The character or corner boxes started appearing on Marvel comics in the early 1960s. Located in the upper left hand corner of the comic, they were helpful when rifling through comics on the newsstand to know which comics were being sold. By the late 1990s, they started to be phased out, and by the mid 2000s, the character boxes were completely gone from Marvel comic covers entirely.
The original Star Wars title at Marvel has character boxes throughout it's entire run. Only Star Wars #50 and Annual #2 do not contain a character box.
The first character box beginning with Star Wars #1 shows Luke Skywalker wearing his Tatooine garb. This image would appear on the cover of the Star Wars title until the start of the Empire Strikes Back adaptation. The color of Luke's shirt would remain white and his skin tone peach, but the color of all the other elements in the picture would vary from issue to issue. For example, his hair was mostly yellow, but sometimes it was brown. Luke's pants are white or shades of brown. Luke's boots would always be colored with shades of brown. Creative colors are used for the space and planet behind Luke.
Luke Skywalker (Tatooine garb) character box
With Star Wars #39, the character box changes to show C-3PO and R2-D2. C-3PO maintained a gold color and sometimes R2-D2 would be highlighted with blue. The two planets in the background undergo the most color changes. With Star Wars #76, the C-3PO and R2-D2 character box changed slightly; the small planet above C-3PO was dropped from the image and the word MARVEL was added to the box. Additionally, the image was sized to fit completely in the box so C-3PO's elbow no longer extends beyond the box border. Star Wars #88 would see this image altered one more time when a plain background is used.
C-3PO and R2-D2 character box IC-3PO and R2-D2 character box IIC-3PO and R2-D2 character box III
From Star Wars #84 - 107, five different character boxes are used (seven if you count the background modification to the C-3PO and R2-D2 image for Star Wars #88 and the change for Marvel's 25th Anniversary celebration.) Star Wars #84, 85, and 91 which mainly feature Han Solo and Chewbacca use a character box with the two characters. Star Wars #86 and 102 have an image of Luke Skywalker in his Bespin fatigues and Star Wars #89 and 90 show Luke in his Jedi outfit. Princess Leia has the corner box to herself on Star Wars #103. Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewbacca are all featured in the character box for Star Wars #92 - 101, and #104 - 107. The box includes the words 25TH ANNIVERSARY for the final three issues in celebration of Marvel's 25th anniversary. Interestingly, the New Universe line of comics was launched to celebrate Marvel Comics' 25th Anniversary and was a key reason for the cancellation of the Star Wars title.
Han Solo and Chewbacca character boxLuke Skywalker (Bespin fatigues) character boxLuke Skywalker (Jedi outfit) character boxPrincess Leia character boxLuke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca character box ILuke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca character box II
The following table shows the different character boxes that adorn the Star Wars title throughout the 107 issue run and 3 annuals.
Image
Notes
Issues
Luke Skywalker (Tatooine garb)
Star Wars #1 - 38, Annual #1
C-3PO and R2-D2; C-3PO's elbow extends outside border
Star Wars #39 - 49, #51 - 75
C-3PO and R2-D2; MARVEL added to box; small planet above C-3PO dropped
Star Wars #76 - 83, 87, Annual #3
Han Solo and Chewbacca
Star Wars #84, 85, 91
Luke Skywalker (Bespin fatigues)
Star Wars #86, 102
C-3PO and R2-D2; plain background
Star Wars #88
Luke Skywalker (Jedi outfit)
Star Wars #89, 90
Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca
Star Wars #92 - 101, 104
Princess Leia
Star Wars #103
Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca; MARVEL 25TH ANNIVERSARY
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