Star Wars #32 starts with Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2, and C-3PO on the run from Imperial Stormtroopers in a damaged Landspeeder. They enlist the aid of Jawas to escape the Imperial Stormtroopers and discover why the Empire has decided to take up residence on Tatooine. The cover to Star Wars #32 captures the charm of our star warriors getting help from Jawas.
Star Wars #32a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (February 1980)
The cover to Titans #38 is more foreboding and shows our heroes hiding from an Imperial patrol. The Stormtroopers are using Dewbacks to patrol the desert, much like they did in Star Wars when they were hunting the droids. Luke is wearing clothes on the cover he is not wearing in the comic.
Titans #38a - Editions Lug, France (March 1982) Star Wars #32
Of the two covers, Titans #38 is more appealing. Star Wars #32 is nice, but the cover to Titans #38 is very reminiscent of the cover to Star Wars #31. Since Titans didn't feature a Star Wars cover every issue, it makes sense that they would want to go with a cover more like that used on Star Wars #31.
Star Wars #31a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (January 1980)
One thing that is interesting about the story in Star Wars #32 is it shows the Imperial Troop Transport, a toy made by Kenner for their extremely popular 3 3/4" Star Wars action figure line. (The Imperial Troop Transport is also used in Star Wars #31.) The use of a Landspeeder, Jawa Sandcrawler, Dewbacks, and Imperial Troop Transports in the story is probably not an accident; Kenner's toy line was a huge hit with boys. Undoubtedly Marvel Comics would want to tap into that success by showing some of these familiar vehicles to readers of the Star Wars comics. This comic was released in late 1979, about the time the second wave of Star Wars action figures and vehicles were showing up on toy shelves.
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