Star Wars: Return of the Jedi #1 - 4

The first comic book mini-series was published by DC Comics cover dated from July to September 1979 with the 3-issue World of Krypton.  The story was originally scheduled to appear in DC's recently revived Showcase title, but when that title was suddenly canceled with issue #104 cover dated September 1978 during the "DC Implosion", the story was instead published in it's own limited series the following year.  DC would continue to publish a few more mini-series in 1980 and 1981 and they also debut the first maxi-series with Camelot 3000 in 1982.

Marvel Comics would publish it's first mini-series cover dated from June to August 1982 with the 3-issue Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions.  Cover dated from September to December 1982, Marvel Comics published two 4-issue mini-series titled after superhero characters Wolverine and Hercules followed by the 4-issue mini-series The Vision and Scarlet Witch starting in November 1982.  A 4-issue Hawkeye mini-series would follow with cover dates from September to December 1983.  The next mini-series published by Marvel would be the 4-issue adaptation of Return of the Jedi starting the following month with a cover date of October 1983, but published in July 1983.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi #1b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (October 1983)

All 4 issues are written by Archie Goodwin with artwork by Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon.  This same trio performed identical chores for The Empire Strikes Back adaptation in Star Wars #39 - 44.  As expected from the artistic duo, the artwork is excellent and Al Williamson's embellishments on the denizens at Jabba's Palace and Barge are fun to look at.  It is unfortunate that the adaptation was cut down to 4 issues however, as both A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back received 6 issue adaptations.  Each issue has an opening splash page and a handful of trailing pin-up pages.  Additionally, each issue has a full page panel in the middle of the 17 pages of story.  This results in the story unfolding at a breakneck speed.  One of the highlights of the movie is the speeder bike chase which in the comic is condensed down to two pages, one page of the actual bike chase and another page with Luke Skywalker using his lightsaber to dispatch the Imperial Scout Trooper after Luke is thrown from his speeder.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi #2b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (November 1983)

Unfortunately, there are several glaring omissions in the story, such as Princess Leia Organa's initial meeting with Wicket, which is instead glossed over quickly when Leia at the Ewok village tells a captured Luke:

Princess Leia Organa: One of these little folk-- the Ewoks-- found me after my run-in with the Imperials.  I guess he was impressed since the Ewoks don't like them either!

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi #3b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (December 1983)

Wicket, who is never shown in any issue, does get an incorrect mention in the fourth issue though with blurbs that read:

The Ewok's name is Wicket.  He is the one who first befriended Princess Leia.  He has reunited his new allies with their main strike force and led them to the Imperial shield generator bunker.

... And is now about to draw off the guards at its entrance!

The problem here is the Ewok that stole the speeder bike is Paploo, not Wicket!  I find this humorous considering Wicket would be the lead character in the Ewoks title from Marvel a few years later.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi #4b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (January 1984)

Another unfortunate omission is the funeral pyre that Luke builds for his father Anakin Skywalker and the appearance of the trio of force ghosts: Anakin, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Yoda.

The same month Return of the Jedi #1 was released, the Star Wars title was on issue #76.  It would not be until issue #81 before the Star Wars title moves the story beyond Return of the Jedi and issue #78 is a filler.  I suspect the advent of the mini-series, the conclusion of the "Search for Han Solo" story in the ongoing title being several issues away, as well as Marvel not necessarily knowing how to proceed post-Return of the Jedi, prompted Marvel to publish the Return of the Jedi adaptation as a separate title.