Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #107

Hello there,

Well, my friends, this is it! We finally made it to the end of Marvel's first Star Wars title. Today's article sums up the one hundred and seventh and final issue of that series. The cover showed C-3PO, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Han Solo, Princess Leia, a Hiromi, and a couple of Hoojibs. The tale was titled "All Together Now." The issue had a cover date of September 1986.

The story started on the planet Saijo, where Luke was ducking sniper fire in the rubble of a building. Skywalker (who looked like a blonde version of Sylvester Stallone's Rambo) was returning fire when possible and using the Force to prevent his allies, like the Nagai named Knife, from being gunned down. Den Siva and the Zeltron Dani reported nothing significant from their perch. 

They were gathered in the same area, along with Han, Leia, the droids, the pilots Trif and Maggie, the Mandalorian Fenn Shysa, and other former foes from the Nagai and the Empire. Leia talked about how leadership was finally able to reach a truce between the Alliance of Free Planets and the Nagai, whose true enemy was now the Tofs.

Den and Dani continued to argue, despite the words of others around them. Siva had fallen for the Zeltron female that he'd interrogated not that long ago. However, her feelings were rather cold, having remembered that experience and the struggle on Kinooine that she believed took the life of her beloved, the Iskalonian Kiro (who only Luke and Lando knew survived that battle and had since returned to protect the people on his homeworld). 

Luke thought back to the meeting hosted by Admiral Ackbar and Mon Mothma. There was no doubt as to the threat that the Tofs posed. Ackbar shared that they had made a base on Saijo, and that their leadership had made that planet their new base of operations. Many of those who attended that meeting were assigned to the ground force on Saijo, while Chewie, Lando, Wedge Antilles, and Nien Nunb were designated for aerial support. 

While the ground forces engaged in conversation within the group, the Tof cruiser Merriweather was about to send a supply ship to the planet's surface. Luke and company watched several Tof soldiers pass by and wisely decided not to engage them in combat just yet. This happened despite another argument, this time between Knife and Han, that Fenn had to break up. 

Once the squadron had passed by, Luke gathered Leia, Solo, Dani, Den, and Siva to march toward the Tof headquarters. Trif, Maggie, Artoo, Threepio, and Fenn would remain behind and stay in contact with the fleet. There was, of course, some more grumbling along the way, but at least everyone arrived at their intended destination in one piece. 

As the flight squadron waited for their orders to assemble, Luke's contingent reached the front steps of what used to be the planet's primary trading center. As they followed several Tof guards who had Nagai prisoners in tow, their Prince Sereno was having an audience with the lady Lumiya. She had previously allied herself with the Nagai (and in her true identity as Shira Brie was once an Imperial spy planted within the Rebellion to discredit Skywalker), but now found a better allegiance with the Tofs.

The guards arrived with their captives. However, the prince and his entourage didn't know about the allied forces that were lurking nearby. Knife made the first move, stabbing one of the Tof guards before drawing his blaster on others. Luke and Han ran into the skirmish, as did Dani and Leia shortly thereafter. 

During the battle, one of the Tof commanders radioed their ship asking for fighters to eliminate their foes' base. Lumiya was about to take out Knife when Leia intervened. Unfortunately, Lumiya soon acquired her blaster, leaving things a lot less hopeful than before. 

Meanwhile, Gold Squadron had been activated and proved that they were more than capable of dispatching the Tof vessels. The Millennium Falcon and their X-Wing support took out the enemy craft in near-record time. While that was going on in space, Luke had leaped across the room to find himself face to face with Sereno.

He and Han were busy with their own individual opponents to help Leia. It appeared that Lumiya was about to get her revenge on the princess, until she was shot from behind by one of the Tofs in the chamber. Just then, Lando radioed Luke with the good news that the aerial conflict was over and that it was time to celebrate their victory.

Hearing that information was enough to persuade the prince to surrender. He wondered why one of his men betrayed him. The man who had shot Lumiya then stepped out of the shadows and removed some of the makeup from his face, revealing himself to be the Correllian named Bey.

Bey explained that his disguise was a very closely guarded secret, under instructions from the admiral. He still felt loyal to his half-brother, Knife, and his childhood friend Han, adding that he was there to protect both of them. Luke joined the group after noting that he'd asked for an Alliance escort for the prince and that he'd designated Fenn to be in charge there. He and his friends realized that they now had the first real chance for peace, a goal that Skywalker was confident that they could finally accomplish. 

I first picked up this issue when I was fourteen years old at the same drugstore that I'd purchased my very first Star Wars comic at (issue #47). I hadn't read the series regularly in a while, after having lost interest following the first Cynthia Martin issue. It seemed to me like they'd run out of ideas after the fall of the Empire, and I wasn't really very surprised by how people had lost interest in the franchise, after seeing the Kenner toy line fade in favor of newer offerings like G.I. Joe and the Transformers. I wasn't very impressed with "Rambo Luke," but I was at least glad that the creative team was able to wrap up their storyline without ending on a cliffhanger. 

With this title's cancellation, there would not be another Star Wars comic book until 1991, when Dark Horse obtained the license. They published books until 2014, when Marvel reacquired the rights and began putting out more ongoing and limited series. Dark Horse just started publishing a few more Star Wars series that are aimed at younger readers a few years ago, a task that IDW had held for a while. 

I hope you've enjoyed this series of articles as much as I've enjoyed writing them. They've made me go back and revisit these issues, some for the first time in a long time. It's brought back some good memories and ideas for some of my own fiction writing. Please feel free to like, subscribe, or share these article links with others who may find them interesting. 

There's still one more piece for me before I begin a new series next week. Tomorrow, I'll recap the one hundred and eighth issue of this series, which was produced in 2019. Marvel went back to follow up on several fan favorite titles at the time, like Darkhawk, Master of Kung Fu, and this one. An all-star cast unites to share a few details from the past, tell us what happened to the Star Warriors after the events in this issue, and recognize the legacy that this series left behind. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #106

Good morning,

It's time for me to talk about the one hundred and sixth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover showed the Zeltron Dani and Princess Leia Organa posing with blasters. The tale was titled "My Hiromi" (a take on the popular song "My Sharona"). The issue had a publication date of July 1986.

The story began on the planet Zeltros, where Luke Skywalker, his Hoojib associates, and the Hiromi, who were busy celebrating their recent victory over the invading Tofs. Luke let his new allies savor their triumph before stating that he'd need their assistance in taking over the Tof command ship. This made the Hiromi understandably nervous, but they quickly overcame their resistance.

Meanwhile, in that very ship, the Zeltron teens Bahb, Marruc, Jahn, and Rahuhl were sitting in a prison cell. Marruc and Jahn weren't feeling well, so it was up to Rahuhl and Bahb to devise an escape plan. They had a momentary respite after a guard entered carrying a tray of food, but they underestimated their opponents' intelligence and savagery. The assigned guards beat their attackers before locking them up again.

By then, Leia and Dani were making their way around the palace grounds on Zeltros until they came across the Nagai Den Siva. Dani was about to line up a shot, until a Hoojib reminded her that Den had betrayed his own people to save them. She reluctantly agreed that wasn't the right move and continued on with Leia.

Luke was trying to ascertain any clues from one of their captured Tofs that might give them an advantage. Although he wouldn't respond to the Jedi or the Hoojib Plif, the Hiromis' sheer repetitiveness finally convinced him to disclose vital details. Afterward, the heroes advanced toward the Hiromi ship and soon left en route to the Tof command ship. 

As they were leaving, Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO, Lando Calrissian, and the rest of the Nagai hostages were being led through the royal grounds. Siva returned and dourly informed his subordinates that they were now prisoners themselves. The Tofs attacked moments later. Han approached one of the Tof commanders, who instantly ordered the execution of all like him.

That wasn't about to happen, thanks to Leia and Dani's timely intervention. Toward the end of the conflict, Den wound up taking out one of his soldiers. He offered himself up to the Alliance members as a hostage, or they could hear about the cooperative plan that he had. 

The Hiromi vessel had finally neared the Tof ship (which looked very similar to a pirate ship from centuries past), and Luke guided the crew to a point where they could fire safely and open an access port. Of course, he was using the Force to assist in their navigation. They landed, and Luke jumped out, immediately dispatching the Tof resistance that he encountered.

After the coast was clear, he coaxed the Hiromi out of hiding. They slowly descended the ladder extended from their ship and were assigned to defend against additional Tof forces, while Luke and the Hoojibs went to free the Zeltron teens and take care of the ship's security systems. 

Luke led the charge, and he and his companions set to work. The Hoojibs quickly deactivated all systems except for life support while the Hiromi found the cell that the Zeltrons had been placed in. They were unexpectedly attacked by the boys, who didn't know what side the Hiromi were on just yet. Luke entered the room to set things straight, and Hirog managed to blast the Tof guard who had crept up behind. Skywalker informed everyone about the charges he'd set in the ship, but they at least had a little time to celebrate another Hiromi victory before departing. 

I found this storyline to be rather silly, especially the Hiromi, who were much more scared than they initially believed themselves to be. I'm just glad that things didn't drag out for much longer. By this time, some of the stories seemed to be much more about the characters created by Marvel's creative staff than the ones that were established in the George Lucas films. 

That's it from me for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the one hundred and seventh issue of this title. The series finale showcased the last battle between the Alliance and Nagai forces against the Tofs. We'll learn who the victor was and what happened to a few supporting characters that we haven't heard from in a while. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #105

Good afternoon all,

Hope everyone's doing well. Today's focus will be on the one hundred and fifth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover showed Luke Skywalker and several Hoojibs engaged in battle with a pair of husky men in what appear to be pirate costumes (as you'll see in the inner pages, the strangers' flesh is miscolored on the cover). The story was called "The Party's Over." The issue had a cover date of May 1986.

The tale began on the planet Zeltros. Luke and the Hoojibs were the Hiromi's willing captives. Their captors were preoccupied with making themselves a few tasty treats in the palace's kitchen when a loud voice from the other side of the door yelled that the kitchen's occupants were to exit with their hands up, and that they were now the prisoners of the mystery intruders.

While the Hiromi pondered this, Luke reached out with the Force to sense the unfamiliar presence. The strangers then broke through the door moments later. The green-skinned beings, dressed in what seemed to be similar to the pirate garb of days long past, They had never encountered Hiromi before, and were disappointed to not find the Nagai that they were after. 

Plif, using his telepathy, found out that the intruders were Tofs, who came from the same system as the Nagai. Both sides were enemies. As their commander ordered his soldiers to sweep the building, Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, and the Wookiee Chewbacca were being held at gunpoint by the Nagai in the royal ballroom. One of the soldiers communicated with his superior, Den Siva, who had just tied up Princess Leia and Dani in one of the outer rooms. 

Han, Lando, and Chewie listened in on the conversation and learned Dani and Leia's fate. None of them knew that Siva was working with the Tofs. The Tof commander ordered that the female prisoners be taken away, along with the four Zeltron teens (who first encountered the Tofs in the last issue). He then demanded that Siva lead his allies to the rendezvous point and trick them into an ambush, or he would eliminate Dani. 

A few moments later, the Hoojibs rushed past them. They evaded the pirates' blasts, and Plif was able to fill Leia and Dani in briefly. He then rushed off, continuing the guise that the creatures were vermin that were not worth the marauders' attention.

One of the Tof leaders had one of Luke's saber hilts and was curious about its function. Luke acted before the Hiromi could be taken out and clubbed by activating the blade. The commander was furious, thinking that the ignition that slew his comrade was the Hiromis' fault. Luke, now freed of his bonds, explained that the sabers belonged to him, and he wanted them back.

The Tof who now held one of the sabers charged at the Jedi. Luke levitated the other saber hilt to his free hand and swiftly defeated and disarmed his foe. His Hoojib colleagues went on the offensive as well and jumped up to bite the Tofs multiple times. 

Some of the Tof soldiers ran after the Hoojibs, oblivious to Leia and Dani's presence. The Alliance members used that to their advantage and kicked out at them before ascending the nearest staircase. A few Tofs raised their blasters, only to find that they didn't work (probably because the Hoojibs had drained the weapons' energy), but rushed to attack.

Even though it wasn't fully shown in the story, the Tofs were defeated by Luke, the Hoojibs, and the Hiromi. Luke freed his sister and Dani. Afterward, the Hiromi celebrated another victory. Skywalker was happy for their enthusiasm, noting it would be good to have such positivity when he began his sneak attack on the Tof command ship, a declaration which suddenly made the Hiromi scared again. 

It seemed quite obvious to me upon first read that the Tof were based on pirate tales of yore. Except for the green skin, they were very similar to the characters shared in storybooks for many generations. How they came to despise the Nagai was not yet uncovered, but it seemed they were a bit more brutish, since they preferred to club their opponents rather than use the traditional weapons of the time. I found the premise to be about as silly as the rather cowardly Hiromi themselves.

Well, we're continuing to near the end of this series. Next time, I'll recap the one hundred and sixth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars book. We'll find out the fate of the four Zeltron teenagers as well as that of the ballroom occupants. We'll also see Luke's raid of the Tof ship with the timely aid of a few companions. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

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.