Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #33

Hi everyone,

It's time for me to recap the thirty-third issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover depicted Baron Orman Taage and Luke Skywalker engaged in a lightsaber battle with a starry backdrop behind them. The tale was titled "Saber Clash!" The issue had a cover date of March 1980.

Luke, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2 were just flying away from the planet Tatooine in the Millennium Falcon when they noticed the House of Taage vessel close to their flight path. Luke and Han assumed that it belonged to Baron Taage, whose omega frost towers they had just witnessed in action on the planet's surface (in the last issue). Luke convinced Solo to follow the mining explorer, knowing they probably weren't up to anything good.

In the Taage ship's docking bay, Orman was expressing his frustration with his failure to capture the young Skywalker. His brother Silas tried to remind him of the omega frost's success and to keep his mind focused on their next task. Artoo was monitoring the Taage's ship broadcast frequency and learned that they were heading to the Junction space station that supplied Yavin. As they entered hyperspace to reach that destination, Chewie and Artoo relaxed by playing a game while Luke practiced his saber techniques.

As the Falcon dropped out of lightspeed, Han and Luke saw the Taage ship orbiting above a Star Destroyer near the space station. Cargo capsules were moved manually between the station and the ships. Luke put on a spacesuit and tried to infiltrate the cargo crew, not knowing that Imperial Stormtroopers were in the immediate vicinity. He was captured, and Han and Chewbacca were left with no choice but to return to Yavin to report the bad news.

Back on the Alliance base world, Princess Leia Organa was visibly upset with the information. General Dodonna admitted that he'd sent Luke on his mission, just like he'd dispatched the princess to Metalorn (as shown in issue #30). Han expressed concern that the omega frost generators might be utilized on other worlds. 

While Artoo was trying to learn his master's fate, we soon saw that Luke was very much alive and being held prisoner by Baron Taage. Orman was tormenting his foe as an omega frost conduction tower was being dispatched from his ship to a nearby asteroid. Luke took advantage of the Baron's distraction to reclaim his saber and escape.

The Baron then broadcast news of his captive's freedom and instructed his men not to pursue Skywalker. He alone wanted that pleasure all to himself. By the time Luke reached the hangar bay, Orman was waiting for him. Their saber battle favored the elder warrior, until Luke remembered a bit of advice that Obi-Wan Kenobi had once given him. Skywalker used that information to renew his defense. He eventually defeated his opponent and sliced the Baron's cybervision goggles from behind after Orman had turned off the lights.

Orman was in a state of shock afterward, while Luke climbed aboard the TIE and flew to safety. Orman's brother Silas was not concerned. He felt that his brother's defeat was a temporary setback, and Silas had planned ahead by ensuring that the stolen fighter had no weapons or communications and limited fuel. It appeared that he was more than ready for the next phase of their operation.

The Taages were an interesting villain subset, although most of them were largely forgotten during this series' second half. Orman was the family's military strategist, whereas Silas was the calculating scientist. It wasn't always clear how close their affiliation was to the Empire, though it was obvious that there was no love lost between Orman and Darth Vader after the Sith Lord defeated the Baron in a conflict never shown during this series' run. 

That's it for this article. Next time, I'll cover the thirty-fourth issue of this series. We'll find out how far Luke got and how his fellow Rebels reacted to his capture. We'll also learn more about Silas' plans for the Alliance. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) Annual #1

 Hello everyone,

This article is all about the first Star Wars comic book annual. The cover, drawn by Walt Simonson, showed Luke Skywalker with his lightsaber blade ignited as he prepared to square off against a flying female warrior and a pair of cat-like humanoids who were about to leap at him. The first part of the story was titled "The Long Hunt." The annual was published in 1979.

The tale began in a crowded marketplace on the planet Tirahn. Luke and Princess Leia Organa were enjoying the festivities while Han Solo, Chewbacca, and the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO were back on the Millennium Falcon. Han had suggested setting down on the world for supplies, which was part of Luke and Leia's goal.

Making her way through the promenade was the green-skinned winged Majestix of Skye. She was flanked on either side by male Catuman warriors. Leia was accidentally bumped by one of Skye's wings as the procession passed by. Luke found the majestrix's purse that had dropped from her hand and instantly went to return it to her, only to have the two of them falsely accused of being pickpockets.

Her guards rushed to attack the strangers, leaving Skywalker little choice but to fend them off with his lightsaber. He and Leia ran for safety across the myriad alleyways in the town's center. As they fled, Skye smiled, knowing that her warriors were after the ones who would lead her to Solo, and surmised that none of her targets would survive very long.

After a while, Luke started feeling tired. He was attacked by a Catuman warrior and slashed by its claw moments before his enemy was blasted by a shot from Han's pistol. Chewie carried Skywalker back to the Falcon with Han and Leia. Once there, Solo reported that Threepio alerted him to the fact that his friends hadn't reported within a reasonable amount of time. 

Just then, Han heard something outside his ship. He went to take a look and found his old friend Katya M'Buele standing there. After introductions were made, Luke described the green woman he and Leia had run into. It soon became obvious that Han and Katya knew exactly who Skywalker was talking about, and it wasn't anyone good. 

Han then decided to pay a visit to his old acquaintance Laskar that evening, to get some information about Skye. Meanwhile, the other remained in the ship, unaware that it had been boarded by an unknown presence. The wispy apparition snuck into Katya's sleeping quarters. She awoke seconds before being assimilated by the intruder.

That interaction was loud enough to have drawn Luke's attention. He went to investigate, and soon found himself face to face with an entity that was now strong enough to tackle Chewbacca. It knocked the blaster out of Leia's hand and sent her and Luke sprawling to the floor. Luke reached out and found his lightsaber. Igniting the blade, he stabbed the creature with it, who vanished almost instantly.

Solo returned to the Falcon shortly afterward. He was saddened by Katya's loss, but not surprised by what happened. He then instructed the crew to get ready for departure and blasted off from Tirahn, en route to Marat V, a world that was also known to its people as Skye.

On the way there, Solo told his companions about his first visit to their destination. He and Katya were part of a smuggling party that eventually encountered Skye. It wasn't long before they were hunted by her. Solo had no sooner told his tale when a hologram of that very same evil woman appeared, taunting the captain and his crew. 

Moments later, the Falcon found itself up against a squadron of Imperial TIE fighters. They fought bravely and defeated their enemies, but not without a significant cost. The ship's artificial gravity, auxiliary system, and some of its shields stopped working properly, as C-3PO observed. As the Falcon went into a tailspin, Han sent Luke, Leia, Threepio, and R2-D2 off in an escape pod while he and Chewbacca remained onboard to land the vessel and work on its problems.

A little while later, Luke and Leia found themselves in the company of another large winged humanoid, who ordered them to follow him to the council chambers, where their fate would be decided. This began part 2 of the story, which was titled "A Duel of Eagles!" The rebels were reunited with the droids, who had been found and placed in a stasis lock earlier. 

The Marat V natives knew all about Leia, but were stunned when they learned Luke's name. Some of them conferred privately, recognizing his last name as one they'd known earlier. They decided to aid their guests in their cause to find the Millennium Falcon and learn the fate of its crew.

Meanwhile, in a castle somewhere on another part of the planet, Skye was holding Han and Chewbacca prisoner, with the help of several Imperial Stormtroopers. Han was just about to be tortured when the arrival of his friends and their new colleagues was noticed by palace guards. Leia and Luke had borrowed artificial wings that allowed them to swoop down onto enemy turf and begin the search for their friends. This time, Leia was able to overpower the Catuman warriors and free Han and Chewie from their bonds.

Skye had retreated to a ledge, where she soon engaged Skywalker in lightsaber combat. Luke eventually emerged as the victor, after his blade found its mark and ended Skye's reign of evil. After the battle, the heroes were reunited. Before leaving the planet, Luke learned that Ben Kenobi had visited there during the Clone Wars with two of his students. One pupil was Darth Vader, the other wore the same lightsaber that Luke now had on his belt. It was an unexpected memory that the young Jedi found quite valuable.

Legendary X-Men writer Chris Claremont wrote this script, obviously not knowing that Vader would be revealed as Luke's father in the next Star Wars movie. Despite that fact, this was still an enjoyable, action-packed story for the series' first annual. Sadly, we never did see any more Catuman warriors or natives of Marat V, although a similar type of winged biped would be introduced in the regular title between the Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi movie adaptations. 

That's all for me for now. Next time, I'll tackle the thirty-third issue of this series. Luke, Han, Chewie, and the droids escape from Tatooine and return to Yavin. We'll also see Skywalker's first lightsaber battle with Baron Orman Taage. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #32

Hello there,

Today's topic is the thirty-second issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover showed Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, and Han Solo, fighting alongside Jawas, with a Sandcrawler behind them. The story was called "The Jawa Express." The issue had a publication date of February 1980.

The tale began in Tatooine's Dune Sea, where Luke was trying to repair the landspeeder that he, Han, Chewie, R2-D2, and C-3PO had escaped from Mos Eisley on. A stray shot fired by an Imperial Stormtrooper caused the vehicle to start leaking coolant. Chewbacca alerted the group to a squadron of troopers, who silently passed by after several minutes.

Threepio then brought up Artoo's suggestion of shutting them down and draining the droids' coolant. A short while later, the speeder was up and running again, headed toward Luke's ship. However, when they arrived, the group was stunned to learn that Jawas had already started cannibalizing the craft for parts. 

Han suggested offering the robots in exchange for a ride on the Jawas' sandcrawler. A hasty bargain was struck, and the heroes were on their way until the troopers arrived on the scene. The Imperials weren't expecting the usually peaceful native creatures to attack, which the Rebels did, firing several shots from openings in the crawler. 

The Jawas had hoped to avoid the Jundland Wastes, where Luke knew the Taages were planning something for the Empire. They soon got out and examined a large vaporator. Skywalker sensed something was wrong and advised his companions to duck moments before portions of the nearby surroundings were flash frozen, including the massive sandcrawler. 

This was in line with the frozen Bantha that Luke had discovered (in the last issue). Silas and Orman Taage were behind this plan, and an Imperial Troop Transporter was swiftly dispatched to take care of the Rebels. Orman had a keen interest in Luke after having encountered him once before. 

Han, Luke, and Chewie returned to the crawler, which took off with a pair of troop carriers behind them. They soon jetissoned several cans of skyhopper propellant, which were perfect targets for Luke's blaster rifle. The exploded fuel formed a ring of fire around the Imperial transports, leaving them little room for escape. 

Afterward, Luke talked to a revived Threepio and Artoo, who were able to acquire more coolant from the Jawas. The scavengers provided Luke with additional coolant for his landspeeder, and the quintet went off toward Mos Eisley once more in search of pilots who might be willing to join the Alliance. 

The ice weapon on a desert planet was an interesting touch, but this story felt a little rushed. There was no mention of Fixer, Luke's longtime friend who sold out his friend to the Empire, and the Taages were seemingly forgotten after the troop transporters went off in pursuit of the sandcrawler. It also seemed rather unusual for Jawas to be so helpful, especially giving up the droids that they'd been promised. I got the impression that this storyline had to be wrapped up quickly, which would probably explain why some details felt a bit rushed.

Orman Taage will have a rematch with Skywalker, but that won't be the subject of my next article. Instead, I'll recap the very first Star Wars annual. The Star Warriors travel to a new planet and face new threats. Luke also learns something about his father. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #31

Good afternoon,

Today's focus is on the thirty-first issue of the first ongoing Star Wars comic book series. The cover showed Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, and C-3PO hiding under a cliff where a patrol Dewback and a pair of Imperial Stormtroopers stood. The tale was titled "Return to Tatooine!" The issue had a cover date of January 1980.

The story started somewhere in deep space, as a House of Taage mining craft had rendezvoused with a Star Destroyer. Baron Orman Taage and his brother Ulric were meeting to discuss plans. Orman had recently met defeat at Skywalker's hand, but already had another new scheme in the works. 

Meanwhile, Luke and his droids had returned to the planet that the farmboy grew up on. Threepio and Artoo were busy unloading the landspeeder from their ship and placing the camouflage covering over their vessel, while Luke was scanning for Imperial patrols. He did spot a pair of Stormtroopers and their dewback with his macrobinoculars, but luckily, they were not detected. 

After the patrol passed, Luke and the droids entered the landspeeder and headed toward Mos Eisley to fulfill Skyalker's mission of recruiting blockade runner pilots to their cause. On the way, Luke stopped at the old Lars homestead. He noticed an active vaporator and decided to investigate. However, someone soon came up behind him and held him at gunpoint.

Luke dropped his pistol and swiftly swung around and struck at the stranger with his lightsaber. He then learned that he was standing in front of his old buddy, Fixer. He and his former girlfriend (now wife) Camie were working for the Taages and had been set up in the old Darklighter domicile. Luke was wary of the Taages' dealings after having encountered them in the recent past. Their conversation was interrupted by Threepio, who informed the humans of the imminent arrival of an Imperial troop transporter.

The landspeeder departed once more. Luke, Artoo, and Threepio were driving down a canyon when they found a Bantha blocking their path. Luke got out and noticed that the creature was frozen stiff and cold to the touch. Moments later, a pair of Stormtroopers dismounted the transport vehicle and blasted the immobile beast, obliterating it completely.

This action riled Luke's suspicion, but not enough to deter him from his goal. Little did he know that Orman and his brother Silas were developing something sinister for the Imperial cause. The Mos Eisley spaceport hadn't changed much since Luke and his robots' last sojourn there. After a few steps into the cantina, Luke was hit from behind by the falling form of his old friend, Han Solo.

He and Chewbacca had returned after dropping off Jabba the Hut (whom they interacted with in issue #29) and decided to stay for a while. A few minutes later, Fixer arrived to inform his longtime friend that he'd reported Luke to the authorities to protect his job. Han, Chewie, and Luke engaged in a shootout with the troopers that reported in and took off in Luke's speeder. They were out of harm's way for a while, but a stray shot had hit their coolant unit, causing it to leak fluid. If that didn't stop them, the desert patrols or the sweltering heat of Tatooine's twin suns might just do the job.

Even though this issue isn't canon, it was fun to see Camie and Fixer for the first time since the second issue of this title. These minor supporting characters' scenes were cut from the final version of the first Star Wars film, but have since been included in subsequent video releases. They were also portrayed in the novelization of the film. It made sense that Luke would run into the Falcon's crew before too long, and I'm sure that diehard fans were clamoring for their reunification. It was also interesting to see an Imperial Troop Transporter, which was a toy from the Kenner action figure line that was never featured in the original movie.

Well, that's all the time I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the thirty-second issue of this series. We'll find out how long Luke's damaged landspeeder lasted and just what the Taages were up to. We'll also see the heroes find assistance from an unlikely source. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #30

Good afternoon,

It's time for me to tackle the thirtieth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover showed Princess Leia Organa on the run from a pair of Imperial Stormtroopers, with a third soldier hiding behind the doorway she's just about to pass through. The tale was titled "A Princess Alone!" The issue had a cover date of December 1979.

The story started on a Rebel ship orbiting the Imperial factory planet Metalorn. Leia's mission was to land on the planet and pose as one of the local workers. As she made plans to leave the ship, we were then shown a view of the populace occupying a slideway that was headed toward a large building. A trooper pointed out a child who was busy planting a seed in the dirt area in front of another complex, and her mother ran toward her. 

Young Tammi was supposed to be in the learning center, and there was considerable concern that both she and her mother would be punished for not being in their assigned areas. The stormtrooper made sure that both individuals found their proper places, right before he kicked the child's attempt at planting out of the dirt. He stated that garbage belonged in a disposal instead of a public thoroughfare. Tammi was obviously saddened, even after her mother promised they would have the next day to spend together.

The work world was being visited by Baron Taage at the time. His arrival was a sort of punishment after having failed to crush the Alliance on Yavin (as seen in issues #25 and 26). His weapons detection system was being utilized on Metalorn to prevent the use and possession of armament by any unauthorized personnel. A little while later, that system was tested after Leia knocked out a trooper and stole his blaster as she made her way through one of the facilities.

Before long, Leia was spotted by more troopers and engaged in a firefight with them. She fell into an ore chamber afterward and escaped Imperial detection. The only thing the soldiers found was the purloined blaster in the car she'd fallen into. The commander put out an immediate order to find the intruder.

Leia soon made her way to a mess hall and ran into Arn Horada, one of her former instructors on Alderaan. She reminded the older gentleman of his teachings, even though he'd been told that none from that planet had survived. Moments later, Taage came up behind them. He identified the Rebel leader and knew that Horada's presence on Metalorn was likely to draw her interest. She casually tossed the tray she'd been holding at the baron, and Horada pushed a stool at him, so that Leia could shackle Taage to the table.

The princess escaped, although Taage soon cut himself free of the manacle with his lightsaber and was in hot pursuit. Leia had been using the young Tammi as cover while he ran off, and thanked the child for her assistance. She told her about the importance of believing in something worthwhile, even if others didn't, before departing. 

The planet commander was incensed by Leia's escape. Taage advised him to keep quiet about the incident and to not retaliate against Horada, saying that it was best not to report or admit his failure. A while later, back on the Rebel ship, Leia admitted that her mission had been successful because it showed the Empire that the Rebellion was very much alive and not afraid of them. She'd even inspired one of the young citizens, who was sitting in the thoroughfare after having planted another seed, waiting patiently for it to grow. 

I guess the moral from this yarn was echoed in Rogue One: rebellions are built on hope. The interactions with the young girl provided a much-needed sense of optimism, and I'm glad that penciler Carmine Infantino finally learned how to draw Imperial Stormtrooper rifles correctly, as shown in this issue a few times. It was one of those stories that focused on a single character and didn't really need any of the others to be involved. 

That's all I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll recap the thirty-first issue of this series. Luke heads back to his homeworld with R2-D2 and C-3PO. We'll also see a few friends that were last featured a couple of issues ago, and see some supporting characters that we haven't seen since the first issues of the initial movie adaptation, and learn what the Taages are up to next. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #29

Good morning,

It's time for me to talk about the twenty-ninth issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover showed Darth Vader locked in combat with the bounty hunter Valance. The story was called "Dark Encounter." The issue had a cover date of November 1979.

The tale began just outside of a block of prison cells aboard Vader's Star Destroyer. Vader and an interrogation droid were in the middle of attempting to obtain information from a Rebel prisoner. The Dark Lord of the Sith's current obsession was learning the identity of the person who had destroyed the Death Star.

Meanwhile, in a typical cantina somewhere in the galaxy, Valance was trying to find out more about an Alliance officer named Tyler Lucian from the cantina's barkeep. A blaster fight soon ensued, before the bounty hunter acquired what he wanted to know.

Afterward, Valance catches the attention of a pair of Stormtroopers near Merl's cantina. He is revealed as a cyborg and dispatches the Imperials quickly. He then embarks upon his race against Vader to find Lucian. 

Attention is then shifted to the bright red Rubyflame lake, whose corrosive waters can disintegrate living beings or machinery in a matter of minutes. On the dock next to a tower, we see Lucian contemplating taking a plunge in the deadly waters. The pilot left Yavin before the attack on the Death Star and learned of Luke Skywalker's heroic efforts following the battle. 

That detail is just what Valance wanted to know, and Lucian soon found himself standing before the bounty hunter. Vader's personal TIE fighter swooped onto the scene before a conversation could begin. Lucian ducked into the tower as Valance prepared to square off against the Imperial leader.

Back on Yavin, C-3PO was fretting about whether the parts he and his master, Luke, had returned to the base with would be serviceable for repairing his counterpart, R2-D2. His worries were soon put to rest as the cheerful astrodroid emerged just as spirited as ever. Luke spoke with General Dodonna and learned that Leia had departed for another planet on a mission. The general noted that Skywalker also needed a mission of his own. 

On the dock overlooking the Rubyflame lake of Centares, Vader and Valance finally met face to face. The warriors fought valiantly, but in the end, the Sith Lord was victorious, as the cyborg met his fate in the acidic waters below. However, the victory was hollow, as Lucian then opted to jump to his death instead of confronting Vader.

Even though the information he'd been seeking had eluded him once more, Vader was not deterred. He ordered his men to be on alert status. He was determined to find the Rebel he was seeking at any cost. 

This was the end of Valance in this series (at least until issue #108), but he was brought back to the modern Marvel Star Wars comics. He was a prominent character of the Bounty Hunters ongoing title, and was last seen assisting Han Solo and the Rebels in the most recent regular Marvel Star Wars series. I got the feeling that this issue was dedicated to having the two villains square off, and that Lucian was a rather inconsequential player in the affair. 

Well, that's all for the time being. Next time, I'll recap the thirtieth issue of this series. We'll find out where Leia went on her mission, who she met, and a lesson that was learned therein. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #28

Good Saturday morning, everyone,

Today's focus is on the twenty-eighth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars comic. The cover showed Han Solo and Chewbacca standing in front of the Millennium Falcon using their blasters to ward off dozens of small, scorpion-like creatures. The tale was titled " Whatever Happened to Jabba the Hut?" The issue had a cover date of October 1979.

The story started on a rainy day on the planet Orleon. Han and Chewie were nestled in a cave trying to repair the Falcon while being attacked by members of Jabba the Hut's crew. Note: the alien depicted as Jabba in this issue is one of the background creatures that we saw on the streets of Mos Eisley after Luke sold his landspeeder in the original movie. The goons were firing at the pirate and his first mate because Jabba's employee had accumulated significant debt since his last job. 

Solo and Chewbacca had just escaped from the Star Destroyer, left helpless due to Luke Skywalker's attack via the Force on Darth Vader, when Han noticed that his ship was vibrating far more than normal. He figured that the technicians on the Wheel space station who had stripped the ship looking for supposedly stolen Wheel profits didn't quite put everything back together the way it had been. A brief search of the navicomputer told them that the nearest hospitable planet was Orleon.

It didn't take long for Jabba's ship, the Voidraker, to find where the Falcon had been hiding. Another problem arose from inside the cavern itself. Small insects called stone mites were rampant on the planet. They were created as biological weapons during the Clone Wars, and their insect bodies could emit a corrosive acid that was powerful enough to eat through just about anything. 

Renewed assaults by Jabba's blaster cannons brought down part of the cavern. They also released a massive swarm of stone mites down upon the cave's occupants. Han and Chewie blasted a way back onto the Falcon and frantically tried to shake the insects off their ship.

A few minutes later, Jabba and his crew discovered one of his men who had been eaten alive by the mites. Panicked, they retreated to the Voidraker. Meanwhile, Solo and Chewbacca were using their deicing equipment to rid their vessel of the pests before using one of the forward cannons to blast a hole to safety.

Before long, the Falcon was back in space. They were about to round the planet's orbit when the Voidraker crossed their path. Jabba opened a line of communication with his old employee. Han noticed the sound of blaster fire emanating from Jabba's ship. It seemed that stone mites had infested the craft, and Jabba was the only one left alive inside.

A deal was struck, and Jabba soon used his jet pack to fly over to the Falcon. He was the smuggler's reluctant guest. After letting the Hut stew outside for a while, Han finally let him in, thinking that he'd finally had the upper hand for once.

This was the first time seeing the Falcon's crew since issue #24. This issue is infamous for its erroneous depiction of Jabba, who George Lucas didn't fully reveal until the Return of the Jedi film. Marvel writers and editors only had the initial movie's screenplay to go off of, which included a scene that depicted Han encountering Jabba the Hut before taking Luke, Obi-Wan Kenobi, C-3PO, and R2-D2 to Alderaan. This creature was later identified as a Nimbanel named Mosep Binead, who worked for Jabba. 

An Irish actor named Declan Mulholland originally played Jabba in the scene that was cut from the film. That scene was later inserted for the A New Hope Special Edition, in which a digital version of Jabba that was similar to the one seen in ROTJ was added, along with the appearance of the bounty hunter Boba Fett. This was an interesting yarn, but it isn't really seen as canon because of who Marvel chose to be shown as the Tatooine crime lord. 

Well, that's all for today. Tomorrow, I'll kick off a new month with a discussion of the twenty-ninth issue of this title. This issue will focus on some of the villains of the series. The hunt is on for the person who destroyed the Death Star and his droids. It's a search that finally leads Darth Vader and Valance to face each other for the first time. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.