Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #54

Hi there,

It's time for me to recap the fifty-fourth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars comic. The cover showed Princess Leia and Lord Aron fleeing from Imperial General Sk'Ar and his Stormtrooper legion. It's a bright cover, but aside from Sk'ar, there isn't much detail to any of the other characters on it. The story was named "Starfire Rising!" The issue had a cover date of December 1981.

The tale began where the previous issue left off. Aron had been captured by large Stormtroopers and brought to Sk'ar's headquarters along with Leia. The Empire had plans for taking over this planet as they'd done to many others in the galaxy. Leia was soon tossed into the room after enduring an interrogation. They were surprised to see Aron's longtime ally Delois at Sk'ar's side. The heroes then learned of the turncoat's true intentions. 

It wasn't all that long ago that Leia, Aron, and many of the world's citizens had been celebrating the first anniversary of their signing of the concordat of peace. Sk'ar planned to decimate its peaceful populace with an antimatter bomb. From the ashes they hoped would arise a more subservient populace, one that was loyal to the Empire.

Sk'ar ordered his prisoners to be taken to a holding area until his return. Leia and Aron fought their captors, and Organa was engaged in a knife fight with an Imperial commander at one point. While Aron struggled to free himself, he saw the officer's knife find its mark and heard Leia emit a painful sigh. He broke his chains and rushed to his companion, to find that it was her foe who had perished. Leia was stunned by watching her opponent's life fade from his eyes.

A little while later, they boarded a flier and set off in pursuit of Sk'ar's ship. They caught up with it before very long, but the smaller craft was no match for Imperial TIE fighters. The duo made a strafing run before jumping on board Sk'ar's vessel. There, they fought off even more Imperial forces.

Leia reached the bomb's controls and attempted to defuse it. She was struck from behind by Delois, who was then countered by Luke Skywalker. Leia was glad to see her fellow Rebel. After knocking Delois unconscious, he ran to her aid. She'd suffered a minor wound, but needed to concentrate on the task at hand. 

Luke went to join the fray, along with Aron's colleague Keral Longknife and Chewbacca, who had been dropped off from the Millennium Falcon. Lando was piloting the Falcon and found a landing spot, moments before crossing paths with Sk'ar. The Imperial was using a personal force shield, which made Lando's blaster attack ineffective. 

Leia finally defused the bomb and ran into Luke's arms to celebrate. Lando noticed that Sk'ar was escaping in another ship, but a gun mount tossed by Chewie destroyed the craft and seemingly ended the threat for the moment. Several days later, the palace was welcoming its heroes before the start of another celebration.

Somewhere in the back of the crowd, R2-D2 had received important news. C-3PO relayed its urgency to Chewbacca, who made his way through the throng of people gathered to notify Lando that an Imperial Star Destroyer had just entered the system and was headed toward the planet. As the Falcon soared into action to meet the challenge, Leia pondered the possibility that this could spell doom for the people she'd gotten to know since her shuttle crashlanded there (in the last issue).

Luke and Leia took to the gun turrets to take out incoming TIEs, but they weren't out of the woods just yet. The fighters were leading them right into the Star Destroyer's path. The Falcon was between the Imperial ship and a black hole. Luke yanked Lando from the pilot's seat and took over.

Skywalker used his knowledge of the Force to guide their ship carefully around and past the black hole. The Star Destroyer that followed them was not as lucky. The larger craft was slowly disintegrating as its crew realized, too late, that they could not evade it. 

Lando congratulated Luke on a job well done but warned him never to pull a stunt like that again. Luke was drained because of the exertion the task required and from his empathy for the people on board the enemy ship who had just lost their lives. As they departed, Luke told Leia she could have remained behind on Shiva if she wanted. She refused that offer, stating that she was the Princess of Alderaan and would continue to be that to the very end. Luke understood, noting that he'd be right by her side. 

I felt like the conclusion to this storyline was a bit rushed. They could have easily pushed this to three issues and provided more background on Aron, his planet, and his family and friends. I guess if we wanted to know more, we'd just have to revisit writer Chris Claremont's issues of Marvel's John Carter, Warlord of Mars issues that he scripted, since these characters were loosely based on some of the central figures in those issues. Because of their contractual issues with Lucasfilm, I knew that Marvel wasn't about to let Leia remain on Shiva, but it's a pity that Aron and his comrades weren't included in any other stories going forward.

Well, that's it for this article. Next time, I'll summarize the fifty-fifth issue of this series. This is another popular tale that was also later adapted for a book and record. Leia, Chewbacca, and the droids are part of a Rebel caravan that lands on a world that might become the next Rebel base. However, it has a secret that could endanger that possibility. We'll also see where Lando headed following the events covered in this blog post. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #53

Happy Friday, everyone,

Today's topic is the fifty-third issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover showed Princess Leia Organa being carried off by a Stormtrooper in the foreground, while another trooper brought a different person up a ladder extended from a TIE bomber. The tale was titled "The Last Gift From Alderaan!" The issue had a cover date of November 1981.

The story began aboard a Rebel ship, where Leia looked at an image of her homeworld, Alderaan, a planet that no longer existed thanks to the Empire. She thought back to her home, wondering what her parents were doing right before their world was obliterated. Leia wasn't there because she'd been sent to find Obi-Wan Kenobi, a Jedi Knight who'd served her father during the Clone Wars, to help their cause. Unfortunately, her ship was captured, and she became a prisoner of Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin.

Tarkin grew weary of Leia's refusals to admit where the Rebel base was, and decided to test the destructive power of their Death Star on Alderaan. Leia was forced to watch in horror as the only home she'd ever known was blown to bits. Her reminiscing was broken up by Captain Chedaki's arrival to inform her that the ship had entered the planet Shiva's atmosphere. 

The Alliance was concerned about this system because there had been an unusual amount of traffic to and from it, and because the Empire was interested in it. Leia and Chedaki moved to a shuttle and strapped in moments before an explosion rocked the vessel. First Officer Roak ordered an investigation and learned that very minute anti-matter bombs had caused the damage. He had no choice but to cut the shuttle loose.

Chedaki perished in the explosion, but Leia was still inside. She closed the hatch and manually released the shuttle, sending it toward the planet Shiva below. Leia hoped that her act saved the larger ship, but had a small chance of landing the shuttle successfully.

A while later, several Shiva natives congregated. These warriors were about to enjoy a meal when they heard a commotion. They rushed to help a lone woman who'd been encircled by an outcast raiding party. led by Aron the Peacebringer. The quartet was soon victorious, and the attackers fled in fear. Leia joined her saviors as they boarded a flier and headed toward their city.

Along the way, Leia tried to learn their language. She recognized a blue flame called the Cherenkov effect and used hand signals to convey its danger. Aron understood, and they took a different route home. Little did he know that his longtime comrade Delois was plotting to overthrow him and take over all he'd held dear.

Weeks went by, and things seemed quite peaceful. Aron conferred with his wife, Alisande, before their gala to celebrate the first anniversary of their signing of the Concordat of Peace. Aron had talked to Leia since their first meeting and had reason to believe what she had to say. He was sympathetic to her cause, and his feelings for her had grown stronger over time.

At the ceremony, Leia danced with Delois for a time before running off, visibly upset. Aron went after her and learned that she'd been thinking about those lost in her world. He told her of the young child he and his wife had lost, after he and the child both contracted the same disease. Aron survived, but the child was not as fortunate. 

Moments later, the duo was struck from above by giant Stormtroopers. They were knocked out and taken to a waiting TIE bomber. Havero rushed out to the balcony minutes later, but found it empty. He thought he'd heard the princess cry out. She and Aron were missing, although he'd been watching the only exit and didn't see either of them leave. He decided to inform Alisande and the war council.

Meanwhile, Aron was in shackles, the prisoner of Imperial Stormtroopers. He soon met their leader, an alien named Sk'ar, who was a general in the Imperial Strike Force. He looked forward to taking over the seemingly primitive planet, not knowing that Aron and his allies would fight them tooth and nail.

This story makes more sense if you know that writer Chris Claremont also wrote several issues of Marvel's monthly John Carter, Warlord of Mars title (a series that I'll eventually cover here at some point). Aron, Keral, Pavero, Delois, Alisande, and the outlaws are somewhat similar to some of the characters portrayed in those stories. This was one of the first Star Wars comics I ever had, and I enjoyed the story. The art team of Carmine Infantino, Walt Simonson, Alan Kupperberg, and Tom Palmer worked very well together to craft the first part of this story. 

Next time, I'll cover the fifty-fourth issue of this series. The conclusion of this storyline will show what happened to Aron and his people as they finally faced the threat of the Empire. We'll also learn Leia's fate and the role that she played in the planet's resistance. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #52

Good morning all,

It's time for me to summarize the events that occurred in the fifty-second issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover, drawn by Walt Simonson, shows a larger-than-life image of Darth Vader in the background, as Vader's TIE fighter is attacking the Millennium Falcon in the foreground, in a scene that's somewhat reminiscent of the iconic battle during the initial Star Wars film. The story was called "To Take The Tarkin." The issue had a publication date of October 1981.

The tale began inside the Empire's new superstation, known as the Tarkin, named for the late Grand Moff who was in charge of Imperial operations on the Death Star. Unbeknownst to most of the crew, five members of the Rebel Alliance had infiltrated their stronghold: namely, Chewbacca, C-3PO, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, and R2-D2. The plucky astrodroid was wary of the Stormtrooper guards watching over the section they'd just entered.

When asked for identification, Leia pulled out her blaster from a uniform pocket, moments after a trooper's scanner identified a proton grenade on Luke's person. After eliminating the guards, they agreed to separate to accomplish their tasks and meet up at the escape pods afterward. Luke and Leia went their own ways, and Chewbacca opted to team up with the droids.

Their activity was swiftly reported to Darth Vader, who was on the Tarkin's bridge. He seemed unconcerned by the incident, knowing that Luke had arrived. He instructed the officer who informed him to add more guards along possible escape routes. He maintained his order (given in the last issue) to keep security away from the main reactor. That was a sector the Dark Lord would see to personally. 

Colonel Nord silently agreed before departing. He used a lift to descend a few levels before reaching a rarely used maintenance area, which now served as a meeting place for him and other Imperial officers who were actively plotting against their commander. They figured that now was the time to strike, while Vader was obsessed with the Rebel who'd destroyed the first Death Star.

Back on the planet Hockaleg (where the Rebels landed and boarded a shuttle to the Tarkin in issue #51), Lando Calrissian was making his way out of one of Han Solo's hidden smuggling compartments. He was just getting settled when he noticed a squad of Stormtroopers coming his way to inspect the ship.

On the Tarkin, a conversation between several troopers who were guarding a tractor beam generator was interrupted by Artoo's arrival. Threepio explained that they'd been sent to repair the generator. One soldier insisted that no work was necessary on the brand-new equipment. Threepio insisted there was, aided in his argument by Chewbacca's brute force. A scuffle ensued, and during the fight, Chewie threw one of the Stormtroopers headlong into the generator, destroying it. 

Meanwhile, Leia made her way to the escape pods, only to find herself suddenly surrounded by a quartet of Stormtroopers. She obligingly dropped her pistol, but grabbed for the blaster rifles that were in the hands of the two soldiers behind her, who surprisingly blasted their fellow guards in front of them. She then took out the remaining Stormtroopers before rushing off in search of Luke, now that their escape route had been cut off. 

As for Skywalker, he was venturing down an open hall, not knowing that Vader was waiting for him in an adjacent sector. Their locations were pinpointed on the ship's bridge, where Colonel Nord decided to take action and open the closest airlock, hoping it would send the Dark Lord out into space. 

The incoming atmospheric winds played havoc on the corridor's occupants. Luke accidentally let go of the proton grenade that he'd been carrying, and it bounced off Vader's helmet before exiting the vessel. Skywalker used his bionic right hand to grab hold of the handle of a freight lift before pulling himself inside. Vader held onto the airlock doors and forced himself inside. He then manually shut the lock before promising Nord that he'd deal with him later. 

By that time, Leia had gone further inside the Imperial station. She now found herself in an area she wasn't immediately familiar with. A quick scan indicated that she was at the ion cannon mechanism, the same weapon that had been used to destroy her homeworld of Alderaan. 

A little while later, she radioed Threepio. He, Artoo, and Chewbacca soon rejoined her right above a docking bay. They still weren't able to contact Luke. Leia tried to reach him one more time and learned that Skywalker had been hearing her all this time, but that he was pinned down by Stormtroopers attacking from the section in front of him. Upon hearing that news, Artoo rushed to the nearest terminal to inform the central computer that there was a fire in the section, causing the blast doors to close in front of Luke's attackers, and a spray of fire-retardant foam to spray down on the frustrated Imperials.

Meanwhile, on Hockaleg, Lando was greeting the trooper patrol. They were distracted from their inspection by Lando's offering of a bag containing a substantial amount of a valuable spice. The troopers let Lando carry on, not knowing at the time that the pouch contained nothing but slime yeast from the ship's stores. 

Artoo's diversion was enough for Luke to rejoin the group. He apologized for losing the grenade, but Leiace was more concerned about how they were going to escape. Luke had an idea.

Moments later, an item dropped from above. Someone yelled that it was a grenade, which sent crew members scurrying to safety. That gave the Rebels enough time to board a transport and take off. A little while later, a Stormtrooper realized that the "bomb" was just a pair of comlinks that had been tied together.

Vader sent a pair of TIEs to follow the stolen ship, which had no defensive weapons of its own. Things looked a bit grim for the heavier ship until its pursuers were blasted out of the sky by the Falcon. Lando invited the crew aboard before Vader opted to investigate in his own fighter.

It didn't take long for Vader's TIE to come up behind the Falcon. Luke told Lando to take the ship beyond some large machines up ahead, which allowed him to release the ship's water supply, which quickly froze upon entering space, and created a blockade that Vader's ship couldn't evade in time.

Vader's TIE crashed into the icy meteors, but it was soon reported that he was still alive. On board the Tarkin, a command was given to activate the ionic cannon. Things were tense for several moments until the Tarkin exploded.

The Rebels on board the Falcon witnessed its destruction in awe. No one breathed a sigh of relief until Leia revealed that its destruction was caused by her. She explained that she'd recognized the cannon controls as being the same as the ones from the Death Star schematics. While in that section, she simply switched a couple of wires to cause the malfunction upon firing. They were thankful that Lando had come to their rescue and set a course for home after a successful mission. 

I remember buying this issue at the local mini-mart in my hometown after being mesmerized by its cover, around the time that my mom was due with my baby brother. I dove into its pages and found myself on edge after every page. I was old enough to appreciate the humor (like the conversations with the Stormtroopers and the fake bomb), which was something that the title hadn't had much of before then. It's still one of my favorite issues and storylines from this series. 

That's all I have for now. Next time, I'll discuss the fifty-third issue of this series. Old and new creative teams from this book combine along with  Uncanny X-Men scripter Chris Claremont on the first part of a story that concentrates on Leia. The princess embarks on a mission to help the Rebellion, only to find herself lost on a world that is much unlike anything she's ever experienced, except for the persistent threat that's already pervaded most of the galaxy. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #51

Hi there,

It's time for me to talk about the fifty-first issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover, drawn by Walt Simonson, showed Luke Skywalker using his blaster pistol against an advancing Imperial Scout Walker. The tale was titled "Resurrection of Evil." The issue had a cover date of September 1981.

The story started with the Rebel fleet. Ships were tracking the return of Captain Maraba Tev's X-Wing Fighter. The captain was returning from a dangerous spy mission in the Patriim system, and technicians were concerned when the fighter overshot the docking bay. Magnetic grapples were deployed to reel the ship in, but it still wasn't responding.

The crew had no choice but to shoot the foils away and reel in what was left. It didn't take long for the crew to find the captain dead in his pilot chair, still clutching a message canister. Afterward, General Rieekan announced to his fellow senior Alliance officers that the information Tev brought back was enough of a concern to recall several key members of the Rebellion.

Elsewhere, on a lush jungle planet, Princess Leia Organa and C-3PO were examining their surroundings to determine if it would suffice as a new Rebel base of operations. One potential problem was the presence of Gundarks. A pair of the creatures briefly separated the heroes, who then fled after the beasts' tongues were literally tied together in a brief skirmish. As they entered orbit, they learned of Rieekan's orders recalling them back to base, and set their return course.

Not far away, Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 were investigating another world. Luke noticed a communications beacon mere moments before he was fired upon by a Scout Walker (a two-legged version of the All Terrain Armored Transport, also referred to as a "chicken walker" because of its size and gait). The walker cut Luke off from his X-Wing and put the Rebel hero between it and an AT-AT. 

Imperial Major Kuhru was guiding the larger Walker. He informed the driver that Darth Vader had wanted a live prisoner for interrogation, but that their immediate concern was to destroy his ship. However, the smaller fighter was protected by an energy shield. Proton grenades distracted the scout walker, who rushed to defend the communications beacon per the major's orders.

When the smaller walker drew near, Luke brandished his lightsaber and cut one of its legs, causing it to topple face-first into the planetary muck. He then rushed to his X-Wing and evaded the AT-AT's fire before exiting the atmosphere. Artoo had been waiting in the ship and received Rieekan's message requiring their immediate return. The AT-AT was left behind with nothing to do but keep driving forward.

In yet another part of the galaxy, Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca were following a ship piloted by the alien mercenary Shem-Lern in the hopes that he might be able to lead them to their comrade, Han Solo (who was last seen in the custody of the bounty hunter Boba Fett in issue #44). Lando received Rieekan's summons and started to change course. Chewie protested, but eventually consented after hearing Calrissian out. By the time that happened, the alien's vessel had already escaped into the asteroid belt ahead of them.

A while later, on one of the Rebel command ships, Rieekan addressed the heroes he'd recalled. He explained that they'd just received information that the Empire was building a massive weapon in space known as the Tarkin. It had the potential to be even more destructive than the Death Star. Because of that, he wanted the assistance of the people he knew who had been on the Death Star and survived. 

On Darth Vader's Super Star Destroyer, the Sith Lord was engaged in a debriefing with Major Kuhru. Vader was furious because he'd chosen the communications beacon over the opportunity to imprison a member of the Rebel Alliance. He suggested through the force that the commander take a walk, which he did in a halting manner. Another officer then reported to Vader that an airlock had opened and closed by itself, which Vader suggested was due to a faulty mechanism.

Rieekan's plans were being announced at the same time on the Rebel command ship. Lando felt a bit left out afterward. A while later, the Falcon landed on the planet Hockaleg, where crew members gathered before being assigned to duties aboard the new Imperial space station. Leia got the attention of a pair of them, who happened to be wearing the duty uniforms that she and Luke needed.

After a little persuasion by Chewbacca, the uniforms were quickly put on, and the quintet made their way to the shuttle bay. Luke used the Force to convince the Stormtrooper on duty that the five of them were indeed on the manifest. As they approached the massive complex, visions of prior conflicts and previous fears surfaced. 

After the Rebels left the shuttle, we saw Vader speaking to Captain Voal, who was confused by his leader's orders to remove all security personnel from the main power reactor area. The Sith Lord was confident that Skywalker was walking into a trap. Little did he suspect that Voal was one of a handful of men who were plotting against him and intended to eliminate the Emperor's right-hand man. 

This was the first Star Wars issue written by David Michelinie. This run with artists Walt Simonson and Tom Palmer is still my favorite from the series. All of the creative personnel took the franchise seriously, and I enjoyed all of the plot points from this storyline. This was the second issue of the title that I ever bought, and the story and artwork reeled me in immediately. I read this issue many times over, while eagerly awaiting what would happen next. 

If you want to learn what happened, tune in tomorrow, when I'll recap the fifty-second issue of this series. We'll see what the Rebels did while onboard the Tarkin, and the culmination of Vader and the rogue Imperials' plans. We'll also see what Lando did after being snubbed by his associates. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #50

Good afternoon all,

Today's topic is the fiftieth issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover, beautifully drawn by inker Tom Palmer, showed R2-D2, C-3PO, Princess Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, and Lando Calrissian in the foreground, with images of Obi-Wan (Ben) Kenobi, Yoda, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Darth Vader, and a squadron of Imperial Stormtroopers in the background. The first part of this story was called "The Crimson Forever!" The issue had a cover date of August 1981.

The tale began somewhere in the galaxy, as the Millennium Falcon was being attacked by incoming Imperial TIE (twin ion engine) fighters. Chewie was piloting the ship while Lando was occupying one of its gun turrets in an effort to hold off the smaller ships. Just when things looked grim, the Falcon was saved by a Rebel blockade runner. 

Leia was aboard the larger vessel and informed the Falcon's crew that they were seeking their assistance on a task that was at the time deemed to be more important than the search for Solo. A while later, both ships entered the atmosphere of the planet Golrath. The volcanic world was being utilized as a temporary base for the Rebellion following the battle of Hoth.

After landing near the magma smelting plant, Lando, Chewie, and Leia made their way toward the medical quarters. Outside, Threepio and Artoo were fretting over the fate of their master, Luke. Skywalker was being attended to by the medical droid 2-1B. Leia explained to Lando that Luke had been afflicted by something called the Crimson Forever.

She went on to explain just what had happened since the Falcon's absence. Luke led his squad on a patrol when they came across an Imperial Star Destroyer that was just floating in space. Artoo detected no life forms on board the Imperial craft, so they decided to investigate. Inside, they came across several crew members' bodies lying around, with their skin turned a bright shade of red. 

Luke ordered the use of survival helmets or breath masks moments before one of his pilots discovered a large red gem that had tumbled out of a carbonite canister. The pilot immediately started feeling ill, and an evacuation began soon thereafter. Skywalker opted to leave the Star Destroyer just as it was, in the hopes that it might still hold some clues.

Unfortunately, Luke was the only one of the pilots from his group to have survived thus far. Leia thought that his knowledge of the Force might still be keeping him alive. It was definite that the jewel was the source of the affliction, and as we soon found out, it was something that Chewbacca had seen before. 

As Leia was begging her Wookiee friend for more information, Skywalker was engaged in a sort of trance. He saw visions of Vader and received advice from his mentors, Yoda and Kenobi, as he engaged in a rematch with the Dark Lord of the Sith. They reminded him to focus on what was real and what wasn't, after he expressed doubts regarding what they'd told him about his father's identity.

The second part was Chewbacca's story, a flashback named "Rage of the Red Nebula!" It happened not that long ago, as Han and Chewie were returning from a mission for the Rebellion, when they found the Falcon under attack by a pair of Star Destroyers. Solo plotted coordinates for a safer destination, and their ship emerged from hyperspace outside a world called Terminus, which was known around the galaxy as a hub for shipping various items.

They set the Falcon down using stolen credentials and set out for a bar minutes later, when they were ambushed from behind. When Han and Chewie woke, they found themselves in chains, prisoners on a ship called the Nova Prince. They were bound for the Red Nebula, which was in a relatively unknown portion of the galaxy.

A humanoid named Klysk appeared in a hologram, stating that he was a representative of those who owned the ship. He explained that they were searching for great rewards that would be shared with their captive crew if they worked hard. He then gave a demonstration of what happens to those who disobey by shocking Han with a mild electric charge. 

They were then shown an image of the prize, which would be worth a ton of credits. Han guessed correctly that Klysk had been to the Red Nebula before, and that they would need help navigating through the comets and meteors from planets and stars that had exploded long ago. Solo got the ship to their destination safely, and they landed and disembarked moments later.

The temple that contained the treasure looked to be untouched, unlike most of their surroundings. Klysk's captives were free to keep any other valuables they noticed along the way. Han and Chewie led the charge past laser cannons to the temple, where they were met by a temple priest (who looked very similar to Klysk).

It was rather naive to assume that the red jewels would not be guarded, as evidenced by some of Han's fellow mercenaries, who were attacked by a large, blue, hairy beast. Han was able to obtain the jewels while the creature was preoccupied with Chewbacca, whom it saw as a cub. A while later, Han returned to Klysk's ship, where he handed over the treasure before being abandoned on the planet.

Solo was then reunited with the temple priest, who led him to an underground chamber with a scope that allowed them to track the departing ship. It collided with the planet's sun, vaporizing all on board. Han then admitted that he'd only given Klysk a pair of stones before leading him to the area of the woods where he'd left the jewels.

Only one of the gems was still there. The priest feared that another one of the pirates had purloined the other, which was a concern because there was a danger involved in separating them. The culprit was lying a few yards away, and the priest said he was able to undo the damage he'd incurred.

The duo then returned to the temple, where Chewie was still being fawned over by the creature. A while later, the priest provided a ship for them to leave in peace. Threepio had just finished translating Chewbacca's story when a Rebel soldier informed the group that Luke had succumbed to the Crimson Forever. 

The third and final part of this story was called "Against the Scarlet Night!" Leia, Lando, and Chewie set off in the Falcon for the Red Nebula. One other ship was detected as they exited hyperspace, which Chewbacca thought might have been Boba Fett's fighter, the Slave I. He dreamed about what he'd do to the bounty hunter before they came across the vessel, which was a damaged House of Taage mining explorer.

After finding a docking bay, Lando and Leia donned spacesuits and entered the craft. Inside, they found more dead crew members, all with the telltale signs of being afflicted by the Crimson Forever. They were about to venture further into the ship when the bounty hunter IG-88 held them at gunpoint. He took the Rebels to his employer, the lady Domina Taage.

Domina was happy to learn of Luke's fate, since she held him and Darth Vader responsible for her brother Orman's death (as seen in issue #37). She explained that she'd heard about the Red Nebula from spies, and her ship blasted away at its surface while her hired bounty hunters took the jewels and the priest who'd been guarding them. 

The priest eventually divulged what he knew about the gems' power, not long before the Taage ship was attacked by a Star Destroyer. Imperial Stormtroopers squared off against the bounty hunters, but the priest managed to free one of the gems from its sealed canister during the struggle before expiring. Domina sealed off her part of the ship before the malady could affect them. 

Lando took off his helmet, claiming that he'd contracted the Crimson Forever. That ruse was enough to scare Domina, IG-88, 4-LOM, Bossk, and Dengar. It gave him and Leia the opening they needed to escape. They departed in the Falcon, before thinking things through. 

Some time later, both ships reconvened near the Star Destroyer that we saw in the first part of this issue. Domina and Leia's factions agreed to let the gems be reunited. 2-1B was correct in noting that the virus could be fatal to those trying to fight off its effects. However, we soon saw Luke alive and well, presumably because of his guidance from the Force.

Both groups later left peacefully. They had no love for Domina, but Lando told her hirelings that because she'd committed acts against the Empire, the Imperials might offer a reward for information regarding her whereabouts. It was a proposition that the mercenaries were intrigued by. 

The first and third parts of this script were illustrated by Walt Simonson and Tom Palmer. The middle part was drawn by Al Williamson, who drew the Star Wars newspaper strip for several years and embellished The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi comic book adaptations with Carlos Garzon. This was the last appearance of any of the Taage family members until Marvel reacquired the license about ten years ago. Domina has since made most of her appearances in the Doctor Aphra books. It was also the last appearance of 4-LOM in this series, although he and his partner Zuckuss would play key roles in the recent Bounty Hunters comics.

The Crimson Forever story is a well-loved part of this series' history. It wouldn't be the only appearance of Golrath, and most of the bounty hunters returned in another pre-ROTJ storyline. The only questions I had afterward were if Klysk and the temple priest were of the same species since they looked so similar, and what happened to the large blue temple guardian after the Taage ship devastated its planet. The last part of this tale felt a bit rushed, but I still felt that things were wrapped up adequately.

That's all I have for now. Next time, I'll discuss the fifty-first issue of this series. A new writer will join Simonson and Palmer as they embark upon a new two-part story. The first segment shows the Rebels pursuing their previous goals, and a new, powerful threat posed by the Empire. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #49

Good Monday afternoon, everyone,

It's time for me to summarize the forty-ninth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover was a collage of images drawn by Walt Simonson. They included a female Imperial commander, a pair of new characters, a Y-Wing fighter, and Luke Skywalker with his lightsaber drawn, ready to defend an unconscious Princess Leia Organa beside him, all with a galactic background. The tale was titled "The Last Jedi!" The issue had a cover date of July 1981.

The story started with a Y-Wing traveling to a planet that had been transmitting a distress signal. C-3PO, R2-D2, Leia, and Luke were aboard the Rebel fighter, which soon landed on the planet. Luke was the first person off the ship, and the only resistance he encountered was a massive beast that came trudging through the forest behind him. He instinctively activated his lightsaber, only to find that the monster's flesh sealed instantly behind the cut his blade had made.

He was about to advise Leia to use her blaster when the alien was destroyed by a blast from a magnetic polarization ray that had been fired by Prince Denid. Denid was the rightful heir to the throne on the planet Velmor, and it was his distress signal that the Rebellion had detected. Denid and his late love left their homeworld after its palace had been stormed by Imperial sympathizers. Denid's brother sided with the Empire and remained on Velmor.

Denid's ship crashed on the planet, and the accident took the life of his beloved Loren. Denid lived with Jedidah, a humanoid who was once recruited to the Jedi cause but rejected them. He rushed to defend Denid during the mob's attack on the palace on Velmor and was struck by falling debris during the conflict. As a result, his mind fixated on that former dream of becoming a Jedi Knight. 

After Luke set a detonator to destroy the signal beacon, Denid and Jedidah boarded the Y-Wing and joined its crew on their journey to Velmor. As they entered hyperspace, they noticed another ship exiting hyperspace at the same time. The ship arrived just in time to interrupt the coronation of Denid's brother Anod as ruler.

Leia and Luke exited the fighter in disguise. Leia took on the guise of Denid's late love, Loren, while Luke assumed the identity of the fictional bounty hunter Korl Marcus. The landing party was met by Anod and his staff, as well as the visiting Imperial dignitary, Captain Traal, who gave them a less-than-warm welcome. 

Security scans confirmed Denid's identity, while Leia claimed that her records were destroyed when Alderaan blew up. Traal was naturally skeptical of the new arrivals, but kept quiet for the moment. Later on, at a banquet, Anod engaged Marcus in an energy sword battle. The weapons were similar to lightsabers, so Luke was able to successfully defend himself, although he was surprised by his opponent's skill.

Luke learned of Denid's intention to wed Leia as he was grabbed lightly by Traal to have a private conversation. The Imperial captain asked the bounty hunter to eliminate Denid and his betrothed and offered him double whatever fee Denid was paying. She wanted to move up in the Imperial ranks, apparently by any means necessary. Afterward, Traal confided in her associates that the bounty hunter would take out the prince, and then they would take out Marcus.

Traal was in allegiance with Anod, who wanted to be the only one who could make a claim to the throne. After speaking with the Imperial, Anod received a communique from a subordinate confirming that they'd traced the signal Denid had sent, but that he'd already been claimed by another pilot, one who was in the palace as they spoke. Anod demoted the lackey before ending the call. He'd been ruling Velmor for 20 years and was not going to give up his position any time soon.

Luke was about to inform Leia of his interlude with Traal when he noticed that she and Denid were locked in an embrace, shown in shadows through the curtains that they were standing in front of. He decided to inform her the next day, just before the coronation games were about to begin. Participants took to their steeds before the prey known as Mrids were released. After whispering to Leia, Luke rode off in another direction before coming across her and Denid resting later on. 

Traal arrived next to Luke, and the young Jedi was about to take the opportunity to discuss their "arrangement" further before he was fired upon by Anod and his men. Luke and Leia's cover was blown during the ensuing battle, and Traal made Skywalker her immediate target.

After distancing himself from his foes, Luke reached out with the Force to contact Jedidah, who answered his summons. Anod caught up with Skywalker, and the duo began another swordfight. This time, Luke proved to be far superior. However, Jedidah went after Traal but was mortally wounded during their scuffle.

Luke knocked the Imperial out following his battle and carried his friend's body back to the castle. A while later, Leia, Luke, and the droids said their goodbyes as they prepared to depart. Velmor was thankful for their assistance and was willing to give up Leia to the Rebellion.

Before entering hyperspace, Luke launched a smaller vessel containing Jedidah's body. He stood for a moment to honor his fallen friend. He admired his bravery as a true Jedi, knowing that the Force would always be with him. 

It's an odd coincidence that the title of this story is the same as that of the eighth movie in the Star Wars franchise. This was the first time that penciller Walt Simonson and inker Tom Palmer teamed up on this book, and their run is still my favorite from this title. Writer Mike Barr, who's best known for his work on DC and Star Trek comics, did a good job of portraying an underrated hero in Jedidah and of exploring the familiar concept of sibling rivalry. 

That's it for this article. Next up is the landmark fiftieth issue. Archie Goodwin, Al Williamson, Simonson, and Palmer combine on a double-length story that starts with the Rebels' search for another planet for their base, and features the return of a few familiar characters, including a tale from Han Solo's past. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #48

Hello there,

It's time for me to discuss the forty-eighth issue of the first Star Wars comic. The cover showed Princess Leia Organa squaring off against Darth Vader, with R2-D2 to her left and an as-yet-unidentified figure lying before her. The tale, scripted by future G.I. Joe writer Larry Hama, was titled "The Third Law!" The issue had a cover date of June 1981.

The story started on the planet Aargau, which was known for its precious metal exports, strong armed forces, laws regarding weapons possession, and its stable currency. Leia, Artoo, C-3PO, and Viscount Tardi were just disembarking from their ship that landed on that world, and were being greeted by members of the local security forces. A small droid with a microphone attachment asked the new arrivals to speak clearly and announce their identities.

Leia and her friends had arrived in search of funding for a new squadron of X-Wing fighters. The quartet was escorted past the docking bay, and soon went by a scanner that was used to detect if outgoing guests were carrying any contraband on their persons. All the Rebels had to declare was a sealed diplomatic pouch, which was exempt from the planet's customs inspections.

Aargau had three laws. The first was that no precious metals could be removed from the world. The second stated that visitors could not own weapons. However, it was also illegal for Aargau's citizens not to be armed. The final law spoke about the wanton conspiring to discredit, deceive, or defraud the planet's bank. Leia and her crew had just tread and acknowledged those laws when a familiar voice spoke from behind them.

The mechanical voice belonged to none other than Darth Vader himself. The Dark Lord of the Sith was accompanied by a trio of aliens, instead of his usual complement of Imperial Stormtroopers, most likely due to the planet's weapon ban. Leia recognized Vader's porter as a high-gravity being from Rigel VII, his secretary as a shape-shifting alien, and his valet as a telekinetic. All three of his aides were also known members of the Assassins' Guild.

Before Leia could go on describing her foe's entourage, the X-ray scanner signaled an alert, as the person being scanned was found with gold implants on a pair of his ribs. The visitor fled, only to be swiftly gunned down by armed members of the planet's populace. Afterward, Leia realized that Vader was sent by the Emperor to stop the Rebellion's loan, a feat which could be accomplished by destroying the viscount.

The next morning, Threepio piloted a speeder that took the group through town. Leia rehearsed the day's schedule before noticing Vader and his assistants standing on a bridge above them. Moments later, his porter jumped down and began tearing the speeder apart with his bare hands. Leia reached for the diplomatic pouch and pulled a small hand-held device from it. She pushed a button on it, and the creature immediately disappeared from sight. 

A planetary patrol arrived shortly thereafter. Vader accused the princess of breaking the planetary laws regarding weapons use by non-natives, but Leia noted that the device in her hand was merely a typical gravitational field disrupter, which could be purchased in any spaceport duty-free shop. She'd used it to increase their attacker's density to the seventh power, sending him far beneath the world's surface.

As the princess and her colleagues moved on, Vader's subordinates questioned their employer's decision. Vader, never being one to accept being questioned, asserted that the assassins were nothing more to him than professional pawns. Those pawns could be sacrificed for the sake of other more important pieces on the playing board. 

Later on that day, in the garden of butterflies, Threepio marveled at the variety of butterfly species that were fluttering about. He told Artoo about his experience working for a previous employer who was an avid collector of butterflies. That knowledge would soon prove to be invaluable, as the translator droid correctly identified a bright red butterfly from the Antares system, which had a stinger that was capable of secreting a very potent nerve toxin. Artoo emitted a narrow spray of fire-retardant stream just before the butterfly was about to approach the viscount from behind. Leia then crushed the defeated pest under her foot, much to Vader's chagrin. 

After a while, dignitaries assembled on a small tower to oberve Aargau's military forces engaged in a training exercise. Vader's telekinetic hireling was able to subtly manipulate one of their fliers so that it eventually headed toward the viscount. As the craft exploded, it was revealed that its target was a hologram of Tardi that was being projected by Artoo. Leia was about to offer Threepio's services to Vader after the blast destroyed his telekinetic aide, but noted that the droid was being repaired.

That was a ruse, since Threepio was still back in Leia's quarters. He delivered a message to Organa that evening from Vader, asking for a meeting at the old spaceport. Leia agreed, and arrived at the rendezvous point with Artoo and Tardi. Vader expressed his true intentions to prevent the Alliance loan, before striking out at the viscount with his lightsaber. 

Leia sprung into action, firing her blaster at the Sith Lord. Vader stated that there would be no loan, since the viscount had expired. He then looked down to see that his foe was a robot. Artoo then projected a relay of the battle, proving that Vader had used a prohibited weapon, and that Threepio was safely ensconced with that evidence. 

The diplomatic pouch that Leia brought to Aargau contained the crown jewels of Alderaan. She knew that the viscount robot's inner workings would have undoubtedly shown up on the exit scanner, which would have disqualified their loan application. That's why Tardi had to appear to have been slain by Vader or his assassins. 

However, Vader then disclosed that his true objective had been the jewels themselves. He'd bribed a bank officer and added that the viscount's doctor was on his payroll and that the assassins were just a distraction. Vader brought out the jewels which he'd had all along. Leia would have her loan, but exposing Vader's real purpose to the local authorities might damage her credit rating. 

This was one of those odd single-issue stories with a mild twist at the end. I got the impression that Hama understood the characters he wrote about. Even though I still don't like Infantino's artwork, it did move the story along, and no key details were missed.

That's it for this article. Next time, I'll write about the forty-ninth issue of Star Wars. Luke Skywalker, Leia, and the droids travel to a different planet and answer a distress call. They'll also encounter new foes and allies, one of which is the reason for the story's title, which is the same as one of the recent Star Wars movie sequels. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #47

Good afternoon everyone,

Hope all's well. The focus of this article will be the forty-seventh issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover, drawn by James Sherman and legendary Daredevil artist/writer Frank Miller, showed R2-D2 and C-3PO on the run from an army of robots. The tale was titled "Droid World!" The issue had a cover date of May 1981.

The story started with Luke Skywalker's droids being attacked by a trio of robots who were occupying a large tracked vehicle. Threepio and Artoo argued about the reason for their plight until they reached a dead end. As they peered down into a smelting pit below, it seemed like this was the end for our heroes.

It was at that point that the story was brought back to its beginning, aboard a Rebel ship. Luke and another Rebellion commander were inspecting an Imperial warbot that had been retrieved from a recent conflict. Artoo and Threepio's job was to inspect the captured machine to see what they could learn from it. Unfortunately, Artoo's misinterpretation of his comrade's suggestion to go higher resulted in him fusing the warbot's innards. Instead of raising the lift he'd been on, the plucky astrodroid moved his probe further inside the Imperial construct, which caused the damage.

Artoo's scream brought Luke and the commander running. They inspected the results, knowing that it would now be indecipherable. However, a technician did suggest an alternative to their problem. A short time later, Luke and the droids were off in their ship, heading toward a place that might be able to help. It was a world known as Kligson's Moon, also referred to as Droid World.

As they approached the massive artificial vessel, the Rebels soon learned that humans were not allowed on the moon. Kligson was a veteran of the Clone Wars, and his experiences apparently led him to distrust other organics. He was now a cyborg, somewhat like Valance, the bounty hunter who was introduced in issue #16 of this series. 

Threepio announced that they had a robot that was so damaged that it was irreparable. Kligson accepted the challenge, on the condition that no organics set foot on his complex, and that he kept anything that he fixed. Threepio reasoned that he and Artoo could accompany the warbot and record everything that Kligson did, so that they would have a complete schematic. Luke was a bit skeptical, but allowed his droids to proceed on that mission by themselves. 

The Imperial warbot was loaded onto a tractor drone and was led to the examining chamber along with the Rebel robots. A remote-controlled scan was utilized to examine the machine's flaws. Kligson instructed his subordinate, Zee-Exthree, to dump the war machine into the core and put restraining bolts on his hosts. The latter instruction was negated after Threepio told the station's leader that he and Artoo enjoyed working with organics. That was something that Kligson wanted to learn more about personally, so he ordered that the droids be brought to his chamber.

On the way, ZX-3 explained that he was an experimental Imperial robot that had been designed to work in extreme conditions that Stormtroopers couldn't survive. He was eventually rejected by the Empire and claimed by Kligson. He then showed his guests the way to Kligson's station before moving on with the warbot. 

While Threepio was excited to learn more about Kligson, Artoo lagged behind and opted to follow ZX-3 instead. By the time he'd reached Kligson's chamber, Threepio finally noticed Artoo's disappearance. The diminutive astrodroid found a safe hiding place to watch and discovered that they already had another warbot body, which just needed the functioning weapon head that this model provided. 

As the transfer was taking place, a small ball-like floating droid informed ZX-3 of Artoo's presence. He was soon found and shot at by another protocol droid. Artoo escaped, but ZX-3 and his crew knew that it wouldn't be long before their plans to take over the artificial satellite were uncovered.

Artoo arrived in Kligson's room as Threepio was conversing with the station leader. He barely had time to inform them of the threat when ZX-3 entered, wearing a chest-mounted cannon. The unauthorized weapon was used to destroy Kligson moments later. It was the first salvo in the battle for control of Droid World. 

Threepio and Artoo escaped the chamber, only to find the newly repaired warbot waiting for them down one hallway, and a tracked vehicle driven by more of ZX-3's compatriots in the other hallway. They wound up at the dead end. Feeling the sweltering heat of the fire pit beneath them, Luke's robots had no choice but to jump, and were surprised to find themselves being attached to a pair of overhead magnetic grapples. 

Our heroes were saved, but the advancing tank couldn't stop in time and drove headfirst into the fiery pit. As they were being hauled up, Artoo and Threepio saw that their rescuer was none other than Kligson himself. Kligson later told them that ZX-3 had shot an android duplicate of himself. He was preparing for his associate's eventual betrayal, and had even prepared his own Imperial warbot for just such an occasion. 

By using the cannibalized parts from the warbot the droids brought to the planetoid, Kligson was able to employ the machine to counter the robot uprising. It was a decisive battle that Kligson's opponents had no chance of winning. Afterward, Kligson felt remorse for the losses that occurred. 

A while later, Threepio and Artoo were back on Luke's ship. Artoo had achieved the goal of acquiring a full warbot schematic, and Skywalker was complimenting them both on their success. Threepio noted that the events they'd witnessed had caused Kligson to retreat even further from humanity, as evidenced by the departure of his base from the planet it had previously orbited moments later.

This issue is a favorite of mine because it's the very first Star Wars comic book that I purchased as a child from my hometown drug store. I still have that copy, which is well-worn because I've read it dozens of times. It was my introduction to Marvel and this title's creative team. I noticed the stark contrast in art styles between Carmine Infantino and Gene Day immediately. This story was also converted to book and record format, and I had that version as well when I was younger. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll tackle the forty-eighth issue of this series. Princess Leia Organa, Artoo, and Threepio encounter Darth Vader on another world in a quest for additional financing for fighters to aid in their cause. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #46

Hello and Happy Friday, everyone,

It's time for me to recap the forty-sixth issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover showed a ghastly creature wrapping its hands around an Imperial Star Destroyer, as the Millennium Falcon flew below it. The story was called "Dreams of Cody Sunn-Childe!" The issue had a cover date of April 1981.

The tale began with the Falcon, flown by Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca. The duo was searching for the bounty hunter Boba Fett's ship, the Slave I, to try and rescue their friend, Han Solo, when they found themselves in an unfamiliar part of the galaxy. The only landmark in their immediate vicinity was a domed city nestled on a floating piece of a planet, where they soon landed.

Lando and Chewie then left the ship to examine their surroundings. Minutes later, Chewbacca was attacked by a large purple beast. Just when things seemed most dire, the creature was stunned by a striking figure from behind. Chewie's attacker vanished just as quickly as he'd appeared.

Calrissian recognized the stranger as Cody Sunn-Childe. He was remembered fondly as a hero of the Rebellion, although he preferred leaving those days behind. Sunn-Childe then led his guests into the city, which seemed to be quite peaceful and tranquil. A monk-like figure proclaimed that their city was a haven from the Galactic conflict, as the presence of another Wookiee seemed to calm Chewbacca. The person on a raised platform called himself Ansible Beelyard. Calrissian knew that name as the person who had been Sunn-Childe's right hand confidant until they'd vanished more than a decade before. That revelation made Lando wonder what was really going on.

 Meanwhile, not far away, a cadre of Imperial Star Destroyers were nearing the same dimensional rift that the Falcon had entered. Imperial Captain Plikk and Lieutenant Nizzon in the lead ship thought it was something worth exploring. They ordered their fleet to move closer to the anomaly, in the hopes that whatever they discovered would benefit the Empire.

Deep in a sub-basement in the city of dreams, Sunn-Childe was showing Lando their communications center. Calrissian was still surprised how Cody had distanced himself so much from the cause that he once fought bravely for. Sunn-Childe started talking about those days, and how much he'd loved the thrill of combat. 

Everything changed during one particular conflict, when Sunn-Childe was struck by a blast that knocked him down toward the very depths of the planet he was one. Cody was swallowed up by a mysterious flame, one that gave him incredible power, which he took time to learn away from the battlefield. Sunn-Childe also observed the natives around him and decided it was time to develop a better world. 

He decided to create a paradise from concepts that were already within his own mind. Lando noted Sunn-Childe had once been a role model to many others, and now he apparently chose to retreat from what he could no longer bear. Lando's accusations were made just as more purple beasts arrived. Once again, they disappeared into thin air, because they were manifestations of Sunn-Childe's repressed horrors. It was becoming more of a struggle to keep them at bay. 

Lando realized that even the Wookiee Chewbacca was talking with wasn't real. Lando continued to doubt Cody's motives. He finally evoked a bit of rage from the former Rebel hero, which was something that gave a glimmer of hope.

At the same time, the Imperial Star Destroyers were converging on the rift. Their ships entered the area moments before the Falcon, which had been repaired by Sunn-Childe's men, was ready for takeoff. Before departing, Lando reminded Cody that he was still fighting for the same cause that the city's leader once believed in. 

Their converation was broken up by an Imperial attack. Lando and Chewie left, after Calrissian told Sunn-Childe that it was time to consider what he believed. While the Falcon fought the oncoming Star Destroyers, Sunn-Childe's brow grew feverish, as he knew what he had to do.

One of the Imperial cruisers soon found itself under attack by a giant green creature. This being was an apparation from Sunn-Childe's mind. It briefly gave the Falcon a fighting chance to escape, and the strain of trying to follow the fugitive vessel soon proved to be too much of a strain for the Imperial ships. 

The Star Destroyers managed to destroy the planetoid that Cody and his followers had built, but at the expense of their hyperdrive engines. Lando and Chewie took a brief moment to mourn their loss before moving on, to continue their search for Solo. The Imperials sat there helpless, caught in what proved to be Sunn-Childe's ultimate revenge. 

This was another example of a character that had potential, but was eliminated in their debut. Cody Sunn-Childe could eventually have gone on to become renewed allies of the Rebellion, but were unfortunately extinguished way too soon. This was Lando's first issue since the series' adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back and it showed a side of the former Cloud City adminstrator, one that's more in line with how we got to know him as the franchise moved on. 

Well, that's all I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll continue with a recap of the forty-seventh issue of this title. This issue features R2-D2 and C-3PO in their first solo mission. It's one of my favorite issues from this run, one that was also adapted for a book and record version. Come back on Saturday to learn more. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #45

Hello all,

It's time for me to discuss the forty-fifth issue of the first Star Wars comic book title. The cover, drawn by Al Milgrom and future G.I. Joe scripter Larry Hama, showed Luke Skywalker battling a large Imperial Probe Droid. The tale was titled "Death Probe." The issue had a publication date of March 1981. 

The story started with a blockade runner that was suddenly breached by an oncoming vessel. The blockade runner's sensors indicated that there were no life forms aboard the intruder, which was revealed as a massive Imperial Probe Droid. The robot started extinguishing the crew, and prevented one of the officers from radioing for help before it started integrating with the craft's internal systems. 

Its activities were reported to the crew onboard an Imperial Star Destroyer somewhere in outer space. The ship's commander was pleased with its progress and was convinced that it would make him look more favorable to the Emperor. Meanwhile, an X-Wing containing Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 was on a routine patrol.

This was one of Luke's first sojourns since the events that occurred in The Empire Strikes Back movie. As he flew, the former farmboy from Tatooine thought back to his training on Dagobah with the Jedi master Yoda, and his recent confrontation with Darth Vader at Cloud City on Bespin, where he lost his lightsaber and right hand in battle with the Sith Lord, who claimed that he was Luke's father. If that were true, then it meant that Obi-Wan Kenobi had deceived him.

Luke's reverie was interrupted by an alert that indicated a blockade runner was in the area. Without warning, the blockade runner fired on and quickly destroyed the X-Wing. Luke and Artoo jetissoned their ship in time, but were left floating in space. Skywalker grabbed a hold of his trusty astrodroid and fired his pistol to bring them closer to their attacker. 

While Artoo magnetized his body to the underbelly of the vessel, Luke used his lightsaber to cut them an opening. They found themselves under attack once more upon entering and ran toward the control center. Artoo detected incoming Imperial transmissions just before an automated repair droid lunged at them. 

Luke was able to keep the mechanoid at bay, and several fuel drums from an overhead compartment dropped on top of it after the robot slammed into a wall, instantly setting the mechanism on fire. Artoo learned that something had overridden the ship's computer system, so he and Skywalker had to rely on other ways to put out the blaze while simultaneously keeping themselves safe.

Meanwhile, Imperial Admiral Krell continued to be informed of the probe droid's status and instructed his subordinates to proceed to the final cycle immediately. Not long after that, Luke and Artoo finally reached the ship's bridge, where they saw the large probe droid that had now become an extension of the ship itself. It was linked to the main reactor in addition to its computer systems, so any attack on the droid could cause the craft to build to critical mass and detonate the reactor. 

As the hijacked blockade runner drew closer to the fleet, the Rebels had to think fast. Luke lashed out at a cockpit door with his saber, only to be knocked unconscious by a corresponding power overload from a nearby wall circuit. Knowing that he had Skywalker in his grasp, the probe droid countermanded the Imperial Admiral's orders and planned to deliver his prisoner to the Dark Lord instead.

Luke recovered after the blockade runner took out a few more X-Wings that were on scout patrol. Skywalker used his lightsaber once more to disable a particular console. That action impacted the probe droid's ability to guide his ship. Luke and Artoo ran to an escape pod and took off just in time to avoid the blockade runner's collision with the Imperial Star Destroyer, and the subsequent explosion that destroyed both ships.

The pod was found and recovered a while later by another X-Wing. As they headed back to base, Luke thought about his recovery from his battle with Vader. He expected a challenge, but didn't think that the mission would be nearly as dangerous as it actually was.

As far as I can recall, this is the last appearance of a Probe Droid in this series. It was interesting to have a rogue probe that exceeded the programming of most of its kind, especially one that defied direct orders from an Imperial leader. I'm still not a big fan of Carmine Infantino's work, but thankfully, this was one of the last issues he worked on in this series. 

That's it for this article. Next time, I'll recap the forty-sixth issue of this series. We'll find out what happened to Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca after the events covered in The Empire Strikes Back. We'll learn what they've accomplished thus far in their quest to find Han Solo and see their encounter with a former hero. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #44

Good evening all,

Today's focus will be on the forty-fourth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars comic series. This issue is the last part of their adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back. The cover showed Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker engaged in lightsaber combat. The story was called "To Duel a Dark Lord!" The issue had a cover date of February 1981.

The tale began in the carbon freezing chamber of Bespin's Cloud City. Han Solo had just been frozen in carbonite. He was alive and in perfect hibernation. The bounty hunter Boba Fett claimed Solo, and Vader ordered the chamber to be reset for Skywalker. The pilot had just landed and was on his way soon. Vader adjusted his deal with Lando Calrissian by requiring that Princess Leia and Chewbacca (who had the disassembled C-3PO on his back) be taken to his personal ship.

Luke and R2-D2 happened along just as Solo was being led to Fett's ship, the Slave I. He engaged in a firefight with the Imperials guarding the block of carbonite, only to be warned by Leia that he was walking into a trap. Artoo was cut off from his master before Luke entered the carbon freezing chamber. There, he finally found himself face to face with the Dark Lord of the Sith all by himself for the first time.

As the long-awaited lightsaber battle began, Lando uttered a code that led several of his guards to surround the Imperials. They took the soldiers' blasters before leading the Imperials off to a detention area. Calrissian tried to explain that he was only trying to help, and that there was still a chance to save Han at the east platform, while being choked by the enraged Wookiee.

Artoo rejoined Threepio and his companions on the way to try to prevent Fett's ship from taking off. Meanwhile, the conflict in the carbon freezing area raged on. At one point, Vader engaged the carbon freezing unit controls as Luke fell in, only to see that Yoda's young pupil had jumped to safety before the mechanisms engaged. The two combatants moved on further, until Luke was sent flying backwards through a window after Vader used the Force to hurl objects at the unsuspecting lad.

While Luke was doing his best to remain calm, his friends were fighting their way through squadrons of Stormtroopers to reach the Millennium Falcon. Vader was the victor in his fight, after slicing the hand that held Luke's lightsaber from his body. As the weakened youth tried to retreat, Vader claimed that he was his father. Luke found this hard to believe, and eventually opted to take his chances by dropping into a lengthy pit rather than join the Sith Lord.

The Falcon had finally taken off, while Luke found himself hanging on an underhanging weather vane for dear life. Knowing Kenobi swore not to assist him, he called out with the force to Leia. Organa heard Luke's pleas through the Force and made Chewbacca go back to pick up their friend, just as he was about to fall. Lando brought him inside the ship just before TIE fighters rushed to attack.

Artoo was occupied with repairing Threepio when he noticed that the ship still wasn't able to go into lightspeed (which had been a constant issue throughout the film). He noted that the city's central computer told him that the system was deactivated, so he rolled over to the control and reactivated it. The Falccon burst out of view, just as Imperial Star Destroyers were preparing to use tractor beams to reel in the ailing vessel.

A while later, Luke was being fitted with a mechanical hand in one of the fleet's medical ships. He was there with Leia, Artoo, and Threepio. Chewie and Lando were about to depart on the Falcon on their quest to reclaim Solo. They promised Leia they'd find him. Luke wished them luck before promising to regroup with them on Tatooine, before the tale came to an end. 

The remaining content in this issue consisted of bonus pinups created by Walt Simonson, Joe Jusko, Fred Hembeck, Bob Layton, and Marshall Rogers. I felt like this was a satisfying conclusion of the adaptation. Writer/editor Archie Goodwin summed things up nicely and didn't leave anything essential out. Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon's art was magnificent throughout the entire adaptation. I'm glad that this creative team reunited to adapt the Return of the Jedi film. 

That's all the time I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the forty-fifth issue of this series. Luke and Artoo embark on their first mission since the events in ESB. We'll see the return of a popular type of character, which acts in ways that are quite unexpected. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #43

Good afternoon all,

It's time for me to discuss the forty-third issue of the first Star Wars comic book title. This issue was the fifth of the six-part adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back. The cover showed Chewbacca, Princess Leia Organa, and Han Solo preparing to defend themselves against a trio of as yet unnamed people. The tale was titled "Betrayal at Bespin!" The issue had a cover date of January 1981.

Following the splash page exclusive to this issue, we saw the Millennium Falcon heading toward Cloud City, an artificial facility raised high above the planet Bespin. Solo's ship was allowed to land, and he soon greeted his old friend Lando Calrissian and his entourage. After a bit of agitation, the two old friends started laughing. Lando led Han and his companions around the city. On the way, C-3PO was distracted by the sounds of an R2 unit. He went off on his own to investigate and soon found himself in trouble, and the familiar whine of blaster bolts could be heard.

On the planet Dagobah, Luke Skywalker was about to enter a cave. Master Yoda advised him that it was a domain of evil, and what lay in store was only what the young student took with him. Luke entered it with his weapons and soon encountered what he thought to be Darth Vader, only to see his own face staring back at him after defeating his foe.

Back on Bespin, Leia was wondering about Threepio's disappearance. Han offered to have Lando search for him, only for Chewie to arrive with a box full of droid parts. The Wookiee explained that he'd found the protocol droid in a dumpster. Han said that Lando's men could fix him, but Leia was still a bit wary of their host, who arrived moments later to invite his guests for some refreshment.

Luke continued to learn and could now see visions of the future. He saw a city in the clouds, and grew concerned about the well-being of his friends. Yoda advised that the future was always in motion, and there was no guarantee that what he'd witnessed would come to pass. 

On their way, Leia and Han asked Lando more about his affiliations. The administrator stated that he'd just made a deal that would keep the Empire out of his city for good, right before opening a chamber door that revealed the Dark Lord of the Sith sitting at the head of a banquet table. Lando apologized, saying the Empire had arrived right before they did. That was little consolation to Han, who pulled his blaster from its holster and squeezed off several shots, all of which were deflected by Vader before using the Force to grab the weapon from his hand. With Boba Fett at his side, the Imperial leader said that they would be honored if Lando's guests would join them.

Meanwhile, on Dagobah, Luke continued to despair for his friends. He felt like he had to help them. As he and R2-D2 readied his X-Wing for flight, Yoda and the ghostly apparition of Ben Kenobi reminded Luke of the dangers he faced if he rushed to confront Vader. Kenobi said that he could not interfere, which Skywalker understood. He wasn't about to sacrifice Han, Leia, or Chewie, but promised to return to finish what he'd begun. As the fighter took off, Obi-Wan said that Luke was their last hope, to which Yoda replied that there was another.

In another section of Cloud City, Han was being hooked up to a torture device. His pained screams could be heard outside the chamber by several Imperial Stormtroopers, Fett, and Calrissian. Vader promised Solo to Fett after he had Skywalker. Leia and Chewbacca were not to leave the city, which was an alteration Vader made to his deal. It was an arrangement that Lando confided to his associate Lobot was getting worse all the time. 

Inside a holding area, Chewie was working on repairing Threepio. The protocol droid could see, but was incensed over being backwards. Moments later, troopers tossed Han into the cell. He was weakened by torture, and noticed that he was never asked any questions. Lando entered then, stating that Han was being given to the bounty hunter. He added that they weren't Vader's real target, and that the Sith was after someone called Skywalker. Leia remarked that they were the bait, but it was a trap well seet, since Lando noted that Skywalker was already on his way there. Han struck his friend, only to be battered by several Bespin guards who were protecting their superior. They left the cell minutes later, leaving Leia to console Han while commenting on his interpersonal skills.

Vader had moved on to the city's carbon freezing chamber. He thought it would be sufficient to preserve Skywalker for his journey to the Emperor. However, it still needed to be tested, and Captain Solo would be the test subject. 

Luke and Artoo were just about to land on Cloud City when Han and his friends were herded to the carbon freeze chamber. Fett wondered about his payment if Solo didn't make it. Vader assured him that the Empire would compensate him properly in that instance. Han was about to face his fate, just as Skywalker started making his way toward his friends. 

The last content pages in this issue were pinups drawn by Terry Austin, Michael Golden, John Byrne, Marie Severin, and Frank Miller. Some of them have been reprinted in Dark Horse collections of this series, but it's nice to see them in their original issue. I felt like this issue was paced well, and although some things weren't in the exact order as they were in the film, they still moved the story along well, and no key parts were missed.

Well, that's all I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll wrap up this adaptation with my recap of the forty-fourth issue of this series. We'll find out what happened to Han and what his friends did afterward. There'll also be the long-awaited battle between Luke and Vader, and a startling revelation that happens during that meeting. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #42

Good morning everyone,

This morning's topic is the forty-second issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. It's the fourth part of their Empire Strikes Back adaptation. The cover showed bounty hunters Dengar, Boba Fett, and Bossk. The story was called "To Be a Jedi!" The issue had a cover date of December 1980.

After the splash page, the tale began on Dagobah, where Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 had arrived in their X-Wing to find Yoda, the Jedi Master who had once trained Obi-Wan Kenobi. Just as Luke was setting up camp on the swampy planet, a diminutive being interrupted them, who later said that he could take them to Yoda.

In another part of the galaxy, Imperial Star Destroyers were firing laser beams at an asteroid where the Millennium Falcon was hiding. C-3PO learned from the ship's computer that its power coupling had been polarized, so Han Solo and Chewbacca went to replace it. A little later on, Han had another run-in with Princess Leia Organa, and the pair had their first kiss, which left each of them feeling something for the other. 

Darth Vader's Super Star Destroyer moved out of the asteroid field for a while so that the Sith Lord could communicate with the Emperor. The Empire's leader informed his subordinate that the son of Skywalker posed a significant threat, but if he could be turned, he might become a great asset. Vader vowed to his master that Skywalker would either join them or die.

Back on Dagobah, Luke grew impatient inside their host's hut. He wanted to find Yoda, not realizing he'd been with him all along. His impatience wearied the wizened Jedi Master. It wasn't until he spoke aloud and was answered by Kenobi's voice that Luke learned the truth. Yoda expressed doubt over Luke's ability to become a Jedi, but Luke tried to assert his confidence, stating that he wasn't afraid. That was something Yoda was sure would change.

After finding out that something was crawling outside the Falcon, Chewie and Solo went out to investigate, followed by Leia. Han spied and shot a Mynock, who had probably been chewing on power cables. He was convinced that there were probably more of them close by. The trio noticed the unusual nature of the cave until Han decided to shoot at the cavern floor. That action caused an unearthly rumbling, and he ordered everyone back inside the ship. As the Falcon prepared to leave, it seemed like the cave entrance was collapsing. However, this was no cave. The Falcon had roosted inside the mouth of a large space slug and narrowly escaped as it soared into outer space.

At the same time, Luke was beginning his Jedi training. The exercises Yoda planned for him tested his mental and physical strengths and abilities, but he continued to improve over time. Unfortunately, when Artoo alerted him of their ship sinking into the swamp, Luke was unable to raise the X-Wing, and it sank even deeper. Yoda was able to raise the vessel and lift it onto solid ground. Luke found that feat to be unbelievable, which is why Yoda said that his student had failed. 

Back on Vader's Star Destroyer, the Sith Lord was talking to the bounty hunters who had been recruited to find the Falcon. Vader gave instructions to Dengar, IG-88, Bossk, Boba Fett, 4-LOM, and Zuckuss (not pictured). He wanted the ship's crew alive, with no disintegrations. No sooner had those words been spoken than an Imperial officer ran toward Vader, decrying that they had their quarry.

The Falcon was now within firing range of the Star Destroyers. Han got creative and made what appeared to be an attack run, flying toward one of the Star Destroyers. Afterward, the ship no longer appeared on any of their scopes. What they didn't know was that the vessel in question was positioned on one side of the ship's command tower.

On Dagobah, Luke was learning the difference between the light and dark sides of the Force from Yoda. Yoda stated that the Dark Side was quicker, easier, and more seductive. Once someone went down that path, it would forever dominate their destiny, like it did to Obi-Wan's apprentice, Darth Vader.

Still unable to find the Falcon, Vader instructed his fleet to calculate possible paths along its last known trajectory. The Imperial ships then dumped their garbage into space before going into lightspeed. The Falcon then detached from the Star Destroyer it had been sitting on, and floated along with the refuse. As they did so, Han looked for a place to hide out, and came up with Lando Calrissian, a name from the past who Han was sure had no love for the Empire. Unbeknownst to the Falcon and its crew, Boba Fett's ship, the Slave I, was also lying hidden in the garbage, waiting for the Falcon to make its next move. 

The rest of this issue's content was cover pages from the British Star Wars Weekly magazine. Some additional covers from this publication were also shown in the first Star Wars annual. Because of the popularity of the Mandalorian and Boba Fett, this issue and issue #68 are two of the issues in this series that are the hardest for collectors to find, and can run a pretty penny for copies in good condition or better.

One fun fact about the bounty hunters: Kenner initially incorrectly mislabeled the 4-LOM and Zuckuss action figures. I remember receiving the Zuckuss action figure, which was labeled on the package as 4-LOM. The real 4-LOM action figure was a C-3PO body with a different head sculpt. Neither of these two featured prominently in this series, but would play larger roles and be more fleshed out in the Bounty Hunters comics in recent years by Marvel.

The action really ramped up in this issue. We finally got to see Yoda, the bounty hunters, and the Emperor, although he only appeared in a shadowy form in a single panel. The original version from the film was rather rough and was spruced up for the special edition years later. This issue covered some of the key plot points from the movie and kept moving the story along at a good pace.

Next time, I'll cover the forty-third issue of this series. Part 5 of the adaptation shows us where the Falcon went next. We'll meet Calrissian and his crew and learn what the new character had in store for his old friend. We'll also see more of Luke's Jedi training and what tempts him to leave Dagobah. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #41

Good afternoon,

This afternoon's focus will be on the forty-first issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. This issue is the third installment of their six-issue adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back. The cover showed the Millennium Falcon entering an asteroid field with an Imperial Destroyer and several TIE fighters close behind. The tale was titled "Imperial Pursuit!" The issue had a cover date of November 1980. 

After the opening splash page, the story started right where the previous issue had left off. Luke Skywalker was emerging from his crashed snowspeeder as a pair of Imperial All Terrain Armored Transports (AT-ATs) were headed his way. Luke ducked inside the cockpit to grab a couple of items before his vehicle was crushed underneath one of the walker's legs. He used a harpoon gun to fire a slender cable that he ascended quickly. Skywalker then used his lightsaber to cut a hole in the vehicle's underbelly and tossed a proton grenade inside the newly created opening. Luke jumped to safety moments before the Imperial transport began buckling from internal explosions and eventually crashed to the snowy ground on Hoth.

Inside the Rebel command center, Leia Organa was giving evacuation instructions. Han Solo arrived to ensure that she and C-3PO got out before the Empire arrived. A cave-in prevented the trio from reaching the Rebel ships, so they headed toward the Falcon and a waiting Chewbacca. The trio entered the Correllian vessel just as Darth Vader and his snowtroopers were infiltrating the headquarters.

Han had a few tricks up his sleeve, which defended his ship as they prepared to launch, and soon left Hoth's atmosphere. Their departure was noticed by Luke and several of his fellow pilots. A pair of Star Destroyers was right in the Falcon's path, and the TIE fighters they dispatched meant that Han and Chewie had to think of something fast. 

After departing the planet, Luke informed his X-Wing copilot, R2-D2, that they weren't going to rendezvous with the fleet like originally planned. He set a course for the Dagobah system. Meanwhile, the Falcon's crew was occupied with more repair work until they ran into another obstacle. This time, they noticed that they were approaching an asteroid belt. Despite Threepio's announcement of the odds against it, Han decided to enter the belt, thinking that it would pose a bigger problem for their pursuers.

Inside his Super Star Destroyer, Vader's meditation was interrupted by the announcement that the Falcon had entered the asteroid field. The Dark Lord of the Sith wasn't concerned by that. He wanted the ship, not excuses. After a bit of careful navigation, Solo found a hiding spot that might work for a while. At the same time, Luke and Artoo were entering Dagobah's atmosphere, where they wanted to find the Jedi master who'd instructed Ben Kenobi. It was someone whom they'd encounter before they even realized it. 

The rest of the content in this issue was a five-page bonus print and pictorial section about Marvel's development of the adaptation for this film. It was a nice insight into the creative process and their interactions with Lucasfilm. It also showed how the concepts evolved, and was something that wasn't included in the Marvel Super Special adaptation of the movie. 

By now, you probably know how much I admire this adaptation. It was wonderfully done. It was one of my first introductions to the Star Wars universe, and it was very faithful to the film in most aspects. A few details here and there were added or omitted, but I know it's not easy to include everything in an adaptation, especially if there are differences between the script and the final film. It can also be difficult to interpret things that aren't fully described or fleshed out before a movie is released. This adaptation was a significant upgrade in storytelling from the regular monthly stories, and I felt that the quality continued to improve for the most part afterward. Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon would also illustrate the Return of the Jedi adaptation, and Williamson, the regular artist for the Star Wars newspaper strip at the time, would pencil an additional issue of this title post-ROTJ. 

That's all I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the forty-second issue of this series. It's part four of The Empire Strikes Back adaptation, where we'll see Yoda for the first time. This highly-sought after issue also features a brief appearance of six bounty hunters, and the debut of the mysterious Emperor, as well as some more bonus material. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.