I spend a lot of time looking at Star Wars comics while doing research for this blog. Many times, I'll come across something that is interesting but outside the scope of what I'm researching, note it, and come back to it later. A while ago, I noticed that the cover logo being used for reprints of Star Wars #2 is different than the logo on the issue that was original published. It is a subtle, but interesting change. For Star Wars #1, the logo did not join the first and last two letters of the title as is standard for the Star Wars logo. This was fixed for the second issue.
Star Wars #2a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (August 1977)
I first noticed the discrepancy in the Dark Horse published Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 1: Doomworld trade paperback. The Star Wars #2 cover reprinted in that collection has the separate first and last two letters on the logo. This different logo has been used on subsequent reprints of Star Wars #2.
Star Wars #2 cover used in reprints
Even Wookieepedia incorrectly states:
On the cover of both this issue and the previous one, the first and last two letters of the Star Wars logo are not attached to each other.
This appears to be true for modern reprints of Star Wars #2, but not for the issue as it was originally printed in 1977.
So, what is the origin of this change? I've looked through my collection to see if this alternate cover appears on any of the foreign editions, but I have not been able to find any. If anyone knows or has an older reprint that uses the alternate logo, I would definitely be interested in hearing about it!
Over the years, deleted scenes from A New Hope have surfaced for Star Wars aficianados to enjoy and some have even been modified and reintegrated into the movie, but the most consequential scenes featuring Biggs Darklighter have not. Perhaps the Biggs' clips remain on the cutting room floor due to pacing issues or even the pathos they bring towards the film's climax. Luckily, Star Wars fans can still enjoy these deleted scenes as they are included in the novelization, the radio drama, and the original Marvel comic book adaptation.
Marvel Comics was working from an early version of A New Hope which included Biggs, Luke Skywalker's childhood friend from Tatooine. In the 102 page adaptation, Biggs is seen or mentioned on 10 pages of the story. Biggs is first shown in Star Wars #1 on page 5 when Luke races to Anchorhead excited to tell his friends about the space battle he just witnessed. Biggs is visiting and we learn he has received his commission from the Academy and has signed aboard the frigate Rand Ecliptic.
Star Wars #1 page 5 - Marvel Comics, U.S. (July 1977)
Just three pages later, Biggs and Luke are alone and Biggs confides that he has plans to jump ship and join the Rebellion instead of being drafted by the Empire. Luke explains his uncle needs him and he won't be attending the Academy this season and Biggs harshly tells him: "What good is all your uncle's work, if he ends up merely a tenant soon-- slaving away for the greater glory of the Empire?" As Biggs departs, Luke tells him he will "always be the best friend I've got."
Star Wars #1 page 8 - Marvel Comics, U.S. (July 1977)
While not shown, Biggs is mentioned when Luke is having dinner with his uncle Owen and aunt Beru. Luke, clearly emboldened by the visit from Biggs, tells his uncle he would like to apply for the Academy this year, but Owen is apprehensive. The conversation ends with Luke storming off but not before saying:
Luke Skywalker:That's what you said last year-- when Biggs and Tank left. Uncle Owen:Where are you going? Luke Skywalker:It looks like I'm going nowhere! I have to finish cleaning those droids. Star Wars #1 page 13 - Marvel Comics, U.S. (July 1977)
It is clear that Luke wants to follow his best friends Biggs and much of his discontent is due to conversations that he and his best friend have had growing up together. Biggs is following his dreams and Luke has convinced himself that he is obligated to help his uncle instead of following his.
The next time we see Biggs is in two pages of Star Wars #5. A saddened Luke says his goodbyes to Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa in the Rebel hangar on Yavin 4, but then is greeted by his best friend Biggs now wearing an X-Wing pilot uniform. Luke is clearly elated and their squadron leader interrupts the conversation asking about Luke's qualifications to fly. Biggs vouches for his best friend. The squadron leader mentions he met Luke's father describing him as a great pilot and a Jedi Knight. Finally, Luke and Biggs agree to catch up on recent events and depart, but not before Biggs tells Luke: "It's going to be like old times, little buddy! We're a couple of shooting stars that'll never be stopped!"
Star Wars #5 page 15 - Marvel Comics, U.S. (November 1977)Star Wars #5 page 16 - Marvel Comics, U.S. (November 1977)
Star Wars #6 encompasses the Rebel assault on the Death Star and Biggs is shown several times. It is interesting to note that on page 2 Biggs is designated Blue Three and Luke is Blue Five, but in the movie, they are both part of the Red Squadron not the Blue Squadron.
Star Wars #6 page 2 - Marvel Comics, U.S. (December 1977)
On page 6, Luke destroys a TIE Fighter that is chasing Biggs and on page 7, Biggs is shown mourning the loss of fellow pilot Tono Porkins. Two pages later, Blue Leader is killed by Darth Vader, leaving just Luke, Biggs, and Wedge Antilles as the remaining members of Blue Squadron. Luke's natural instincts to lead kick in and he commands the others to follow him into the trench of the Death Star.
Star Wars #6 page 6 - Marvel Comics, U.S. (December 1977)Star Wars #6 page 7 - Marvel Comics, U.S. (December 1977)Star Wars #6 page 9 - Marvel Comics, U.S. (December 1977)
Biggs' death comprises the entirety of page 11 highlighting the importance of this character. Darth Vader's TIE Fighter descends on Biggs' X-Wing Fighter in the trench and fires. Biggs' ship begins to break up and explodes. Wedge Antilles notes the loss and Luke is understandably upset. Captions profoundly capture the impact to Luke: "What was it Luke said to Biggs, a short eternity ago? You'll always be the best friend I've got."
Star Wars #6 page 11 - Marvel Comics, U.S. (December 1977)
Most, if not all, of the action from the battle in the sixth issue are shown in the movie including Biggs' role. The comic does a good job capturing the emotional death of Biggs and how tragic the loss is to Luke. It is impossible to see how the movie could have made this scene better.
Issues Referenced
Star Wars #1a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (July 1977)Star Wars #5a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (November 1977)Star Wars #6a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (December 1977)
The cover for Star Wars #92 depicts a scene from early in the story where Luke Skywalker encounters Darth Vader in his dreams. The artwork is a collaborative effort by Cynthia Martin and Bill Sienkiewicz and there are some glaring errors to how the event is shown inside the issue. The cover shows Luke's lightsaber ignited and he is wearing a black jacket and pants, but in the story Luke's lightsaber does not work and he is wearing a white jacket and pants.
Star Wars #92a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (February 1985)
The Swedish Månadens äventyr #12a from Semic Press in 1986 contains Star Wars #92, but uses a different cover.
Månadens äventyr #12a - Semic Press, Sweden (December 1986) contains Star Wars #92
The interior artwork is the first Star Wars work by Jan Duursema and the cover is taken from a panel on page 2.
Star Wars #92 - Marvel Comics, U.S. (February 1985) page 2
The cover for Månadens äventyr utilizes enhanced shading on the image making the meeting between Luke and Vader appear real with the smoke behind Vader being the only hint at this being a dream sequence. The U.S. cover clearly shows this encounter is not real through the use of abstract and disproportionately sized figures and a mute, mostly black and white, palette. I prefer the Swedish cover and it is unfortunate Jan Duursema did not provide the cover artwork for the original issue.
Planeta DeAgostini published select issues from Marvel's Star Comics line for young Italian readers starting in 1986 in their Telecomic title. The comic ran for 28 issues with issue #13 - 28 containing translations of Marvel's Ewoks and Droids titles. Issues were also bundled with a outer cover with the fifth collection containing Telecomic #24 - 28.
Telecomic Collection #5a - Planeta DeAgostini, Spain (1988) collects Telecomic #24 - 28
The outer cover artwork is the same used on Telecomic #26 which itself is the cover for Marvel's Droids #6.
Cynthia Martin took over art chores as the regular artist with Star Wars #94 and needless to say, her artwork was not suitable for Star Wars. Her attempt at manga is laudible and we have seen that style work well with Star Wars, but her artwork on this title, a cartoonish and, dare I say, amateurish take on Star Wars is hard to take. The characters are exaggerate, settings scant, and the color palette is garish.
Luckily, there are three issues between Star Wars #94 and the final issue #107 that do not have her artwork, Star Wars #98, 99, and #102. Of the three books, Star Wars #98 is my clear favorite. Unfortunately, the exquisite interior artwork is hidden behind a painted cover by Bill Sienkiewicz which makes this issue easy to overlook. Dark Horse drew attention to this Archie Goodwin written and Al Williamson illustrated masterpiece when they reprinted it in the Classic Star Wars: The Vandelhelm Mission one-shot which is graced with a new Al Williamson cover.
Star Wars #98a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (August 1985)Star Wars #98b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (August 1985)
Cynthia Martin was running behind on the artwork for this title, thankfully, and the content that was originally scheduled for issue #98 was pushed out to issue #101. It does make one wonder if this story was just sitting around unpublished before they decided to use it. Was it originally intended for the newspaper strip, which is Al Williamson's best known Star Wars work, or did Marvel solicit Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson to create this fill-in? It is unlikely it is leftover material from the newspaper run as the classic strip took place between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back and this story has appearances by Lando Calrissian. Regardless, I for one am thankful Star Wars comic readers received another offering by the dynamic duo of Archie and Al!
Midtown Comics is amongst the largest retailers in the United States. Started in 1997, it operates 3 retail stores in New York City and has a thriving online store. It had two exclusives each for the first issues of three inaugural Star Wars titles in 2015. The covers are by artist Mark Brooks and each is a montage for an original trilogy movie. The color exclusives were limited to 3000 copies while the black and white versions had only 1500 copies.
Star Wars: Darth Vader #1 has a cover montage for a New Hope. The named characters on the cover include: Boba Fett, Emperor Palpatine, Grand Moff Tarkin, Admiral Piett, and Darth Vader. Imperial soldiers are interspersed between them and the Death Star is in the background.
Star Wars: Darth Vader #1n - Marvel Comics, U.S. (February 2015) Midtown Comics exclusiveStar Wars: Darth Vader #1o - Marvel Comics, U.S. (February 2015) Midtown Comics black and white exclusive
Star Wars #1 has The Empire Strikes Back cover featuring Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Yoda. Obi-Wan Kenobi's ghostly image is also shown as well as the Millenium Falcon being pursued by a Star Destroyer.
Star Wars #1al - Marvel Comics, U.S. (January 2015) Midtown Comics exclusiveStar Wars #1am - Marvel Comics, U.S. (January 2015) Midtown Comics black and white exclusive
Return of the Jedi is the focus of the Star Wars: Princess Leia #1 cover. It features Princess Leia, Lando Calrissian, C-3PO, R2-D2, Jabba the Hutt, Bib Fortuna, and Salacious Crumb. A Gamorrean Guard is present with Jabba and his palace can be seen in the background.
Star Wars: Princess Leia #1l - Marvel Comics, U.S. (March 2015) Midtown Comics exclusiveStar Wars: Princess Leia #1m - Marvel Comics, U.S. (March 2015) Midtown Comics black and white exclusive
The covers connect to form one large image.
