Classic Star Wars #20 (12 Days of Bounty Hunter Covers)

On February 9, 1981, almost 2 years after the Star Wars comic strips began, Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson would team up to produce a classic comic strip run.  Marvel had the disadvantage of producing their stories between Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back without having seen The Empire Strikes Back, so some of the stories they told did not fit into the continuity very well.  As examples, Jabba the Hutt in the comic was completely different than the character that appeared in the final movie and Marvel had to re-introduce the bounty on Han Solo because they resolved that situation earlier in the series.  Additionally, bias against droids was not apparent in either sequel, despite it being a strong subtext of Marvel's stories prior to The Empire Strikes Back.  The comic strip creators however had the advantage of seeing The Empire Strikes Back and, because the strip ran into 1984, the creators even know how the final movie in the trilogy turned out.  This resulted in continuity heavy stories that impeccably bridged the first two movies, even using situations, characters, and vehicles seen in these later movies.

The first story in the Goodwin and Williamson's run titled The Bounty Hunter of Ord Mantell introduced Skorr, who is the bounty hunter Han Solo is referring to when he says "Well the bounty hunter we ran into on Ord Mantell changed my mind."  In the story, Han Solo is forced to set down on Ord Mantell, where Skorr is currently operating, to make repairs to the Millennium Falcon.  Skorr recognizes Han Solo and captures Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia to lure him out.  Han rescues Luke and Leia and they all escape aboard the Millennium Falcon, but are tracked by Skorr.  Again, Skorr is outwitted, this time resulting in his capture by Imperials who believe he was complicit in the Falcon's escape.  Skorr is sent to the Spice Mines of Kessel.  This story is enhanced and reprinted in Classic Star Wars #1 and 2.

Skorr returns in Showdown to get revenge on Han Solo for his part in sending him to the Spice Mines of Kessel.  In the story, Boba Fett has sent Dengar (misnamed Zuckass in the story), Bossk, Skorr, and other bounty hunters to capture Han Solo.  Both Han and Luke are captured and taken to Ord Mantell where Boba Fett is negotiating a reward for Luke with Darth Vader.  Ultimately Han and Luke escape but not before Skorr is killed in a scuffle with Han.  Showdown is enhanced and reprinted in Classic Star Wars #20.

Classic Star Wars #20a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (June 1994)

The cover for Star Wars #20 shows the showdown between Skorr and Han Solo on Ord Mantell.