The lead story in this digest-sized Indonesian comic features Spider-Man and the last page shows Ghost Rider. The story is titled Pesta Maut or Death Party. The art is crude enough that I believe it is either an original Spider-Man story or is redrawn. The cover is from Amazing Spider-Man #217.
Spider-Man: Pesta Maut a - Yayasan Karya Bhakti Bandung, Indonesia (1980s) contains Star Wars: Lolos Dari Metalorn
The backup story in this comic is a Star Wars tale titled Lolos Dari Metalorn or Escape from Metalorn. It is the second part of the story from Star Wars #30 and has the same content as the comic with the story's title.
Star Wars: Lolos Dari Metalorn a - Yayasan Karya Bhakti Bandung, Indonesia (1980s) cover from Star Wars #34 second half of Star Wars #30
In season two of Genndy Tartakovsky's Star Wars: Clone Wars animated series, Padme Amidala and Yoda undertake a mission to rescue Jedi Master Luminara Unduli and her Padawan Barris Offee on the planet Ilum. Ilum is an ice planet with caves that contain crystals the Jedi use to make their lightsabers. Amidala wears cold weather gear to operate in the frigid environment.
The cover for Antartic Press' Steam Wars: Princess Legends #1 shows a character who is wearing cold gear similar to the outfit worn by Amidala. The outfit for the character on this cover is more ornate however, and this character wears a head piece and goggles that Amidala's outfit did not have.
Steam Wars: Princess Legends #1a - Antarctic Press, U.S. (June 2016)
The cover for Steam Wars: Princess Legends #2 shows a female character in shackles, flanked by several heavily armored guards. Unlike many of the covers used for the Steam Wars comics, this cover has no direct Star Wars reference.
His appearance as a large, slug-like alien is taken for granted today, but from his mention in the first two Star Wars movies until his first appearance in the third movie, the image many Star Wars comic fans had of Jabba the Hutt were based on Marvel's adaptation of the Star Wars movie. The adaptation includes a deleted scene where Jabba confronts Han Solo at Docking Bay 94 on Tatooine. In that scene, Jabba is drawn to look like the character Mosep, a walrus faced alien seen in the background in Mos Eisley. This version of Jabba would appear twice more, in Star Wars #28 and 37.
Jabba the Hutt is an unlikely character to star in his own comic book, but Dark Horse did just that in a series of four one-shots they published starting in April 1995. The first one-shot is titled Jabba the Hutt - The Gaar Suppoon Hit and tells a story of Jabba negotiating with his rival Gaar Suppoon. The comic shows the two gangsters one-upping each other during their dealings, but in the end, Jabba comes out on top and Gaar is killed. The story is surprisingly engaging and fun, proving to be a quintessential look at Jabba that works well for the character.
Star Wars: Jabba the Hutt - The Gaar Suppoon Hit a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (April 1995)
The cover is a nice depiction of Jabba and his majordomo Bib Fortuna. The interior artist Art Wetherell does a decent job of drawing the various aliens that serve Jabba and Gaar in a not-overly cartoonish manner, despite some of the outlandish events that occur.
This is old news from the San Diego Comic-Con last week, but Marvel will be adapting Timothy Zahn's Thrawn novel. The adaptation will start in February 2018 and run for 6 issues.
In Marvel's second Star Wars story arc, Showdown on a Smuggler's Moon, Luke Skywalker is captured by Grakkus the Hutt on Nar Shaddaa. In Star Wars #10, Luke Skywalker is trained by the lightsaber wielding Gamemaster to fight in Grakkus' arena. In Star Wars #11 and 12, Luke battles in the arena and just as Luke' opponent is about to kill him, the Gamemaster saves Luke. The Gamemaster is revealed to be Sergeant Kreel, an Imperial Stormtrooper and spy, positioned in Grakkus' organization to take down the crime lord. Kreel reports directly to Darth Vader and is known as Vader's Fist and he intends to turn Luke over to Vader, but Luke manages to escape.
Star Wars #10a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (October 2015) 1st appearance of Sergeant Kreel
The next time we see Sergeant Kreel, he is leading a squadron of Stormtroopers who are investigating the recently abandoned Sunspot Prison in the final two pages of the final issue of the Rebel Jail arc. On the last page of Star Wars #19, Kreel is shown wielding his lit green lightsaber flanked by two uniquely outfitted Stormtroopers as Kreel exclaims "Who's ready to kill some Rebels?"
Star Wars #19a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (May 2016) 1st appearance of SCAR Squadron (2 pages - unnamed)
Special Commando Advanced Recon or SCAR Squadron are the main focus of Star Wars #21, the first issue of The Last Flight of the Harbinger arc. Led by Sergeant Kreel, SCAR Squadron is made up of an elite group of Stormtroopers who each possess unique skills, armor, and weapons. In issue #21, the squadron is sent to the Ghost Moon to take down a band of Rebels and the issue is told from the Kreel's point of view and highlights the talents of the individual members of the squadron.
Star Wars #21a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (July 2016) 1st full appearance of SCAR Squadron
The Jorge Molina variant cover for Star Wars #23 is the first cover appearance of SCAR Squadron. This cover was initially released in a 1:25 ratio.
Star Wars #23c - Marvel Comics, U.S. (September 2016) 1st cover appearance of SCAR Squadron
SCAR Squadron will be making an appearance in Star Wars #37.
Neff Headwear started in 2002 as a maker of beanies for snowboarders and skaters. They have expanded from selling headwear in a single shop in Utah to selling headwear and other apparel in over 45 countries and online. In December 2016, they offered licensed apparel for Rogue One available in a limited edition box which includes an exclusive cover for Doctor Aphra #1. This is the only Neff Box offered to date and despite being limited, this box can still be order at neffbox.com. In the months this box has been available, there have been online coupons which makes the price more appealing to purchase, especially if you are only interested in the comic.
The Rogue One items are packed in an attractive black box clearly branded for Rogue One and Neff Headwear.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Collector's Neff Box
Each box contains:
1 of 3 Neff Headwear Rogue One t-shirts
1 of 3 Neff Headwear Rogue One baseball caps
1 of 3 Neff Headwear Rogue One beanies
1 of 3 Funko Rogue One bobbleheads
A signed copy of Star Wars Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel
Doctor Aphra #1 Neff Box exclusive
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Collector's Neff Box openedRogue One: A Star Wars Story Collector's Neff Box empty
Overall, I was only interested in the comic book and the novel, but I will definitely wear the t-shirt and the baseball cap. Since I live in Phoenix, there won't many opportunities to use the beanie as it does not get cold enough here. I also do not collect the Funko bobbleheads. Overall, the $99 price for this box is about twice what I would spend on the items I wanted and will use, so it was definitely prudent to use a coupon before making the purchase.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Collector's Neff Box content
The Doctor Aphra #1 exclusive cover is by David Nakayama. Nakayama's first comic work was penciling the 6 page story The Apprentice in Star Wars Tales #17.
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #1j - Marvel Comics, U.S. (December 2016) NEFF Box exclusive
Not many of these comics have sold on eBay, but one is currently listed at $80. Since this is still available from the source, it would be cheaper to use a coupon to purchase the box to get the comic, plus you will also receive other items.
