Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #104

Hello there,

It's time for me to talk about the one hundred and fourth issue of the first Star Wars comic. The cover depicted Luke Skywalker and a Hoojib being held hostage by a pair of Hiromi, as an unidentified couple burst through an opening and destroyed a chandelier. The story was named "Nagais and Dolls." The issue had a cover date of March 1986.

Skywalker was mobbed by female Zeltrons after setting foot on their homeworld. The Jedi was a bit stunned by all of the attention, but somewhat expected it (after receiving a similar welcome on Kabray in issue #77). Lando Calrissian received similar treatment, shortly before Princess Leia Organa and the four Zeltron teens arrived (fresh off their detour to Trenwyth last issue). 

The Millennium Falcon was approaching Zeltros' orbit at that time. Han Solo and Chewbacca were piloting their ship en route to regroup with their friends. C-3PO, R2-D2, several Hoojibs, and Dani were their passengers. Han tried to cheer Dani up, who was still under the impression that her love, Kiro, had lost his life (which we learned in issue #102 was not true). She was still upset with Kiro's attacker and now had a seething hatred for the Nagai. 

Little did anyone know that the Falcon's flight was being tracked by their new enemies. The Nagai were planning to land on Zeltros, but they weren't the only invading force. Lieutenant Hirog and his fellow Hiromi also had plans to take over that same planet.

Alliance members were greeted warmly by Zeltros' King Arno and Queen Leonie. Only the announcement of Governor Veertag's arrival, whose five daughters the teen Zeltrons were acquainted with, caused any immediate disruptions. Dani made her feelings toward the Nagai known to her associates, even though Leia had explained her recent encounter with a sole Nagai prisoner (as shown in the previous issue). 

Leia and Dani carried that conversation outside the ballroom, where they soon ran into Den Siva himself. Dani wanted vengeance on Siva and advised Leia to run. Unfortunately, both females were swiftly defeated by the soldiers.

Luke and the Hoojib Plif took a walk outside to discuss things. They came across Ackbar's former aide, Hirog, and were quickly placed under arrest by the Hiromi. Luke didn't sense any pending danger and decided to play along for a while. 

Everyone in the ballroom was having a grand time. None of them knew at the moment about the activities that were occurring outside the room. The Hiromi were very confident of their impending success and celebrated themselves a few times as they led their new prisoners inside the palace. 

The party was eventually broken up by the Nagai's arrival. While Han was the first to defend his friends, the four Zelton males were outside and were about to go back inside to help, until they ran into several strangers in their path. 

By then, the Hiromi had found the kitchen. Several of them were making snacks when they heard a hearty pounding of a fist from the other side of the door. There was a loud voice declaring that whoever was inside were now their prisoners. The order to surrender was quite a surprise to the aliens, who already had their own captives. 

It was good to finally see the Zeltrons' homeworld, but the art was still a bit messy at times. The Hiromi were a bit of comic relief, kind of like the Ewoks or Jar Jar Binks. If you think that the green-skinned people in this story looked a bit familiar, you may be on to something there. 

More will be revealed next time, when I recap the one hundred and fourth issue of this title. We'll find out a few details about those very beings and what their connection is to the Nagai. We'll also see what the Nagai forces have in store for the party goers, and learn what Luke and the Hiromi do to get out of their predicament. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #103

Good afternoon all,

It's time for me to discuss the one hundred and third issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. Princess Leia Organa, who was featured in the top left-hand corner box, was shown in the main image being held by a Nagai at knifepoint. The story was called "Tai." The issue had a cover date of January 1986.

The story started in the Nagai base, where Den Siva was looking at a hologram of their former prisoner, Dani. She was the first Zeltron ever taken captive by the Nagai, and Den was apparently fascinated with her. He was then called to the command area by Commander Knife. He reported to his superior that he was healing well (from injuries suffered battling Dani's love, Kiro on Kinooine), and informed Knife of reports regarding other warriors encountering the old enemy two days before.

That was the last report from their forces. Knife was sorry that several promising soldiers had perished in the confrontation, but was ready to move on to the current threat, which included interrogating the Alliance prisoner who now kneeled before them.

In the air above the planet Trenwyth, Leia and the four Zeltron teens were realizing that they had to set their ship down after a stray shot knocked out its stabilizers. They observed the remains of a great battle on the surface before landing. Leia was the first to disembark and soon found a Nagai pointing his blaster at her. However, her foe fainted before taking any further action.

Organa went to him to assess his condition. He awoke later to find the five strangers standing before him. He said nothing and allowed the visitors to scout their surroundings. Later that evening, Leia brought their prisoner a tray of food and was nearly strangled by him for her efforts. Bahb, Jahn Marruc, and Rahuhl leapt to her rescue. 

The Nagai continued to struggle even after Leia was freed. The Zeltron boys were forced to tie their captive up before returning to their campfire and resuming their meal. As he slept, the Nagai thought about his experiences at the hands of previous captors.

Some time later, Leia returned to the Nagai and sliced his bonds. She offered him food once more and was surprised to see him crying in her hands. Over the next several days, he started to gain their trust. The Nagai remained in their presence as the Alliance members worked on their ship.

One day, the heroes observed several tall, green-skinned soldiers making their way through the ruins. They didn't know yet if they were friend or foe. The ship was finally ready, and Leia informed the Zeltrons. She let their captive go. He finally spoke, saying that his name was Tai. They parted ways peacefully, and the ship departed shortly thereafter.

Some time later, wing leader Tai reported to Knife. He spoke in their language and informed his commander about what he'd experienced on Trenwyth. Knife was angered by the fact that Tai accepted mercy from their new enemies just to save his own life. He threw one of his namesake weapons, which struck the young warrior square in the middle of his chest, thereby ending his life.

This story was a bit of a morality tale, one for which the title character learned a fatal lesson. It also introduced a new species that we'd see more of in the remaining issues and expanded upon the relationship between Den and Dani. This was also the last issue of the series that was produced on a monthly basis. Beginning with the next issue, the series would be published bi-monthly for the rest of its run. This was a typical tactic for Marvel series at the time, whose sales had slipped or were simply underperforming. 

That's it from me for today. Tomorrow, I'll tackle the one hundred and fourth issue of this series. The Alliance delegation arrives on the planet Zeltros, just in time for a spectacular celebration. The party is in full swing, although it's not without some unexpected dangers and just a bit of humor mixed in. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #102

Good morning,

The focus of this article is the one hundred and second issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover, which was drawn by Sam De La Rosa and Kerry Gammill (who penciled the flashback story in issue #70), showed Luke Skywalker and Kiro in front of a starship, with several Chiaki in the water in the background. The tale was titled "School Spirit!" The issue had a cover date of December 1985.

The story began on the planet Iskalon. Lando Calrissian's ship, the Cobra, was about to land. He and Luke were aboard, and the two talked about how much the peaceful world had been changed by the Empire. Luke felt that he owed it to the natives to inform them about Kiro. who was assumed dead after battling with a Nagai soldier on the planet Kinooine.

Meanwhile, Nagai forces were scouring one of the landing areas and noted the arrival of a ship they didn't know. They didn't know its origin, but they were more concerned about the Iskalonians who now lay dead at their feet. They fought bravely, but were no match for the seasoned invaders. The natives were more resistant to them than they'd hoped, but the Nagai still had plans to enslave the surviving populace. Only a lone shadowy figure seemed to stand between them and their goals of conquest.

Several meters under the water, Mone and his followers paid attention to what was going on above ground. They heard the incoming ship and wondered if it was friend or foe. As they ascended, Mone smiled upon seeing his old friends again. Luke and Lando greeted Mone and his followers warmly, and they talked about the Iskalonians who had been slain by the Nagai.

Luke informed Mone of Kiro's fate on Kinooine. Mone rebuffed Skywalker's assertion that Kiro had perished, noting that they had seen him. Their hero had returned when his world needed him the most. 

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the water world, Nagai were trying to gather more information about the new ship. One of the commanders dispatched several soldiers and Imperial Stormtroopers to investigate. The forces were going to be armed with some of the new weapons that they wanted to try out. 

It didn't take very long for them to reach the heroes. Luke, Lando, and Mone fought valiantly, but they were eventually overcome by the sonic blasters employed by the Nagai. A stormtrooper adapted to the watery conditions shot a net over them just before Kiro arrived on the scene. He fled before Luke and Lando could fully recover, but there was no doubt that Kiro was indeed alive and well.

The Alliance heroes knew they had to go after the Nagai after noticing Mone's disappearance. They talked about the collective nature of the Iskalonians and how Kiro went against those patterns of thinking and behavior. They then went to their ship to break out their underwater gear before diving down toward the Nagai tower.

Luke and Lando used the Jedi's lightsabers to slice away at the tower's base. The native Chiaki offered no resistance, probably because their appetites were already sated from the recent violence on that planet. Kiro returned to protect his friends from the Nagai warriors who had crept up behind them. He then went to free Mone and the rest of the captured Iskalonians. Luke left soon thereafter, leaving Lando alone to deal with the tower.

Skywalker arrived inside the building just to see Kiro take a laser blast to his torso. He once again assumed the worst and rushed to free Mone and his companions before the tower collapsed underwater. This ended the Nagai threat for the moment.

Afterward, Luke sat alone for some time, thinking that he'd lost Kiro for good. However, his friend resurfaced, explaining that he'd moved away before being hit. He was glad to see his friends, but asked Luke not to let Dani know his fate. He loved her too much to reveal the truth, which was that he felt duty-bound to remain on his homeworld to help his people.

Kiro swam away moments later. Luke promised that he and Lando would keep Kiro's secret safe. Mone and his followers thought that Kiro's words and actions were what being a hero was all about. Luke had been mourning what he believed to be a dear friend's loss, but he now felt better knowing that Kiro had chosen his fate. 

This issue provided some closure for Kiro, Mone, and the planet Iskalon. It would be the last time that any of them were featured in this series. I felt sort of sad knowing that Luke couldn't tell Dani the truth, but she would eventually move on. I bought this issue because of Sal Buscema's artwork, and grew to appreciate the story inside. Oddly enough, it made me think about Dani's crewmates Chihdo and Rik Duel, who were pretty much forgotten until a brief revival a few years back.

That's it for this article. Later today, I'll cover the one hundred and third issue of this series. Leia and the Zeltron teens get stuck on another planet. There, they encounter a wounded Nagai and get their first glimpse of another new threat. Until then, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #101

Good afternoon everyone,

Hope all's well. It's time for me to summarize the one hundred and first issue of the first Star Wars comic. The cover, drawn by Bill Sienkiewicz, showed Han Solo facing off against a trio of mounted riders. The story was called "Far, Far Away." The issue had a publication date of November 1985.

It all began on the planet Endor, where Solo and Princess Leia Organa were having an argument. Han was refusing an assignment from the Alliance. He wasn't keen on the idea of having Hoojibs aboard the Millennium Falcon. The dispute was broken up by a Mandalorian.

One look at the stranger brought back some horrible memories for Han. However, when the warrior removed his helmet, he introduced himself as Fenn Shysa. He and other Mandalorians had just arrived on Endor after hearing about a new menace to the Alliance. Leia went off to speak with him further, leaving Solo to be assisted by his childhood friend, Bey.

Bey had been on Mandalore and joined them on their journey to the Alliance's base. They talked about their friendship and Han's relationship with Leia. Bey left before saying that Leia knowing how Han felt about her would be enough.

A short while later, Han was piloting the Falcon in space not far from Endor. He, C-3PO, R2-D2, and a few Hoojibs were investigating a strange electrical energy source that appeared randomly, which was capable of disrupting ship navigation and even tossing vessels into other sectors of space. The droids and the Hoojibs were on board to document and analyze those occurrences. While Leia, Shysa, and Bey watched from their command post, one of those large concentrations of energy zapped the Falcon, which disappeared from sight moments later. 

Meanwhile, Han was trying to make sense of what had just happened. Instruments indicated that they were nowhere near any known portion of hyperspace. As the ship flew on, a battle raged on between two opposing factions on a snow-covered world. The conflict was interrupted by the Falcon's arrival. The ship landed upside down, so Han had to unjam the airlock. He was fired upon quickly after doing so.

Solo slid down the snowy hill before seeing his attackers. He realized that his opponents' blasters were powerful but much less advanced than his firearm. Han fired a few shots at his foes before whirling around and laying down fire to prevent a damsel in distress from being captured. The woman thanked him, but Han knew that they had to be cautious before making introductions.

Han returned fire once more, and the riders made a hasty retreat. Han figured they'd meet again and guided the woman and her associate back to the Falcon. Once inside, the natives shared their story. The man named Gil's family ruled the part of the planet that was closest to night, while the woman Risa's family had control over the portion that was nearest to their sun. 

Wars raged for years between these factions until a truce was made when they were both children. While Artoo and the Hoojibs were trying to drain the energy balls from the ship's systems, Threepio learned that such phenomena were common to this solar system. Gil explained that they'd always been there, but lately, they had changed and had begun making items disappear and striking out as if something had altered them.

Han wasn't exactly thrilled at the prospect of being marooned there, knowing what he'd left behind on Endor. He exited the ship just in time to find Risa's father and her men demanding her return. Introductions were made before the Vizier stated that he knew how to move the ship safely without having to access its controls. The Falcon was then pulled toward the city as the rest of the procession arrived on foot.

That evening, Han looked out from the balcony of his guest quarters and thought about Leia. He wondered if he could have said or done more, and was confident that he'd have another chance. His thoughts were broken up by Plif's arrival. He was happy to announce that they'd learned how to drain the energy thanks to the droids' assistance. He added that they'd also learned something else through telepathy. 

Han didn't need to know, because it was something that he'd already known. He asked the Hoojibs to deliver a message before going back to the Falcon and to promise him not to share what they'd ascertained with anyone else. Solo then set out to spread the word in town as to who he was looking for.

The Hoojibs went to Gil's room and told the young lad that Han wanted to meet with him. The young lad rose from his bed, got dressed, and walked the city streets, wondering what the general had to discuss. He didn't get very far, as he was accosted by a masked man shortly thereafter, who looked down on him gleefully, thinking about the bounty he'd fetch and thankful that Solo had set this up.

By then, Han had an audience with the king. The Correllian had a plan to resolve several issues, including the king's lack of a male heir, the bandits, and the treaty with the other faction. He stated that it was about knowing that the greatest person was you, and that everyone who wasn't in on that was out of the picture. Han was sure that the king had what it took to be that type of person.

The Hoojibs listened on, a bit nervous about the part they were playing in the deception and that they would not disclose the truth to anyone in the room. The king asked Han how he would fulfill such goals, to which the pilot replied that he'd given Gil up to the bandits and that he'd make the arrangements for his ransom. He assumed they'd see things his way and that the king held all the cards in that situation. Risa was understandably upset by this news and lashed out at Solo.

She then demanded that her father pay the ransom and have her love returned safely at once. The king assured her that it would be done, and Han agreed. Solo went on to say that they would get the boy back. The bandits wouldn't expect the double cross, and everyone would be happy. He then said that they would go unarmed the next morning.

The group made their way through the snow the next day, with Artoo in the lead. It didn't take long for the bandits to make their presence known around them. They announced their intentions to take more prisoners, including the princess. Risa gasped after seeing Gil. Han wasn't surprised to see the Vizier, aka Uncle Marius, among the group.

Solo had figured out that Marius was the one who'd armed the bandits. His arrogant confidence had been his undoing. Before much more could be done, Artoo blasted the Vizier's staff. A pair of blasters were then pointed at them, weapons which the Hoojibs had already drained of energy after Han learned where their hideout was. He then bid the townspeople adieu.

The Alliance members boarded the Falcon and charted a return course to Endor. Threepio marveled at the plan that Plif had shared with him. He was surprised that the Hoojibs agreed to it so willingly, but the Arbrans expressed the similarities between Risa and Leia. Han was determined to help her, whether she accepted his help or not. That was a tribute to Leia and her standing in Han's world. After landing, Han held Leia in his arms. She expressed the fact that she wasn't sure she'd see him again. Han remarked that she should have kept busy because that would have taken her mind off things.

This issue was a bit of a filler, and the events in it occurred before issue #99. It was kind of backwards storytelling, and it seemed a bit unfinished. We didn't learn much about the energy appearances or even know the name of the planet that the Falcon landed on. Details were definitely lacking, but it was a semi-decent yarn. Threepio was drawn well, but once again, the art was rather sloppy at times. 

That's all I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the one hundred and second issue of this title. Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian return to a familiar world in a story penciled by Sal Buscema. There, they run into some familiar faces and see how they react to a new danger. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #100

Happy Saturday, folks!

It's time for me to talk about the one hundredth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The beautiful cover, illustrated by the late Tom Palmer (who inked multiple issues during its run) showed the faces of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, Bey, and an Imperial Stormtrooper against the backdrop of a planet. Around that world, TIE fighters, TIE interceptors, X-Wings, and Y-Wings engaged in battle. The story was named "First Strike." The issue had a cover date of October 1985. 

The tale began on Endor. Admiral Ackbar was instructing his Alliance pilots on the importance of their upcoming mission before allowing them to begin a flying simulation exam. Luke, Han, Nien Nunb, and Fenn Shysa were among the pilots in attendance. Solo scoffed at the need for such a test, but his selections proved to be quite unusual.

Afterward, the Correllian was quite confident that he'd passed with flying colors. He went to find Leia, thinking that she was the one who'd ordered the examination. However, she was preoccupied in conversing with Shysa. Han discussed the matter with Lando Calrissian, wondering who came up with the idea of the exam in the first place. All Lando could do at the time was look away and whistle. 

Luke joined his friends, and they talked about the half-Correllian named Bey, who had now joined in the conversation with Shysa and Leia. Right after Chewie joined them, Luke talked about hearing about Bey's exploits when he was a farmboy on Tatooine. Solo grew up with Bey. He didn't know much about his friend's parents, except that his father was mad that Bey's mother had left them and sometimes took it out on the child. He then thought back to earlier times, from when the two boys were getting into fights with other children, to Bey teaching him a few defensive moves, Bey showing Han the Correllian bloodstripe that he'd earned, and finally watching his buddy recover from losing an eye in a battle that saved many lives.

His reverie was broken by the arrival of the Zeltron teens Rahuhl and Marruc, who told him that Ackbar and Mon Mothma were at the tracking station and wanted him and Luke to report regarding the results of the flying examination. Luke was in the middle of a lightsaber training session and joined as soon as it was over. On the way, Han asked him about the second saber. Luke explained that he'd built it to deal with a former Imperial associate known as Shira Brie, or Lumiya, back on Kinooine. Han admitted that the more he learned about the Nagai, the less he liked.

A short while later, the Alliance leaders announced the detection of a small fleet gathering near the sanctuary moon. There had been no communication from those vessels, which were now assumed to be hostile. All available pilots except for Solo and Skywalker were to take to their ships. Lando would manage the fighters and Leia would monitor the situation until all ships had departed.

When asked, Ackbar explained that there was a bit of a computer error that prevented Luke and Han from flying for the time being. Based on their test scores, it seemed that they both flew in ways that no other pilots on the Alliance would dare to attempt. Han explained that was because he'd once been a smuggler and that Luke often relied on the Force.

Leia relied on Ackbar to straighten things out. It was then revealed that Lando had been responsible for administering the computer test. He was looking for a nice teaching job considering the recent downtime. Solo and Skywalker sat together as the ships were being readied. Han said that he'd tried to enter the Millennium Falcon, but was locked in a tractor beam by the ground computer until Chewbacca and Nien Nunb took over. He hated missing out on all the action, but Luke said they might not be missing everything. He mentioned something nearby that he'd spotted during his saber practice, and asked his comrade if he wanted to take a speeder bike and check it out.

The two reached the Ewok Tippet before long, and moved in for a closer look. Meanwhile, the Alliance fleet was now in space, and gathering in defensive formations against the Nagai ships. Lando was commanding the squadrons from the tracking station.

Several Nagai, including former captive Knife, were standing in a clearing alongside several larger beings known as Maccabees. They were well aware of the impending space battle. Some of them headed toward the Alliance base, while Luke and Han stayed behind to take on some of those who'd stayed behind. 

Luke took to his bike to warn the others. Han remained where he was to ensure the Ewoks' safety and to make sure that there were no other threats. He'd downed one of the Maccabees with a well-placed shot, but the being rose up moments later. He eventually destroyed the intruder by crashing his speeder bike into it.

By then, the space conflict had begun. The Alliance fleet was being outmaneuvered early on. Lando didn't know that it was Lumiya who was commanding those enemy forces. Artoo, Threepio, Leia, Ackbar, and Mothma observed everything from the command station. Leia and the four male Zeltrons were also watching until a large arm broke through the wall and grabbed one of the teens. Leia bashed the arm, setting her friend free, but the glass broke, and the two Maccabees burst into the room.

Luke arrived to warn Mothma and Ackbar of the Nagai ground forces at about the same time. He informed them that Knife was among the enemies and that he'd personally heard the orders to attack. Luke assumed that Han had returned by then to warn Leia and the Zeltrons. 

Unfortunately, Han was still on his way. As he ran toward the headquarters, he was met by Bey, who dropped from a tree to talk. Solo explained that he had to warn the others about the Nagai, but Bey was about to do no such thing. In fact, it was Bey who had brought their foes there.

Han reached for his blaster, but Bey knocked it from his hand. The two began a brief fight for the first time since their younger days. When Han asked why, Bey explained that in one of his journeys, he'd traveled to a place past the galactic perimeter. There, he learned that his mother, who had been an advance scout for the Nagai, had returned to Correllia to observe. Once the Rebellion was over, the Nagai could go to her homeworld and gather up the remaining side. He lived among the Nagai and found them to be much kinder than many others that he'd encountered. His mother welcomed him back, and he even had a half-brother about Han's age.

Just then, Knife emerged from the brush and pointed his pistol at the two friends. Bey rushed him, and Solo shot him. Bey went to Knife's side before stating that Knife was the brother he'd just talked about. Bey stayed there to help Knife, while Han resumed his objective.

Ackbar was communicating to the fleet that they were abandoning Endor, since the enemy was among them and knew all of their secrets. The space battle was improving for the Alliance, now that they were using Han's tricks. Meanwhile, the Maccabees were being battered by the Zeltrons, before Luke figured out their weak point. The robotic beings then took to the stars, right before Han made his way up to the station. Luke told the remaining crew to start packing, noting that the Alliance of Free Planets was now at war. 

For those who had been waiting for a battle with the Nagai, this issue was your payoff. I'm still not impressed with Cynthia Martin's pencil work, especially the doodly Nagai ships. This was the Alliance's last stand on Endor, and it was finally time to move on, now that their base had been effectively compromised. I wasn't expecting the news about Bey's connection to the Nagai, which would be surprising to anyone in the Alliance, most of all his boyhood companion Han. 

Despite what I just said in the previous paragraph, we will see Endor one more time in the next issue. The story in the one hundred and first issue of this series takes place a bit before the events that occurred in issue #99. Han, the droids, and a few Hoojibs set out to investigate a strange natural phenomenon and find themselves embroiled in a dispute between two sides on another planet. I'll discuss that tale a little later on today. Until then, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #99

Happy Friday, all,

Today, my focus will be on the ninety-ninth issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover depicted Han Solo holding a weakened Lando Calrissian in his arms, threatening an unidentified alien with Luke Skywalker behind the stranger and a large fleet of ships in the sky above them all. The tale was titled "Touch of the Goddess." The issue had a publication date of September 1985.

The story started on Endor, with Luke thinking about his friend Kiro, who was last seen engaged in battle with the Nagai Den Siva on Kinooine (in issue #97). Neither of them emerged from the waters they had fallen into, and Kiro was presumed dead. He and Lando talked about him and how his supposed loss affected the Zeltron Dani. Lando observed that she wasn't the only Zeltron affected by recent events.

Princess Leia Organa was conferring with the Mandalorian Fenn Shysa (last seen in issue #s 68 and 69), to the dislike of the four male Zeltrons on the same platform. If you're wondering about Han Solo, he was offworld on a mission with Admiral Ackbar, along with Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2. The Alliance members and the half-Correllian childhood friend of Solo's, named Bey, were meeting with Godoans on their world. 

Their contact was Fumiyo, a Godoan who knew the Galactic standard language. They had arrived to learn more about a disease that several of the natives had contracted and that their guests had been inoculated against. Han was surprised to see receptacles containing very valuable flame gems posted around the city. Fumiyo explained that the sickness started at about the time he said that they failed their goddess. 

Fumiyo led his guests into their worship center, which Ackbar realized was a techno-organic construct. The droids set to translating the hieroglyphic characters that adorned a far wall. There was a large statue in one corner of the room, which, when uncovered, was something that Han recognized. He knew that he had to return to Endor and talk to Lando.

Once they were back, Solo explained that the statue he'd seen was a larger version of the Dancing Goddess. Both that idol and the Minstrel were smaller trophies that Lando had won in a card game several years back. The person he acquired them from claimed that they were very valuable, but Calrissian had no idea about their importance until just then. 

Lando explained that one statue was with the gangsters Lemo and Sanda. The other he'd given to his former nemesis Drebble. He and Chewie decided to head to Stenos to talk to Drebble, and Han and Luke would travel to the prison world where Sanda and Lemo were being detained. 

It took some cajoling, but Luke and Han finally convinced the crooks to disclose where they were keeping the Minstrel. Lemo admitted that it was still back on Arcan IV. However, those two weren't the only ones in the vicinity who heard the news.

Chewie and Calrissian set Lando's ship, the Cobra, down on Stenos. They were on their way to approach Drebble about the Dancing Goddess when someone from behind declared that Lando would be sorry he'd arrived. The two heroes ducked into a nearby alley just before the first shots were fired.

Meanwhile, things weren't much better for Solo or Skywalker on Arcan IV. They were nearing the gang's hideout when they had to duck to evade blaster fire. The duo finally entered the building after giving the code word and talked to Sanda and Lemo's associates. They walked out with the idol, right after dispatching the spy who'd been tailing them since they were on the prison planet.

Back on Stenos, Lando and Chewbacca were returning shot for shot, until a loud voice cried, "Stop!" Lando turned and saw that it was Drebble who asked for the ceasefire. (Note: Drebble was dressed in an outfit that resembled the one that Calrissian wore in his Captain Drebble disguise on Arcan IV in issue #79.) Drebble offered Lando a hand and led him to his quarters. Calrissian explained why he needed the statue back, and Drebble was more than happy to oblige. He thanked his comrade, and he and Chewbacca soon plotted a course to the Godoan homeworld.

Han and Chewie placed the statues in their appropriate slots in the wall of the city center, just as Fumiyo was starting to feel ill. A short while later, everything was fine again. The heroes left, on their way to finish a weapons delivery assignment. The Alliance members had reconvened on the Falcon and were reporting in to Fumiyo when Lando started feeling ill. Unfortunately, he'd rushed to the planet before receiving the same inoculations that his colleagues had taken earlier.

Solo knew that Lando had to return to the temple for treatment, but when he radioed Fumiya, he was told that would be impossible since that building was now sealed. Desperate, Han claimed that he had the power of the Alliance fleet behind him, and that he wouldn't hesitate to call upon it if his friend didn't receive the aid he needed. 

Things were tense for a while, but the Correllian had the backing of his fellow pilots, Wedge Antilles, Nien Nunb, Trif, Maggie, and Shysa. The countdown to action reached two before Fumiya acquiesced and agreed to allow the Rebels to return. A short time later, Lando had been cured. He thanked his longtime friend, unsure if he would have carried out his threat or not. 

This issue was the last appearance of the Dancing Goddess and the Minstrel icons, as well as Drebble, Lemo, and Sanda. It gave closure for those items and characters, although I still would like to see a story someday that explained how Lando and Drebble became enemies in the first place. Frenz's work was great as always, and I was sorry to see him go, but I knew he was already assigned to penciling the Amazing Spider-Man book at the time. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll discuss the one hundredth issue of this series. The double-sized issue shows the Alliance pilots embarking on new objectives. We'll learn more about the connection between Han and Bey, and see the final conflict on Endor. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #98

Good afternoon,

Today's topic is the ninety-eighth issue of the first Star Wars comic. The cover, illustrated by Bill Sienkiewicz, showed an Imperial Stormtrooper fighting an unnamed person in a space suit, with the Millennium Falcon and a pair of TIE fighters in the background. The tale was titled "Supply and Demand." The issue had a cover date of August 1985.

The story started in the shipyards of Fondor. Han Solo was aboard one of the vessels and made a mad dash to the docking bay after noticing someone flying his beloved Falcon rather erratically. His old friend, Lando Calrissian, disembarked, noting that he'd owned the ship before Han did. However, it was his Death Star run copilot, Nien Nunb, who had actually been flying the Falcon there. 

Nunb was about to serve as Han's partner on his next mission, since the Wookie Chewbacca was taking some time off on his home planet. Lando would assume Han's place at the shipyards, while Solo and Nunb headed toward Vandelhelm to deal with a supply issue. 

On the way, the Falcon stopped at a world that was once used as an Imperial prison planet. Han met with another fellow Alliance member, but was less than pleased to learn that the passengers he was supposed to pick up were children. One was a teenage girl, and the other was a boy several years younger than her. Han loaded up his crew and headed toward their primary destination. 

Several ships had amassed in space around Vandelhelm. In one of the main frigates, Guildmaster Orrka was conferring with Imperial Admiral Mordur. The Empire's forces had been reduced significantly after their loss during the second Death Star battle, but that didn't mean that they were entirely extinct just yet. Mordur and his troopers were stationed on one of the cruisers, making plans for future endeavors.

While Han was trying to entertain his venerated guests, the Falcon suddenly dropped out of lightspeed and was heading right into an asteroid field. Solo ran to the cockpit to assist Nunb. He realized that the Falcon's shields were triggering the mines within the asteroids. Han switched off the shields, and his ship successfully navigated through the obstacle. 

A short while later, Orrk greeted the children and Han on the planet Vandelhelm. Solo was concerned about possible Imperial remnants and the station's production of raw materials. The Guildmaster assured the Correllian that all was in good order, pointing to several drone barges where such items were stored. He added that production had stopped until the children had been safely brought back. 

The quartet looked out from a nearby balcony to see a celebration in the streets honoring the children's return. Han said that since the Alliance fulfilled its promise, he would like to have those drone barges sent on to Fondor. Orrk replied that he'd need the control codes for his ship's computers, which he was willing to provide after the tradition of having the caravan blessed by the venerated ones had been completed.

Han returned to the Falcon, only to find Nunb being held prisoner by a pair of Stormtroopers. He turned around to see Orrk holding the children at gunpoint. The Guildmaster planned to bring the youths to Mordur, noting that if the children had perished en route to Vandelhelm, he would have blamed the Alliance for their deaths and used his influence to continue material production and price increases. Orrk swore that the children would still die and the planet's metalsmiths would stop work, driving up the value of the items already produced. 

What he didn't take into account was the children's spirits. Both of them fought their captor and quickly got away. Han blasted the troopers holding Nunb before lunging at the Guildmaster. Things looked grim for Solo as he found himself clinging to a ledge until the young girl blasted Orrk with the pistol that Han had dropped earlier. Orrk fell to his fate, and Han grabbed the children tightly. 

Solo ducked before more troopers arrived, but only because he'd heard the familiar snap of his Wookiee companion's rifle safety being switched off right before Nien Nunb fired it at the Imperials. The four headed back inside the Falcon and took off.

Their departure was being monitored by Mordur and his crew. The Imperial Admiral took that to mean that Orrk had failed. He ordered the ships to take the emergency course he'd planned. Aboard the Falcon, Solo noticed that the rest of the fleet was heading straight toward the planet's sun. Without the computer control code, there wasn't much he could do.

Han decided to journey to the main barge. When the Falcon landed on it, Stormtroopers were waiting. However, that's not to say that the ship's crew wasn't prepared for such a contingency. Nunb had piloted this ship, while Han donned a spacesuit and broke through the barge's front window before Mordur could do further damage there. 

Without artificial gravity, both men struggled. Han was finally able to enter the control code, but nothing happened. It appeared that the fleet was about to reach the point of no return when the ship was being lifted via tractor beam from a Rebel ship. Once inside, Lando and Admiral Ackbar explained to Han and Nien that the fleet was already turning back, and that they'd used the control code supplied by the children. 

Solo was surprised to hear that tidbit and asked why they didn't tell him earlier. The girl replied that he'd told them to keep quiet, and they were concerned that if they didn't do as he said, he wouldn't take them on any more fun adventures. The former smuggler smiled and seemed to warm up to the children, at least for a little while, anyway. 

This was a fun tale crafted by the men who were responsible for the Star Wars newspaper strip at the time (and Marvel's The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi movie adaptations, along with Carlos Garzon), writer Archie Goodwin, and artist Al Williamson. This was Williamson's first issue of the comic book title since his Han Solo flashback feature in Star Wars #50. He was brilliant, and I wished he'd drawn more Star Wars stories in this series. By the way, you can still pick up beautiful hard-bound editions of the newspaper strips. This was a must for me, ever since I never got to see how it ended, because my local newspaper replaced it when I was ten years old with a new feature called  Bloom County. I grew to appreciate Berkley Breathed's work when I was older, but at the time, I was mighty peeved at Star Wars' removal from that newspaper's comic section. 

That's all I have for now. Next time, I'll write about the ninety-ninth issue of this title. Ron Frenz returns for his final issue, chronicling a new adventure after the Star Warriors return home to Endor. We'll learn more about the history of the Dancing Goddess and the Minstrel statues, see the debut of a few new characters, and the return of some familiar faces. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.