Good afternoon everyone,
Today's topic is the third part of Marvel's Return of the Jedi adaptation. The Bill Sienkiewicz-drawn cover showed who I assume is Princess Leia in Endor gear, Han Solo, and Chewbacca. The chapter was called "Mission to Endor!" The issue had a cover date of December 1983.
After the title/splash page, the story started with an image of the Rebel fleet that had gathered near the planet Sullust. In one of the command ships, Lando Calrissian was conferring with Han and Chewie shortly before the proceedings began. Han was congratulating Lando on being selected to lead the attack and his advancement to general. Leia stated that she and Han were staying with the fleet.
Mon Mothma began the meeting by bringing up a hologram of the new Death Star. Admiral Ackbar explained that the station was protected by an energy shield that emanated from the forest moon of Endor. The shield had to be deactivated if an effective attack on the station could be made.
General Madine then said that they'd acquired an Imperial shuttle, whose crew would land on Endor and take out the shield generator. He then asked General Solo if his strike team was ready, to the surprise of those around the Falcon's captain. Solo replied that his strike team was ready but that he lacked a command crew for the shuttle. Chewbacca was the first to volunteer, followed closely by Leia, and then by Luke, who'd recently returned.
Leia hugged Skywalker after seeing something in his facial expression. He told her he'd tell her later. Shortly thereafter, in the hangar deck, Solo told Calrissian to take the Falcon, since it was the fastest ship in the fleet. Lando promised he wouldn't get a scratch on Han's beloved ship. As the pirated Imperial shuttle left, Han expressed his concern that he might not see the Falcon again.
A short time later, the shuttle Tydrium approached the Super Star Destroyer that hung in space before the second Death Star. Solo transmitted the codes they'd received, which were older but still valid. Darth Vader was on the command ship and had a strange feeling about the shuttle, but allowed them to pass after stating he would deal with them himself.
The Tydrium landed a safe distance away from the shield generator. Han and his crew advanced slowly, making sure to be as quiet as possible. Unfortunately, the snap of a twig beneath Solo's boot caught the attention of a pair of biker scouts. Han and Chewie took on some of them, while Luke and Leia pursued two more on speeder bike.
Before long, Luke jumped from the bike he and Leia had been sharing to the one occupied by an Imperial right next to them. He commandeered the speeder after skaking off its driver. His bike eventually became entangled with another Imperial's bike, and Luke was forced to crash his bike into a large tree. He got up quickly, ignited his saber, and sliced off his attacker's control vanes, causing his foe to crash explosively moments later.
On the Death Star, Vader was informing the Emperor of his discovery that a small Rebel group had penetrated the shield and landed on Endor. Palpatine was a bit surprised by the revelation that Vader's son was with them, but instructed his subordinate to wait for him on the sanctuary moon. He was confident that Luke would seek him out, and then Vader would bring his son to him.
By then, Luke had rejoined Han, Chewie, and the droids. Leia was missing. They found two more wrecked speeders and what they assumed to be Leia's helmet. They were trying to avoid fearing the worst when Chewie was distracted by the scent of a dead animal hanging from a tree. Little did they know that it was a trap, in the form of a net that carried the heroes up into the sky.
Luke asked Han to reach for his saber, while Artoo was busy using his saw attachment to slice through the ropes, sending him and his comrades crashing back to solid ground. They rose to find small native creatures surrounding them. As soon as they saw Threepio, several of the beasts began bowing in reverence. Threepio was able to roughly translate their words, but learned that they viewed him as some sort of god.
The beings known as Ewoks confiscated the heroes' weapons and led them to their home. The humanoids were to be featured courses in a banquet honoring their idol. Han was placed on a spit, since he was about to be the main course. Not even Princess Leia, who had been found in the woods by the Ewok named Wicket and had arrived at the camp before her friends, could persuade the creatures to release her companions.
Luke finally asked Threepio to tell the Ewoks not to anger him, or he would use his magic. Threepio did so, but achieved nothing at first. Luke closed his eyes and used the Force to levitate the protocol droid around the area, which scared the natives enough to cut the bonds and free the heroes.
Later that evening, Artoo and Threepio recounted their experiences against the Empire to the Ewoks. Afterward, the Rebels were declared part of the tribe. Han then asked Threepio to get their weapons back, fresh supplies, and the quickest way to the shield generator.
While Han was barking orders, Luke slipped outside quietly. Leia noticed his retreat and followed him. Luke saw her, and asked Leia if she remembered her mother. She replied that she only remembered images and feelings. Luke had no memory of his mother. He said this because Vader was on the same moon that they were now on. He had to face him because Vader was his father.
This news stunned Leia. Luke went on to say that the Force was strong in his family. He had it. His father had it, and his sister had it. Luke looked at Leia, and she knew that she was his sister. Somehow, she'd always known. She tried to convince Luke to leave, but he couldn't because he had felt good in him, and he had to at least try to bring that out in their father. He softly bade her goodbye before walking off.
The next morning, Vader walked down the Empire's landing platform on Endor to meet a commander and his troops emerging from an AT-AT. Skywalker was their prisoner. He surrendered himself and his lightsaber to the Imperials and stated that he arrived alone. The commander was sure that there were other Rebels in the area. Vader dismissed the commander and his stormtroopers after allowing them to search for the companions, which were to be brought to him.
Once they were alone, father and son spoke. Luke admitted that he knew the truth that Vader was once Anakin Skywalker, and that he had forgotten his true self. Vader replied that name no longer had any meaning for him, although his son knew that the Emperor hadn't driven the good side from his father fully. He asked his father to release his hate, but Vader knew how powerful the Dark Side was. He had to obey his master and bring his son before him. It was too late for him. Luke then realized that his father was truly dead.
The remaining content pages from this issue were pin-ups of an Imperial Biker Scout on a speeder bike, General Lando Calrissian, Admiral Ackbar's Mon Calamari command ship, The Emperor sitting on his throne on the new Death Star, and a trio of Imperial TIE Interceptors.
Rereading these issues brings back some good memories for me. I was just thinking about the speeder bikes that I put together for my brother and myself at my Aunt Helen and Uncle Jack's home in Saint Paul after shopping with my aunt, mother, and brother some forty years ago. Except for omitting Leia's meeting Wicket and a coloring error on the last page of the story that showed Vader holding Luke's lightsaber hilt upside down with a red blade emitted from the butt end, everything else was pretty much spot on with the movie itself. I thoroughly enjoyed writer Archie Goodwin and artists Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon's adaptation of what would be the last Star Wars movie for more than 15 years.
Well, that wraps up this article. Tomorrow, I'll cover the final issue of this limited series. We'll find out what happens when Luke meets the Emperor. We'll also see how Han, Leia, Chewie, and the droids take on the shield bunker with a little help from the natives and how Lando's attack fleet engages in battle against the second Death Star and its many defenses. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.
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