Star Wars: The Protocol Offensive (12 Days of C-3PO and R2-D2 Covers)

Celebrating day nine of the twelve days of C-3PO and R2-D2 covers!

Nearly two years after the last Droids comic, Dark Horse published The Protocol Offensive one-shot starring C-3PO and R2-D2 in September 1997.  The story has a serious tone unlike it's predecessors and also features a prestigious line-up of creators.  The plot is by Brian Daley who wrote the three novels Han Solo at Star's End, Han Solo's Revenge, and Han Solo and the Lost Legacy.  Anothony Daniels, the actor who portrays C-3PO, is a co-writer along with Ryder Windham, editor at Dark Horse from 1993 through 1996 who oversaw many Star Wars titles.  Painted art is provided by Igor Kordey, best known for his work on New X-Men when Grant Morrison was writing the title.

Star Wars: The Protocol Offensive a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (September 1997)

The painted cover by Kordey shows C-3PO and R2-D2 reacting to the Hobors preparing for war with the Troobs on the planet Tahlboor.  The story does a great job of using the characters of C-3PO and R2-D2 in a serious manner, but also sprinkles in the humorous banter we've come to love between these two unlikely companions without degenerating into silliness.  R2-D2 is headstrong and ready to act, while C-3PO is the reluctant hero goaded on by his diminutive friend.  Admittedly, it is not the most exciting Star Wars tale, but I found it more engaging than many of the other droid-centric comics.  If you like C-3PO and R2-D2 in the movies and feel these two characters are underserviced in most stories, you will enjoy this book.