Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #78

Good afternoon,

I'm taking a little time on this rainy Saturday afternoon to write about the seventy-eighth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover showed an unidentified Rebel pilot squaring off against a pair of Wampas. The tale was titled "Hoth Stuff!" The issue had a publication date of December 1983.

The story started inside the cockpit of a Y-Wing fighter that was making its way back to the ice planet Hoth. Its crew, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, and Lieutenant Barlon Hightower, were on a mission to find out what had happened to Alliance pilot Wedge Antilles. Writer David Michelinie apparently confused Wedge with Luke's old boyhood friend Biggs Darklighter, saying at one point that Luke and Wedge had grown up together, even though there was no canon indication that the two were even raised on the same planet.

A Rebel transport ship appeared on the horizon, and the fighter docked near it. Luke grew a bit despondent after seeing that the ship was empty. Leia remembered to turn on the ship's log tapes, and Wedge's prerecorded voice filled the air. He started by recounting their recent battle with Imperial Walkers. Wedge and his former academy roommate, Janson, had boarded a Y-Wing and were about to leave Hoth when their ship was shot down by an AT-AT. Wedge emerged unscathed, but Janson had been injured. Antilles removed his friend from their battered craft moments before the ship blew up.

The pilots holed up in the cockpit of a downed Walker for a while. They would be safe there, now that the battle was over and the Empire's troops had left. The next morning, they returned to their former base. Even though they no longer had to fend against Imperial troops, that didn't mean that there weren't other dangers. The roar of a beast not far away drew their attention momentarily, but they still ventured on until they reached the main control room.

Wedge set his friend down and went to gather supplies. He found enough food to last for a while and noticed four blips on the radar. The Empire had left a squadron of TIE fighters orbiting Hoth's atmosphere to prevent any further ships from escaping. Before Wedge could think more about this, he heard the cry of an animal that was clearly in distress.

He ran to investigate and found a Tauntaun surrounded by a pair of Wampas. Wedge's blaster quickly took out the ice creatures. It took more time to calm the frightened Tauntaun, but Wedge eventually managed to accomplish that task. He took the creature back to where he and Janson had been staying. He would go out on patrol occasionally to scrounge up some scrabblers for food, when he wasn't spending time with the wounded Janson or watching the blips on the radar continue to go around in circles.

Wedge was returning from another scouting trip one day when he saw that the base had been ransacked. He dismounted the Tauntaun and followed the trail of wreckage to the command post, where he saw his poor friend had been senselessly slaughtered. After a few moments, he went back out to see who was responsible.

He soon learned that the mercenary Arns Grimraker and his crew had been responsible. The pirates were not strangers to the Rebellion and had worked with them a few times, but only when it had been absolutely necessary. The scavengers were undoubtedly looking for more ships and other items to claim as their own.

Wedge returned to the base to give his former wingmate a proper burial. He sat up that evening devising a plan. The next morning, Antilles ran to an MLC-3 unit (one of Kenner's mini-rig toys from the time) and laid in a timed program that would send it on an assault course against the pirate ships. He then used that diversion to board the nearest Rebel transport and escape. 

Antilles had realized that the scavengers had relayed the program that helped them avoid the Imperial scouts in the transport's navigational computer. He used that information to escape. His pursuers naturally followed, but they didn't know that Wedge had since changed the programming maze, and they ran right into the very patrols that they'd evaded earlier. 

Wedge's transport continued on in space until the engines quit. Antilles inspected them and discovered that the exterior ion link had been broken, causing all remaining fuel to go out into space. His rations were limited, since they were only intended for one maintenance officer. He began to despair, knowing that it was only a matter of time. 

The recording ended just then, leaving the three Rebels wondering how long it had been since Wedge had recorded anything. They turned around moments later to see Antilles outside the ship in a spacesuit, smiling at them. He entered through the airlock and reconnected with his comrades. Wedge explained that he'd been doing some maintenance on the ship's exterior when he saw the Y-Wing approach. It took him a while to work his way to the main controls. 

Once everyone was sitting down, Antilles said that he had enough scavenged parts to make a new ion link. He drained the fuel from salvaged parts and was setting up the new link when Luke, Leia, and Barlon arrived. Wedge had planned to journey to the next settlement, but now that was no longer necessary. The Rebels had a few laughs and were ready to head home. 

As a filler, this story wasn't bad. I assume it was written before the events in recent storylines. Aside from Michelinie's confusing Antilles with Darklighter, it was a solid yarn. I still wonder if Grinraker and his pirates survived. We still don't know because there hasn't been another story involving them to date.

That's it for this article. Next up is the seventy-ninth issue of this series. Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca travel to another planet in search for Solo. They run into a few questionable characters and end up in more trouble than they bargained for in an issue that was released during the infamous assistant editors' month. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) Annual #3

Good morning,

Hope everyone's having a great Saturday!

It's time for me to discuss the third Marvel Star Wars annual. All of the covers for their 1983 annuals had the traditional cover box in the top left-hand corner, and a drawing in the middle, with a black background around the artwork. The image for this cover was of Darth Vader, drawn by the issue's artist and colorist, Klaus Janson. The story was called "Apprentice." 

On board Vader's Star Destroyer, the Dark Lord of the Sith was speaking with several Imperial officers. He wanted to stress the importance of their mission and his orders that were directly from the Emperor. The fleet was in orbit around the planet Belderone because the work that went on there was important to the Empire's goals of crushing the Rebel Alliance and the conquest of other planets and systems. Failure was simply not an option here.

The Emperor had sensed growing unrest among the people of Kulthis, the third planet in this solar system. As soon as work was complete on Belderone, Imperial forces would travel to Kulthis to squash the Rebellion forces there. General Andrid expressed his doubts about belief in the Force, which Vader quickly dispelled. He stated that important elements would soon come into play and that they must be ready for them.

In the city streets of Belderone, an excited native boy named Flint was rushing to find his friend Barney. Flint had just seen something incredible that he wanted his buddy to see. Barney woke slowly and followed Flint down the street. At one point, Flint's mother warned her son that he would be late for his work shift. Flint replied that he would be back in time. His mother watched the boys run off, knowing that her son only wanted what was best for all of them.

The friends were part of the growing crowd that had gathered to witness the Millennium Falcon. Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, Princess Leia Organa, and the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO emerged from Han Solo's ship, surprised to see so many people around them. Flint noticed the lightsaber hilt at Luke's belt. He knew that the stranger must be a Jedi, just like Flint's father had been. 

Conversations began shortly thereafter. Lando said that he and his associates represented a trading fleet. One of the residents replied that they had a trade agreement with the Empire for items they produced on Belderone. Flint asked Luke where he got his saber from. Luke admitted that it had been given to him by a friend of his father's and repeated the familiar line that his father had been a navigator on a spice freighter. 

Lando added that Kulthis was one of the places they had been from recently, which elicited an intriguing reaction. Flint and Barney made their introductions with the Rebels and invited them to a local tavern. Artoo and Threepio stayed behind with the Falcon while the others moved on. Luke talked with Leia about the reactions to the word Kulthis and that he could feel Vader's presence nearby via the Force.

Flint introduced his mother to their new acquaintances, who entered the tavern right before the young lad took off on his speeder to make his work shift. Their arrival was noticed from a safe distance by an Imperial commander, who didn't think that the Dark Lord needed to be involved just yet. Inside the tavern, the Rebels noticed how reluctant the locals were to talk much about what their work actually entailed. Lando was confident that Kulthis had enough Rebel fighters to combat any Imperial threat. 

As the evening wore on, Barney and Flint continued to admire the guests from afar. Luke sensed danger right before several shots were fired at the patrons. A firefight began, and two of the assailants were taken out swiftly. Luke corralled the third gunman, who took his own life instead of surrendering. 

While Flint was admiring Luke's Jedi abilities, a call was placed from one Imperial agent to Andrid. Vader was soon made aware of that transmission and questioned why Andrid did not inform him of the Rebels' presence on Belderone. Andrid replied that he had to act fast because Skywalker was among them. Vader already knew that and used the Force to end the commander's life. He then proposed a toast to the late general before ordering his personal craft to be prepared so that he could personally supervise their mobilization on Belderone.

Luke and Chewbacca took the Falcon to Kulthis to bring reinforcements. Leia and Lando stayed behind and talked with Barney and Flint. The youths wanted to help and showed their friends the location of their workforce. As fighters were making the journey to Belderon, Calrissian and Organa soon discovered that the natives had been working on Imperial Walkers, as a trio of the large vehicles moved out. 

Barney and Flint jumped into a speeder to warn Flint's mother, just as the Rebel X-wings arrived on the scene. Luke knew from the Battle of Hoth how to defeat the war machines. Tow cables tied up the legs of one walker and brought it crashing down to the ground. 

Flint and Barney's speeder crashed, and the impact knocked out the boys temporarily, just before one of the walkers came stampeding through the city streets. Luke was surprised to learn that Leia and Lando had taken control of one of the walkers, and he quickly commandeered another. The battle didn't last long, but that's not to say that it didn't come without costs.

Flint awoke and saw that Barney was still unconscious. He then ran to his mother's tavern. Flint found her on the floor, unresponsive. He'd been too late to save her. As he lamented her loss, Flint vowed to eventually rise to power and have retribution. Someone behind him said that he could give him the opportunity to help fulfill that dream.

Afterward, Leia expressed remorse over the city's destruction. Lando acknowledged that residents hadn't had much of a life anyway since the Empire set up production there. Luke hoped things could return to normal now that their operations had ceased. Barney told his new friends not to feel bad because what happened wasn't their fault.

Barney was convinced now more than ever that he wanted to join the Rebellion. He wanted to fight for good, now that there was nothing left for him on Belderone anymore. Barney realized that Flint was after power and was chasing a source that could further that goal. As the Rebels boarded the Falcon, Flint took his place among the new Stormtroopers who were about to depart from a different location to pursue a different mission. 

This wasn't the last that we'd see of Barney and Flint. The two would return in a double-sized issue of the monthly title more than a year after the Return of the Jedi film adaptation. I liked how two childhood friends' experiences with the Galactic war showed them which side they aligned with. My one complaint was the artwork. Klaus Janson is a fine inker, but his pencil work was rather sloppy in spots, especially toward the end of the story. It was also hard to tell at times where certain characters were, and the drawings of the walkers and X-wings were very basic at best. 

Well, that's it for this article. Next time, I'll discuss the seventy-eight issue of this series. This is a fill-in issue that answers the question of what happened to a popular supporting character after the Battle of Hoth. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #77

Happy Friday, everyone,

The topic of today's blog post is the seventy-seventh issue of the first Star Wars comic book. The cover showed Luke Skywalker with his lightsaber in one hand, facing a giant Huhk. The tale was titled "Chanteuse of the Stars..." The issue had a cover date of November 1983. 

The story started on Arbra, where C-3PO was being swarmed by native Hoojibs. The protocol droid was unprepared for their warm welcome after he and his colleagues had been away from the Rebels' base planet for quite some time. The group was also greeted by General Rieekan and other fellow Alliance members. They had some news to share after everyone assembled in the conference room.

Rieekan restated that Luke, Princess Leia, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, R2-D2, and Threepio had been searching for missing Rebels Yom Argo and Tay Vanis, who had purloined Imperial information about their opponents' newest weapon. Argo perished on the planet Lahsbane after his ship crashlanded there, and Vanis had last been seen in the area of twin planets Gamandar and Iskalon. He went on to say that they'd recently intercepted an Imperial communique that had been sent from one of the city computers on Gamandar to their fleet. It turned out that another Rebel had learned the same information that Vanis and Argo did. Rieekan then turned on the holographic projector to display an image of that Rebel, who was none other than their missing companion, Han Solo.

The general proposed dividing their forces. Lando and Chewie would resume the search for Solo, while Luke and Leia would keep looking for Vanis. Rieekan sent Organa and Skywalker to the planet Kabray. The duo departed in the Millennium Falcon, with Plif and several other Hoojibs at their side. They arrived for a diplomatic conference. After landing, Luke was surprised to see a Zeltron who looked very similar to Dani (who was part of Rik Duel's crew that was first introduced in issue #70). Leia reminded him that it wasn't the same girl, moments before she bumped into a male Zeltron. 

The heroes entered the conference after a timely intervention by Plif. Luke and Plif decided to search the back rooms, while Leia stayed in her natural atmosphere, mingling with other delegates. As Luke ran into more female Zeltrons who were obviously attracted to him, Leia ventured into the backstage area, passing by a singer who was less than pleased with her manager.

Luke and Plif ran for safety and hid out in an unoccupied room as Leia made her way into the kitchen. She hid in a cabinet just as someone slipped some poison into one of the soup pots above her. Luke detached a scanner from his wrist and soon located Vanis' message in the room. He also overheard a plot to kill the governor. Skywalker was about to pursue the conspirators he'd just heard when a trio of female Zeltrons surrounded him.

Just as Imperial Stormtroopers walked by, Luke was able to convince his female companions to join him in the ballroom before the next act went onstage. Meanwhile, Leia took cover backstage and put on a wig, which apparently was enough to make the manager think that she was her singing starlet. Plif and his fellow Hoojibs were communicating telepathically to Luke about the assassination attempt, while the Zeltrons were trying to gain the farmboy's attention.

Before further plans could be made, the emcee announced the next act, the chanteuse of the stars. As the curtains opened, Luke was stunned to see Leia standing there in disguise. She stood there for a moment before finally starting to sing. Her songs stimulated one of the young Lahsbees in the crowd, who finally turned into a mature Huhk. 

The transformation served as a distraction for Luke to run into the porter carrying the poisoned soup. He took advantage of the crowd's panic to seek shelter behind the Stormtroopers. He briefly forgot that he'd asked the Hoojibs to drain the soldiers' blasters beforehand. This was problematic because delegates weren't allowed to carry any weapons.

Plif suggested that Leia continue singing. She did so, and her melodies resonated with the giant creature. He dropped the Stormtrooper that he'd been holding and moved to the front of the stage, where he could adore her close up. Luke was relieved, but hoped that she knew a few more tunes, now that he had several female Zeltrons to entertain after the performance. 

I remember buying this issue when I was 11. I brought it home with the Squid Head action figure that I'd also purchased that day and enjoyed them both thoroughly. This was a more comedic, lighter-paced issue than the previous ones, and I couldn't help but chuckle when I saw Leia standing on stage like a deer in headlights. I could visualize her poor singing, which really saved the day in this issue. 

We would see more Zeltrons and Huhks in future issues. This concludes my recap of this issue. Next time, I'll cover the 1983 Star Wars annual. The Alliance and the Empire have their sights set on the planet Belderone. We'll learn what happens to that planet, and the sides that a couple of its residents who grew up together take. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #76

Good afternoon everyone,

It's time for me to summarize the seventy-sixth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover showed Darth Vader expressing anger, with a hologram of a protocol droid in front of him, and a pair of Imperial officers over his right shoulder. The story was called "Artoo-Detoo To The Rescue." The issue had a cover date of October 1983. 

The tale began on the bridge of Vader's Super Star Destroyer. The Dark Lord of the Sith was awaiting his subordinates' reports, noting that the Emperor wanted a status update on the subjugation of the solar system that Iskalon, Gamandar, and Telfrey belonged to. The Empire had already established a base and enslaved the population on Gamandar and was making efforts to ensure that Iskalon fell in line.

Admiral Tower was in charge of Gamandar, although Vader knew that the leader was both brutish and arrogant. An officer informed his superior that they were still searching for the Rebel who had obtained confidential documents. Vader was confident that the Alliance member Tay Vanis would be dealt with accordingly eventually.

Another officer interrupted the proceedings to inform Lord Vader about an incoming transmission from a protocol droid. The droid was K3PX, who was insistent on informing the Sith that Tower had fired a missile at Iskalon, and that Luke Skywalker was one of the Rebels on the water world at the time. This news piqued Vader's attention immediately.

Meanwhile, Luke, Princess Leia Organa, and their new ally Kiro were busy tending to the injured and those who had perished after the bomb's detonation. They were taking a brief respite when a large creature emerged from the water's surface. Kiro instinctively reached for Luke's stinger and fired, keeping the beast known as a Chiaki at bay. He explained that the monsters were drawn to the blood and would easily claim those who were lost or defenseless.

The trio agreed to stay awake waiting for whatever would happen next. They didn't have to wait very long, as Kendle arrived moments later, claiming that the heroes were responsible for the damage that had been wrought. She allied the natives to her cause as the daughter-in-law of their late leader, Primor (who perished during the bomb's explosion). Luke used the Force to propel debris in the air toward Kendle's group, allowing his friends time to retreat to safety.

On Gamandar, several Imperial officers were noticing Artoo's hard work, even though no one knew much about him or his background. The clever astrodroid had learned much from his connections with Imperial computers before deciding to act on his own. Elsewhere on the planet, Lando Calrissian was just waking up inside a detention cell, where he was alongside Chewbacca, C-3PO, and Kendle's mate, Mone. 

K3PX had blasted the heroes, who found themselves in custody next. Lando was wondering aloud who had sold them out when Tower admitted that it was Kendle who had tried to buy Mone and Primor's lives and that he'd sent a missile to Mone's homeworld. Angered, Chewbacca lunged at the cell door, only to learn that it had been electrified after Tower had pushed a button on the console on the other side. 

Tower knew Lando's identity (after being introduced to Calrissian in his "Captain Drebble" guise in the previous issue) and was about to begin interrogations when K3PX arrived with his own squadron of Stormtroopers. The protocol droid informed Tower that Vader was most displeased with the Admiral's decision to send a missile to Iskalon, and followed the soldiers who placed Tower under arrest.

After the Imperials had left, Artoo approached the cell door and unlocked it. He led his companions back to the Millennium Falcon, informing Threepio along the way that he'd resigned from his Imperial work and instructed the city's central computers to leave the Falcon alone. The ship took off just as Tower faced a hologram of the Sith Lord, who was displeased by the unnecessary missile strike, one that may have affected a particular Rebel that Vader and the Emperor were most interested in. Another officer behind Tower spoke up to say that some survivors had been reported on Iskalon. Vader then ordered his personal ship to be prepared for the journey to Iskalon and instructed the guards to terminate Tower before ending the transmission. 

Back on Iskalon, Luke, Leia, and Kiro found themselves outnumbered by Kendle and her allies, but they weren't about to give up the fight. Their foes, which had included several Imperial Stormtroopers by then, continued advancing. One Stormtrooper struck from behind, hitting Kiro's faceplate. Luke cried out and took Kiro's blade, driving it deep into the chest of the trooper who had just fired at his friend.

Luke then realized that Kiro was still alive, but needed to get to water quickly. He carried Kiro as Leia provided cover fire. Another Chiaki surfaced, but this one was bracketed by shots coming from the Falcon. The beast fell right onto what was left of the landing platform and presumably crushed Kendle in the process.

Afterward, Luke helped Kiro into the water, earning his gratitude. The Rebels were glad to be reunited, but Mone still wondered why his mate had betrayed them, as he looked at her corpse. He bid adieu to his friends and announced that there would be no more pavilions or living in two worlds as long as the Empire still existed. Mone then swam on, with his followers flanking him.

This is one of those issues where I really developed more appreciation for inker and sometimes penciler Tom Palmer. By now, he had a firm grasp on the existing and new characters that he worked on, and his covers were top-notch. His portrayals of Vader are probably the best in this entire series. I felt like this issue satisfactorily wrapped up this storyline. Tower got what he deserved, and the Iskalonians learned a harsh lesson, one whose impacts would continue to be felt after the Return of the Jedi movie adaptation.

Well, that's it for now. Next time, I'll cover the seventy-seventh issue of this title. The Rebels return home to Arbra momentarily before Luke and Leia are sent out on a diplomatic mission, which continues the search for Vanis and involves Han Solo. There will also be the return of some of the citizens from planets that we've seen representatives from in recent issues. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #75

Good afternoon,

Today's topic is the seventy-fifth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover showed Princess Leia Organa's face. An unknown character was visible in her visor. The tale was titled "Tidal." The issue had a cover date of September 1983. 

The story began as waves of water rushed into the main pavilion on the planet Iskalon. A missile dispatched from the nearby world Gamandar (as shown in the last issue) had detonated shortly before, and its effects were now being felt by Leia, Luke Skywalker, and their friend Kendle. The waves soon forced all inhabitants out into the open waters.

Luke fought against the conditions to stay with Leia. He soon found one of the air tanks they'd been given when Primor took them on a tour of their new surroundings, and gave it to Leia, knowing she'd need it more than he would. They swam together until they found Kendle again. However, their friend retreated when they came across another Iskalonian brandishing a sword. Leia and Luke were confused and unsure of what to do next.

On the planet Gamandar, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Mone had just been given permission to land in the Millennium Falcon. Mone had been to this planet before, but it had changed significantly since his last visit. The quintet resumed their search for missing Rebel pilot Tay Vanis and his K3PX droid. 

Artoo's disappearance went unnoticed by the rest of the group, who had entered a nearby cul-de-sac long enough for Lando to assume his "Captain Drebble" disguise. He was less confrontational than Han Solo and preferred more subtle measures like secrecy and subterfuge. Threepio explained those concepts to Mone in terms that the Iskalonian could better understand. He described secrecy as a dark cave that one had never entered before, and subterfuge as a lithe creature that seemed harmless until its quarry approached it. 

By the time Lando noticed Artoo was gone, the free-spirited astrodroid had already plugged into an Imperial computer terminal and was on his way to a shipping facility. He was allowed to proceed unheeded. It was quite obvious that Imperial Admiral Tower was less than impressed by this Captain Drebble character. Lando, in character, claimed to be a person who dealt in many things and was looking for Vanis. 

Drebble pressed a button on his console and brought up a hologram of Darth Vader. The image was instantly repulsive to Mone. Tower explained that the Sith Lord was responsible for the planet's fortress and the subjugation of the solar system. Drebble and his associates left soon thereafter and were out of earshot when the spy (who we last saw in the previous issue) confirmed to the Imperial leader that his new guests were some of the people he'd personally observed on Iskalon. 

Artoo was working hard, not far from his comrades. One of the Imperial officers that Lando approached informed him that there was a 3P unit just a few meters away. Calrissian, Chewie, Mone, and the droids caught up with K3PX and accidentally revealed to it that Skywalker was one of the Rebels on Iskalon.

Meanwhile, Luke and Leia were still facing the unknown Iskalonian, who swiped at the cord of Leia's air tanks before swimming away. Luke put his hand over his friend's mouth and guided her slowly to the surface, knowing that their lungs could burst if they ascended too quickly. The pair finally surfaced and took in great gasps of air before surveying the destruction around them. 

The reasons for the damage weren't quite clear just yet. Luke wondered how the Empire knew they were even on the water world, since it was a sort of last-minute directive. A short time later, they found their companion Primor's body. The elderly native had been up against the pavilion when the bomb's impact was first felt. 

Kendle resurfaced moments later and mourned the loss of her father-in-law. There was little time for lament, because the mystery assailant then stood behind them, wearing a breather tank on his head. Kendle ran inside the wreckage for safety, and Luke prevented the being known as Kiro from following after her.

Kiro was surprised by this, stating that he would have killed Kendle earlier. They had fought earlier, and their water tanks had been broken in the scuffle. She disappeared after he went to retrieve more water so that he wouldn't suffocate. He went on to say that she was the one who'd contacted Gamandar's leader and informed him of the Rebels' presence there, which was presumably the reason for the missile strike. Kiro confirmed that he'd heard Kendle send the message.

This was bad news, because the Falcon's crew would have arrived on Gamandar by then. We then saw TIE fighters orbit the opposite world. The view then narrowed to a prison cell, where Threepio, Mone, Chewbacca, and Lando were resting. 

Personally, I found the Captain Drebble disguise about as appealing as Drebble himself. It was used as a plot point for several issues until things changed for the better. I was very doubtful that the disguise was effective, because I could see right through it when I first read this issue at the ripe old age of ten. Kiro proved to be an intriguing character and would return after this storyline several times following the Return of the Jedi movie adaptation. K3PX reminded me a bit of the Death Star droid action figure that I had as a child, and his condescending demeanor was rather fitting for a droid who now served the Empire. 

Well, that's it for this article. Next time, I'll recap the seventy-sixth issue of this title. We'll find out the fate of Lando and company, and how Artoo fits into all of this. We'll also see how the Iskalonians reacted to the devastation and Vader's actions after learning that Luke was on the water planet when the bomb detonated. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #74

Good afternoon all,

It's time for me to discuss the seventy-fourth issue of the first Star Wars comic book title. The cove showed Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa, along with multiple unnamed humanoids, fleeing large waves of water and the holographic image of Darth Vader's head. The story was called "The Iskalon Effect." The issue had a cover date of August 1983. 

The story started on the water world Iskalon, where the Rebels had just landed after leaving Lahsbane (last issue). Luke was amazed by how much of the planet's surface was covered by water, which was in stark contrast to the conditions on his homeworld of Tatooine. As they walked, Chewbacca saw something near the landing platform. He was then splashed by one of the natives who felt the large alien needed to cool off.  It was meant as a joke, but the Wookiee was anything but amused.

Afterward, C-3PO discussed their mission with R2-D2. The Alliance instructed them to search for missing pilots Tay Vanis and Yom Argo. They'd located the wreckage of Argo's ship on Lahsbane, where Yom and his droid met their end. Vanis was rumored to be in this system, which was under Imperial control. 

Lando Calrissian arrived, informing his friends that he'd arranged a meeting with someone who could provide more background. He then said hello to his old comrade Mone, who had splashed Chewie earlier. The Rebels then descended an elevator tube, which Lando assured was perfectly safe for droids.

On the lower level, the group walked forward before speaking with Primor, the leader of the Iskalonians. Primor swam along on the outside as his guest moved on inside the observation area, unaware that a stranger close behind them was listening intently to their conversation. 

Luke looked up at one point and saw Imperial Stormtroopers who had been outfitted for the aquatic conditions. He put his hand on his blaster, only to be gently reminded by Calrissian of what would happen if he shattered the containment seals. Primor said that Vanis and Argo were from the planet Telfrey, which was in this solar system. Iskalon's twin world of Gamandar was taken over by the Empire. The Imperials built a fortress there and enslaved its citizens. Telfrey was not so lucky. That world had been bombed so frequently by TIEs and attacked so often by Imperial forces that it was doubtful that it could ever support life again.

A delegation from Iskalon was sent to Telfrey after hearing about the genocide. The delegates soon disappeared after reporting horrific news of mass executions there. It was later learned that the delegates' water tanks had been smashed, and they had been left to suffocate. It seemed that all efforts at peace between those planets would never happen.

Primor's associates pleaded for the Alliance's help. The Rebels learned that Argo and Vanis were among the freedom fighters who had been on Yavin before the destruction of the Death Star. Mone's mate, Kendall, informed their guests that Vanis had a K3PX droid in which he'd stored his knowledge of the Imperial plans in. Unfortunately, the droid was last seen leaving on a mission with Yom to the fortress.

It was then decided that someone had to go to Gamandar. Lando, Chewie, Artoo, and Threepio were selected. Mone volunteered for that journey because he had visited that planet before and thought that his status on Iskalon might be valuable. The group made their plans just before the spy was convinced that he'd heard enough. 

The group said their farewells moments later, as the crew that was leaving prepared to depart aboard the Millennium Falcon. The spy was also leaving on his own ship, thinking of a juicy Imperial promotion. 

Meanwhile, on the planet Gamandar, an Imperial commander received some interesting news. He thanked the informant, stating that Lord Vader would be pleased. He added that the action he was about to undertake would be appropriate and that he would give his informant adequate time. 

Kendall bid her new acquaintances well after the Falcon took off. Primor then invited Luke and Leia to don air tanks so that they could explore more of Iskalon as they did. Primor guided them carefully on navigating their watery background and showed them how to use a stinger, which was more powerful than a conventional blaster but at a shorter range underwater. 

Out in space, Lando thanked Mone for his assistance. He knew that it wasn't easy for his friend to leave his wife and family behind like he did. Mone was always looking out for the greater good, which was a quality that his companions admired. A short while later, the Imperial commander had just been informed by a subordinate that the spy had passed the halfway point between Gamandar and Iskalon. The commander smiled and pushed a button, releasing a missile into space.

Primor was leading Luke and Leia in an exercise against the pavilion when Skywalker noticed Kendle lying unconscious inside, with her water tank smashed. The two Rebels swam swiftly to the surface to save their new friend.

Chewie spotted the missile, and his quick thinking allowed the Falcon to evade it. Luke was the first to reach Kendle, followed close behind by Leia. Primor watched everything from the sea, moments before the missile struck.

Inside the pavilion, Leia and Luke watched the bomb's impact, which could be felt from far away before very long. Large waves began to rise. They drew nearer until they finally came crashing down onto the pavilion with devastating effect. 

This was the start of a very interesting storyline. It focused more on Iskalon and Gamandar and less on the missing pilots who were the focus of the initial mission. It introduced us to several supporting characters that would play important roles in the series later on. This wouldn't be the first mission to Iskalon, either. My only concern was that we never got to see the planet Telfrey. It would have been good to see that planet, especially after the fall of the Empire, and have the Alliance try to rebuild that shattered world. I feel that this issue was rather appropriate for me to write about today, with all of the things going on in my country and around the world lately.

Well, that's it for this article. Next time, I'll cover the seventy-fifth issue of this series. We'll see what happened to Iskalon after the bomb struck, and meet a new character who knew why Kendle's tanks had been smashed. We'll also learn what Lando, Chewie, Mone, and the droids were able to accomplish on Gamandar. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #73

Good afternoon,

Today's focus is the seventy-third issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover showed the Zeltron Dani side by side with Princess Leia Organa, along with Luke Skywalker on a hang glider, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca battling an unknown creature, and a balloon floating over a castle. The story was called "Lahsbane." The issue had a cover date of July 1983.

The tale began on the planet Lahsbane, where Skywalker spoke with several of the planet's natives, with translation assistance from C-3PO. Dani (who stowed aboard the Millennium Falcon at the end of the previous issue) was fawning over Luke, and Leia was standing next to a tree, deep in thought. The Rebels had arrived on that world looking for their fellow Alliance member Yom Argo, who had recently crashed his ship there.

Luke eventually learned that the data tapes Argo had been carrying with him were stored in a city on the opposite side of the canyon ahead of them. The locals chose to store them there because the crash also took out one of their honored citizens, and it was a way of preserving both legacies. The small creatures were not really fond of the Rebellion or the Empire.

Leia was disappointed because their superiors had called them off their previous mission searching for bounty hunters who may have been working with Boba Fett, the mercenary who acquired Han Solo for transport to Jabba the Hutt, to concentrate on this assignment. Lando and R2-D2 were going over the Falcon, which had its intake valves clogged with pollen, not long after setting down on Lahsbane. 

Threepio had learned something important about the natives' life cycle, but before he could explain it to his master, he and his companions were alerted to the arrival of an Imperial ship. While Lando and Chewbacca rushed to put up camouflage netting around the Falcon, Leia and Dani wandered off. They engaged in an argument and decided to venture out to retrieve the tapes that evening, much to Threepio's chagrin.

The duo eventually walked up to a pair of light balloons. They were about to set off on them, when Dani heard something close by. She went to get a closer look, and saw an Imperial officer with a squad of Stormtroopers walk by, speaking with natives in an effort to learn the same information that her friends were looking for.

Dani decided to create a distraction by drawing the Imperials' attention. Leia's balloon took off while Dani danced. By the time the Zeltron returned, Leia was too far to return. Dani took a running leap and landed atop the balloon, which was at least headed toward their intended destination.

Lando and Luke had just learned about their sojourn via Threepio by the time the balloon was half way to the city. Luke had found a nearby glider and was preparing to take off in pursuit of his friends, just as Dani and Leia were wandering the city, and finding the treasures it contained. Lando was admiring his colleague's devotion to the Force when Threepio warned him of a danger that struck with force from behind.

The Rebels had been attacked by a Huhk, which was the mature form of the native Lahsbees. That was what the protocol droid had tried to inform his associates of earlier. He told Lando that most of the Huhks lived in the city, which was why it was forbidden to the younger Lahsbees for security reasons. 

Chewbacca soon engaged in conflict with the Huhk, just as Leia and Dani encountered four more of his kind. They soon forced the heroes into a corner, weaponless. Dani had set her blasters on the cliff before jumping to Leia's balloon, and Leia had lost her pistol in the cliff. 

As he was recovering from the Huhk's mighty blow, Threepio suggested a solution, which ended the battle rather quickly. Lando simply used a stun blast from his pistol to subdue the beast. Threepio rationalized that the Lahsbees' aversion to technology would have probably given them no defenses against such a measure. Artoo then popped out to inform the trio that the Falcon was ready for flight, but so was the Imperial vessel, which presumably had gone through a similar declogging procedure.

Things looked rather dire for the heroines until the Huhks dropped one by one before them. Behind them was Luke with his blaster. He'd come up with the same solution as Threepio had. A while later, the group reconvened at the Falcon. The Rebels had the tapes, which the Lahsbees were willing to give up. Since the tapes were associated with technology, the natives wanted nothing to do with them. 

The group was about to board the ship when they noticed the departure of the Imperial craft. Luke was puzzled, knowing that the Imperial soldiers were still out on patrol. None of them knew that the enemy craft was being piloted by Dani. The Zeltron had made off with several valuables and was wondering how her fellow mercenaries, Rik Duel and Chihdo, were doing.

This was a satisfying single-issue story. Writer Mary Jo Duffy and artists Ron Frenz and Tom Palmer meshed very well on this series. We would see more of Dani and her fellow pirates after the Return of the Jedi movie adaptation. Dani would play a larger role in the issues leading up to the title's end. We would also see more Lahsbees, including the adult Huhks, before that in a pre-ROTJ story. 

That's all I have for now. Next time, I'll discuss the seventy-fourth issue of this series. Luke, Leia, Lando, Chewie, and the droids journey from Lahsbee to another planet in search of a fellow Rebel. This time, the threat of Imperial conquest plays a larger role and has a much more devastating impact. Find out just what I mean by that next time. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.