Star Wars (1977) #77

Star Wars #77 is part of the search for the Rebel pilot Tay Vanis arc which began in Star Wars #73 and concludes in Star Wars #80.  Chanteuse of the Stars .. is a humorous story which sees Luke bedeviled by Zeltrons, Leia singing, and Lahsbees raging.

Princess Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2 return to the Rebel base on Arbra from their failed mission to Iskalon.  Rebel command debriefs the heroes on a top-secret Imperial transmissions they intercepted that says Han Solo also uncovered the same vital information at Tay Vanis and Yom Argo.  With leads on both Tay and Han's whereabouts, the heroes divide into two groups.  Leia, Luke, Plif, and a contingent of Hoojibs follow the Tay lead while Lando, Chewbacca, and C-3PO pursue Han.

Leia, Luke, and the Hoojibs take the Millennium Falcon to the Kabray space station.  Kabray station is a location for embassies and is run by an Imperial governor.  On the station, Plif helps Luke and Leia, disguised as delegates, talk their way past Imperial guards to enter a banquet hall.  The room is full of a myriad of alien ambassadors, including some aliens from recent Star Wars comics, namely the Zeltrons, Stenaxes, and Lahsbees.  Leia and Luke split up to search for a message from Tay with Luke entering the location with private breakout rooms and Leia searching the employee area.  Leia is in the kitchen when she is confronted by the lead cook who she convinces she is there to check the food for her master, "the great Plif of the Hoojibs of Arbra."  As she is searching the cabinets in the kitchen, someone else enters and poisons a soup.  Meanwhile, Luke and Plif find the message from Tay in a private room.  Before he leaves the room another group enters, forcing Luke to hide.  Concealed, he overhears the group has the poison soup and plan to kill the governor.  As he leaves the private rooms, he is surrounded by a trio of female Zeltrons.

Leia has finished searching the employee quarters when she overhears a group looking for a female.  She ducks into a dressing room and puts on a wig when they enter and tells her it is time for her act.  Earlier, the lead act backed out of performing for the governor but the group mistakes Leia for the headliner.  In the banquet hall, Luke is sitting with the trio of Zeltrons when Leia appears on stage.  She starts singing as the waiting staff begin serving the food.  Luke goes to save the governor when a Lahsbee, over stimulated by Leia's singing, turns into a large Huhk.  A Huhk is a mindless savage which Lahsbees turn into when they reach puberty.  As the Huhk rages, attracting the attention of everyone in the hall, Luke takes the opportunity to knock the poisoned soup out of the waiter's hand.  Plif suggests Leia begins singing again to sooth the Huhk.

This is a surprisingly fun tale following the serious and downbeat Iskalon story.  Luke was the object of affection from the Zeltron Dani last shown in Star Wars #73.  Zeltrons are overtly sexual and Luke, having lived a sheltered childhood, is clearly uncomfortable with their openness and attention.  Having three Zeltrons throw themselves at Luke is absurd and used to good effect.  Leia singing is also funny and is clearly a nod to Leia singing in the Star Wars Holiday Special.  Finally, the Lahsbees and Huhks are a reference to Marvel's Bruce Banner and Hulk characters.  The mild mannered Lahsbees are Bruce Banner while the mindless Huhks are clearly the Hulk.  They even share similar sounding names!  Like the angry Hulk, Huhks can be tamed momentarily, but unlike the Hulk, they do not revert to their docile form so it is unclear from the story's end exactly how that dilemma is solved.

The cover for Star Wars #77 shows Luke Skywalker holding his lightsaber as he is attacked by the Huhk.  Luke never wields his saber in the story, a choice that would have undoubtably revealed his and Leia's ruse.  When confronted by the Huhk in the story, Luke instead hides behind a pair of Stormtroopers.

Star Wars #77a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (November 1983)

Star Wars #77b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (November 1983)

The use of the Kabray station for embassies and the gathering of delegations is interesting.  Since the Senate was dissolved and the Empire was increasingly using fear to rule the galaxy, it seems this relic from pre-Empire days wouldn't really have a purpose in the Empire era.

Luke Skywalker's Best Friend Biggs Darklighter

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.

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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)

Star Wars (1977) #98

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!

Star Wars (1977) #99

Star Wars #99 was the second filler issue during Cynthia Martin's disasterous run on the original Marvel Star Wars title.  Ron Frenz's previous artwork was in issue #82 and he illustrates a complex but decent tale featuring Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian.  The story is full of characters introduced in the title from the prior few years in addition to well known characters from the movies.  The opening page shows Luke mourning the death of Kiro and in rapid succession we see cameos by: Ewoks, since the Rebellion is still operating on Endor; the trio of Dani, Rick Duel, and Chihdo; Leia's Zeltron entourage; the Mandolorean Fenn Shysa with Princess Leia Organa; Han's half-Nagai friend Bey; and Admiral Ackbar.  All of these characters appear in just the first five pages!  As the story progresses, we have a brief cameos by C-3PO and R2-D2 as well as Lemo and Sanda.  Finally, our heroes visit Stenos where they have a more substantial encounter with Drebble.  All of these appearances occur while our heroes are searching for the Minstrel statue introduced back in Star Wars #79.  To finish off the cameos, we also get single panel appearances by Wedge Antilles and Nien Numb.  Phew!

The story is reminiscent of clip shows from television.  Occassionally, long running television series will feature an episode which contains excerpts from previous episodes.&nbps; These clip episodes are usually framed by a story which necessitates the inclusion of the clips.  Star Wars #99 is not a clip show obviously, but the sheer number of previous characters appearing is clearly intentional.  A reader new to the title would no doubt be intrigued and want to seek out previous issues to understand just who all these characters are.

The cover shows an unconscious Lando being held by Han.  Han is threatening to destroy the capital of Godo with the Rebel fleet if the Godoans do not save Lando.  Luke is standing menacingly behind the Godoan's liaison Fumiyo.  This is the most sensational situation from the interior story and a good choice for the cover.

Star Wars #99a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (September 1985)

Star Wars #99b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (September 1985)

Ewoks #1

The short lived Marvel title Ewoks only lasted for 14 issues.  The series is based on the Saturday morning cartoon, which was heavily influenced by the successful The Smurfs animated series which ran from 1981 to 1989.  Some of the Ewok characters in the animated series are based on an Ewok that appears in the Return of the Jedi movie, but many of them were invented for the cartoon.  Wicket, the star of the Ewoks series, is the first Ewok we meet in the movie and other notables like Chief Chirpa, Logray, and Paploo also have cartoon counterparts.  Teebo is also a prominent Ewok in the movie, but his cartoon counterpart is noticeably different.  In the movie, Teebo has black and grey striped fur, wears the head of a slain creature on his own head, and appears older than Wicket.

Teebo

The Ewoks cartoon series and comics take place before the movie and in those stories, Teebo is a solid pale brown color, wears a cap with a feather and straps on his head, and is roughly the same age as Wicket if not younger.  Being Wicket's best friend, Teebo appears in many of the comic stories.  In a scene from The Rainbow Bridge story inside Ewoks #1, Teebo is shown along with Wicket on the cover as the bridge vanishes from beneath them.

Ewoks #1a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (May 1985)

All of the other prominent movie Ewoks featured in the cartoon look more or less as you would imagine.  Giving Wicket's best friend in the cartoon a different name would have been sufficient to avoid the problem, especially since so many different Ewoks characters were created just for the animated series.  It does make one wonder how this remarkably different depiction of Teebo was finalized by Lucasfilm.

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.

Pizzazz #1 - 16

The Star Wars newspaper strip would not begin until 1979, so in those nascent years of the late 1970s, Marvel was the only publisher who had material for comic fans eager for more Star Wars stories.  In addition to the single Star Wars title which began publishing new content after the movie adaptation ended in issue #6, Marvel also published an original 3 page Star Wars strip in Pizzazz magazine.  Pizzazz was Marvel's version of Scholastic's Dynamite magazine, so it made sense that they included this strip in a periodical devoted to pop culture that was relevant to kids at the time.

Pizzazz only ran for 16 issues from October 1977 to January 1979, but each issue contained the 3 page Star Wars strip.  The Keeper's World story was told in Pizzazz #1 - 9 and The Kingdom of Ice in Pizzazz #10 - 16.  Unfortunately, The Kingdom of Ice story was not completed in Pizzazz #16.  The end of that story was published for British readers a few months later in Star Wars Weekly #60.  American readers had to wait until 1981 for the end of the story when it appeared in the paperback Marvel Illustrated Books Star Wars.

Pizzazz #1a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (October 1977)
The Keeper's World (3 pgs.)

Pizzazz #2a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (November 1977)
The Keeper's World (3 pgs.)

Pizzazz #3a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (December 1977)
The Keeper's World (3 pgs.)

Pizzazz #4a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (January 1978)
The Keeper's World (3 pgs.)

Pizzazz #5a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (February 1978)
The Keeper's World (3 pgs.)

Pizzazz #6a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (March 1978)
The Keeper's World (3 pgs.)

Pizzazz #7a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (April 1978)
The Keeper's World (3 pgs.)

Pizzazz #8a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (May 1978)
The Keeper's World (3 pgs.)

Pizzazz #9a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (June 1978)
The Keeper's World (3 pgs.)

Pizzazz #10a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (July 1978)
The Kingdom of Ice (3 pgs.)

Pizzazz #11a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (August 1978)
The Kingdom of Ice (3 pgs.)

Pizzazz #12a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (September 1978)
The Kingdom of Ice (3 pgs.)

Pizzazz #13a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (October 1978)
The Kingdom of Ice (3 pgs.)

Pizzazz #14a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (November 1978)
The Kingdom of Ice (3 pgs.)

Pizzazz #15a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (December 1978)
The Kingdom of Ice (3 pgs.)

Pizzazz #16a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (January 1979)
The Kingdom of Ice (3 pgs.)

Star Wars is mentioned on eight covers and images appear on three covers of this title.  Pizzazz #1 shows a photo of C-3PO and R2-D2 on the Tantive IV, C-3PO is the drummer for Linda Ronstadt on the cover of Pizzazz #5, and Darth Vader is joined by Spock and the alien from Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind for Pizzazz #7.

Star Wars (1977) #73

Return of the Jedi was released on May 25, 1983 to U.S. theaters.  Marvel made an interesting choice with the Star Wars title however, and with issue #73, they started a pre-Return of the Jedi arc that completed in Star Wars #80 with a cover date of February 1984.  It was not until the end of 1983 or the beginning of 1984 before Marvel published their first post-Return of the Jedi issue.

The arc that ran through most of these issues shows our heroes giving up the search for Han Solo and instead are sent on a mission to find two missing Rebel spies, Yom Argo and Tay Vanis.  They discover the fate of Yom Argo on the opening page of Star Wars #73; he crashed and died on the planet Lahsbane which is also the title of this issue.  Tay Vanis would not be found until issue #80 in this arc.

For some reason, the story starts with Luke Skywalker, not Princess Leia, holding diplomatic negotiations with the primitive Lahsbees to retrieve tapes made by Yom Argo's droid of his mission.  Leia is there, but she is preoccupied with thoughts of Han Solo.  Also present are C-3PO who is translating and Dani, a female Zeltron from Rik Duel's gang, who is fawning over Luke.  The Lahsbees have the tapes, but want to keep them as a memorial to another Lahsbee who died in the crash.  The tapes are kept in a city on the other side of a canyon they landed near.  Conveniently, the Millennium Falcon is undergoing repairs by Lando, Chewbacca, and R2-D2 and Imperials show up on the planet also looking for Yom Argo's crashed ship.  Leia and Dani bicker, but decide to travel to the city.  Under the cover of darkness, Leia and Dani sneak out to use the Lahsbees' balloons to travel over the canyon to the city, but an Imperial attachment, accompanied by Lahsbees wander by.  Dani distracts the Imperials by dancing while Leia inadvertently is carried away by one of the balloons.  For some reason the Imperials gawk but walk past Dani who jumps off a cliff to land on the top of the balloon Leia is holding onto.  They make it to the seemingly deserted city.  Meanwhile, Luke and Lando discover the pair are gone and Luke decides to go after them using a Lahsbee glider.  In the city, Dani, a thief, is able to pick the lock to a room that contains the tapes (which resemble VHS tapes) and other treasure.  Back at the Falcon, Luke departs as Lando is attacked by a large creature C-3PO says is a Huhk.  Chewbacca attacks the larger Huhk as C-3PO explains the Huhk is a Lahsbee that has reached maturity.  Back at the city, Leia and Dani run into a group of Huhks.  The Huhk is overpowering Chewbacca when Lando stuns it with his blaster.  R2-D2 appears to tell Lando and Chewbacca the repairs on the Falcon are complete.  Just as the group of Huhks have Leia and Dani cornered, Luke shows up and stuns them.  Reunited back at the Falcon, C-3PO tells Luke the Lahsbees are not upset about the stolen tapes due to them being associated with machinery which they dislike.  The heroes see the Imperial ship fly overhead, piloted by Dani who has taken treasure from the city.

Star Wars #73a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (July 1983)
Newsstand

Overall, it is not a bad story, but it definitely could have been refined into a better story.  The Imperials are never a credible threat and seemingly are there only for the brief humorous interaction with Dani and for Dani to have a ship to leave the planet in.  This could have been accomplished without introducing the Imperials but by having our heroes travel to Lahsbee in separate ships.  In fact, it would make more sense if Luke is holding the negotiations because he and Lando arrive at the planet first, followed by Leia in a Y-Wing or other ship.  The contrived reason the Falcon is broken, it's intake valves are filled with pollen and need to be flushed, could also be used for Leia's ship.  Dani could have stolen Leia's ship to leave the planet instead.  Additionally, there is a focus on the Falcon undergoing repairs, but after it is fixed, it is never used.  It would have made more sense if it is the Falcon that travels to the city to rescue Leia and Dani instead of Luke arriving on a glider.  The scene of their rescue could have played out the same with Luke rescuing the pair.

Star Wars #73b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (July 1983)
Direct

The generally lighthearted mood of this initial chapter in the arc is an interesting choice, as some of the darkest issues of the Star Wars title unfold in the next few issues.  Star Wars #74 - 76 are very dark, followed by another humorous tale in issue #77 which betrays the seriousness of the mission.  Issue #79 tells a story ancillary to the search and the entire arc culminates in a horrific finale for our heroes in Star Wars #80.  Issue #78 is a filler issue, not related to the mission.

Star Wars #59

In Bazarre from Star Wars #59, Luke and Lando are on a mission for the Rebel Alliance to purchase TIE Fighters from Orion Ferret on the station Bazarre.  Chewbacca is left behind with Ferret to ensure there is no double crossing while Luke and Lando take one of Ferret's pre-programmed shuttles to the disposal planet Patch-4 where the fighters are located.  On Patch-4, Luke and Lando depart the shuttle to retrieve the spaceships when they are attacked by a Watchbeast left by Ferret.  The giant worm-like creature is impervious to blasters and succeeds in cutting off Luke and Lando from the safety of their shuttle.  They try to contact Ferret without success and are lured into a cave where they meet Serja Kesselrook and other inhabitants of the garbage world.  Refugees from the Empire, the group explains that Ferret's shuttle has a sonic pacifier that can be used to control the Watchbeast.

Meanwhile, on Bazarre, Ferret entraps Chewbacca in a rock-hard crystal.  Back on Patch-4, Luke devises a plan to bury the Watchbeast with the help of Lando and Serja's group.  When the beast is buried, Luke races to the shuttle as the creature emerges from the muck and Lando and the others believe Luke himself is buried and killed.  On Bazarre, Chewbacca breaks free from the crystal enclosure while Ferret runs away.  Lando is firing on the Watchbeast on Patch-4 and we learn that Luke ducked out of the way of the monster.  Luke makes it to the shuttle as Lando fires more shots.  When the creature lies motionless, Lando believe he fired the greatest shot ever that takes down the beast, but we learn that Luke activated the sonic pacifier.  Ferret is prepared to escape Bazarre aboard a spacecraft, but Chewbacca takes out the craft with one shot from his bowcaster.  Chewbacca pulls Ferret from the wreckage and is about to kill him when Luke and Lando arrive, successful in retrieving the TIE Fighters.  They left the sonic pacifier with Serja's people and depart Bazarre in the Millennium Falcon towing the TIE Fighters, leaving Ferret behind on the station.

Star Wars #59a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (May 1982)
Newsstand

Star Wars #59b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (May 1982)
Direct

Orion Ferret is one of several associates of Lando's we meet in the original Marvel run.  Real life ferrets are related to weasels and Orion Ferret lives up to the name, not only in his actions during the story, but in his appearance.  He is a tall, slender human with a gaunt face.  He is dressed in an over-sized suit and much of his interaction with Chewy is played for laughs.

Star Wars Annual #2

Han Solo is encased in carbonite between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.  The stories that take place between these two movies are published in issues #45 through #80.  When you consider the original run was only 107 issues, these 35 issues represent almost a third of that run, which is a lot of issues to not include a major character from the franchise.  Despite his absence during the period, Marvel found ways to include Han Solo by utilizing flashback stories.  Han had a significant role to play in Star Wars #50 in 1981 and in the summer of 1982 he was the featured character of Star Wars Annual #2.  His next major appearance was in another flashback story told in Star Wars #70 which was on newsstands in January 1983.  Interestingly, Marvel did not wrap up their pre-Return of the Jedi stories until issue #80 and Han made his return in Star Wars #81 which was sold in December 1983, six months after fans knew Han had survived the capture by Boba Fett.  (Ironically, Boba Fett would return with Han in issue #81, but, by the end of the story, the status quo was maintained when he fell back into the Sarlacc.)

Despite featuring Han Solo, Shadeshine! told in Star Wars Annual #2 is not an interesting tale.  It is the last Star Wars story drawn by Carmine Infantino, whose artwork was seen on the title the previous year in Star Wars #53 and 54.  By the time Star Wars Annual #2 was published, Walter Simonson had finished up his run as the main artist that began in issue #49 and Tom Palmer was filling in just prior to Ron Frenz taking over the art chores.  After a year of more realistic artwork on the title, a return to the Infantino style should have been nostalgic.  Infantino is the main artist on the title from issue #11 to #48, but a new era began when Simonson took over the title.  Infantino's artwork is not the problem with Annual #2, it is the story.  The Han tale is framed by a sequence where Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian, and C-3PO are evading Stormtroopers on Ventooine.  To escape, the trio enter a temple ruin to find a statue of Han Solo.  The caretaker of the shrine tells them a tale about Han's visit to the planet and his role in ending the rule of leaders known as Satabs.  A Satab is exposed to a stone called the shadeshine which gives them superhuman abilities.  The ramifications of using the abilities is a shortened lifespan, so after a year as ruler of the planet, the Satab is placed in suspended animation upon entering the Hall of Satabs.  Luke uses the information relayed in the tale to lure the Stormtroopers into the room and our heroes leave the planet aboard the Millennium Falcon.

Star Wars Annual #2a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (August 1982)
Newsstand

Star Wars Annual #2b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (August 1982)
Direct

I love Carmine Infantino's artwork on the title, so it is a shame the story in his final outing is a disappointment.  The cover shows Han and Chrysalla, another character instrumental in the downfall of the Satabs, in the doorway to the Hall of Satabs.

Ewoks #14

The Smurfs or Les Schtroumpfts were created by the comic artist Peyo for Belgian readers in 1958.  Originally introduced in another series Johan and Peewit or Johan et Pirlouit in the Spirou comic magazine, the characters received their own stories starting in 1959.  The comic proved popular and spread throughout Europe.  The property was brought to the United States as a Saturday-morning cartoon in 1981.  The cartoon was a big hit and aired until 1989.  During the time the Smurfs were on television, several rip offs were created, including the Snorks and, alas, the Ewoks.

The similarities between the Smurfs and Ewoks are numerous, including both centering around a village in the forest.  Papa Smurf is the leader of his community while Chief Chirpa leads his.  The Smurfs only had a few females, the most popular being the first female, Smurfette, who is similar to the Ewoks' Princess Kneesaa.  The members of both villages have a special skill that defines their role.  Magic plays an important role in both properties and many of the adventures from one could easily be adapted to the other.  It is easy to see that the Ewoks cartoon liberally borrowed ideas from the more successful Smurf's show.

While the Smurfs enjoyed a long run, the Ewoks only lasted two seasons from 1985 to 1986.  The Marvel comic series based on the television show ran for 14 issues, with the final issue having a cover date of July 1987.

Ewoks #14a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (July 1987)
direct

Ewoks #14b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (July 1987)
newsstand

The Search for Han Solo (12 Days of Bounty Hunter Covers)

In The Empire Strikes Back, Han Solo was captured by Boba Fett and Marvel needed to address his absence in the Star Wars title.  In Star Wars #46, we learn that Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca are aboard the Millennium Falcon and searching for Han Solo.  In both Star Wars #50 and 51, Lando and Chewbacca are asked to end the search and return to the Rebellion fleet due to events that require their help.  Our heroes do not take up the search for Han again until issue #67.  Early in that issue, Princess Leia is briefing a Rebel assembly:

Princess Leia: And so, to summarize: we've learned that one of the other bounty hunters involved in the trapping of Han Solo was in league with Boba Fett, but was cut out of the reward when Fett took Captain Solo from Cloud City.  It seems reasonable, then, to assume that this hunter could be somewhat bitter about the situation, and might be willing-- for a price-- to tell us where Fett is hiding until his redezvous with Jabba the Hutt.  We've narrowed our quarry list down to three-- --The cyborg called Dengar-- -- The pursuit droid designated as IG-88-- -- and Bossk, reptilian monarch of the Qotile System.

The remainder of issue #67 does not address the issue and the search for Han Solo begins in earnest in Star Wars #68.  Return of the Jedi was released to theaters May 1983 and Marvel probably began working on the Return of the Jedi adaptation in late 1982.  By the time Star Wars #68 was written, Marvel must have known at least the outline for the new movie, including how the capture of Han was going to be dealt with.  It makes sense then for Marvel to return to the search they began in issue #46.

Star Wars #68 titled The Search Begins is the first of a two-part story that has Princess Leia pursuing one of the bounty hunters, Dengar, on the planet Mandalore.  In the story Leia encounters slavers who are being protected by Imperial Stormtroopers and ends up helping and befriending a Mandalorian named Fenn Shysa, who she original thinks is Boba Fett.  It turns out Fenn is an old associate of Fett's.  Leia asks about Dengar who it turns out Fenn has captured.  Leia sends C-3PO to free Dengar while she seduces and incapacitates Fenn.  While Leia, C-3PO, and Dengar are escaping Fenn's camp they run into Stormtroopers that Dengar signaled for.  In Star Wars #69, Death in the City of Bone!, Leia and C-3PO is taken prisoner and transported to a slave sanctuary made out of the skeleton of some large creature.  There she meets Suprema, Emperor Palpatine's chosen ruler of the Mandalorian slave colony.  After her brief meeting with Suprema, Leia is escorted to a detention cell, but one of the Stormtroopers is Shysa who frees her.  He asks for her help in freeing his friend Tobbi Dala in exchange for Dengar and Leia agrees.  After retrieving Tobbi, they capture Dengar, but their escape is blocked.  They go to The Suprema's office where Tobbi is wounded and Suprema is knocked out.  Tobbi decides to stay behind to allow the others to escape.  They do escape, but the slave sanctuary is destroyed in the process, killing Tobbi.  Dengar is interrogated, only to find he was not the bounty hunter betrayed by Fett.  The story ends with Lando and Chewbacca on The Wheel getting information about Bossk's whereabouts.

Star Wars #68a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (February 1983)

Star Wars #69a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (March 1983)

Star Wars #70, The Stenax Shuffle, shows Lando, Chewbacca, and Luke Skywalker aboard the Millennium Falcon on their way to the planet Stenos, the last known location of Bossk.  They recap their mission to find Han and then Luke tells a story about the first time he was on Stenos with Han, Leia, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2.  It is a nice flashback tale that also has the first appearance of Rik Duel, Dani, and Chihdo.

Star Wars #70a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (April 1983)

Return to Stenos in Star Wars #71 begins the two-part story of Luke and Lando's pursuit of Bossk and IG-88 on Stenos.  Luke and Lando leave Chewbacca and R2-D2 aboard the Falcon while they visit the nearest bar in Stenos' capital city.  Lando is recognized by a patron named Drebble who offers a reward for his capture.  A firefight breaks out and Luke spots Bossk leaving the bar.  Under fire, Luke and Lando escape the bar and we learn IG-88 is also in the establishment.  Still being pursued, Luke and Lando are separated.  Luke ducks into a doorway and finds Rik and Dani.  Rik asks for Luke's help in finding Chihdo.  As Luke follows Rik, Lando, hiding, gets Luke's attention and declares he found Han.  He leads Luke to two men carrying a metal storage block that looks like the one Han was stored in after he was frozen.  Luke contacts the Falcon to tell them they found Han and they chase after the pair with the storage block.  When they finally catch up, they learn the storage block holds Chihdo, not Han, and Bossk and IG-88's men have them surrounded.  The next issue, Fool's Bounty, starts with Rik and Dani attacking the bounty hunters' men, but IG-88 summons reinforcements, forcing Rik and Luke escape.  In the meantime, Chewbacca and R2-D2 have left the Falcon.  Lando and Dani are taken to Drebble and manage to escape.  Unfortunately, they escape into the clutches of Bossk and IG-88 who plan to test a carbonite freezing chamber on them.  Rik is also captured.  Luke saves them and a firefight breaks out.  Chewbacca enters the fray, backed up by Stenaxes and they defeat the bounty hunters and their men.  Luke, Lando, and Chewbacca leave Stenos on the Falcon, disappointed they did not find Han.

Star Wars #71a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (May 1983)

Star Wars #72a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (June 1983)

With issue #72 our heroes search for Han Solo ends.  Presumably, none of the bounty hunters were in league with Boba Fett.  It is mentioned several times in subsequent issues that the Rebellion is continuing the search for Han while our heroes spend their remaining time until Han's return in issue #81 looking for the Rebel Tay Vanis.