Retro Dark Horse: Star Wars: Underworld - The Yavin Vassilika (12 Days of Bounty Hunter Covers)

Star Wars: Underworld - The Yavin Vassilika is a 5-issue mini-series from Dark Horse.  Three Hutts, Jabba, Malta, and Embra, are tricked into a competition to find the Yavin Vassilika, a legendary treasure.  Jozzel Moffet, the handmaid to Malta, suggests the competition and rules are set that each Hutt is allowed only three contractors.  Jabba hires the smuggler Han Solo, the gambler Lando Calrissian who is known for his treasure hunting skills, and the bounty hunter Boba Fett.  Malta hires the three bounty hunters Bossk, Dengar, and IG-88 and Embra does the same by hiring Zuckass, 4-LOM, and Sardu Sallowe.  It is clear from the beginning that Jozzel is scheming to get the Yavin Vassilika for herself.

The story is full of many twists and turns as would be expected of the heist genre. Like all good heist stories, the competition is just the catalyst for a larger plot which ultimately involves the Rebel Alliance led by Jan Dodonna.  It turns out the Yavin Vassilika contains a key to the Massassi Temples on Yavin 4 and Jozzel's plan was to steal the Vassilika and deliver it to the Rebellion.

The cover for the first issue shows Han, Lando, and Boba Fett standing as if they are all friends.  While Malta and Embra's teams are working together from the beginning, Not all of Jabba's hires are aware of each other.

Star Wars: Underworld - The Yavin Vassilika #1a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (December 2000)

Issue #2 has a cover showing Dengar and Bossk on one side and Han and Chewbacca on the other.  In the middle is Jozzel.  This is symbolic of Jozzel's exploitation of the different teams in her attempt to get the Vassilika.

Star Wars: Underworld - The Yavin Vassilika #2a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (January 2001)

In the third issue, the teams find themselves on the water planet Mon Calamari.  The cover shows Boba Fett, Bossk, and Dengar together in the background, but in the story, Bossk and Dengar are working together and Boba Fett is alone.  Chewbacca does end up in the water as this cover shows and the story perpetuates the idea that Wookiees are afraid of water.  In Revenge of the Sith, the Wookiee home planet of Kashyyyk has a major battle between the Republic and the Separatist that is fought on a beach, with many Wookiees taking the fight to the droid army in the water.

Star Wars: Underworld - The Yavin Vassilika #3a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (March 2001)

Early in the story, Han and Lando end up working together.  In issue #4, we learn that Boba Fett is hired by Jabba the Hutt to protect Han when Fett rescues Han and Lando.  The cover is symbolic of this twist in the story, but Boba Fett is not in Slave I when he rescues the pair.

Star Wars: Underworld - The Yavin Vassilika #4a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (April 2001)

The first four covers are drawn by Andrew Robinson, but the fifth cover is drawn by the interior artist, Carlos Meglia.  Meglia's artwork is extremely exaggerated and cartoonish and is not going to be to everyone's liking.  His characters tend to be long and angular, but they are distinct and easily recognized.  The spaceships and locations are drawn in a more traditional, if not simplistic, style.  I will admit, when this comic was first released, I found the artwork off-putting, but have since grown to appreciate why this artist was chosen.  The story is fast paced, but the artwork alone cannot convey the complexity of what is going on, so there is ample dialogue.  Meglia's artwork offsets the exposition, making the story more interesting than it might have been if traditional artwork was used.

Star Wars: Underworld - The Yavin Vassilika #5a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (June 2001)