Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #28

Good Saturday morning, everyone,

Today's focus is on the twenty-eighth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars comic. The cover showed Han Solo and Chewbacca standing in front of the Millennium Falcon using their blasters to ward off dozens of small, scorpion-like creatures. The tale was titled " Whatever Happened to Jabba the Hut?" The issue had a cover date of October 1979.

The story started on a rainy day on the planet Orleon. Han and Chewie were nestled in a cave trying to repair the Falcon while being attacked by members of Jabba the Hut's crew. Note: the alien depicted as Jabba in this issue is one of the background creatures that we saw on the streets of Mos Eisley after Luke sold his landspeeder in the original movie. The goons were firing at the pirate and his first mate because Jabba's employee had accumulated significant debt since his last job. 

Solo and Chewbacca had just escaped from the Star Destroyer, left helpless due to Luke Skywalker's attack via the Force on Darth Vader, when Han noticed that his ship was vibrating far more than normal. He figured that the technicians on the Wheel space station who had stripped the ship looking for supposedly stolen Wheel profits didn't quite put everything back together the way it had been. A brief search of the navicomputer told them that the nearest hospitable planet was Orleon.

It didn't take long for Jabba's ship, the Voidraker, to find where the Falcon had been hiding. Another problem arose from inside the cavern itself. Small insects called stone mites were rampant on the planet. They were created as biological weapons during the Clone Wars, and their insect bodies could emit a corrosive acid that was powerful enough to eat through just about anything. 

Renewed assaults by Jabba's blaster cannons brought down part of the cavern. They also released a massive swarm of stone mites down upon the cave's occupants. Han and Chewie blasted a way back onto the Falcon and frantically tried to shake the insects off their ship.

A few minutes later, Jabba and his crew discovered one of his men who had been eaten alive by the mites. Panicked, they retreated to the Voidraker. Meanwhile, Solo and Chewbacca were using their deicing equipment to rid their vessel of the pests before using one of the forward cannons to blast a hole to safety.

Before long, the Falcon was back in space. They were about to round the planet's orbit when the Voidraker crossed their path. Jabba opened a line of communication with his old employee. Han noticed the sound of blaster fire emanating from Jabba's ship. It seemed that stone mites had infested the craft, and Jabba was the only one left alive inside.

A deal was struck, and Jabba soon used his jet pack to fly over to the Falcon. He was the smuggler's reluctant guest. After letting the Hut stew outside for a while, Han finally let him in, thinking that he'd finally had the upper hand for once.

This was the first time seeing the Falcon's crew since issue #24. This issue is infamous for its erroneous depiction of Jabba, who George Lucas didn't fully reveal until the Return of the Jedi film. Marvel writers and editors only had the initial movie's screenplay to go off of, which included a scene that depicted Han encountering Jabba the Hut before taking Luke, Obi-Wan Kenobi, C-3PO, and R2-D2 to Alderaan. This creature was later identified as a Nimbanel named Mosep Binead, who worked for Jabba. 

An Irish actor named Declan Mulholland originally played Jabba in the scene that was cut from the film. That scene was later inserted for the A New Hope Special Edition, in which a digital version of Jabba that was similar to the one seen in ROTJ was added, along with the appearance of the bounty hunter Boba Fett. This was an interesting yarn, but it isn't really seen as canon because of who Marvel chose to be shown as the Tatooine crime lord. 

Well, that's all for today. Tomorrow, I'll kick off a new month with a discussion of the twenty-ninth issue of this title. This issue will focus on some of the villains of the series. The hunt is on for the person who destroyed the Death Star and his droids. It's a search that finally leads Darth Vader and Valance to face each other for the first time. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #27

Happy Friday, everyone,

Today's topic is the twenty-seventh issue of the first Star Wars comic series. The cover depicted C-3PO and Luke Skywalker, with the face of the bounty hunter Valance in the background. The story was called "Return of the Hunter." The issue had a publication date of September 1979.

The tale began with a gunfight in a cantina. Valance had just incapacitated his target, Marko Tyne. He recruited two patrons to carry the body away before going to see his comrade Skinker. Valance informed his friend about his latest bounty, and the shopkeeper had more droids for him. Unfortunately, there were no PO or R2 units in his collection, but the bounty hunter still blasted the robots to bits anyway. 

Afterward, Valance returned to his ship. He was on the trail of the man who'd destroyed the Death Star and his droids. He was furious at the fact that the hero treated the mechanicals like friends instead of servants, although Valance himself was partly cybernetic, after being injured in a Rebel attack years earlier. Speaking of that hero, Luke and Threepio were flying out in deep space, to determine the extent of the Imperial blockade and to find parts to repair their counterpart, R2-D2 (who was damaged in battle last issue).

They soon came across an Imperial Star Destroyer, and were noticed by the large ship. Luke used a tactic called threading the asteroids to evade them before going into hyperspace. They emerged from light speed to reach the planet Junction. There, Luke hoped to find a salvage yard that had the parts they needed.

The duo came across Skinker's shop. Its proprietor asked an associate to inform Valance that he might have what the bounty hunter was looking for. Meanwhile, back on Yavin, Princess Leia and General Dodonna were talking about duty. Leia understood the elder's concern for her, knowing that she wanted to be more than just a figurehead for their movement. 

A cloaked figure (who had observed Luke and Threepio) was making his way toward a communication transmitter on Junction. The humanoid (who looked somewhat similar to the Garindan spy on Mos Eisley during the movie adaptation) wasn't able to communicate with the Empire. Valance had disabled the transmitter not long before taking out this intruder. 

It didn't take long for the bounty hunter to reach his new quarry. Luke pushed Threepio to safety moments before Valance's blaster fired. Deflecting another blaster bolt with his lightsaber, Luke learned Valance's cyborg secret. Threepio stood in front of his master, and his plea for understanding as a fellow mechanical was enough to convince the hunter to allow the heroes to leave with their purchase. Skywalker realized that the bounty hunter was a conflicted man who still had a lot to consider.

Valance was first introduced in issue #16 of this title. He was an interesting character who was largely forgotten after a few more issues, until Marvel reacquired the rights to the Star Wars license. He has been featured prominently in the Bounty Hunter books since then, and has continued to grow as a character. Valance has also appeared in the most recent Marvel Star Wars ongoing series. This was an okay issue, whose plotline was resolved rather quickly.

 Next time, I'll cover the twenty-eighth issue of this series. We'll finally learn what Han Solo and Chewbacca have been up to since the Falcon escaped from the Wheel. We'll also see the return of a character that Marvel didn't quite understand fully at the time. To find out more of what I mean in that regard, tune in tomorrow. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #26

Hello there,

It's time for me to discuss the twenty-sixth issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover depicted a damaged R2-D2 with Luke Skywalker standing behind it. There's also a downed TIE fighter and a pilot pointing his pistol at the two Rebels in the background. The tale was titled "Doom Mission!" The issue had a publication date of August 1979.

The story started in Yavin's orbit, as the new ship Luke and Princess Leia had just purchased from Jorman Thoad (last issue) was limping along with a damaged engine, faulty communicator, and failing shields, all while being attacked by TIEs. Artoo tried to take care of the internal damage with C-3PO, but things seemed grim until a squadron of X-Wing fighters arrived to take out the Imperial vessels. 

Luke soon landed his ship, and he and Leia explained their plight to General Dodonna. Leia's macrobinoculars had recorded footage of a House of Taage mining explorer in the area. It showed how it sent TIE fighters out into a strange cosmic storm, which explained how the fighters were able to launch regular attacks on the Alliance base. It was still unknown just what was in the storm that allowed the TIEs to emerge unscathed.

That was something that Skywalker was willing to investigate. He and Artoo took a Y-Wing to one of the nearby moons where a TIE had crashed. Unfortunately, Artoo was damaged when he was trying to obtain information from the downed ship's controls by the blast from the fighter pilot's pistol. Luke took out the enemy after grabbing the signal device they'd been after, and rushed his beloved astrodroid back to the base.

While waiting for Artoo to be repaired, Luke and Leia thought about their next moves. Dodonna joined the heroes, having something to share. He showed the duo a TIE fighter that they'd captured some time before. The signal device that Luke had obtained would allow them to penetrate the storm as an undercover agent.  As Luke flew off in the pirated craft in his attempt to unravel the mystery, Leia wished her companion luck as Threepio hoped his counterpart could be fixed.

Luke soon made his way inside the cosmic storm. He learned that it was being generated by a large turbine. He quickly attacked the Imperial craft, just as Baron Taage was renewing his lightsaber practice inside of it. Luke's attack run was successful. Now all he had to do was to escape. 

Using the Force, Skywalker discovered a way out amidst the swirling winds and aftermath of the turbine's destruction. His ship emerged a little worse for wear, but Luke's mission was successful nonetheless. He was unaware that Taage escaped the turbine just in time and had followed the stolen TIE out of the storm. The baron swore vengeance on the young Rebel, just like he did on Darth Vader, the man who'd damaged his eyes in an earlier confrontation and forced him to wear the visor that was now his trademark. 

This was a rather brief storyline, but I guess it was okay. It seemed to me that Artoo was rather unnecessarily put in harm's way just to obtain the Imperial signal device. Fortunately, he would recover soon enough. This wasn't the only time in this series that Rebels used a stolen TIE fighter to infiltrate the Empire. There's a much better storyline that uses this tactic later on, after the Empire Strikes Back adaptation. 

That's all I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the twenty-seventh issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. Luke and Threepio go offworld to find parts for Artoo's repairs, and run into the first bounty hunter featured in this series. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #25

Good afternoon all,

Today's focus is on the twenty-fifth issue of the first Star Wars comic book. The cover showed Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia in space suits, being attacked by a trio of TIE fighters. The story was called "Siege at Yavin!" The issue had a cover date of July 1979.

The tale began with a sextet of TIEs converging upon a Rebel sentry post on the fourth moon of Yavin. A squadron of X-Wings was dispatched from the planet to counter these ships. Some were more successful than others in defending the base.

Afterward, General Dodonna and other Rebel Alliance leaders were struggling to ascertain where the Imperial ships came from. Scanners indicated no Star Destroyers or other vessels that could have carried the short-range fighters. They had to find a solution soon, or it might be the end of the Rebellion.

On the planet Centares, Luke and Leia were haggling with merchant Jorman Thoad. They acquired a ship in exchange for the craft they'd received from Senator Greyshade (in issue #23) in the hopes that it would be inconspicuous enough to avoid Imperial detection. They left Centares in their new vessel moments after noticing a House of Taage mining explorer was bound for the Gordian Reach, which was the same system that their home base of Yavin was in.

The Taage ship was commanded by Baron Taage, who was engaged in lightsaber practice during the trip through hyperspace. He wore special glasses after being wounded by a lightsaber blade belonging to Darth Vader. He practiced for the day when he would meet the Sith Lord again. After his exercise, a crewman informed his superior that their ship had been followed. Taage smiled, doubtful that the smaller craft could successfully pass through the Imperial blockade. 

Shortly after their return to that system, Luke noticed several heavy-duty mines in the area. He deftly avoided most of them before realizing that the planet's gases made a sort of natural jamming field. Luke and Leia soon donned space suits and jetted down to one of the nearby moons to observe the mining craft.

Taage deployed several TIEs from his ship, which were observed by the Rebels on the moon below. Luke and Leia watched as the fighters flew into a storm and disappeared. The Rebel heroes returned to their new ship, where R2-D2 and C-3PO were waiting. They didn't know what happened to the TIEs, but as they were trying to investigate, they found themselves under attack by more TIE fighters, one of which made a lucky shot that incapacitated one of their ship's engines. 

Penciller Carmine Infantino finally got the correct shape of regular TIE fighters, but I still have concerns about his artwork in general. It was good to see some of the Rebel leaders again, although in the newspaper strip by this time, the Rebels had already left Yavin. The comic book and newspaper strip were not in the same continuity, however. The Taage family was an interesting bunch. It's too bad they were mostly forgotten before the Empire Strikes Back adaptation began.

Well, that's all for now. Tomorrow, I'll recap the conclusion of this mini-epic. Luke and Artoo take a closer look at this new threat, and we'll see just what Taage and company had in store for the Rebels. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #24

Good afternoon,

Today's blog article is all about the twenty-fourth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars comic book series. The cover showed Obi-Wan Kenobi preparing to defend a protocol droid from several weapon-toting adversaries. The tale was titled "Silent Drifting." The issue had a publication date of June 1979. 

The story started out in space, as the Millennium Falcon was attempting to flee a pair of pursuing TIE Fighters. Its captain, Han Solo, decided to let his vessel lie motionless after a hit on the back quarter. This lured the unsuspecting Imperial craft in, only to be blasted from forward and aft cannons. 

Han, Chewbacca, and Luke Skywalker marveled at the ease of their victory. Princess Leia told Kuke that it was a strategy very similar to one utilized by Ben Kenobi several years ago. It was a story that her late father, Bail Organa, had told her about an event back in the days of the Old Republic.

Kenobi was a passenger on a pleasure ship. The Jedi Master had mostly kept to himself until a protocol droid named 68-RKO struck up a conversation with him. The droid was on his way to Alderaan to enter into service for Bail and asked the Jedi if he could act as his owner until they arrived, since he knew how poorly droids were treated and viewed by some at the time.

Obi-Wan was more than happy to share his quarters with the friendly translator droid. However, they soon came across a rather surly bar patron, who asked RKO why he wasn't in storage. He didn't take too kindly to being tripped by the Jedi, and rose to attack the warrior, who merely stood his ground and activated his lightsaber, pointing the energy blade at his leaping assailant.

Afterward, a criminal named Augustus Tryll invited Kenobi to a private chat. He asked the Jedi if he'd be interested in forming a partnership with him. Ben knew Tryll's reputation and politely declined before leaving to show RKO his quarters. The duo was on their way when a voice came over the intercom, reminding all passengers to deactivate all privately owned machinery before they entered the Merson asteroid belt. 

This was a necessary action because the Mersons were hostile to Republic forces. Shutting those devices down would usually allow ships like that to traverse the asteroid belt without incident. Later that evening, a crewman knocked on Kenobi's door, stating that the captain was requesting the Jedi's assistance. Ben and RKO were escorted to the captain's quarters, where they soon saw the reason for concern.

A pair of Merson ships had been detected in the asteroid belt for the first time. Once other passengers were alerted to this via viewscreens, rumors began to circulate. Obi-Wan eventually realized that they were there because a signal must be alerting them from inside the very craft that they were on. 

The pleasure ship was only equipped with a pair of standard energy cannons. Fortunately, they would be enough. The Merson fighters were eventually positioned directly in front and behind the ship, respectively, and each one was taken out by a separate cannon's blast. 

RKO informed Kenobi that the signal was coming from the lounge where they had first met. Ben went to investigate and dealt with passengers' anxious accusations and demands for answers. Some suggested that Tryll was behind the signal. Kenobi used the Force to identify the signal's source, which was the fermentation device behind them. He tossed his lightsaber at the machine, and its blade annihilated the device, subsequently terminating the signal in the process.

Without the signal, the additional Merson ships in the asteroid belt had no idea that a Republic cruiser was in the vicinity. The rest of the journey was peaceful for Kenobi, RKO, and the rest of the crew and passengers. Luke enjoyed hearing about his former mentor. Han dismissed the Force, as usual, but was happy that his ship was fully functional again and could be on its way free from danger once more. 

I enjoyed this story that was written by Mary Jo Duffy. This was her first script for this title. She would return to plot most of the stories from issue #70 to the final issue, #107. It was a nice bridge issue between storylines. Bob Wiacek continued to improve as an inker and helped to overcome some of Carmine Infantino's rough pencil work. 

That wraps up this article. Tomorrow, I'll concentrate on the twenty-fifth issue of this title. Archie Goodwin returns to begin a new storyline. The heroes make their way back to Yavin, and there will be new ships and new menaces along the way. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #23

Good afternoon,

Today's topic is the twenty-third issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover depicted the Millennium Falcon departing the gaming station known as the Wheel, with a larger-than-life image of Darth Vader in the background. The tale was titled "Flight Into Fury!" The issue had a cover date of May 1979.

The story started in a private hangar bay belonging to the wheel administrator, Senator Greyshade. He'd just made a deal with Princess Leia Organa to depart the station with her on that vessel. Luke Skywalker didn't agree with the bargain, but he and his droids R2-D2 and C-3PO had no choice but to let her friend go on. The Rebels were still reeling from the apparent loss of the Falcon's pilot, Han Solo, at the hands of his Wookiee first mate, Chewbacca, during the station's gladiator games.

What they didn't know at the time was that Solo and Chewie were working together to defeat the other opponents. Han had stolen a small hand shield after blowing up one of the arena's explosive traps and placed it under his shirt. It protected him from the shot that he took from Chewbacca's pistol. While that was going on, a revived Imperial Commander Strom emerged from Greyshade's private suite, declaring that he'd been drugged by his host and that the station was now under Imperial law. That news didn't sit well with the complex's patrons, who were fine with gambling and spending their leisure time, so long as they didn't have the constant threat of the Empire hanging over them while they were there. 

Strom ordered his Stormtroopers to find the Falcon's occupants and kill them on sight. He'd hoped that their faked Rebel attacks on the station would sway the guests to their cause. However, Greyshade's aide, the robot Master-Com, knew that Artoo had taped Stormtroopers in the act of pilfering Wheel profits. Before that tape could be broadcast, Master-Com found himself under arrest by Stormtroopers and subsequently destroyed. 

Luke and Threepio soon ran into a squad of troopers, while Artoo lagged behind and sought another way out. In the casino, Chewbacca had his winnings loaded onto a lift along with Han's body. Solo had grabbed a security guard's blaster and used it to fight for their freedom. Threepio and Luke soon reconnoitered with Greyshade and Leia, when the young farmboy detected Vader's impending arrival by using the Force.

Although his Star Destroyer had been almost taxed to its very limits by the voyage, Vader's ship was almost upon the Wheel. There, the Dark Lord of the Sith hoped to learn the identities of the ones who had destroyed the Death Star. At the same time, Artoo was found by Master-Com, who had transferred his programming into another robot body (which he also did in issue #19). He took the small astrodroid to a nearby terminal where he could finally broadcast the tape that showed Wheel inhabitants the truth. This led to a riot against the Imperial forces on board. 

Han and Chewie were just outside the hangar where the Falcon sat when they encountered more Stormtroopers. Chewbacca pushed the lift at them, which unfortunately still contained their winnings. At the same time, Luke, Greyshade, and Leia were trapped by more troopers. The Rebels had no choice but to flee in the Senator's ship, which they did mere moments before Artoo was launched into space in an escape pod that he'd been directed to by Master-Com.

Greyshade reunited with his robotic assistant moments before Strom arrived. The Wheel administrator tossed a proton grenade, a last resort that would soon spell the demise of the Imperial leader and his two opponents. It didn't take long for Luke and Leia's ship to reach the Star Destroyer. They were saved from being hauled inside by a tractor beam by a salvo fired from the Falcon.

Han and Chewie continued to attack the larger Imperial craft, while Vader instructed his subordinates to destroy the ship that he recognized as the one that had blasted him out of the trench during his defense of the Death Star (way back in issue #6). A mental blast via the Force from Luke affected Vader strongly enough to allow both of the smaller ships to escape. Vader still didn't know the identities of the ships' passengers, but they'd escaped for now. We then saw Luke, Leia, Threepio, and Artoo together again in Valance's ship. It was Luke's first time using the Force in that manner. He knew that it was effective, but that alone might not be enough to stop the Sith Lord for good. 

That marked the end of this storyline. It seemed to me that the conclusion felt a little rushed, and I wished that it wasn't the end for Master-Com and Greyshade. We still have yet to see them in any other Marvel Star Wars comics, although the Wheel would be featured briefly in an issue after the Empire Strikes Back adaptation. 

That's it for this article. Next time, I'll write about the twenty-fourth issue in this series. Mary Jo Duffy scripted a story that harkens back to Obi-Wan Kenobi's past. It also takes place after the events in Star Wars #15. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #22

Happy Sunday afternoon, everyone,

Today, I'll be discussing the twenty-second issue of the first Star Wars comic title. The cover showed Chewbacca and Han Solo squaring off in a contest to the death. The story was called "To The Last Gladiator!" The issue had a cover date of April 1979.

The tale began during the gladiator games on the Wheel space station. Han and Chewie were among the final competitors that were released into an arena in zero gravity. Each combatant was armed with a small shield and a needle ray pistol. Solo soon found that his blaster was defective, and had to resort to using his shield and diverting opponents into obstacles as defensive measures.

Chewacca informed Han that his blaster didn't work either, so he'd discarded it. Solo then realized that he and his longtime friend had been set up for failure. Someone didn't want either of them to win.

The someones were none other than the ship's administrator, the former Galactic Senator Greyshade, and his Imperial Commander companion Strom, who were watching the match from the safety of the royal lounge with great interest. Greyshade knew that the contracts each competitor signed clarified that the battle was to the death and that there could only be one winner. If a participant didn't comply with that stipulation, it was grounds for their execution. 

Strom had struck a deal with the administrator to siphon part of the Wheel's profits for the Empire for their war efforts, not knowing that his colleague would poison his guest. Meanwhile, a recently revived Luke Skywalker was leading Princess Leia Organa and his droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO, toward a docking bay where they'd just seen several Wheel guards retreat to. They'd noticed (last issue) that Stormtroopers had purloined Wheel winnings, and several of them opened fire after a pneumatic door opened around the next hallway.

Before the conflict could rage on, Greyshade arrived on the scene. He led the quartet away, while a large Star Destroyer was straining its engine's limit to reach that destination. Darth Vader was convinced that the Rebels who'd destroyed the Death Star were on the Wheel, based on information he'd received from a dying Rebel on another world (as shown in the last issue). Absolutely nothing could deter the Sith Lord from his goal.

Greyshade had taken his prisoners to another area of the complex, where his private ship was waiting. He wanted Leia to journey with him anywhere they and the treasure aboard would take them. Luke was determined to free the princess yet again. Greyshade reminded the young farmboy that their ship's pilots were still engaged in the gladiatorial contest, pointing to a nearby viewscreen.

There were fewer opponents now for Han and Chewie, but that didn't make anything easier. They still had challenging foes and obstacles to overcome. Eventually, Chewbacca fired what appeared to be a fatal shot at the Correllian. Leia and Luke were stunned by this outcome. Leia agreed to Greyshade's terms, but pointed out how hollow and bitter the Senator's prize was.

It seemed rather inevitable that Solo and Chewbacca would square off against each other. This conclusion was certainly inferred in the last two issues. I was somewhat surprised that Greyshade's robotic aide, Master-Com, was absent in this issue. He was the one supporting character during this storyline that I found to be the most interesting. 

Well, that's it for now. Next time, I'll recap the twenty-third issue of this series. We'll find out just what happened to the Falcon's crew following their battle to the death. We'll also learn what Vader was able to accomplish after arriving at his destination as this storyline concludes. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #21

Hi there,

Today's focus is on the twenty-first issue of Marvel's first Star Wars comic. The cover showed C-3PO, R2-D2, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia in action against the backdrop of the evil Darth Vader. The story was named "Shadow of a Dark Lord!" The issue had a cover date of March 1979.

The tale began with Leia looking at the lone guard who was standing between her and an elevator lift. She'd just escaped from Senator Greyshade's private suite, and soon got the guard to admit that there were fewer personnel in that sector because the main concentration was on the big games in the casino. She blasted the man before ascending toward the Crimson Casino, where Han had told everyone to meet up (back in issue #18).

As she neared that area, the princess from Alderaan thought back to how the Falcon had been blasted by an Imperial Star Destroyer, after having arrived at a House of Taage ship that had been destroyed. The attack had been carried out by the Empire. That act and the strafing run by an X-Wing fighter (in issue #20) were planned to generate distrust in the Rebellion. The Star Destroyer's commander was working with Greyshade on a deal that would transfer profits from the Wheel space station to further their galactic conquest.

Meanwhile, the formerly unconscious Luke's eyes opened. He had been dreaming about being chased until his former mentor, the late Obi-Wan Kenobi, informed him that Vader was the threat. He lashed out at the Sith in his mind, while simultaneously breaking free from the restraints that had bound him to a table in the Wheel's medical sector. He then pried open a nearby locker and grabbed his belongings before moving on, continuing to fight the menace in his mind.

By the time he came to his senses, Skywalker had already taken out several Wheel guards. Leia, Artoo, and Threepio arrived by his side just as he was emerging from his trance. He told his friends that the Force made him aware to the fact that Vader (last seen in issue #6) was very much alive.

The Sith Lord was on the planet Ultaar, where he interrogated a wounded Rebel. The man lived long enough to inform the Imperials that they'd been attacked by a cyborg bounty hunter named Valance (last seen in issue #16), who was looking after the crew who had aided Leia in her escape from the Death Star. Vader soon learned that the ship that had escaped the Imperial complex was last headed for the Wheel, and made that satellite his fleet's next destination. 

Back on the Wheel, Greyshade's subordinate, the robot Master-Com, informed his leader of Leia's escape, something that he could have averted had he not been obsessed with his studies of Artoo and Threepio. Greyshade was somewhat disgusted by the fact that a human could have a close friendship with robots, until Master-Com reminded him of their own familiarity. Greyshade ordered Master-Com to return to the executive suite, as he returned to watch more of the gladiator games with Imperial Commander Strom. 

A while later, several Wheel guards caught Stormtroopers in possession of stolen Wheel profits. They dispatched the Imperials and rushed to return the valuables, all of which were observed and recorded by Artoo. As for Han, he was recovering from his last bout and was about to enter the arena for his next match, which unfortunately pitted him against his first mate, the Wookiee Chewbacca. 

While it was good to see Vader's return, I still don't like how Carmine Infantino drew him. The dark lord of the Sith would eventually meet Valance, and we would see more of the bounty hunter before the adaptation of the second Star Wars movie. I understood writer Archie Goodwin's intentions of having the Imperials use their allegiance with the Wheel administrator as a way to funnel more funds into their organization. I still felt like this particular storyline dragged on a little too long, and could have been resolved a few issues earlier. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the twenty-second issue of this title. We'll see what happens during Han and Chewie's bout and who the ultimate winner is. We'll also see Luke's first meeting with Greyshade and Vader's journey toward the gambling complex. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #20

Good afternoon everyone,

Today's topic is the twentieth issue of the first Star Wars comic book title. The cover showed Han Solo about to succumb to a four-armed opponent who carried a blade in each hand. Artoo-Deeto, See-Threepio, and a couple of aliens watched the conflict from a viewscreen. The story was called "Deathgame!" The issue had a cover date of February 1979. 

The story started with an X-Wing fighter attacking a pleasure vessel that had just departed the Wheel space station. As the gambling platform's patrons watched the action, a pair of TIE fighters swiftly eradicated the Rebel threat. Princess Leia Organa was outraged by the outcome, knowing that it was all staged by her former fellow Galactic Senator Greyshade's Imperial cohorts. 

Leia lashed out at the station's administrator, who soon left her in the sole company of his protocol droid, Master-Com. Greyshade boarded a shuttle that took him to the Star Destroyer that had been docked nearby. Inside, he began a conversation with Commander Strom. Greyshade knew that the Imperials had destroyed a House of Taage ship that had been transporting Wheel profits, and made it to look like the attack had been conducted by the Rebel Alliance. He was fine with the eventual Imperial takeover of his station, so long as he could have the Alderaanian princess to do with as he wished.

One condition of their arrangement was that Leia's companions were to be eliminated. Luke Skywalker still lay unconscious in the Wheel's medical facility, while Chewbacca and Han Solo were busy competing in the highly wagered-upon gladiator games. Artoo and Threepio had been placed in storage after being put in hock by Solo and were scheduled to be melted down. It seemed that part of the bargain would soon be fulfilled.

Han was surprised to be fighting competitors who were far above his class. His second opponent was a large four-armed humanoid who carried venomous dagger thorns in each fist. Solo's small shield would hardly prove adequate against such a threat. As Strom and Greyshade watched the bouts, Threepio and Artoo were about to be led off for a memory flush by a Wheel guard when Master-Com interfered and superceded that order.

The droids went off with Greyshade's assistant, who was curious to learn more about the droids' independent spirits. They then went to the ship's hospital, where they were astonished to find that their master was gone. Luke's restraints were broken. Master-Com noted that an alarm had sounded from the hospital area as well as a warning from the executive tower.

Leia had been using a knife to tamper with a vent's seal, and was eventually able to escape through the narrow passage. Master-Com left the droids soon thereafter, leaving them with the knowledge that they may have a new ally. Meanwhile, just as things were looking grim for Han, his opponent finally met his demise. These competitions were to the death, and while Han's passing was averted, it appeared that it was just a temporary reprieve. 

If you're a regular reader of these blog articles, you already know how I feel about this storyline. I really feel like it could have been shortened. I think that some of the battles and plot points were drawn out longer than necessary. The one new character that I found to be somewhat interesting was Master-Com. He seemed to be a free thinker who was starting to doubt the ethics of his superior. He also reminded me of a similar robot that we'd see a bit later on in the series.

Well, that's all for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the twenty-first issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. We'll find out where Leia and Luke went. There will also be the return of an infamous Imperial, and Han learns who his next opponent is. It isn't someone that he'd ever want to face. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #19

Hi everyone,

Today, I'll be writing about the nineteenth issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover showed the space station known as the Wheel, with a skull set in its middle, along with headshots of C-3PO, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, Han Solo, and Chewbacca. The tale was titled "The Ultimate Gamble!" The issue had a cover date of January 1979.

The story started near the Wheel's medical facilities, where Threepio was carrying the unconscious Skywalker (who had passed out during a Jedi meditation session in the previous issue). Stormtroopers were right behind, as R2-D2 was attempting to open the door to that particular section. Before the troopers could blast their targets, a containment wall dropped in front of them. Their shots ricocheted across the corridor as the droids continued on their mission.

Artoo's actions were soon noticed by the Wheel administrator Senator Greyshade's droid, Master-Com. The robot wanted to study Luke's droids. His master was more interested in the exploits of Leia, a former fellow member of the Galactic Senate whom he'd noticed had recently boarded the station. 

At the moment, Leia and Solo were occupied defending the Millennium Falcon from more Stormtroopers. They'd recently entered the Wheel after discovering a bombed House of Taage merchant vessel, which they'd learned had been attacked by Imperials but made to look like Rebels were responsible for that act. The ship arrived at the station soon after being attacked by a Star Destroyer whose commander accused them of piracy and traitorous acts against the Empire.

The troopers were overtaken by Wheel security guards, who announced that Greyshade would handle the affair. Leia remembered the senator as a vile, corrupt, contemptible person. While this sounded more up Han's alley, Solo was led away to inspect his ship for the missing Wheel profits that were supposedly on the Taage ship, while Leia was taken to the administrator's quarters.

Meanwhile, Chewbacca had safely hidden the rebel pilot that they'd rescued from the Taage craft's destruction, and was stealthily making his way to the casino area. He'd just arrived when a pair of guards approached him from behind, noticing that the Wookiee hadn't established a credit limit or paid a Wheel registration fee. Chewie struck at the strangers, and a fight broke out, which several patrons quickly placed bets on. 

Only a maximum strength stun blast was able to fell the Falcon's first mate. He was taken via cart to the gladiator pits while Han anguished over the guards' inspection of his vessel. Leia was less than overjoyed to reunite with Greyshade. She'd just pointed out the possibility that the plundered Wheel profits were a crime committed by Imperials to pin on the Rebellion when Master-Com returned.

The robot had no sooner announced the arrival of the Star Destroyer's Commander Strom, when that very same Imperial blasted the droid from behind. Greyshade's security system prevented the commander from firing his weapon again, moments before Master-Com returned from a side panel in another body. Greyshade offered Leia the use of his private suite and went on to have a conversation with the Imperial.

The Wheel administrator offered Strom a partnership. He was onto the scheme and was willing to stay silent in exchange for Leia. Her traveling companions wouldn't be allowed to leave the Wheel alive. The bargain was agreed upon over drinks. 

Master-Com was in the ship's hospital minutes later, as a doctor inspected the unconscious Luke. He was about to ask who brought the human there when the droids in question were led to the Wheel's storage area, after a guard informed them that Solo had just put them up as a gambling stake. The droids were surprised by the news, but reluctantly agreed to do as they were told.

By then, Chewbacca was a hesitant participant in the gladiator games. It was a way to pay off the fines and penalties he'd accrued since his discovery on the casino floor. Meanwhile, Han was also in debt. Putting the droids in hock wasn't enough to pay for the Falcon's docking fees. He then saw a poster for the gladiator games and decided to sign up. That news was quickly transmitted to Greyshade, who was fine with that, as long as the Correllian didn't win, which was something he was determined to ensure. 

I'll be honest: this storyline wasn't a favorite of mine. I kept reading because I wanted to continue collecting the entire series. Archie Goodwin's script was better than Carmine Infantino's artwork. Overall, I kind of felt like this storyline dragged on a bit longer than necessary. Greyshade's deal with the Imperial commander was an interesting touch, and I wasn't surprised that Han put the droids up as collateral, knowing that Crimson Jack had stolen his reward from the Rebellion back in issue #7. I did want to know more about Master-Com, as he seemed to be a lot more independent than other similar droids of his kind. 

That's all I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the twentieth issue of this series. We'll find out what happens to Han after his enrollment in the gladiator games, and who his opponents are. We'll also learn more about what Leia's intentions are and see Master-Com's first meeting with Threepio and Artoo. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #18

Good afternoon,

Today's focus is on the eighteenth issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover showed C-3PO carrying an unconscious Luke Skywalker in his arms, with R2-D2 behind him and a squadron of Imperial Stormtroopers in the foreground, ready to attack the trio. The story was called "The Empire Strikes!"  The issue had a cover date of December 1978.

The tale began in hyperspace, as the Millennium Falcon was on its way back to Yavin 4. Its captain, Han Solo, and his Wookiee first mate, Chewbacca, were concentrating on an issue with the ship's autonavigator when Threepio pointed out a problem: namely, that his master, Luke, was unconscious.

Princess Leia Organa used a medpack to determine that Luke's vital signs had slowed but were stable. Threepio explained that he and Artoo had been observing Luke's lightsaber practice session. Their master soon ended his exercise and began to meditate. He apparently saw something with the Force that caused his body to shut down. 

The Falcon dropped out of subspace and was quickly contacted by an Imperial TIE fighter whose pilot warned them that they were entering an Imperial military containment zone. Han blamed that mistake on the autonavigator's drift error and blasted the fighter out of the sky. A little while later, their ship came across a battle-damaged House of Taage mining explorer. Leia persuaded Han to bring the Rebel pilot she'd spotted near the wreckage aboard.

Unfortunately, the pilot was beyond the help of a medpack, but he did tell his new comrades that he and his wingmates had been forced into the Taage ship before it was attacked, so that it would look like the Imperial allies' ship had been destroyed by members of the Rebellion. 

Han and Leia were so busy arguing about what to do next after the pilot passed out that they almost didn't see the arrival of an Imperial Star Destroyer, whose commander suspected the small ship's inhabitants of piracy and/or rebellious acts against the Empire. Chewie's quick thinking helped them evade the warning shots, but the Falcon was soon pursued by more TIEs that were dispatched under Commander Strom's orders. By then, Han had taken over the controls and was guiding his ship toward sanctuary at a large station known as the Wheel.

The Wheel was known throughout the galaxy as a neutral location where patrons could relax and gamble. While the Falcon successfully survived the landing in one of the Wheel's docking bays, the Rebel pilot did not. Chewie went to dispose of the body, while the droids would take Luke to the station's medical facilities. Han and Leia were going to make their way to the Crimson Casino Lounge, where Chewbacca would meet them after accomplishing his task.

Of course, their arrival didn't go unnoticed by the ground crew or the Stormtroopers who were already stationed on the Wheel. The soldiers demanded to know more about the Falcon and its passengers. A request for information was raised by Strom to the station's supervisor, Senator Greyshade. Greyshade was no fan of the Rebellion or the Empire, but allowed the pursuit on the condition that one of the Rebels be kept alive for questioning and brought to him directly.

While Strom continued to scheme, a pair of Stormtroopers found the droids and their unconscious master and were about to open fire upon them. In Senator Greyshade's quarters, he kept up on updates about the Falcon's crew. One particular passenger, Leia, piqued his interest. They'd served together in the Galactic Senate, and she was now a Rebellion leader. Greystoke then informed his droids, Master-Com, that it was time to act.

Knowing what I did about Solo's background, I wasn't surprised to see a station like the Wheel that was bound to interest rogues and squadrons from various star systems. Penciler Carmine Infantino apparently didn't know the difference in designs between standard TIE fighters and Darth Vader's personal TIE, as the fighters he drew in this issue were almost identical to the Sith Lord's ship. I never did like how he drew droids, Vader, Stormtroopers, weapons, or ships, but I was willing to overlook that for the sake of this storyline. The tale's title was a play on the name of the first Star Wars sequel, which may or may not have been announced by the time this issue was published. 

That's all from me for now. Next time, I'll recap the nineteenth issue of this series. We'll find out what happened to Luke and his robots, as well as see Leia's reunion with Greyshade. In addition, we'll learn what Chewbacca did after disposing of the pilot's body and the crucial choice that Han was forced to make. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #17

Good morning,

Today's focus is on the seventeenth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover showed Luke Skywalker in action on his homeworld of Tatooine. The tale was titled "Crucible!"  The issue had a cover date of November 1978.

The story started on board the Millennium Falcon. Skywalker was manning the controls for his friends Han Solo and Chewbacca. The solitude gave him time to think back on his days before meeting the ship's pilots. He remembered a time when he had just bulls-eyed a womp rat with a blast from his energy rifle while steering his family's landspeeder. He picked up the creature and brought it back with him, hoping that his Uncle Lars would pay him a bounty for the rodent that would allow him to purchase a set of macrobinoculars that he'd had his eye on. Little did the farmboy know that his activities had been witnessed by several Sand People (aka Tusken Raiders) and their Bantha mounts.

Luke's excitement when he arrived home was countered by his uncle's reminder that his nephew lacked the necessary parts to get their Treadwell droid up and running again. That would delay the installation of their new vaporators. Luke replied that the parts were on backlog, and that he wanted to attend his friend Biggs Darklighter's farewell party the next day.

Darklighter was leaving for the Imperial Academy and had been best friends with Luke for years. Aunt Beru pointed that out to her husband, who allowed his nephew to attend the celebration, with the caveat that he was to not ask for anything more until they had a fully functioning Treadwell. Luke happily agreed.

Afterward, Luke asked his aunt about his uncle's relationship with his father. Beru said that Owen might have depended too much on him staying on the farm, much like he did with Luke. Luke understood that his uncle cared about him and was loyal to his aunt and uncle. However, he still felt like there was more for him to accomplish outside of the farm. 

Later that evening, Luke occupied himself with repairing the family's skyhopper. He sat in the pilot's chair and started daydreaming about flying in deep space, attacking an enemy cruiser, and rescuing a damsel in distress, who thanked him warmly for his efforts. He was so lost in thought that he initially didn't hear his uncle standing right next to him, informing him that he was shutting down the external power. 

The next day, Luke joined Biggs and their friends for a friendly skyhopper race across Beggar's Canyon. The two best friends soon emerged as the front-runners. Darklighter won the competition by using ground-charge missiles to blast a pair of womp rats while he accelerated out of a dead end. 

A party began afterward. Their reverie was interrupted by the crash landing of a landspeeder that was on fire. The vessel had been driven by a military scout who was fleeing from a Tusken rampage. The Sand People had been furious that a bunch of gun runners had accidentally polluted one of their sacred wells. The Tuskens acquired their weapons, some of which were used to fire on Luke and his friends moments later.

Windy tried to radio for help, but atmospheric interference prevented anything from being sent or received, at least until the twin suns had set. Luke and Biggs decided to make a break for one of the skyhoppers. They were confronted by a Tusken, who tossed his Gaderffi stick at Biggs. The weapon's tip had been dipped in sand bat venom, which was very poisonous.

Luke took the controls of his family's skyhopper after loading his friend inside. His only chance to save Biggs was to cut through the deadly Diablo's Cut. It was a treacherous cavern passage, which ended with a Tusken scouting party. A few shots found their mark, but Luke was able to pilot the craft close enough to his family homestead to alert his aunt and uncle and call for help. 

Things had resumed to normal several hours later. Luke took some time to consider the ordeal as a test, one that he'd passed. His thoughts then drifted to recent events, from acquiring R2-D2 and C-3PO to meeting Ben Kenobi, who gave him his father's lightsaber, rescuing Princess Leia Organa, and the attack that destroyed the Empire's Death Star.

His reminiscing was broken up by Han Solo. He had woken up and was ready to relieve Han. Luke was thankful for the break, but was just fine where he was for the moment. 

This was a nice fill-in issue scripted by Chris Claremont and illustrated by Herb Trimpe and Al Milgrom. IT gave fans a little insight into Luke's past, as well as more details about Biggs Darklighter and Luke's aunt Beru and uncle Owen. I'm sure that Marvel was limited by Lucasfilm as to what they could portray, but it was still an enjoyable story, one that could be used as a point to start reading this series.

That's all from me for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the eighteenth issue of this series. The Star Warriors resume their journey and encounter more Imperial resistance. We'll also see a person from Leia's past. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #16

Hi there,

Today I'll be writing about the sixteenth issue of the first Star Wars monthly comic book. The cover showed images of R2-D2, C-3PO, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, and the rabbit Jaxxon in the background, with an unknown soldier in the foreground. The story was called "The Hunter!: The issue had a cover date of October 1978.

The tale began with the man from the cover, who was known as Valance, launching an attack on a base with his allies. The soldiers pushed their way to the records section of the Telos-4 medical station before obliterating the records with their laser weapons. One of the patients, a man named Don Wan Kihotay (who you may remember from Han and Chewie's adventure after the destruction of the Death Star), talked aloud about his exploits with Amaiza, Jaxxon, Han, Chewbacca, and a boy and his droid.

One of Jaxxon's soldiers overheard the old man's mutterings and reported immediately to his superior. Valance then ordered his men back to his ship, now that they had a new objective. A short while later on another planet, Jaxxon and Amaiza were parting company when the long-eared pilot was captured. His captors pumped him for information about Solo and his young companion with the robots.

Jaxxon wasn't about to spill the beans, but Amaiza inadvertently provided the details that Valance's men were looking for in her attempt to rescue her friend. Jaxxon and Amaiza then raced to Aduba-3 to inform their former colleague Jimm about the threat. Jimm and Merri were skeptical, since after their initial battle against Serji-X, Jimm had since retired from combat and settled down with Merri, who was due with their first child.

None of them knew just how close Valance's ship was to the system. The bounty hunter thought back to his days in service to the Empire and the injuries he'd suffered during a Rebel bombing on an outlying world. The Imperials left the wounded warrior back on Telos-4 to die, and Valance knew that he could never again be of service to their cause. 

However, he did stay abreast of their efforts to squash the Rebellion, including the recent infiltration of the Death Star by Solo and his companions. He was most interested in the farmboy and the droids who had accompanied Han and the Wookiee on that mission. His vessel had no sooner entered Aduba-3's atmosphere when it was attacked by the Rabbit's Foot, Jaxxon's light cruiser. 

A brief space battle ensued, and Jaxxon and Amaiza eventually retreated to the planet's surface. Valance's ship was in hot pursuit, and it didn't take very long for them to find their attackers' craft. A squadron of his best men was sent out on foot, unaware that they were walking into a trap. 

Amaiza opened fire on the intruders, and a blast from Jimm's pistol sent a herd of Banthas stampeding across the open field. Valance emerged on the scene afterward. When he caught up with Han's former employees, he finally realized that Jimm wasn't the same farmboy from the Death Star transmission tape. Angered, he fired a hand weapon at the trio.

Jaxxon, Amaiza, and Jimm got back up and watched the enemy ship blast off into space. They were wondering why they'd been sought after in the first place. None of them knew Valance's secret, which was displayed in the last panels: when he was repaired after the Rebel attack, portions of his body were replaced with cybernetic parts. Rather ironic that the droid-hater was partly mechanical. 

This was penciler Walt Simonson's first issue of Star Wars. He would return for a memorable run after the Empire Strikes Back adaptation. Valance proved to be an intriguing character. He was the first-ever bounty hunter featured in this series, before we even knew about Boba Fett. Although his run on this title was rather short, it was memorable. Valance would resurface in the newer Marvel Star Wars comics and was a major character in the 42-issue Bounty Hunters comic book.

Well, that's it for this article. Next time, I'll recap the seventeenth issue of Star Wars. X-Men scribe Chris Claremont and Incredible Hulk and G.I. Joe penciler Herb Trimpe team up as guest contributors as they chronicle a tale from Luke Skywalker's past, not long before the incidents that occurred in the first film. Until then, have a great week, and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #15

Good afternoon everyone,

Today's topic is the fifteenth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars comic book. The cover showed Han Solo squaring off against Crimson Jack and his commandos outside a Star Destroyer in space. The tale was titled "Star Duel!" The issue had a cover date of September 1978.

The story started in outer space. Jack's captured Star Destroyer was orbiting the planet Drexel after being lured there by Solo's story that the Rebel treasury was on the water world. The massive vessel had been locked in place by General Quarg's sonic jammer, which ceased functioning after the events from the previous issue.

Jack wanted revenge on the Correllian, and his assistant Jolli was preparing three fighters that Han and his friends had sabotaged (during their escape in issue #13). Meanwhile, Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia Organa were on Quarg's ship after defeating the pirate and his crew (as depicted in issue #14). The dragon riders, Quarg's former technicians who had since formed a bond with the native creatures, were more than willing to let their new allies stay with them, but they already had other plans. 

Threepio had no sooner started checking out the Millennium Falcon when the ship was under attack by Jolli, who was flying a commandeered Y-Wing fighter. Luke, Leia, and Han dove into the water to rescue him, not knowing that he was okay. Chewbacca and R2-D2 were still on board. Threepio soon used an overhead firing toggle to blast the rogue ship. 

The Falcon soon burst free from the planet's atmosphere and engaged in combat with Jack's other two fighters. The trio of fighters was small and speedy, but none of them posed much of a threat. While renewing her attack, Jolli thought back to her youth, when her father abandoned her and her mother before declaring that they weren't good enough. Her initial interaction with Han evoked some of those long-lost feelings, which inspired her actions in part.

In attempting to evade the Star Destroyer, the Falcon brushed up against the larger craft, damaging its gyro control module in the process. After learning that the module had to be replaced and couldn't be fixed, Solo offered Jack a trade: the navi-computer charts that Chewie had stolen while on board their ship in exchange for the parts that they needed.

A bargain was struck, and the two pilots agreed to make the exchange outside their own ships. Before that encounter, Jack said that Jolli, whose ship had been damaged in the battle, could find her way back to them if she was good enough. Han expected betrayal and was prepared to fight.

What neither of them anticipated was Jolli's ire at her captain's remark, which was similar to the last words that her father ever spoke to her. She went on a rampage, firing at the Star Destroyer before ramming her battered ship against its control tower. The exchange had taken place beforehand, and now Jack found himself without a vessel to take him anywhere.

Solo fired a blast at the old pirate before giving Jolli her first and last kiss. He perceived how her feelings toward men had changed after their first meeting. Han then reboarded the Falcon, and he and his comrades finally left the system in peace.

This issue wrapped up both the Crimson Jack and Drexel storylines. It was a quick battle. My only regret was Jolli's sacrifice. She could have chosen to reform and join the Alliance. Crimson Jack was an interesting character who was largely forgotten until Marvel reacquired the license in 2015. This was the last issue that he and his crew were featured in during the initial run. 

Well, that's all for now. Tomorrow, I'll recap a new story in issue #16. Walt Simonson and Bob Wiacek are the guest artists, and they teamed with writer Archie Goodwin to present a new bounty hunter, the very first one to be included in this series. We'll find out more about this character and just what his mission is. Until then, have a great week, and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #14

Good afternoon and Happy Valentine's Day/Singles Awareness Day, everyone,

My focus for this fourteenth day of February is the fourteenth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover showed Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, and C-3PO poised and ready for battle. The story was called "The Sound of Armageddon!" The issue had a cover date of August 1978.

The tale began on Governor Quarg's flagship. Chewbacca was striking at Luke, thinking that the Tatooine native had fired upon the Millennium Falcon (when in reality it had been another of Quarg's men). Threepio and Artoo stood by and watched, unsure how to assist their friends.

None of them fully understood that their ship was engaged in a full-scale war with the dragon riders. Multiple beasts attacked the very craft they were in. Quarg refused to let their sonic jammer cease operation for even an instant, since it was what they'd used to lure large ships into their vicinity.

That included the Imperial Star Destroyer that was being piloted by the pirate Crimson Jack's crew. They were frantically trying to figure out how to evade its impact. Jack then learned that the Falcon had escaped from its hold shortly after the jammer began to impact their vessel. 

As for the Falcon's pilot, Han Solo had been knocked off board (last issue). When he came to, he saw that he was being carried off by one of the dragon riders. Leia was still on his ship and preparing for any trouble that might cross her path, as the Correllian ship was being towed toward Quarg's flagship.

It wasn't long before Quarg and his associates realized how the Falcon's power could be used to boost their signal jammer. It was a task that Luke and his droids could help with, but they were busy fighting for their lives at the moment against a raging Wookiee. Artoo finally blasted his comrade with a burst of fire extinguisher, putting him down for the count. 

Not long afterward, Leia was reunited with Skywalker and the droids. Quarg instructed his new machinesmith on his work, while he took Organa captive. None of them knew that Han was very much alive, and had resurfaced in an underground cavern where Quarg's former technos had made a home for themselves and the dragons of Drexel.

One of them explained to Solo their peaceful coexistence with the creatures. He noted that ultrasonic sound, like that emanating from Quarg's sonic jammer, had been known to drive some of the larger beasts mad, which would explain their frenzied actions during the current battle. Continued use of such a weapon could even kill the dragons. Han was shocked to learn that, as well as the news that Quarg planned to use his ship to augment the jammer.

Han agreed to join the technos, knowing it was probably the only way he could return to the Falcon. Meanwhile, the conflict continued. The droids worked on the task, albeit not at a fast enough pace for the general's liking. Luke, Artoo, and Threepio were working on the connection when Solo returned. He arrived to stop them, but Luke fought off his old friend. 

Solo warned the farmboy that they were giving Quarg a weapon that could rival the Death Star's destructive capability before more dragons fell from the increased power of the jammer. Leia fled from the general moments before Chewbacca broke through his prison and attacked Quarg and his men. Luke explained to Han that the connection helped Quarg, but it also negated the jammer's effect on his ship. Everything was now fully functional again, including the weapons.

Han took the opportunity to man a gun turret. He aimed his scope at a beam right below Leia, who by then had been chased up that far ledge by the General himself. Luke swooped in and grabbed her mere moments before the Falcon's guns fired on the ancient ship. 

Quarg and his threat were now gone. The pirates wouldn't harm the dragon lords or their animal companions ever again. However, that didn't mean that the Rebels were out of trouble just yet. 

I still don't like how Carmine Infantino drew laser blasters, mainly because they were usually quite unlike anything shown in the Star Wars films. I understand writer Archie Goodwin's intentions of likening Quarg's ships to pirate ships of old, and can appreciate how he crafted Quarg into a kind of Napoleonic leader. I just wish that there had been more of a backstory or an aftermath involving the dragon lords. We were just starting to learn about them before this conflict was resolved rather violently.

Well, that's all for today. Tomorrow's topic will be the fifteenth issue of this series. The Falcon is finally free to leave Drexel. But before Han and his friends can leave the system, they still have to deal with Crimson Jack and his crew. Find out what happens then. Until that article is written, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #13

Good afternoon,

It's time for me to cover the thirteenth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars book. The cover, drawn by Uncanny X-Men artists John Byrne and Terry Austin, showed Chewbacca squaring off against Luke Skywalker and C-3PO, as R2-D2 looked on. The tale was titled "Day of the Dragon Lords!" The issue had a cover date of July 1978.

The story started on board General Quarg's ship on the planet Drexel. He was telling Luke and the droids about his ship's policies of killing all offworlders and cannibalizing all machinery and metal, policies which he was not abiding by after allowing Skywalker into his fold. Artoo was busy repairing one of the general's water skimmers.

Luke was soon sent out into the waters to test the repaired craft. He was supposed to fire its cannons at an old float. The weapons and other systems seemed to be working fine. The only problem was the fact that Quarg's master machinesman was still aboard the vessel and attacked Luke during his test run.

Skywalker's quick thinking and reflexes allowed him to overcome his opponent and complete his mission. Only the skimmer's canopy failed to return intact. Afterward, the droids were treated to lubrication baths, while Quarg confided in his new crewman.

Luke noticed his foe now hanging from one of the ship-base's masts. He clearly paid the price for his failure. Quarg started talking about how he and his family had first come to this water world. Quarg's father was a governor in the Old Republic. He was responsible for the Korteen belt, where some of his citizens preferred to sabotage incoming ships. Sonic jamming units were utilized to disrupt and disintegrate vessels, which were then salvaged, and a portion of the profits would go to him.

As their operations grew more successful, there was a need for more powerful equipment. Their activities also drew the attention of the Galactic Republic and its defenders, the Jedi Knights. Quarg and several of his followers escaped in a damaged craft, crash-landing in the waters of Drexel.

They soon began to adapt to their new homeworld. However, after studying their surroundings and the native creatures, the soldiers and technicians became divided. Eventually, the technos left and were able to control and ride the aquatic beasts. Quarq's family and loyalists remained behind. 

Quarg hoped that Luke and his robots would remain loyal to him in the war against his former allies. His ship still retained some of the powerful jammers, one of which had detected the arrival of a larger ship in the star system. Luke assumed a ship of that size might be an Imperial cruiser.

Little did Skywalker know just how right he was. Crimson Jack's captured Star Destroyer had entered the planet's orbit after being told by Han Solo that the Rebel treasury was there. The jammer's activation provided Han, Chewbacca, and Princess Leia with the distraction that they needed.

The trio high-tailed it to the Millennium Falcon and took off, knowing that Jack's crew would be hot on their trail. While Quarg was trying to bring the large craft down, Luke was part of the scouting crew that was dispatched to go up against the approaching dragons and their riders. The Falcon soon intervened in the conflict and was swiftly fired upon.

Luke was angered by his wingmate's attack on his friends and fired his cannons to vaporize it. He then went to his comrades' aid. He peered over the side of his ship, only to be grabbed roughly by Chewbacca (who thought it was he who had fired upon them) before that skimmer was destroyed.

A while later, Luke came too, hearing Threepio's familiar voice. The translator droid was warning him of Chewbacca's anger. Thinking his shipmates had been lost, the Wookiee was about to get his vengeance on their supposed attackers inside one of Quarg's ships.

I'm still not a fan of Infantino's artwork, mainly because of how he drew droids, weapons, ships, and technological items, but at least the story was starting to solidify a bit. We still didn't know much about the dragon lords, but at least we knew where they came from. I wasn't surprised to learn that Quarg and his men probably would have sided with the Empire in the galactic conflict.

Well, that's all for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the fourteenth issue of this title. We'll find out which side the Star Warriors ally themselves with. We'll also learn a bit more about the dragon lords and see how this conflict concludes. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #12

Hello everyone,

Today's topic is the twelfth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars monthly comic book. The cover showed Luke Skywalker (brandishing a red-bladed lightsaber, a color that's generally associated with the Sith) on a boat defending himself and his droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO, from four armed strangers who were after the robots. The tale was titled "Doomworld!" The issue had a cover date of June 1978.

The story began with the heroes from the cover floating in their ship's escape pod, watching a battle between a red dragon and a green monster that was being ridden by a humanoid. Artoo's sensors soon noticed the arrival of several mechanized crafts. They were similar to landspeeders, except that they skimmed across the planet Drexel's water surface.

The newcomers fired shots at both beasts. The red dragon descended and quickly rose up underneath one of the vessels. The ships continued to attack the creatures, and one of them eventually fired a pair of magnetic grappling hooks at the escape pod. 

Luke and his companions boarded the craft after being reeled in. Noticing that the crew was interested in the droids, Skywalker used his father's lightsaber to create distance between them. Being called a Jedi made the young farmboy think back to his mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi, who'd been slain in battle against Darth Vader on the Death Star.

The boy was far from a Jedi Knight, but that didn't mean he couldn't fend off the strangers. Artoo emitted a fine stream of lubricant so that the crewmembers would have a tough time approaching them. After a brief conflict, Luke persuaded the ship's occupants to take them to their leader. The base was an old ship (reminiscent of our pirate ships of old), which the scanners on Luke's spacecraft had apparently identified as a big land mass.

Luke was soon introduced to Governor Quarg, a rather Napoleonic character. He soon learned that Quarg and his associates were at war with the Dragon Lords, a race that rode the sea beasts. His crew had brought the Rebels aboard, thinking that the robots might compensate for the loss of one of their skimmers. 

While Luke and his companions were learning more about their situation, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Princess Leia were approaching the Drexel system in a Star Destroyer that had been commandeered from the Imperials by the pirate Crimson Jack. Han had convinced the thief that the Rebel treasury was in the system. 

Jack admitted that he'd acquired the craft by attacking the vessel, which had been damaged during the Death Star battle. It was relatively easy for them to overpower the crew that remained inside and repair the damage. 

Han and Jack's conversation was interrupted by crewmember Jolli, who had apparently sparked the tomboy's interest in love. Minutes later, Chewbacca barked that the ship had reached its destination. However, Jack grew suspicious once he learned that Drexel was a water planet. That meant Han had to come up with another clever story, if he valued the lives of himself and his friends. 

Despite the lightsaber blade coloring error and the unusual amount of house ads, this was another satisfying issue. It was one of the first Star Wars back issues that I ever read. I understand how much people wanted more tales of Luke, Han, and company after the events of the first movie, and as I grew older, I could appreciate the little tongue-in-cheek gags with some of the depictions of several supporting characters. The sea dragons were an interesting touch, one that sadly didn't extend beyond this particular storyline. 

Well, that's all for this issue. Next time, I'll write about the thirteenth issue of this series. That issue has a cover illustrated by X-Men artists John Byrne and Terry Austin. We'll learn what Quarg had in store for Luke and the droids. We'll also see what happened once the stolen Star Destroyer got closer to the water world. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #11

Hi everyone,

It's time for me to discuss the eleventh issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover depicted Luke Skywalker trying to defend his companions, R2-D2 and C-3PO, from a large snake, as the trio stood in a vessel that was in a body of water. The tale was titled "Star Search!" The issue had a cover date of May 1978.

The story began in space, as the Millennium Falcon was just leaving Aduba-3. Its pilots, Han Solo and Chewbacca, had just finished defending native farmers from a marauding group of pirates and a large monster. Solo recounted the losses of his comrades, Effie and Hedji, who were suffered during the conflict. Han decided that their next best course of action was to return to the Rebel base on Yavin 4.

After the Falcon exited hyperspace, the duo noticed a Star Destroyer right in their path. However, they recognized this vessel as the one commandeered by Crimson Jack (whom Solo and Chewie ran into back in issue #7). Han decided to play along and let the Falcon be taken via tractor beam.

Once inside the captured Imperial vessel, the heroes saw another familiar face, belonging to Leia Organa. She'd left Yavin in search of Luke and his droids, who had gone missing in their search for a new world that could host the Alliance, and evidently became a prisoner of these mercenaries who had recently stolen the reward Han and Chewie had earned for transporting its passengers from the Death Star.

The Correllian and his first mate soon engaged in a brief laser battle. Solo mentioned an offer that opened Jack's ears and was enough for him to end the hostilities and hear what he had to say. Han explained that his reward had been obtained from the Rebel treasury and got Leia to play along. The princess went on to say that their treasury was in the Drexel system, hoping that the pirate would get the hint and set a course for the system that Luke and company had last reported from. 

Jack took the bait and ordered his helmsman to set a course for the Drexel system. Han and Chewie stayed in the captain's quarters, while Leia was led to a cell by Jack's associate, Jolli. Jolli seemed to be a bit jealous of the (faux) affection that Han and Leia had shown each other, and lashed out at her prisoner before tossing her into a cell.

Leia wasn't offended. Her thoughts went back to Skywalker and his mission. She was determined to continue the search for the man who destroyed the Death Star, no matter what it took.

While Han was computing the route, Luke, Artoo, and Threepio found themselves under attack from a large creature. Their ship had crashed into the sea of the planet below, from which the monster rose. Luke's blaster pistol had little impact on their foe, who lunged for another blow. Artoo found the ship's escape pod, and the trio jetted off several yards away.

The monster seemed to lose interest after the ship's inhabitants had disappeared. Luke used his scope to investigate. He soon found that the creature was being approached by another humanoid astride a green sea alien. 

This was the beginning of writer /editor Archie Goodwin and penciler Carmine Infantino's run on the book. I was never a big fan of Carmine's work, mainly because the weapons and technological items he drew were far from how they'd been envisioned in the movies. Critics also said that he made R2-D2 look fat, which I can understand and agree with. Goodwin came up with some wacky stories, and I guess it made sense for him to put the farmboy from Tatooine on a world that was almost entirely water on the surface. I was happy to see more of Crimson Jack and his crew. His popularity remained for decades, and he was even featured briefly in one of the series after Marvel reacquired the Star Wars license in 2015.

That's all for now. Next time, I'll cover the twelfth issue of this run. We'll find out who the mysterious dragon rider was, and meet more supporting characters on Drexel. We'll also find out what happened when Jack's ship reached the system. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #10

Good afternoon,

Today's topic is the tenth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover showed Chewbacca and Han Solo firing their blasters at a large green alien monster. The story was called Behemoth From the World Below." The issue had a cover date of April 1978.

The tale began with Han and his companions in a pickle. They were engaged in battle with the space pirate Serji-X, aka the Arrogant One, and his crew. Both sides were also pitted against a large creature that had just emerged from rocky walls behind them. 

The beast's unexpected arrival posed a significant threat to both heroes and villains. He'd just been summoned by one of the village elders, who had repeatedly talked about such a presence that could protect their land. Unfortunately, he was also one of the savage's first victims, after being crushed by one of the monster's massive feet. That was enough for Serji, who retreated not long before his raiders succumbed to the massive alien.

Han, Chewie, and the farmland's protectors took a few minutes to regroup and devise a plan. Jaxxon led the initial charge before realizing the beast's potential for damage. Don Wan Kihotay, the self-proclaimed last of the Jedi Knights, then decided to strike out on his own. 

Meanwhile, Princess Leia Organa had just embarked on a solo mission to find Luke Skywalker and his droid companions, C-3PO and R2-D2. The trio had recently left Yavin 4 to find a new world that could serve as a Rebel base. When he made contact with his superiors, he told them about a planet in the Drexel system that might be suitable, before he suddenly stopped transmitting. Leia was determined to find her comrades, thinking on the way that they could use Han's assistance right about then.

Solo and the Wookiee were busy on Aduba-3, watching Kihotay attempting to draw the beast's attention. He did so after a few minutes and narrowly evaded a blast emitted from the creature's forehead. Hedji the spiner fired a few quills at their massive foe, and became the target of another blast from the monster, one that took the feline-like biped's life.

Amaiza and Han realized that the beast had been drawn to Kihotay's lightsaber. Chewie carried Solo closer to Kihotay, and Han grabbed the ancient weapon from the old man's hand. He thrust the saber upward into the creature's chest and dove for cover.

Moments later, there was a bright flash of light and the monster gradually disintegrated. The monster was no more, and the pirates had long since fled. The farming village was finally safe from harm.

Merri took the opportunity to thank her neighbor Jimm for his assistance. He decided to stay and help protect her and the others. Han, Chewie, and the rest took their leave. They weren't very well rewarded for their efforts, but they departed knowing they'd made a difference. 

This was the last issue of the monthly series for writer Roy Thomas and penciler Howard Chaykin. Both would go on to other projects for Marvel and other publishers over the years. Thomas and Don Glut were involved in the script, and somehow managed to not explain why Serji had abandoned his men or show their subsequent demise, or that Hedji had been killed (which wouldn't be noted until a later issue). Despite those errors, it was still an okay story and a satisfying conclusion to this storyline.

Well, that wraps up this article. Next time, I'll cover the eleventh issue in this series. We'll see where Han and Chewie head next. We'll also find out what happened to Leia, Luke, and the droids. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #9

Good afternoon all,

Today's focus is the ninth-ever Star Wars comic book. The cover showed Han Solo, Chewbacca, Amaiza, and Jaxxon defending their turf from a quartet of flying cloud-riders. The tale was titled "Showdown on a Wasteland World!" The issue had a cover date of March 1978. 

Chewie, Han, Jaxxon, Amaiza, Hedji, and Don Wan Kihotay were riding Banthas, as their companions Jim and Effie were all moving toward a farming village. The occupants of that land had approached the Correllian and his first mate (at the end of issue number seven) about protecting them from the pirates who plundered their territory mercilessly. The Aduba-3 natives didn't have much to offer, but the pilot still believed in their cause and recruited his new companions (as shown in the last issue) to join them.

The group had no sooner arrived when they found themselves under attack from above by strange-looking flying creatures. Each of the protectors used their own individual skills to fend off the intruders. At one point, Solo wound up saving one of the natives who'd found herself alone in a field.

After driving off the scavengers, the Millennium Falcon's pilots returned the girl Merri to the village. There, they were welcomed by her father, Oncho, and several of his fellow villagers. They were agreeable to assisting their saviors.

Back in the Rebel base on Yavin 4, Princess Leia Organa was trying to raise radio contact with Luke Skywalker. The Death Star destroyer had recently left with his droid counterparts, C-3PO and R2-D2, on a scouting mission to find a new planet that could serve as the Alliance's new base of operations. After establishing contact, Luke reported that he'd located a world in the Drexel system that might suffice when the signal was lost. Leia took this as a sign to go after her new ally and find out what trouble he was now in.

On Aduba-3, Han, Chewbacca, and their companions were gathering their resources in anticipation of another raid from Serji-X and his pirate crew. Merri's grandfather scoffed that their new protectors were not necessary. Another resident told Han not to mind the old man's words, adding that the elder saw himself as a shaman and would regularly talk about summoning a mythical beast to save their land. 

It wasn't long after that conversation that the Arrogant One and his assistants soared onto the scene. A high-pitched battle began moments later. The first casualty was Jimm the Starkiller Kid's faithful tractor robot, Effie. The droid gladly sacrificed itself to save its master.

No one seemed to notice the old man during the skirmish. He gestured wildly in front of a stone wall, asking someone from behind to emerge. By the time Han spotted him, he saw a large monster break through the rock wall. Solo now had to deal with this new menace as well as the ones that he'd originally been hired to take on.

This was definitely an action-packed issue. The supporting characters that Han and Chewie had recruited were still kind of hokey, but each of them played their part in the battle. The sub-plot involving Luke and the others was just getting going, and would be fleshed out in more detail in upcoming issues. I believe that Lucasfilm had some restrictions on what Marvel could do with the movie characters, so Roy Thomas, Howard Chaykin, and company came up with adventures like these to whet the appetites of Star Wars fans who were hungry for more tales following the beloved movie.

Well, that's it for this article. Next time, I'll tackle the tenth issue of this monthly series. We'll learn more about this large, scaly green behemoth and how he plays a role between Han and Chewbacca's legion and the space pirates. We'll also see what Leia did after Luke's ship suddenly stopped transmitting. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.