Retro Comic Recap: Raiders of the Last Ark #2

Happy Tuesday, everyone,

Hope all is well. It's time for me to discuss the second issue of Marvel's Raiders of the Lost Ark movie adaptation. The cover to the middle part of this Marvel Movie Special showed Indiana Jones descending a rope toward the bottom of the Well of Souls, with his friends watching from above and dozens of snakes awaiting him below. The issue had a cover date of October 1981.

The story began right where the previous issue left off. Marion Ravenwood was being held by a henchman hired by the German named Toht, who was about to interrogate the owner of the tavern in Nepal as to the whereabouts of the headpiece that would be placed on the Staff of Ra. However, before any evil could be carried out, the familiar strands of a bullwhip wrapped around the poker in Toht's hand and flung it toward a curtain.

Indy reappeared, with his whip in one hand and pistol in the other, ordering the villains to step away from Marion slowly. Toht and his gang scattered right before the first shots rang out. Indiana returned fire, and his shots rang true, taking out one foe immediately. Marion dove under the bar as the man who'd been keeping her captive set his sights on the American archaeologist. 

While the heroes were fending for themselves, Toht found the medallion in a small blaze. He reached out for it, not realizing how hot the metal icon was. He dropped it in pain before ordering Jones' execution.

Indiana was able to defeat the gunman as Toht ran outside to douse his burned hand in the cold snow. Marion fled with Indy right after she retrieved the medallion. She lost her bar and the money Indy had paid her for the bauble, but he'd gained a partner in her. 

The next day, the couple flew to Cairo, where they soon met with Jones' old friend Sallah. Sallah was well aware of the Germans' activities, noting that Belloq was aiding in those efforts. Indy learned that there was an associate of Sallah's who might be able to help them translate the symbols carved on the medallion. Sallah expressed concern about the dangers that the Ark of the Covenant might pose. 

Indy and Marion walked together down city streets the following morning. They ran into a few unsavory characters and were eventually forced to separate during the fracas that ensued. Marion hid in a basket and cried out Jones' name before he saw the basket being loaded into a truck. Indy fired at the truck's driver, causing him to crash his vehicle, which exploded spectacularly moments later. It appeared that Marion had perished in the explosion as well. 

A distraught Jones later rode with Sallah to the home of Imam. The wise old man was able to translate the markings on the medallion. He said that the staff should be six kadam high (about 72 inches), and noted that the back of the medallion said to take back one kadam to honor the Hebrew god that the Ark belonged to. Sallah remarked that the medallion he had seen Belloq use only had markings on one side of it, which meant that he and the Germans were digging in the wrong location. 

The next day, the two friends drove out to the site where the Nazis had begun their search some time before. In disguise, they made their way slowly to the map room of Tanis. Sallah lowered a rope down for Indy. As Jones was getting his bearings and trying to figure out where to position his staff and medallion, Sallah was interrupted by a Nazi who assumed he was part of the hired help. 

Sallah grudgingly assisted his enemies, which postponed his return to help Indy. Jones found the correct location to dig in and called for Sallah. He had to wait a while, but was soon assisted. Sallah explained his tardiness, and the arrival of more Nazis forced the duo to part temporarily. 

Indiana ducked into a nearby tent, where he was surprised to see Marion tied up and sitting on a chair. He deduced that their foes must have switched baskets and gave his love a fierce kiss before being forced to leave her bound and gagged. Indy explained that if he freed her, the Nazis would scour the grounds for the two of them, and that was something he simply couldn't risk then. 

Jones promised to return for Marion before setting off to find Sallah. The two longtime colleagues ventured further into the desert and located the correct spot to start digging. Meanwhile, Belloq and his allies were conversing about their progress. The Fuhrer wished they had accomplished more by then, but Belloq was confident that they would succeed. During the conversation, Toht entered. As he saluted Hitler, we could see the medallion inscription burned into the palm that had touched the medallion back in Nepal.

After several hours, the outline of a stone block was finally cleared. Indy, Sallah, and their crew moved the heavy stone aside and finally peered down into the Well of Souls, and a box on the floor that had to contain the Ark. Indiana tossed a torch down to reveal a multitude of snakes that slithered about the surface. Indy was deathly afraid of snakes, but still gathered enough courage to rappel down toward the floor. A few well-placed torches and the canister of gasoline he'd brought down with him helped to clear a path that was safe enough to traverse across.

Back in the camp, Belloq removed Marion's gag and expressed his regret for her captivity. Belloq offered her food and a new dress, which she accepted. While the Frenchman was admiring Marion, Indiana, and Sallah were marveling at the Ark of the Covenant that they'd just brought up out of its container. They loaded it into a crate and had it hauled up to their associates. 

Indy was the last one left in the Well of Souls and asked for the rope, which fell at his feet. He looked up to see Belloq holding his companions at gunpoint. Once again, his rival had taken something from him that he'd found. Toht did not want their foe to be left there all alone and threw Marion down into the pit, much to Belloq's frustration. Indy stood there for moments as she fell several stories in the final panel of this issue.

Once again, there were a few minor details from the movie that writer Walt Simonson omitted, like the swordsman in the city melee that Indy shot and the monkey that Marion had briefly adopted, but they didn't detract from the overall story. John Buscema and Klaus Janson worked very well together in this collaborative effort, and I found myself reading it eagerly, wondering what would happen next with each page that I turned. 

Tune in tomorrow to find out how things turned out for Indy, Marion, and Sallah. We'll see what Belloq, Toht, and the Nazis did with the Ark, and how the heroes attempted to thwart the evil plans. We'll also learn where the historic treasure made its final resting place. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Raiders of the Lost Ark #1

Good morning, peeps,

May the Fourth be with you! I'm done covering Star Wars titles for a while, but I decided to kick off this week by recapping another series that was co-created by George Lucas. It begins with a discussion of the first issue of Marvel's three-part adaptation of the 1981 film, Raiders of the Lost Ark. This "Marvel Movie Special" was also collected in a single volume Super Special. The cover for this particular issue showed the German mercenary Toht giving a salute, where we can see part of a medallion's inscriptions burned into his palm, and Indy running from Hovitos warriors. The issue had a cover date of September 1981.

In Peru in the year 1936, an American archaeologist and his crew approached the remains of an old temple. Jones' colleagues, Barranca and Satipo, talked amongst themselves along the way until they finally found the building that was once used by Chacopoyan warriors. Some of the crew were frightened by what they saw, including the indication that the Hovitos warriors were indeed nearby. 

While Indy was reviewing the map just before they were about to enter, Satipo noticed something that froze him where he stood. Jones turned around and swung his trusty bullwhip in time to disarm Barranca, moments before his former ally ran off. It was up to Indy and Satipo to venture inside. Jones took the lead, wondering what had ever happened to his rival Forrestal.

It turned out that he didn't have to wonder very long, for as they neared one passageway, Indy tossed a stick inside, and a series of spikes sprang out, carrying the body of Forrestal on them. Jones correctly deduced that his now former opponent must have broken the light beam, which in turn triggered the spike mechanism. He and Satipo crawled across slowly, careful not to break the beam. 

They soon found themselves in a narrow hall, with a large stone missing. The gap was wide enough that they couldn't jump across. Indiana tossed his whip up to a beam above the break in the path, which allowed he and Satipo to cross safely. Before long, they saw the idol they'd been searching for mere feet in front of them. 

However, Indy knew that it couldn't be that simple. He used the butt end of their torch to tap the tiles that stood between them and the idol. He learned that the light tiles were okay, and that pressing on the dark tiles caused poison darts to shoot from holes littered across each wall. He made his way nimbly across them until he could leap up to the pedestal. 

Jones eyed the golden icon for several moments before pulling a pouch from his bag. He knelt before the pedestal, filling the small bag with sand. Indy hoped that the weight would be the same, as he substituted the icon for the bag. 

Things were fine, but only for a short while. The pedestal eventually began to descend, and the chamber started collapsing. Indy crossed the tiles carefully and reached the hall with the large gap. Satipo offered him the whip if Jones would throw over the idol.

Indy realized he had no other choice and obliged. Satipo grabbed the treasure and ran off. Jones made a running leap and barely caught the edge of the other side of the floor. He had finally pulled himself up when he heard an agonizing scream. Indiana ran forward, making sure not to trip the light beam, and found that Satipo had forgotten that trap. He pulled the idol from the dead man's hands and continued on. Indy had to outrace a giant boulder before he could finally exit the tomb.

Jones had no sooner landed on his face when he heard a familiar voice next to him. It belonged to another rival, a Frenchman named Belloq. Indy surrendered the idol and his pistol to Belloq, who raised the icon before the Hovitos. Jones took advantage of their inattentiveness to run through the woods and would live to see another day.

Some time later, back at the university where Jones taught, Indy was describing his recent adventure with Marcus Brody and expressed his interest in returning when Brody informed him that several members of Army intelligence were there to speak with him. Major Eaton and Colonel Musgrove had arrived to speak with Jones about his experience. They already knew about some of his history, including the fact that he'd studied under Abner Ravenwood.

Jones admitted that, adding that they parted on difficult terms. He then learned that the Army was engaged in a race against the Nazis in attempting to discover the Ark of the Covenant, the legendary vessel that was rumored to contain the pieces of the tablets of Moses, the original Ten Commandments. A communique intercepted by the Nazis indicated that the Germans had found Tanis, a place where the Ark had supposedly been hidden within the Well of Souls. That section had long since been covered by sandstorms and was presumably lost to time.

Abner had dedicated most of his career to finding the Ark and had located a few pieces, including the headpiece for the staff of Ra, which was supposedly a key component to finding the Well of Souls' location. Indy agreed to join the search after being promised that the Ark would become property of the university's museum.

In a small watering hole in the Himalayas, a big, burly man known as Red was engaged in a drinking competition with the tavern's proprietor. It was a contest that he lost. The owner, Marion, was cheered on by her patrons just before she shooed them out for the evening. Marion was ready to close up until she saw someone sitting in a booth.

She ordered him to leave until she saw that it was Jones. Marion swung at him before yelling at him to leave. Indy explained that he was looking for Abner, but was informed that he'd arrived two years too late. Abner was never found after an avalanche buried the site he had been working at. Marion then worked at the very bar before the previous owner left one day, screaming as he was taken away.

Marion still bore a grudge against Indiana for hurting her years earlier. He knew what he did was wrong, and that he'd never meant to hurt her. Jones described the piece he was looking for, which Marion said she might know where it was located. Indy gave her $5,000 in cash before being told to return the next day. He walked away, not knowing that the headpiece was on a chain around Marion's neck.

As she thought about what she could do with the cash, Marion was alerted to an unfamiliar voice behind her. She informed her guests that the bar was closed, to which the stranger dressed in a black overcoat informed her that they were not thirsty. The man named Toht said that he was after the same item that Jones was. He was prepared to offer more money, but was not about to wait for it any longer. His men grabbed Marion by the arms as he walked toward the fire. Toht took a poker, dipped it into the fire, and came closer to Marion with each passing step, so that he could show his captive what he was accustomed to. 

The final page of content was a breakdown of the movie's crew and production staff. This adaptation was written by Star Wars artist Walt Simonson and illustrated by John Buscema and Klaus Janson. There were a few minor details, like Barrana's death by Hovito poison darts and the seaplane scene that showed Indy's disdain for snakes, but I know it's nearly impossible to fit everything from a two-hour-plus movie into a three-issue limited series. I had the Marvel Super Special adaptation as a child that I'd ordered from a school book fair and read it until the cover came off, so I'm glad that I acquired this miniseries a few years back. I loved the storyline and admired "Big" John's artwork. Janson's inking was a bit spotty at times. Sometimes, it complemented the pencil work perfectly. In other panels, it was rather rough. All in all, this adaptation was rather faithful to the original movie script and honored the themes and character roles. 

Tomorrow, I'll tackle the middle part of this adaptation. We'll find out what happened to Marion and where Jones ended up afterward. We'll also learn how the Nazis neared Tanis and if the Ark actually existed. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars #108

Happy Friday, everyone,

Hope all's well. I'm closing out this series with a summary of Star Wars #108, which was published by Marvel in July 2019. This was a continuation of the original title that ran from 1977 to 1986, and included contributions by writers and artists who worked on that series as well as the current runs, including Andrea Broccardo, Kerry Gammill, and Jan Duursema. There were several cover variants, but I like the version that I picked up at my local comic book store, which was a drawing of the bounty hunter Valance squaring off against Darth Vader by Walt Simonson, with a nice tribute to the late former Star Wars writer and editor Archie Goodwin.

The tale was broken into eight parts. Chapter 1 was called "The Legend of Valance the Hunter!" It went into Valance's history, from his days as an Imperial soldier who was injured by a bomb dropped from a Rebel X-Wing, and later became a cyborg who no longer fit the Empire's needs, to his days as a feared bounty hunter. This included his first encounter with Luke Skywalker and C-3PO, when the hunter learned that some droids were not afraid to sacrifice themselves for their human masters. 

Valance had last been seen on the planet Centares, where he engaged in battle with the Dark Lord of the Sith himself. Both villains were fighting for access to whom they thought was the man who'd destroyed the first Death Star (but was in fact another Rebel who'd fled his cause before that skirmish). Valance fell into the Rubyflame lake and was supposedly destroyed.

Several years later, a group of mercenaries was scavenging that area. The lake had long since dried up, and the crew was gathering whatever had been left behind in the lake bed. They even talked about it being the sight of Valance's last known battle. Little did they know just what they had uncovered.

The second chapter, titled "Near Misses & Narrow Escapes," began with Han Solo and his Wookiee counterpart Chewbacca in a tavern on the planet Stenos. They were talking with a rather unsavory character named Slider, who had the lead on a job that they wanted. After some cajoling, their associate pulled the Orakny bloom from a pocket, which needed to be delivered safely to another world. Unfortunately, the Correllian and his co-pilot weren't the only interested parties.

A fight broke out shortly after several others arrived on the scene. Our heroes had just left the cantina when Solo received a hearty kick in the face from his old ally Jaxxon. He and Amaiza were wondering why their former employer was looking for work after advancing to the rank of General in the New Republic. Han learned that Domina Taage was involved, a scoundrel who was best known in the galaxy for trying to spread the deadly Crimson Forever. 

Jaxxon shot a greedy Hiromi before more gun-toting aliens followed. The quartet quickly fled, heading toward the Millennium Falcon. Like it or not, they were now partners.

In Chapter 3, which was called "A Scavenger's Mistake," the mercenaries were delivering their cargo to their customers. They stood in front of a ship that bore the New Republic logo, but their clients didn't appear to be affiliated with that particular organization. Their boss talked to his superior via comlink and confirmed that he would let them know when he was certain they had enough and that what they'd acquired could not be traced back to his leader.

Chapter 4, entitled "Old Worries in the New Republic," took place in the Alliance's base on the planet Noquivzor. Princess Leia Organa stood by Threepio as she talked about the Tof threat with the Zeltron males Bahb, Jahn, Marruc, and Rahuhl. She was in the middle of a sentence when she instinctively ducked to avoid sniper fire from above. Leia pulled the blaster from her holster and returned fire, taking out the would-be Tof assassin.

Guards rushed to her side, but the princess was fine. She'd sensed the impending danger and reacted accordingly. Just then, Plif the Hoojib ran to inform the princess about an incoming ship that was nearing them. It was not responding to radio messages and did not have a landing clearance. He then said that ship was the Falcon. Leia went to meet it. The Falcon was soon suspended in mid-air by Leia's brother, Luke Skywalker. 

Luke used the Force to guide the ship down safely. A few moments later, Han, Chewie, Jaxxon, and Amaiza exited the craft. Leia admonished Han briefly before welcoming him home warmly. Jaxxon then informed her of the news he'd heard about Domina. The Taage had been recruiting spicers for a mission, and the four of them got mixed up in things and had been chased by several bounty hunters.

Leia remembered how Domina had blamed both the Rebellion and the Empire for her brother's death and had tried to retaliate in her attempt to spread the deadly Crimson Forever disease. The House of Taage had fallen quite some time ago, and Domina was last known to be somewhere in the Asteph'skaff system, where she'd mainly kept out of trouble. Threepio affirmed that, adding that Leia had sent the Zeltron Dani and a peacekeeping faction from the New Republic there, but that the crew had not reported back yet. He wondered if that might be related somehow.

Chapter 5, which was called "For Fear of What Might Wake," took place in deep space. The mercenary leader was reporting to his boss, Domina, that they'd taken care of the crew and that they'd cleaned the scrap. They now had plenty of durasteel, which was to be brought to her immediately. The Tof resistance was funding their expedition, so money was not an issue. However, the captain wasn't aware that part of what he'd purloined was activating at that very moment, and soon attacked him.

The transmission ceased shortly thereafter. Domina was not able to determine just what had happened, but told a subordinate to send Slider to investigate. The lackey replied that Slider had stated he was being pursued by bounty hunters when he last checked in. The bounty hunters were after Domina, but Slider was attempting to hire smugglers to bring the Orakny bloom to her. They had now lost contact with Slider, the smugglers, and the bloom. 

Domina was obviously upset by the failures, but still ordered that a course for the unknown regions be laid in. The pilot agreed, but wondered if they would make it without the durasteel to deliver the jewels or the bloom, which could counteract the symptoms. Domina assured him they would improvise.

By then, the resurrected Valance had reformed and taken out the humans on the ship, which he now occupied. He came across a translation droid designated FR-D 8T-KA, who informed him that the Emperor had long since fallen. He went on to talk about the storied life jewels of the Great Nebula, which intrigued the cyborg. Valance was informed that they could restore life, which he was very much interested in. FR-D said that the items were last seen in the unknown regions. Along the way, Valance asked for synthflesh, which would not be used for the now-deceased crew.

Chapter 6, "On the Way to Forever," took place in the Falcon's cockpit. Han and Chewbacca were pushing things to the limit until they were pulled out of hyperspace by the sun that was being partially blocked from view by the Star Destroyer, where the aforementioned jewels were last seen. Solo narrowly evaded the larger craft just before Domina's personal ship arrived. Han had a plan. They just had to keep out of Domina's sight for a while at first.

In Chapter Seven, called "Snatched Away From the Sun," the Falcon's escape pod launched toward the battered Imperial command ship. It landed with a crunch, and its passengers, Luke, Leia, Artoo, and Jaxxon, got out. The humanoids were decked out in space suits, and the four of them began searching their surroundings on foot. They came across a deserted TIE bomber, which might serve as an escape craft.

Han and Amaiza were working on repairs to the Falcon and spotted Domina's fighter touching down near their friends. A firefight broke out, during which a well-placed thermal detonator took out the bridge the allies had just crossed. Jaxxon found the first jewel before spying the second in the hands of a long-deceased occupant of the ship. 

Jaxxon was about to guide his comrades to safety when Domina stood in front of them, flanked by several gunners, including the bounty hunters Dengar, IG-88, and Bossk. Luke charged at their foes and held them off with his lightsaber, while Leia, Jaxxon, and Artoo retreated the way they came. Jaxxon was able to leap across the chasm and seemed about ready to betray his comrades.

Luke used the Force to pull a pipe down that would serve as a makeshift bridge. He and Leia crossed while he kept his trusty astrodroid suspended behind him until they reached the other side. Jaxxon had reached the bomber and was leaving his friends behind, but Leia was more concerned about how he might react to the Crimson Forever. Han then informed them that they were about to have more company.

The final chapter was listed as "The End of the Hunt." The company Han was describing was the mercenary ship now commanded by Valance. The pirated TIE bomber quickly crashed into it right before Valance jumped out. Domina and her hired guns attacked. They were the first to recognize the cyborg. 

Jaxxon jumped Valance, but his foe was well prepared for him. Luke pleaded for Jaxxon's release. Valance remembered Skywalker, a bit surprised that the young farmboy he'd once known was now a Jedi. He was right about Luke, and was only there for the jewels, which Jaxxon was more than willing to surrender.

Valance thought that the gems could help to restore what life he still had left. Perhaps they could even return his human aspects to their former conditions. Things were starting to change until Domina shot him from behind.

While Domina was trying to get her revenge against the Skywalkers, FR-D emerged at Valance's side. The droid decided to sacrifice himself by overloading his power core in the hopes that it would restart the cyborg's battery. He soon rose up and tore Domina off of Leia.

By then, the gems had been pitched into space. Valance explained that Luke had saved him once before jumping out for the jewels. He floated until he could grab a gem with each hand and slowly brought them closer toward his body. Luke explained to his friends how he'd once shown the bounty hunter how humanity was really the total of a person's actions. Although Jaxxon thought it was too late to save Valance, Luke countered that he had actually saved himself. Valance would go on to be a featured character in the Bounty Hunters series and, most recently, in the 2025 Star Wars title. 

The remaining content for this issue included a brief cover gallery and excerpts of interviews with writers Jo Duffy and David Michelinie, editor Louise Simonson, and artists Walt Simonson, Ron Frenz, and the late Tom Palmer. I felt like this issue was a nice way to tidy things up a bit. They ignored most of the mess that was the series last year or so, and brought back fan favorites like Jaxxon, Amaiza, Domina, and the bounty hunters. It also provided some closure to the Crimson Forever affair that was first chronicled in issue #50. I enjoyed the collaborative efforts from the past and present Star Wars creative teams, as well as the reflections on the original run that I remember quite fondly and am very proud to have finally collected in full. The only thing missing was Lando Calrissian, but by then, I was seeing plenty of that character in the most recent Marvel Star Wars books. 

With that, I bid adieu to this series of blog posts. I may cover the more recent Star Wars titles at some point, but that probably won't happen until 2027 at the earliest, as I've already decided upon the next several titles that I want to discuss. I will begin a new set on Monday, which will feature George Lucas' second most popular adventure franchise, one whose main character was well known for digging up treasures from the past and brandishing his signature bullwhip. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

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. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #100

Happy Saturday, folks!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #99

Happy Friday, all,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #98

Good afternoon,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #97

Hello there,

It's time for me to talk about the ninety-seventh issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. Except for the top left-hand corner, the cover was all about the bad guys. Four Stormtroopers and seven Nagai were the focus of the images drawn by Cynthia Martin and Art Nichols. The tale was titled "Escape." The issue had a cover date of July 1985. 

The story started on the planet Kinooine, as Imperial remnants and Nagai left their ships and began exploring their new surroundings on foot. Their fleet had arrived to establish a base on that world. The Nagai Den Siva and Lumiya were already there. Siva was interrogating a pair of Rebels, but Lumiya had not reported in after going after her nemesis, Luke Skywalker.

What the enemy forces didn't know was that Lumiya (aka Shira Brie) was not far away. She was being held by Luke and Kiro, who were eavesdropping on the new arrivals. Meanwhile, Dani was being tortured by an analysis grid as Den and the Rebel Faron watched. The Nagai was impressed by the Zeltron's fortitude, but wasn't so distracted tha the couldn't end Faron's life, after having observed him removing a knife from his captor's belt.

Luke tied Lumiya to his ship's front landing gear while Kiro recovered in the water. Skywalker assisted him in preparing a fresh water tank before the two friends went to free their companions. Minutes later, they encountered a Nagai patrol. Luke was able to use a Jedi mind trick to convince his foes to leave them be, until Lumiya brought them to their senses. Kiro was forced to kill some of their opponents because Shira had left him no choice.

Back on Endor, Admiral Ackbar and Mon Mothma had gathered Han Solo, Princess Leia Organa, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, the four Zeltron teens, C-3PO, R2-D2, the Hoojib Plif, and several Ewoks to discuss the Nagai threat. It had been confirmed that the Nagai had been working with Imperial collaborators. Plif and his telepathic Hoojib brethren had watched the Nagai prisoners. One of them, the man called Knife, had a connection to Han that made him despise the Correllian. Lando was just happy that he was able to get his ship back from the slaver who'd escaped with it on Kashyyyk.

Solo expressed concern about Luke and his team, since they hadn't reported back in a while. He offered to go retrieve him, which was turned down by their superiors. Mothma agreed with Ackbar's decision, adding that it would be up to the leaders to decide. Han stormed off, stating they could run their next war without him.

Back on Kinooine, Dani felt broken. Not even Siva's attempts at rousing her were effective. It wasn't until she saw her love, Kiro, again that she felt better. While Kiro was leading her away, Luke was skulking around the compound, looking for information that might be of use to the Alliance.

The Jedi was very stealthy and evaded detection by Nagai and Stormtrooper patrols. Once he had what he wanted, he left. Dani and Kiro were outside heading toward the ship when Siva blocked their path. He engaged the Iskalonian in a battle of blades, and the two combatants eventually fell into the waters below. 

Luke came across Dani, who was still standing on the ledge, looking for any signs of life from her paramor. The only thing that either of them saw was blood, which could have been from either Den or Kiro. Luke gradually coaxed Dani to press on, and the two returned to the ship. However, by the time they returned, Lumiya had escaped. 

This was the most serious issue of the series since Martin took over the penciling chores, but the art was still sloppy in places. Even the Stormtroopers on the front cover looked a bit askew. I was somewhat surprised by Mothma and Ackbar's resistance to Han's request, but I suppose that they had the greater good in mind, even though they weren't technically back at war at the time. Lumiya proved to be an interesting character and was even featured in some of the subsequent Star Wars novels. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I have a filler issue to discuss. Writer Archie Goodwin and artist Al Williamson return to chronicle a yarn that involves Han Solo and Nien Nunb. The two fly the Millennium Falcon together for the first time to a planet on a mission that Solo is less than enthusiastic about. They also encounter a familiar menace along the way. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.