they discovered a transmitter used to contact Darth Vader. The duo then flew to Krake's Planet, made their way into the Imperial data vault, and brought back a recording that confirmed that Brie was an Imperial agent who'd been planted in the Rebellion to discredit her flight commander.

The tribunal examined the evidence and returned with a verdict of not guilty on all accounts. They recommended that Luke be reinstated to his previous rank, which he cheerfully accepted. While many on the base were celebrating Commander Skywalker's return to grace, others, like Milo (who had goaded the disgraced Rebel into a fist fight in issue #62) were unconvinced of his innocence. 

Luke's fellow pilot, Thorben, was chatting with his ally Gemmer afterward, when he noticed his friend's tiredness. Gemmer explained that he'd been up all night, after being distracted by lights that had emanated from a paperweight that he'd brought back from their former temporary base on the planet Golrath. Thorben then insisted on examining the bauble personally. 

Meanwhile, Luke and Leia were discussing matters in Organa's personal chambers. Their conversation was interrupted by Thorben's call on the viewscreen. He recommended that his superiors report to the analytics lab as soon as possible. A short while later, Doctor Wella placed the stone inside a machine, and those in the room soon saw an image of Luke when he'd been afflicted by the Crimson Forever (which happened back in issue #50). The stones were apparently capable of storing light and playing back images that they had captured.

Leia grew concerned that the rocks might contain a visual history of their time on that planet, and it could be a danger if the Empire discovered them. Fighter squads were hastily scrambled and set off for Golrath. Little did they know that there was already a small Imperial presence on that planet, led by former Admiral Giel.

Giel was the one whose armada Luke and company had attacked. He was guarding a Teezl, which was an organic being that had been captured to vastly improve Imperial communication across the galaxy. Its destruction angered Vader, who surprisingly allowed Giel to live, but demoted him in rank to leftenant and assigned him to less important matters like patrolling this planet. Despite all of that, Giel still took his role seriously and planned to return to his former status eventually.

A short while later, a pair of Giel's Stormtroopers took a break. They were surprised to see a Rebel patrol charging at them, and began firing in retaliation. They soon learned that they'd blasted nothing but stones that had contained images of a Rebel training operation. Giel had been drawn to the area by the shooting and realized what he had. 

Not long afterward, the Rebel fighters entered Golrath's atmosphere. They soon found themselves in a firefight. Leia jumped from her Y-Wing and used a jetpack to descend to their former base. She used a small explosive to penetrate the outer shield, not knowing that she was being watched remotely by Giel. The leftenant knew exactly who the intruder was, but decided to see how far she could get. 

Organa easily took out the two guards that had been stationed near her before making her way to the reactor room. Once inside, she was fired upon by a shot from Giel's pistol. The two engaged in a battle of wits, one which was determined to destroy the station after the Imperial closed the blast doors, released the overhead damper, and activated the station's self-destruct sequence. 

Leia feigned surrender, only to trick Giel. She'd tied the hip from her pistol's holster to a cart that she'd put her jetpack on. She activated the pack and sent the cart careening toward her opponent, who was knocked down instantly. She then opened the nearest door control and escaped.

Giel walked away, unscathed but discouraged. Outside the complex, Leia was picked up via a cable extended from another Y-Wing. Luke's X-Wing flew behind as support, and his ship suffered what seemed to be a minor hit from Giel's pistol. That shot improved Giel's confidence slightly, and it was raised even further when he'd been informed that Vader had already been informed by his transport's pilot on the success of his mission, and that the Sith Lord was waiting for him to make a personal report on his cruiser. 

While Giel's vessel was charting a course for the Star Destroyer Executor, the Rebel fighters were fleeing Golrath moments before the station exploded. Having accomplished their mission, the fighters went into hyperspace. All that is, except for Luke's X-Wing. The pistol shot had apparently knocked out its hyperdrive capabilities, leaving him all alone in space with several TIE fighters on his tail.

This issue had a good cliffhanger ending. I just wish that I'd had the following issue when I was a kid, and had to wait until I was an adult to find out what had happened next. This was a nice callback to the fiftieth issue, and I was satisfied seeing Giel redeem himself a bit. It's too bad that this was his last appearance in this title. To the best of my knowledge, he has not appeared in another Marvel comic book since. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the sixty-sixth issue of this series. We'll find out if Luke was able to escape the TIEs and learn where he wound up after the destruction of the Golrath base. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) Annual #2

Good afternoon, everyone,

Hope everyone's having a great Sunday! It's time for me to discuss the second Star Wars comic annual, which was published in 1982. The cover showed Han Solo and an as-yet-unidentified woman standing in a doorway, with a half-dozen bald, robed men standing sideways around them. The story was called "Shadeshine!"

It all began on the planet Ventooine, as Lando Calrissian, Luke Skywalker, and C-3PO were running from attacking Stormtroopers. They'd arrived on the planet to search for a rumored impressive power source, not realizing that the Empire might have the same goal in mind. The trio ran for cover inside the nearest building, only to find a giant statue of Solo right in front of them.

None of them knew that Han had ever been to this world before. A few moments later, they were greeted by a bald, red-robed man (similar to the ones shown on this issue's cover) who was named Vetter Piin. He was the caretaker of the shrine, and noticed the similarities between his new acquaintances and the man he'd come to know as their savior.

Piin went on to say that Solo was the one who'd saved their people from the dangers of Starshine, an element that both the Rebellion and the Empire had been looking for. He then moved closer to the statue and touched the tip of his cane to one of the memory stones at its base, which had been used to record Han's words about the ordeal. Solo agreed to make this recording as both a favor and a warning.

It all began several years back, when he and Chewbacca set down on the planet in the Millennium Falcon. Han had heard of a valuable spice called Sansanna that could only be found on Ventooine, and set out to investigate in person after donning a hasty disguise. Han ventured out into town by himself and stopped to help an old man wearing a red robe after he'd been pushed down by some rather gruff-looking soldiers. 

The man thanked the stranger for his aid and answered Han's question about where the nearest cantina was. At that watering hole, Solo inadvertently caused a bit of chaos simply by asking the barkeep where he could acquire some Sansanna. Upon hearing that word, several patrons tried to accost him. Han fled the establishment, not knowing that a promenade was going on at the same time in the city streets to honor their leadership.

Piin had been watching the parade from a rooftop, along with an associate who was ready to end the tieress named Chrysalla's life. Piin begged his counterpart to refrain, reminding him of the prophecy that told of a stranger with weapons and ways much different than their own who would help them overthrow the tyranny of the Satab. 

It soon became obvious that Han was the person who would fill that role. He made his way to the Chrysalla's carriage and used his blaster to destroy the explosive that Piin's colleague Phalar had thrown. The woman beside him recognized his bravery and invited Han to ride along with her. However, little did he know at the time that Phalar and Piin had viewed him as a threat at the time, one that they decided had to be eliminated. 

The celebration continued inside the palace, where Han soon met the Satab, or ultimate ruler, of the planet. He then saw why he was feared. Phalaf rose to confront the Satab, who calmly reached out his hand to grasp his foe, and the once lively eighteen-year-old man suddenly began to grow old and died in a matter of moments.

A while later, the Satab approached Han and asked him about his blaster. Evidently, such types of weapons had never been witnessed on that world before. He produced it before surrendering the gun to the Satab's guards. Solo then noticed his host pouring a bit of Sansanna into a bowl.

Han was led to his quarters later that evening, but found that he couldn't sleep. He opted to search his surroundings and came across Chrysalla along the way. She informed him of the guard patrols. Neither of them knew that the Satab was observing the duo from his own chambers. He had reason to suspect that his guest was up to no good.

Hours later, Han and Chyrsalla continued to talk on her balcony. Solo learned that the charm around the Satab's neck was called Shadeshine. It was able to heighten, transmit, and receive certain senses. The talisman also gave him powers like the ones evidenced during the banquet earlier. Chrysalla knew that her host was evil, but felt obligated to remain loyal to him. 

The pair soon heard footsteps outside the door, which was Han's cue to leave. He descended the balcony and returned to his own quarters. Later that morning, the Satab invited Solo to join them on a quest for specific minerals that were valuable to him. Han proved his bravery once more in a cavern,as he defeated a lumbering beast that threatened to harm the group. The Satab then announced aloud that he'd found his successor.

News of that proclamation spread fast, and Piin and some of his associates gathered later that afternoon to converse. They knew that they had to act fast before the power was transferred. As the evening approached, the Satab requested Han's presence so that he could hand over the Shadeshine to him, but first he brought out Piin, whom Han had rescued the previous day. 

A scuffle ensued, and Han and Chrysalla escaped with Han's pistol, but without the Shadeshine. Solo wanted to go back for the gem because of its value, until Chrysalla informed him that whoever used the gem would become so sensitive to external stimuli after a year that they would burn out and need to transfer it to someone else. She added that previous Satabs had gone into suspended animation, in the hopes that the effects could eventually be reversed. 

She then pressed a panel on the wall by her to reveal a secret door, which slowly rose to reveal the hundreds of prior Satabs who were resting sideways in suspended animation. Moments later, the current Satab arrived. He used the Shadeshine to destroy Han's blaster, and Solo tossed a large boulder at his opponent.

After throwing the rock back at Solo, the Satab then engaged in a battle with Chrysanna, who now had the stone. The Satab began to weaken and rushed toward the nullification chamber. Han tossed another stone at the evil ruler, which ended his existence. 

Moments later, Piin arrived on the scene. Han suggested a celebration, but Chrysanna knew that her fate had been sealed the moment that she touched the Shadeshine. She voluntarily entered the chamber and left her former life. Piin later gave Solo the gem, which he planned to eject from the Falcon's thrust tubes to be vaporized in space as soon as possible.

The recording ended shortly thereafter. Luke then had an idea based on the story to lure their opponents. Outside the nullification chambers, the troopers were aroused by the sound of a voice coming from inside the room. They charged in, only to have Luke jump out and throw the light switch. The Imperials were now locked in the same meditative trances as the rest of the room's occupants.

Lando recognized Chrysalla among those now frozen in that chamber. Piin observed that they all owed her a great deal. As the Rebels departed via a Y-Wing fighter later on, it wasn't lost on them just how the actions of friends old and new helped to save the people on the planet below. 

Even though I still don't care much for Carmine Infantino's artwork, I still thought that this was an interesting yarn. It would have been even more impressive if Marvel's creative team had returned to the planet with Han after the events that occurred in the Return of the Jedi adaptation. Another entertaining one-off tale that fit well for an annual, most of which are rarely connected to the regular title. 

Well, that's all I have for now. Next time, I'll return to the main storyline as I recap the sixty-fifth issue of this series. We'll find out Luke's fate after he and Chewbacca return to Arbra with evidence about Shira Brie. The Rebellion will also visit a former base as danger from their past resurfaces. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #64

Hi everyone,

The focus of this article will be the sixty-fourth issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover showed the face of a green alien, with images of Luke Skywalker's face in its red eyes. The tale was titled "Serphidian Eyes." The issue had a publication date of October 1982.

The story began with an alien projected onto a screen that looked much like the one shown on the issue's cover. Princess Leia Organa was standing in front of the display, along with several fellow Rebel Alliance members. She explained that the being was a native of a planet in the Belial system. The Rebellion was concerned about the Empire's influence in that sector of the galaxy, and that its current ruler had definite leanings toward their foes.

C-3PO and R2-D2 were unable to participate in the meeting because of their upcoming maintenance appointments. Berl joked that he could pull a few strings to get them involved, but Luke and Cinda were confident they could handle the job on their own. A short time later, a trio of X-Wing fighters took off from Arbra en route to Belial.

After a short hyperspace jump, the ships were nearing Serphidi. Cinda spotted a quartet of ships on her radar, which turned out to be TIE fighters. The Rebel ships fought well, but Cinda's ship was damaged in the melee. She lost a set of S-foils as she crashed on the planet below. Having vanquished their foes, Luke and Berl soon landed to come to their friend's aid.

Cinda was in better shape than her fighter. However, she and her comrades soon faced another threat, which was a cadre of armed natives who rode large green lizards. They fired a series of energy bolts from their lances. One shot took out Berl permanently, while another injured Cinda. Luke managed to escape, but fortunately, his attackers chose not to pursue him.

Meanwhile, Luke was exploring his new surroundings. He heard the cries of someone in danger and found that another native was caught in the clutches of a large plant. A single shot from his pistol freed the elderly man, who was named Elglih. He was very thankful for Luke's timely assistance and invited him to his home for shelter and a warm meal.

After dinner, Luke thanked his host and his wife and got the explanation that Elglih had promised. He started by saying that the planet was once known for its superior technology, but that it was often used for destructive purposes. They became embroiled in senseless conflicts for many generations. Everything changed when a pact was signed that outlawed technology and united its populace under the rule of a sole king. Their aggression was then funneled into a series of jousting contests, like the one that the old man was training for when Luke found him. 

Things changed slightly when the current shah came to power. He insisted that the bouts become matches to the death. He added that he could only be supplanted by someone who defeated them in such a contest, which is just what Elglih wanted to do, for the sake of his people. Many before him had failed in that effort, but Elglih was confident that he would succeed. He then got the idea that young Luke would be his squire. Luke was reluctant at first, but realized it might help him learn more about the current ruler, and agreed to the role.

Inside King S'shah's castle, the monarch was satisfied with his captive. Cinda stood before him being judged, and was horrified to learn that she was intended to be his future meal. What she didn't know was that Luke was training with Elglih. He was a bit rusty at first, but continued to improve more and more until it was time for the competition to begin.

Cinda was being tended to by an aide of the king's before she fought off a guard. She was almost about to leave the castle when she was accosted from behind by S'shah. A little while later on, Elglih was announced as a contestant. However, he announced that he could not participate because of a recent injury, and that his squire would serve in his stead. Luke then saw Cinda on the sideline, an observation which made the contest a bit more intriguing for the king.

Both combatants were evenly matched at the start, but S'shah proved to be more proficient, due to his additional experience in such competitions. Luke's lance was broken during the fracas, and he had to resort to using a hefty slap to dismount his opponent. He then grabbed his foe's lance after unseating him, and was forced to use it after Elglih pointed out that the king had taken a small blaster from his belt. One burst, and the shah's rule was over.

The people could now celebrate their freedom. Elglih had accepted the crown, although he thought that Luke had rightly earned it. Skywalker was happy enough that Cinda was free and that the planet would now be an ally of the Rebel Alliance. On the way back, the two pilots talked about how they missed Berl's presence at the celebration they had just attended. Luke understood Cinda's sympathy for their fallen colleague and noted that Berl gave his life knowing that he'd at least helped one planet find its freedom. 

I first received a copy of this issue for my tenth birthday (most comic books at the time had publication dates that were 2-3 months ahead of when they could be found on store shelves). Having read the previous storyline, I knew that the events in this issue took place either before or after that. I wasn't a big fan of penciler Joe Brozowski's work, but longtime comic book inker Vince Colletta saved the art for the most part. It wasn't uncommon back then for comic book companies to have issues like this prepared in case of a late or missed deadline or other reasons, and this issue seemed to be serviceable in that regard. This was the one and only appearance of the Serphidians in this series.

That's it for this article. I'll return to covering the regular ongoing storyline in a bit. Next up is a recap of the second Star Wars annual. Luke, Lando Calrissian, and Threepio run into a bit of trouble on another planet and wind up hearing a tale from Han Solo's past. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #63

Good morning,

Hope everyone's doing well. It's time for me to talk about the sixty-third issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover, drawn by the late Tom Palmer, showed Luke Skywalker reeling from the appearance of Darth Vader before him. The story was called "The Mind Spider!" The issue had a cover date of September 1982. 

The tale began on the planet Shalyvane, as Luke was warning Chewbacca to retreat from Vader, who seemed to have found them. In truth, the image was nothing more than a holographic message, as evidenced by the fact that Luke's subsequent blaster shot went right through him. The prerecorded message had been triggered by Luke's blood chemistry that came into contact with the Circle of Kavaan's transmitter (as witnessed last issue).

It was the same method that the Sith Lord used to contact his operative, Shira Brie. Skywalker was stunned to hear that his former wingmate, whom he'd taken out during the recent Rebel assault on Admiral Giel's fleet (shown in issue #61) was an Imperial spy. The recording went on to say that Brie had been an Imperial Major and had been trained and implanted in the Rebellion for the sole purpose of Luke's destruction. If she were to fail in accomplishing that goal, she was meant to ruin Skywalker's reputation and credibility within the Alliance. Since Luke was there and had activated the recording, it was safe to assume that the latter had come to fruition. Vader then implored Luke to join his cause before the recording faded.

Luke, Chewie, and the Shalyvane native G'hinji stood awestruck for several moments before Skywalker advised them to duck for cover. Moments later, the transmitter exploded. Luke was frustrated that Vader was a step or two ahead of him. He knew that his next stop had to be the Imperial data vault on Krake's Planet. He needed some concrete proof that would clear him of the accusations that he'd murdered a colleague during the aforementioned attack.

Meanwhile, on Vader's flagship. Giel was reporting to his superior. The meditation chamber hissed open, and Vader spun around in his chair to admonish Giel's recent failures. Giel refused to take blame for the loss of the Teezl, but asserted that he would accept responsibility for its destruction as well as any punishment that would be placed upon him. Vader admired his integrity and courage, and allowed Giel to remain in service to the Empire, albeit at the reduced rank of Leftenant. 

Shortly after Giel left the room, another commander arrived to inform Vader of the demise of the transmitter on Shalyvane. Vader then ordered a course to be set for Krake's Planet. He knew that world would be Skywalker's next destination.

Speaking of Luke, he and Chewie had just set the Millennium Falcon down on that planet and were navigating through a tunnel around a native creature before they could even view the complex. The base had been constructed inside the carcass of a large slug, which looked a lot like a modern-day spider. It was well guarded, but Luke found a less conspicuous way to get inside.

Back on Arbra, Princess Leia Organa and Plif were concerned about Luke's whereabouts. Leia had the feeling that if Skywalker didn't clear himself and return to the Rebellion soon, it could spell disaster for the freedom fighters. It seemed that Luke was still essential to their organization and was needed now more than ever.

The attention then shifted to a kitchen inside the data vault. The cook made sure his latest concoction was up to snuff before allowing a captain to begin his meal. The captain preferred eating in solitude, stating that the mess hall could be a little chaotic at times. Unfortunately for him, his break was about to be interrupted by the arrival of Skywalker and Chewbacca. The Wookiee held the cook captive, while Luke asked the officer how he could bring up information from the central database on the nearby kitchen computer console. He then tossed a vial in his hand that he said contained a deadly poison, and admitted that he'd slipped some of it in the officer's meal. 

The captain immediately started feeling ill, and went to the terminal. Four levels away, outside the entrance to the main computer section, a quartet of Stormtroopers was awaiting Luke, until one of them received a notification about top-secret data being sent illegally to the kitchen computer. In the kitchen, the captain begged for the antidote, only to be knocked out by Chewie before Luke said he'd only dropped a few soap flakes from the dishwashing droid into the bowl instead.

Luke then pressed record and playback before running the information he'd requested. A program ran showing Shira Elan Colla Brie. She was listed as a major in the Imperial Special Forces, who had been born on the Imperial homeworld and raised in Emperor Palpatine's palace as a subject for an adolescent indoctrination experiment. The experiment was deemed a complete success. 

Brie achieved expert rankings in all forms of combat and had even been biologically adjusted to accelerated physical healing and to reject pain. She graduated from the Imperial Academy with top honors and had been personally chosen by Vader to infiltrate the Rebellion. The devastation of Shalyvane's city of Chinshassa was used as her background. The purpose of the project was to either effectively or actually eliminate Skywalker. 

The recording ended, and it confirmed why the Force had told Luke that she was an enemy. It still left a few questions in his mind, but he didn't have time to ponder them, for the machine was shot just after the recording tape ejected. The troopers who had been waiting outside the main computer center had made their way inside the kitchen. However, they proved to be rather inefficient at their job.

Luke was able to fight his way through the soldiers, but they eventually cut him off from Chewbacca. Some troopers continued to follow and fire at him as he made his way back to the Falcon, just as Vader's fleet was arriving and the Dark Lord was sending more ground troops to the planet. Once inside the cockpit, Luke reached out with the Force again to find Chewie's location.

Chewbacca was at the same door they'd used to enter the station. Skywalker then used his influence through the Force to reach into an Imperial commander's mind and instruct her to disengage the protective energy shield at once. Luke was then able to fly over and rescue his friend. In doing so, he released his hold on the commander, who then immediately ordered that the shield be raised.

Luke raised the Falcon's deflector screens and made a direct approach to the complex, causing its complete and utter end. Vader did not predict that course of action, but knew the Falcon was trying to escape. He directed a bosun to track the ship, but they were moments too late, as the smaller vessel had already made the jump to hyperspace. 

Once they were safely out of harm's way, Luke reflected aloud about their adventure. He wished that he'd been able to retrieve the tape and learned that Chewie had stayed behind to get it. His copilot pulled the recording from his pouch, which instantly put a smile on his friend's face. Back on the Super Star Destroyer, Vader had entered the medical lab. The droid FX-9 informed his master that his patient had suffered significant damage, but that her extraordinary recuperative capabilities would help her pull through. Even though the recovery process would be long and uncertain, Vader still had future plans for Shira Brie. 

I felt that this was a rather satisfying conclusion to this storyline. Shira was an interesting character, and we would see her again, but by the time she returned, both writer David Michelinie and penciler Walt Simonson had moved on to other projects. There was a good mix of levity and seriousness in this issue, and this particular story filled in some of the gaps that regular readers had noticed. 

That's all I have for this issue. Next time, I'll cover the sixty-fourth issue of this series. This issue is a fill-in that serves as a bit of a bridge between storylines. A new threat is revealed to the Alliance, and Luke and several of his allies are sent to investigate. They'll encounter something that seems like a page out of history for us. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #62

Happy Friday, everyone,

It's time for me to cover the sixty-second issue of the first Star Wars comic series. The cover showed a portrait of Luke Skywalker in blood red. Even the traditional cover box illustration of R2-D2 and C-3PO was in a shade of pink. The tale was titled "Pariah!" The issue had a cover date of August 1982.

The story started in the Rebel conference room on the planet Aphra, where Skywalker was shaken by the revelation (last issue) that he appeared to have killed his friend and fellow Alliance pilot Shira Brie during their battle with the Imperial armada. Luke recounted what he remembered to Leia Organa. He talked about the TIE fighters they used to infiltrate the Imperial fleet. The TIE fighter he'd fired upon was between him and his target. Since the transceivers installed on their ships to determine friends from foes had gone out, he'd relied on the Force to determine the side that the blockading pilot was on. The Force told him it was an enemy, and he reacted accordingly.

Leia believed her friend. At the same time, she couldn't support him because of what had happened. Luke silently replied that he understood. He knew that siding with him then would possibly throw their entire movement into chaos, and that their cause was more important than any one individual. He later left the room in a huff after being stripped of his rank.

A little while later, when Luke entered the busy cafeteria, the room went silent once his presence was observed. He tried to get something to eat, but he soon got the impression that he wasn't wanted there. Another Rebel named Milo accused Skywalker of having ulterior motives for wanting Shira gone, which led to a brief altercation before Luke retreated to his quarters.

While he was trying to make sense of things, Luke kicked a small chest that contained the medal he'd been given for his bravery during the assault on the Death Star. He bent down to examine it, and thought about what he'd been taught by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda. His reverie was interrupted momentarily by the arrival of Artoo and Threepio. The protocol droid had news to share about possible leads as to the whereabouts of Boba Fett, the bounty hunter who had been granted possession of Han Solo's carbonite-encased body back on Cloud City. Skywalker was too busy searching for answers to his current predicament to be too concerned about that information just then.

A little while later, in the planet's spaceship hangar, Luke approached Lando Calrissian about borrowing the Millennium Falcon. Luke wasn't able to obtain a ship of his own without his commission. Lando wasn't concerned about that, and wasn't likely to let him borrow the ship, after what had happened to Shira. He had specific instructions not to let Luke anywhere near the Falcon, but soon left to pick up his spare cape at the laundry. Luke was then approached by a guard and asked to leave, before Chewbacca intervened. He made short work of the guard's blaster, causing him to flee in terror. The Wookiee then grabbed his friend and took off.

The Falcon made the trip to Shalyvane, which Shira had claimed was her homeworld. Chewie and Luke set the ship down before heading out on foot. They walked quietly down a city alleyway, not knowing they were being watched from above. Nets were thrown over each of them before a band of nomads rushed to attack. Luke used his lightsaber to free himself before cutting Chewbacca loose.

Skywalker knew from experience (having battled other nomads in issue #60) how aggressive the natives were, and led his companion to safety by going back to where they first entered. They found refuge in an older building, one that wasn't entirely deserted. An older nomad named G'hinji sat in a corner and begged for peace. Luke wanted to know about the humans who once lived there. G'hinji replied that humans had never lived in the city of Chinshassa. 

He went on to say that the city had been built up and populated by his own people for many years, until it was destroyed and turned into rubble by Imperial bombers. Luke was incredulous upon hearing this. He wondered if what Shira had told him and his fellow wingmates earlier had been a lie. He wanted to seek out the Circle of Kavaan, which G'hinji agreed to if the stranger could pass a simple test.

The old man put a stone under one of the three cups on the ground. If Luke could find the cup that the stone was hidden under, he would take him to the circle. Luke reached out with the Force to lift all three cups to identify the correct hiding place. G'hinji let out a brief laugh before accepting Luke's victory. He then snapped his fingers, alerting the heroes to the fact that they'd been surrounded by nomads.

Everyone then walked together toward the shrine. Once they were close, G'hinji pointed out something reflecting from the broken altar. Luke took a closer look and saw that it was some sort of transmitter, which made him wonder who Shira had been trying to reach. He then remembered what Shira had done the first time.

Luke asked to borrow Chewbacca's knife and carefully made a thin cut on his palm, allowing the blood that dropped to land on the altar. The trio then waited patiently for a few minutes, but nothing happened. They were about to leave when a familiar voice spoke from behind them. Luke turned and was stunned to see Darth Vader standing there, saying he'd come for him. 

This was another of my favorite issues from this series when I was a child. Much like I found it hard to believe that Vader was Luke's father, I also found it very doubtful that Luke would willingly kill an ally like Shira. It was interesting how quickly his friends turned on him, but I was glad that there were still a few characters like Chewie and the droids who still had faith. I was even confident that Han would have let him borrow his ship if he hadn't been frozen in carbonite. This issue started to slowly unravel some of the mystery and plot points that had been left dangling for a while. 

That's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the sixty-third issue of this title. We'll find out what Vader's plans for Luke were, and what happened to Skywalker and Chewbacca next. We'll also see how his actions impacted those left behind on Arbra. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #61

Good afternoon,

Today's focus will be on the sixty-first issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover showed a side view of an Imperial TIE fighter, with an incensed Rebel pilot behind the controls, firing guns, flanked by several other TIEs in the background. The story was called "Screams in the Void." The issue had a publication date of July 1982. 

The tale began in the Rebel stronghold on the planet Arbra. A celebration was taking place, honoring Lieutenant Shira Brie for her bravery on the planet Shalyvane (as shown in the previous issue. Princess Leia Organa awarded her with a Burdine cluster and an advancement in rank to captain. Brie smiled smugly and stated that the pleasure was all hers before walking down the steps next to the platform as her fellow Alliance members stood by and observed.

Lando Calrissian and Luke Skywalker talked about her efforts afterward. Leia went to speak with Luke, but the Rebel pilot's mind was on congratulating Shira. C-3PO offered the princess his assistance, which she politely declined before retreating to her personal quarters. She sat in solitude for several moments before speaking to a globe that contained images of Han Solo.

She continued her one-sided conversation as she changed. Threepio returned to find her speaking to no one. Leia explained that she was discussing Imperial armada attack plans out loud before leaving with the protocol droid. The globe's images sputtered away as the pair of heroes departed.

Half a galaxy away, Imperial Admiral Giel was receiving an update from a subordinate when he took a moment to chastise a deck officer who was wearing a cap that was substandard. He frightened the poor grubber into running a few laps around the Star Destroyer before resuming his current business. The Imperial leader was talking about a unique organism called a Teezl, which was an organic communicator. His crew was devising a cage for the "screamer" which would help to improve the speed and ability of Imperial communications to continue almost anywhere. 

Back on Arbra, Luke and Shira were being briefed by a sergeant on the modifications made to the TIE fighters that they'd acquired from Orion Ferret (in issue #59). Each fighter was equipped with a transceiver that would distinguish friend from foe. The cannons had been modified to only fire six standard strength bursts. After that, they would store enough energy for a single, final, incredibly destructive shot. Luke was about to assemble the crew when Shira held him back for a moment. She knew that the mission was going to be dangerous, and wasn't sure if they'd all make it back alive. She then held Luke in her arms for a tender embrace, much to the surprise to the former farmboy from Tatooine. 

A bit later, an Imperial TIE patrol was drawn to a distress signal emanating from a world that was near the Imperial armada's location. They entered the planet's atmosphere to find a downed TIE, moments before they were attacked by X-Wing fighters. The lead pilot ejected before his craft was destroyed and came down to land right in front of Luke and his associates. Skywalker asked for the recognition codes for entrance into the armada. The pilot initially refused until a little persuasion from Chewbacca convinced him to change his mind. 

The attention then shifted to the armada itself. Luke transmitted the proper codes, and he and his fellow pilots, Alph, Thorben, and Shira, were in. They made the bridge of a nearby Star Destroyer their first target. An all-out battle soon erupted, which confused the Imperials at first. Luke noticed that his wingmate Alph's ship had been destroyed shortly before Giel employed the Teezl. The organic being's psychic shriek blocked out all communications except the predetermined Imperial war band.

Thorben realized the issue when he failed to reach Skywalker. A lucky shot damaged one of his TIE's solar panels, and he limped away from the action. Meanwhile, Luke was on the rampage. He wasn't going to let any obstacles interfere. His TIE approached the Teezl's transport cage, but there was another TIE fighter in its way. With the transceiver out, he couldn't tell right away if the fighter was piloted by a Rebel or an Imperial, so he had to use another way.

Luke reached out with the Force, which gave him the answer that the TIE blocking his path was an enemy. A single shot took out the opponent. His next, final blast destroyed the screamer's containment cage and set off an explosion that took out most of Giel's flagship Star Destroyer in the process. Giel was naturally angered and wanted the head of the pilot who caused the destruction.

Skywalker deftly evaded the crossfire and was able to escape by putting a transport ship between his craft and the TIEs that were on his tail. He then pulled a lever and entered hyperspace on his way home. Luke was in a celebratory mood after landing. However, his comrades were less than cheerful to see him.

Luke made his way to the briefing room, where Thorben was setting up the holojector. Leia asked Luke to sit down before explaining that all of their ships were equipped with holographic cameras to use for future tactical studies. Luke was wondering what that had to do with anything when Leia asked Thorben to start running the footage taken from his ship.

The first image was that of the last TIE fighter that Luke had taken out. It was the one that was in between him and the Teezl's containment cage aboard Giel's Star Destroyer. As the image was brought into closer focus, Luke was stunned to see that the ship had been piloted by his wingmate, Shira Brie. 

This issue's ending was definitely something that longtime readers and newbies were not expecting. We all know Luke Skywalker as a hero of the Rebellion, so seeing this naturally ruffled more than a few feathers. If you're intrigued, please hang in there, as the full story will play itself out over the next several issues. Believe me, they're well worth the wait.

That wraps up this article. Next time, I'll recap the sixty-second issue of this title. Luke becomes persona non grata among his fellow Alliance members as news of this incident continues to spread. He starts to doubt his faith in the Force until he thinks of a way to possibly clear his name. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.