MARVEL COMICS STAR WARS ARCHIVE 1977-1986

MARVEL COMICS STAR WARS ARCHIVE 1977-1986

All issues of Marvel's Star Wars series are Copyright Lucasfilm Ltd. This
archive was compiled by Jack Camden; direct questions, comments, corrections,
additions and miscellaneous criticism to JackCamden@aol.com.

I. FORM OF THIS ARCHIVE

[Issue #] [Date] [Issue title]   [Writer(s)/Penciller(s)]
[Story Description]
[Notes on chronology, continuity problems, interesting aspects of the story,
some random editorial comments.]

II. ARCHIVE

In 1976, Marvel Comics agreed to adapt what was then expected to be, at best,
a modestly-grossing oddity of a film due from Twentieth-Century Fox the
following year. ("Star Wars" received some of its best early buzz from
audiences at science fiction conventions, largely because of Ralph
McQuarrie's production paintings).

"Star Wars" (now properly "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope") went on to
become an entertainment empire, spawning two hugely-successful sequels,
books, toys, trading cards, and several comic book series. And for nine
years, Marvel adapted the films and filled the time between new movies with
further adventures of Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, and their friends and enemies.

In 1992, Dark Horse Comics brought Star Wars comics back with "Dark Empire."
Later, Dark Horse reprinted newspaper strips written by Archie Goodwin and
Russ Manning during the late 1970s and 1980s, as well as Marvel's movie
adaptations and, in 1995, one of the old Marvel issues.

George Lucas' saga is undergoing a renaissance as old fans and new prepare
for a re-release of the first film and three promised prequels. But the
Marvel stories -- good, bad, and ugly -- have gone thusfar unrevived and
little-noticed.

This archive is a guide to the 120-odd issues of Marvel's Star Wars. It is
my hope that it will rekindle old memories in veteran collectors, intrigue a
few new fans, and amuse Star Wars experts who may have forgotten a few of the
odder twists, turns, and dead ends taken by various authors in exploring
the Star Wars universe.

SPOILER NOTE FOR THE TRULY OBSESSED: I have tried to keep the story
descriptions somewhat vague in the interest of space and to avoid completely
giving away what happens. Sorry if the results are a little TV Guide-ish.
But for those who don't want to know ANYTHING about a given issue's plot,
consider yourself warned.

1 July 77 "Star Wars" Thomas/Chaykin
Story: The hopes of the Alliance reside with Artoo-Detoo and See-Threepio
after the two droids are the only escapees from Princess Leia Organa's
blockade runner. Trapped on the desolate desert planet of Tatooine, Artoo
must find the Jedi Knight Ben Kenobi against all odds.
Notes: Part 1 of 6-part adaptation of "A New Hope."

2 Aug. 77 "Six Against the Galaxy" Thomas/Chaykin
Story: Luke Skywalker and Ben Kenobi hire two smugglers, Han Solo and
Chewbacca the Wookiee, to take them to Alderaan and return the plans of the
Empire's mightiest weapon, the Death Star, to the leaders of the Alliance.
Notes: Part 2 of 6-part adaptation of "A New Hope." Includes the scene with
Han confronting Jabba the Hut(t) -- Jabba is depicted as a walrus-faced biped,
as he is in the Marvel series until "Return of the Jedi."

3 Sept 77 "Death Star!" Thomas/Chaykin
Story: Trapped in the Death Star after the destruction of Alderaan, the crew
of the Millennium Falcon struggles to free Princess Leia Organa and find a
way to escape the battle station.
Notes: Part 3 of 6-part adaptation of "A New Hope."

4 Oct. 77 "In Battle with Darth Vader" Thomas/Chaykin
Story: Luke, Han, and Chewbacca rescue Princess Leia and escape the Death
Star, but Ben Kenobi is struck down in a lightsaber duel with Darth Vader.
Notes: Part 4 of 6-part adaptation of "A New Hope."

5 Nov. 77 "Lo, the Moons of Yavin!" Thomas/Chaykin
Story: The Rebel Alliance studies the secret plans of the Death Star and
prepares a desperate attack on the battle station, but can the Alliance
destroy the Empire's greatest weapon before it destroys the Alliance's main
base on Yavin IV?
Notes: Part 5 of 6-part adaptation of "A New Hope."

6 Dec. 77 "The Final Chapter" Thomas/Chaykin
Story: Luke Skywalker and the other Rebel pilots battle Darth Vader and the
Empire's TIE fighters in a furious dogfight above the Death Star.
Notes: Part 6 of 6-part adaptation of "A New Hope."

7 Jan. 78 "New Planets, New Perils!" Thomas/Chaykin
Story: Leaving Yavin IV to pay off Jabba the Hutt, Han and Chewbacca are
ambushed by Crimson Jack and his band of space pirates, who steal their
reward money and leave the two looking for greener pastures on the rimworld
of Aduba-3.

8 Feb. 78 "Eight For Aduba-3" Thomas/Chaykin
Story: Han and Chewie hire six motley star-hoppers, including a crazy old man
who thinks he's a Jedi Knight and a six-foot green rabbit, to defend a peasant
village on Aduba-3 from a band of pirates; Luke, Threepio, and Artoo leave
Yavin IV in search of a new base for the Alliance.
Notes: Thomas' take on the "Magnificent Seven" and "Don Quixote" was probably
fun for him, but as for the rest of us....

9 Mar. 78 "Showdown on a Wasteland World" Thomas/Chaykin
Story: Fighting vicious man-birds and the raiders of Serji-X Arrogantus,
Han and Chewie's band of star-hoppers awaken a reptillian behemoth from the
depths of Aduba-3; when Luke's ship vanishes in the Drexel system, Leia
rushes off to find him.

10 Apr. 78 "Behemoth From the World Below" Glut/Chaykin
Story: Han, Chewie, and the star-hoppers fight the final battle for Aduba-3
against Serji-X Arrogantus and the creature awakened by the battle.
Notes: Ends "Eight for Aduba-3" Series. Oddly, issue was written by Donald
F. Glut, who wrote the novelization of "The Empire Strikes Back."

11 May 78 "Star Search" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Han and Chewie run afoul of Crimson Jack and his space pirates once
again, only to discover the gang has captured Leia as well.
Notes: Begins Goodwin's fruitful three-year association with the title.

12 June 78 "Doomworld!" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Luke and the droids become servants of Gov. Quarg, master of a
city-sized ship prowling the waters of Drexel One in a war against giant
sea-dragons and their human masters; Han, Chewie, and Leia approach Drexel
One on Crimson Jack's cruiser.

13 July 78 "Day of the Dragon Lords!"    Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Han, Chewie, and Leia escape Crimson Jack, only to find themselves in
the middle of a battle between Governor Quarg's pirates and the masters of
the sea-dragons on Drexel. But when Han is apparently killed by one of
Quarg's skimmers, Chewie thinks Luke has turned traitor and attacks him and
the droids.

14 Aug. 78 "The Sound of Armageddon!" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Han, rescued by the sea-dragons, turns the tide against Governor
Quarg with Luke's help, but what of Crimson Jack's orbiting cruiser?

15 Sept 78 "Star Duel!" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Crimson Jack finds himself in a stalemate with the Star Warriors
(a bad, but useful term coined by Marvel)...his first mate has gone mad,
his star charts have been erased, and he's trapped in an outer space duel
with Han Solo -- from which only one man will survive.
Notes: Ends "Waterworld" series.

16 Oct. 78 "The Hunter!" Goodwin/Simonson
Story: A bounty hunter who hates droids and dreams of killing Luke Skywalker
for befriending Artoo and Threepio comes to Aduba-3 in search of his quarry.
Notes: Introduces Valance the Hunter, one of Goodwin's best characters.

17 Nov. 78 "Crucible!" Goodwin & Claremont/Trimpe
Story: During ship's watch on the Millennium Falcon, Luke remembers a
Tatooine adventure where he had to fly a seemingly-impossible route through
Beggars Canyon to save a poisoned Biggs Darklighter and bring word to
Anchorhead of an impending Tusken Raider attack.
Story: A flashback story which apparently takes place about a year before
"A New Hope."

18 Dec. 78 "The Empire Strikes!" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Pursued by TIE fighters and with Luke fallen into a catatonic trance
while meditating, the Millennium Falcon flees to the Wheel, a space station
casino where an Imperial commander has launched a scheme to discredit the
Alliance.
Notes: Presciently titled, to say the least. And great characterization of
Han and Chewie.

19 Jan. 79 "The Ultimate Gamble!" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Han and Chewie are captured, the droids pawned, Leia trapped, and
Luke unconscious as the plans of former Imperial Senator Simon Greyshade
and Commander Strom come to fruition on the Wheel.

20 Feb. 79 "Deathgame" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: A desperate Han Solo finds himself fighting in the gladiator pits of
the Wheel, unaware that Greyshade has rigged the game against him.

21 Mar. 79 "Shadow of a Dark Lord!" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Luke breaks free of his trance and Leia and the droids escape their
captors on the Wheel, but Han finds that his opponent in the gladiator arena
is Chewbacca; on the planet Ultaar, Darth Vader makes his move.
Notes: First appearance of Vader in the series since "A New Hope."

22 Apr. 79 "To the Last Gladiator!" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Simon Greyshade offers to expose the Empire's plot and rescue the
Star Warriors if Leia will be his lover.

23 May 79 "Flight Into Fury" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: The rebels escape the Wheel, but Darth Vader and his battle cruiser
are waiting for them.
Notes: Ends "Wheel" series. With the benefit of hindsight, Luke helps his
friends escape Vader by using the Dark Side of the Force. But a fine series.

24 June 79 "Silent Drifting" Duffy/Infantino
Story: Leia tells the Millennium Falcon's crew about how Obi-Wan Kenobi once
saved a pleasure cruiser trapped in an asteroid belt from the feared
Merson slavers.
Notes: A flashback story of a younger Ben Kenobi before the Clone Wars.

25 July 79 "Siege at Yavin!" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Escaping from the Wheel to Centares, Luke and Leia buy a starship to
take them back to Yavin IV. But on the way, they discover a plot masterminded
by the House of Tagge which could spell doom for the rebel base.
Notes: Begins series of interconnected stories pitting the Alliance against
Baron Orman Tagge (who was blinded by Darth Vader and now fights with a
lightsaber and the benefit of "cybervision") and his family, which includes
the commander choked by Vader aboard the Death Star. (In the movie, the
Imperial officer choked is Motti; in the novelization and the Marvel series,
it's Tagge.)

26 Aug. 79 "Doom Mission" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Luke volunteers for a desperate mission -- destroy an immense turbine
base which the House of Tagge has built inside the gas giant Yavin. But with
the turbine destroyed, Luke must use his untested skill with the Force to
fly his fighter back out of the gas giant.
Notes: One of Goodwin's best stories.

27 Sept 79 "Return of the Hunter" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Luke and Threepio are ambushed on the planet Junction by Valance,
the cyborg bounty hunter, who is in a race with Darth Vader's spies to find
the Death Star's destroyer.

28 Oct. 79 "Whatever Happened to Jabba the Hut?"
Story: Han and Chewbacca are besieged in a cavern on the desolate planet
Orleon by Jabba the Hutt and his pirates, but soon face a deadlier foe --
stone mites capable of eating through rock walls, the Millennium Falcon,
and its trapped crew.
Notes: A Goodwin/Infantino adventure, complete with the humanoid Jabba --
and the small problem that Han and Chewie get the Hutt to cancel their debt.

29 Nov. 79 "Dark Encounter" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Darth Vader and the bounty hunter Valance battle over a rebel
deserter who holds the secret Vader wants most -- the identity of the pilot
who destroyed the Death Star.
Notes: One of the better stories told by any of the "non-canon" authors in
the Star Wars universe.

30 Dec. 79 "A Princess Alone!" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Princess Leia travels to an Imperial factory world to enlist the
help of an old tutor from Alderaan against the Empire -- but runs afoul of
a ruthless Imperial governor and Baron Tagge.

Annual 1 1979 "The Long Hunt" Claremont/Vosburg
Story: In Marvel's first Star Wars annual, Luke battles a winged Imperial
commander who uses the Force and swings a lightsaber, while Leia struggles
to save Han and Chewie from an Imperial dungeon.
Notes: In one of the bigger continuity goof-ups, the issue ends with a tale
of how the planet of the Long Hunt was once visited by three Jedi Knights
-- Ben Kenobi, Darth Vader, and Luke's father.

31 Jan. 80 "Return to Tatooine!" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Luke returns to Tatooine to recruit star-hoppers for the Alliance,
and uncovers an Imperial plot masterminded by the House of Tagge.

32 Feb. 80 "The Jawa Express" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Han, Chewie, Luke and the droids escape Imperial stormtroopers with
the help of a band of jawas, only to run into a deadly test of the Omega
Frost, the House of Tagge's secret project to cripple the Alliance.

33 Mar. 80 "Saber Clash!" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Han, Luke, and Chewie follow the Tagges to Junction, where the Baron
plans to devastate the planet with the Omega Frost and cripple the Alliance's
supply lines. But when Luke is captured while on a spy mission, he is forced
into a lightsaber duel with the Baron.

34 Apr. 80 "Thunder in the Stars!" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: The Millennium Falcon and a rebel task force race towards Junction,
but Han doesn't know he's leading the rebels into a trap, and a stranded
Luke can't warn him.
Notes: Ends "Omega Frost" series.

35 May 80 "Dark Lord's Gambit" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Darth Vader drives the Tagge family to its knees, while Luke finds
himself waging a battle of diplomacy against the Dark Lord for the loyalty of
the cloistered world of Monastery and its mistress, Sister Domina Tagge.
But whose side is Domina on?

36 June 80 "Red Queen Rising!" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Leia, Han, Chewie, and Threepio are trapped on Vader's star destroyer,
while below on Monastery, Sister Domina and the Dark Lord weave a trap for
Luke.

37 July 80 "In Mortal Combat!" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Hoping to destroy both Luke and Vader, Sister Domina arranges a
lightsaber duel between them in a dangerous, eldritch valley, while the
Star Warriors and Baron Tagge race to intercede.
Notes: As an epilogue, Jabba the Hutt (still on two legs) discovers
Crimson Jack's derelict pirate ship, which he financed. Furious, the Hutt
puts a price back on Han and Chewie's heads, and a bounty hunter guns for
the two on Ord Mantell.

38 Aug. 80 "Riders in the Void!" Goodwin/Golden
Story: A malfunctioning hyperdrive hurls Luke and Leia beyond the galaxy,
where they are caught in a strange, living starship intent on their
destruction.

39 Sept 80 "The Empire Strikes Back" Goodwin/Williamson
Story: Darth Vader and the Imperial fleet search for the Alliance's new
base on Hoth.
Notes: First part of 6-part adaptation of "The Empire Strikes Back."

40 Oct. 80 "Battleground Hoth!" Goodwin/Williamson
Story: The Alliance battles Imperial walkers and snowtroopers on the frozen
planet Hoth.
Notes: Second part of 6-part adaptation of "The Empire Strikes Back."

41 Nov. 80 "Imperial Pursuit!" Goodwin/Williamson
Story: Escaping the rout on Hoth, Han, Chewie, Leia and Threepio are pursued
into an asteroid field by the Imperial fleet; Luke lands on the swamp planet
Dagobah in search of a Jedi Master to complete his training.
Notes: Third part of 6-part adaptation of "The Empire Strikes Back."

42 Dec. 80 "To Be A Jedi!" Goodwin/Williamson
Story: Luke begins his training under the Jedi Master Yoda; the bounty hunter
Boba Fett trails the crippled Millennium Falcon after it eludes the
Imperial fleet.
Notes: Fourth part of 6-part adaptation of "The Empire Strikes Back."

43 Jan. 81 "Betrayal at Bespin" Goodwin/Williamson
Story: Han, Chewie, and Leia are betrayed by Lando Calrissian in Cloud City,
where Darth Vader and Boba Fett await them -- and set a trap for Luke.
Notes: Fifth part of 6-part adaptation of "The Empire Strikes Back."

44 Feb. 81 "Duel A Dark Lord!" Goodwin/Williamson
Story: Luke battles Darth Vader in a lightsaber duel in Cloud City; Lando
Calrissian frees Chewie and Leia and the three race to save Han from
Boba Fett's clutches.
Notes: Sixth part of 6-part adaptation of "The Empire Strikes Back."

45 Mar. 81 "Death Probe" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: While testing himself to see if he's recovered from his defeat at the
hands of Darth Vader, Luke encounters a blockade runner taken over by a
monster probot -- and intent on sabotaging the rebel fleet.

46 Apr. 81 "The Dreams of Cody Sunn-Childe" Lombego/Infantino
Story: While searching for Han Solo, Lando and Chewie are catapulted into
another dimension, where a long-lost rebel warrior has built a utopia out
of the stuff of his own dreams.

47 May 81 "Droid World!" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Trying to fix a damaged war droid, Threepio and Artoo travel to an
artificial moon manned only by robots, where they find themselves caught in
the middle of a revolution.
Notes: Story was later adapted into a children's book and tape of the same
name.

48 June 81 "The Third Law" Hama/Infantino
Story: Leia and Darth Vader fight a war of diplomatic intrigue on the neutral
world of Aargau.
Notes: Entertaining, though its tongue-in-cheek tone and bloodless intrigues
are more James Bond than Star Wars.

49 July 81 "The Last Jedi!" Barr/Simonson
Story: Luke and Leia help Prince Denid of Velmor in his quest to regain his
throne, but are caught up in palace intrigue surrounding a brain-damaged
old alien who may or may not be the last of the Jedi Knights.

50 Aug. 81 "The Crimson Forever!" Goodwin/Simonson/Williamson
Story: Attempting to save Luke from a strange disease, Leia, Lando, Chewie,
and the droids travel beyond the galaxy retracing an old adventure of Han
and Chewie's.
Notes: Double issue brings back the bounty hunters from "The Empire Strikes
Back" and Sister Domina Tagge. Goodwin's last issue until #98, four years
later.

51 Sept 81 "Ressurection of Evil" Michelinie/Simonson
Story: The Star Warriors attempt to sabotage the construction of "the Tarkin,"
a warship built around the Death Star's planet-destroying laser cannon.
Notes: A different twist on the much-abused "new Death Star" idea.

52 Oct. 81 "To Take the Tarkin" Michelinie/Simonson
Story: The Star Warriors battle Darth Vader aboard the Tarkin, where a cadre
of Imperial officers plot to betray the Dark Lord of the Sith.

53 Nov. 81 "The Last Gift From Alderaan" Claremont/Simonson
Story: Leia battles an inhuman Imperial Warlord and his anti-matter bombs
on Shiva IV.
Notes: A not-particulary successful homage to "John Carter, Warlord of Mars"
by Claremont, a former writer for that title. Additional art by Infantino.

54 Dec. 81 "Starfire Rising" Claremont/Infantino/Simonson
Story: Luke helps Leia and Warlord Aron defeat General Sk'ar, but the
Millennium Falcon is trapped between a Star Destroyer and a black hole,
and only Luke's skill with the Force can save them.

55 Jan. 82 "Plif!" Michelinie/Simonson
Story: A rebel scouting team investigates the planet Arbra as a possible
new base for the Alliance; Lando returns to Cloud City and finds it
mysteriously deserted.
Notes: Adapted as "Planet of the Hoojibs," a children's book and tape.

56 Feb. 82 "Coffin In the Clouds" Michelinie/Simonson
Story: Lando contends with time bombs, an Imperial explosives team, and a
beserk Lobot in the deserted Cloud City.
Notes: Introduces Lieutenant Shira Brei (sometimes Brie), Michelinie's best
character -- and a rare love interest for Luke.

57 Mar. 82 "Hello, Bespin, Goodbye!" Michelinie/Simonson
Story: Lando journeys to the surface of Bespin and enlists the aid of the
ugnaughts in retaking Cloud City from the Empire.

58 Apr. 82 "Sundown!" Michelinie/Simonson
Story: Threepio and Artoo are Leia's last hope to save the rebel fleet from
destruction inside Arbra's sun; Luke, Lando and Chewbacca run into trouble
on the space station Bazarre.

59 May 82 "Bazarre" Michelinie & Simonson/Simonson
Story: Luke and Lando are trapped on the disposal planet of Patch-4 with a
giant worm invulnerable to blasters.

60 June 82 "Shira's Story" Michelinie & Simonson/Simonson
Story: On a mission to uncover plans for an Imperial armada under
construction on the edge of the galaxy, Luke and Shira Brei run into trouble
on Shira's homeworld of Shalyvane.

61 July 82 "Screams in the Void" Michelinie & Simonson
Story: Luke leads the mission to destroy the Empire's armada and its latest
secret weapon, but has he destroyed what he loves, too?
Notes: Simonson pencils.

62 Aug. 82 "Pariah!" Michelinie & Simonson/Simonson
Story: Stripped of his commission for shooting down Shira Brei's fighter,
Luke returns to Shalyvane with Chewbacca looking for answers.

63 Sept 82 "The Mind Spider!" Michelinie & Simonson/Palmer
Story: Luke and Chewbacca raid the Imperial data bank on Krake's Planet in
search of the information about Shira Brei which could clear Luke's name.

64 Oct. 82 "Serphidian Eyes" Fleisher, Michelinie/Brozowski
Story: Luke and two fellow officers travel to a quasi-medieval world to oust
its Imperial-allied king.

65 Nov. 82 "Golrath Never Forgets" Michelinie/Simonson/Palmer
Story: The rebels scramble to destroy Golrath Station, an obscure outpost
which could betray their new base to the Empire.

Annual 2    1982 "Shadeshine!" Michelinie/Infantino
Story: Luke and Lando uncover a tale from Han Solo's past, in which a
smuggling run for sansanna spice lands the Corellian in the midst of a
power struggle between a strange priesthood and an alien satrap.
Notes: Second annual. First was in 1979.

66 Dec. 82 "The Water Bandits" Michelinie/Simonson & Palmer
Story: Trapped on the backwater planet of Beheboth, Luke strives to rescue
a friend from a band of brigands who control the planet's water supply.

67 Jan. 83 "The Darker" Michelinie/Frenz
Story: As the Star Warriors begin the search for Han Solo, Threepio, Artoo,
Chewie, and the hoojibs battle an ancient foe lurking in the deepest caves
of Ambra.

68 Feb. 83 "The Search Begins" Michelinie/Day & Palmer
Story: Leia and Threepio travel to Boba Fett's rumored homeworld of Mandalore,
where they fall in with Fenn Shysa, one of the last three Mandalorian
supercommandos.
Notes: Continuity problems will one day abound -- Fenn Shysa tells Leia that
the supercommandos were charged with the defense of Mandalore before the
Empire and that, of 212 commandos, three survived -- chief officer Boba Fett,
Fenn Shysa, and Tobbi Dala. In a major howler, story also has Palpatine
briefing the commandos on Princess Leia's rebel activities during the
Clone Wars.

69 Mar. 83 "Death in the City of Bone!" Michelinie/Day
Story: Fenn Shysa tries to rescue Leia from the strange City of Bone on
Mandalore.

70 Apr. 83 "The Stenax Shuffle" Duffy/Frenz & Gammill
Story: As Lando, Chewie and Luke head for Stenos in search of the bounty
hunter Bossk, Luke recalls an early adventure which brought the Star
Warriors to the planet shortly after "A New Hope."
Notes: Duffy's best effort -- a fine, witty adventure.

71 May 83 "Return to Stenos" Duffy/Palmer & Frenz
Story: Luke and Lando's search for Han leads them into danger on Stenos,
but they finally find Han -- or do they?

72 June 83 "Fool's Bounty" Duffy/Palmer & Frenz
Story: Luke, Lando, Chewie, Artoo, Rik Duel and Dani struggle to destroy the
bounty hunters' base on Stenos.

73 July 83 "Lahsbane" Duffy/Palmer & Frenz
Story: Luke, Leia, Chewie, Dani, and the droids are sent to the planet
Lahsbane to recover tapes from a downed rebel pilot's ship, but run into one
problem after another.
Notes: Lucasfilm blew the whistle on the issue after Marvel's first
depiction of the Lahsbees looked too much like Ewoks.

74 Aug. 83 "The Iskalon Effect" Duffy/Frenz & Palmer
Story: The Star Warriors travel to the waterworld of Iskalon in search of
missing rebel agent Tay Vanis and his droid.

75 Sept 83 "Tidal" Duffy/Frenz
Story: Lando and company infiltrate the planet Gamandar; Luke and Leia fight
for their lives on Iskalon's ocean floor.

76 Oct. 83 "Artoo-Detoo to the Rescue" Duffy/Frenz
Story: Artoo struggles to save his friends on Gamandar while Luke, Leia,
and Kiro are caught in the chaos of war-torn Iskalon.

77 Nov. 83 "Chanteuse of the Stars..." Duffy/Frenz
Story: Luke and Leia, investigating a lead about Han Solo, take desperate
measures during a delegation of planetary representatives on the space
station Kabray.
Notes: Leia sings, and the results are as embarrassing as the "Star Wars
Holiday Special," even though you can't hear them.

Annual 3    1983 "The Apprentice" Duffy/Janson
Story: The Star Warriors and the Empire clash on the dismal planet of
Belderone, where Darth Vader finds a new apprentice.

78 Dec. 83 "Hoth Stuff!" Michelinie & Layton/McDonnell
Story: Luke and Leia hunt for Wedge Antilles, missing since "The Empire
Strikes Back" on Hoth.
Notes: Curiously, the first non-movie issue to include Wedge. But Marvel
confuses Wedge with Biggs, describing Rogue Squadron's chief as Luke's
oldest friend, whom he grew up with on Tatooine.

79 Jan. 84 "The Big Con" Duffy/Frenz
Story: Lando and Chewie hunt for clues to Han Solo's fate on the dreary
world of Arcan IV.

80 Feb. 84 "Ellie" Duffy/Frenz
Story: Luke, Leia and Threepio finally find Tay Vanis -- or what's left
of him -- and the Bothan tapes which hold the secret of the Empire's new
superweapon.
Notes: Last issue chronologically before "Return of the Jedi."

1R Oct. 83 "In the Hands of Jabba the Hutt"  Goodwin/Williamson
Story: Luke, Leia, Chewie, and the droids finally free Han Solo from
carbonite, only to find themselves Jabba the Hutt's prisoners.
Notes: Part one of a 4-part limited series adapting "Return of the Jedi."

2R Nov. 83 "The Emperor Commands!" Goodwin/Williamson
Story: Having escaped from Jabba the Hutt, Luke travels to Dagobah to find
Yoda dying; Emperor Palpatine arrives at the partially-completed new Death
Star.
Notes: Part two of a 4-part limited series adapting "Return of the Jedi."

3R Dec. 83 "Mission to Endor" Goodwin/Williamson
Story: The rebels launch a commando raid on the Endor Moon, where they
win over the native Ewoks; Luke surrenders to Darth Vader.
Notes: Part three of a 4-part limited series adapting "Return of the Jedi."

4R Jan. 84 "The Final Duel" Goodwin/Williamson
Story: The Imperial and rebel battle fleets clash over the Endor Moon while
Luke duels Darth Vader and the Emperor within the new Death Star.
Notes: Part four of a 4-part limited series adapting "Return of the Jedi."

81 Mar. 84 "Jawas of Doom" Duffy/Frenz
Story: Han, Leia, and Artoo return to Tatooine to recover some of Han's
money, but when Artoo is stolen by jawas, they're forced out into the Dune
Sea in pursuit -- and they discover that Boba Fett is very much alive.
Notes: A delirious Fett escapes the Sarlaac and is found by jawas, who
think he's a droid. But by issue's end he's fallen back into the Sarlaac,
no doubt to re-emerge a second time ready for action in the West End Games
sourcebooks and "Dark Empire."

82 Apr. 84 "Diplomacy" Duffy/Frenz
Story: Seeking to gather emissaries from the former systems of the Empire,
Luke returns to Iskalon.

83 May 84 "Sweetheart Contract" Grant/McLeod
Story: Lando is caught up in a disagreement between the Queen of Drogheda
and her rebellious sister.

84 June 84 "Seoul Searching" Richardson/Mazzucchelli
Story: Han and Chewie run into remnants of the Imperial military while
treasure-hunting on the ancient world of Seoul Five.

85 July 84 "The Hero" Duffy/McLeod
Story: Han, Chewie, and Lando run afoul of Bossk and IG-88 on Keyorin, the
Hunter's World.

86 Aug. 84 "The Alderaan Factor!" Stradley/McLeod
Story: In an adventure taking place shortly before "Return of the Jedi,"
Leia is betrayed on the planet Yinchor and must try to win over a young
stormtrooper from Alderaan.

87 Sept. 84 "Still Active After All These Years"
Story: The Rodian smuggler Chihdo trips a terrible trap in the catacombs
of Shawkan as Luke rushes to save his friends.
Notes: A Duffy/Palmer effort.

88 Oct. 84 "Figurehead" Duffy/McLeod
Story: Mon Mothma and Princess Leia fight surviving Imperial forces led by
the mysterious Lumiya on the planet Herdessa.

89 Nov. 84 "I'll See You in the Throne Room" Nocenti/Blevins
Story: Luke searches for a traitor to the New Republic on the exotic world
of Solay.

90 Dec. 84 "The Choice!" Duffy/McLeod
Story: As the New Republic's leaders meet with representatives of many
newly-freed worlds, trouble breaks out between Rik Duel and the Republic.

91 Jan. 85 "Wookiee World!" Duffy/Salmons
Story: Han, Lando, and Chewie discover that the slave trade has been
reactivated on Chewie's homeworld of Kazhyyyk.
Notes: Fairly daring, considering the draconian plot and subject constraints
Marvel had to work with after "Return of the Jedi." Mala, Itchy, and Lumpy,
Chewie's family from "The Star Wars Holiday Special" and "The Wookiee
Storybook," appear, working overtime for their place in Star Wars apocrypha.

92 Feb. 85 "The Dream" Duffy/Duursema
Story: A desperate refugee leads the New Republic to an Imperial stronghold
run by Darth Vader's last pupil, a self-styled Dark Lord.

93 Mar. 85 "Catspaw" Duffy/Buscema
Story: Luke, Leia, and Han investigate rumors of Imperial activity in the
Cantros system.

94 Apr. 85 "Small Wars" Duffy/Martin
Story: A traitorous aide to Admiral Ackbar stirs up war between the Ewoks
and the Lahsbees, the New Republic's smallest warriors.

95 May 85 "No Zeltrons" Duffy/Martin
Story: Leia, Han, and a Zeltron band run across a villainous new race from
beyond the galaxy -- the Nagai; Luke and Lumiya clash on the borderworld
of Kinooine.

96 June 85 "Duel With a Dark Lady!" Duffy/Martin
Story: Luke fights for his life against Lumiya and her Nagai allies and
discovers the Dark Lady's secret as a Nagai invasion fleet arrives.
Notes: An extra-galactic alien race invades just after "Return of the Jedi,"
shades of Kathy Tyers.

97 July 85 "Escape" Duffy/Martin
Story: Luke, Kiro, and Dani fight to elude the Nagai on Kinooine.

98 Aug. 85 "Supply and Demand" Goodwin/Williamson
Story: Han Solo is sent to the planet Vandelheim to check out a supply
problem for the New Republic, and winds up battling an Imperial scheme.
Notes: Goodwin and Williamson return for a one-shot which briefly interrupts
the series' virtual free-fall. Reprinted as Classic Star Wars: The Vandelheim
Mission by Dark Horse in 1995.

99 Sept 85 "Touch of the Goddess" Duffy/Frenz
Story: Luke, Han, Chewie and Lando search for missing components to a
mystical machine which could be the only hope for the inhabitants of a
dying world.

100 Oct. 85 "First Strike" Duffy/Martin
Story: The New Republic tries to fight off the Nagai invasion as they leave
Endor.
Notes: A double-sized issue. Features a flashback of Han's childhood with
his friend and mentor Bey.

101 Nov. 85 "Far, Far Away" Duffy/Martin
Story: Accompanied by droids and hoojibs, Han Solo takes a little detour
while on a mission for the Alliance.
Notes: Takes place before issue #97.

102 Dec. 85 "School Spirit!" Duffy/Buscema
Story: Luke and Lando battle Nagai invaders on Iskalon.

103 Jan. 86 "Tai" Duffy/Martin
Story: Leia and the Zeltrons learn a little more about the enemy when they
run into a wounded Nagai youth on the planet Trenwyth.
Notes: First bi-monthly issue.

104 Mar. 86 "Nagais and Dolls" Duffy/Martin
Story: The Nagai invade Zeltros, catching the New Republic off-guard.

105 May 86 "The Party's Over" Duffy/Martin & Leialoha
Story: Chaos reigns on Zeltros as the Tofs, aliens from the Nagai's galaxy,
invade the planet right on their old enemies' heels.

106 July 86 "My Hiromi" Duffy/Martin
Story: Luke and the Hiromi try to rescue Leia's attaches from the Tofs.

107 Sept 86 "All Together Now" Duffy/Martin
Story: The New Republic joins Nagai warriors and Imperials in an attempt to
stop the Tof invasion before it can start.
Notes: Last issue.

III. THE MARVEL ILLUSTRATED BOOKS AND THE U.K. ISSUES

Marvel also published its Star Wars adventures in weekly form in Great
Britain, leading to inevitable scheduling problems. According to Marvel,
six complete stories were published in the British weekly and pencilled in
for the U.S. comic after "The Empire Strikes Back," but were then shelved.
Four stories were reprinted in the U.S. in "Star Wars," a Marvel
Illustrated Book dated Nov. 1981, and copyrighted 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1981.

In October 1982, "Star Wars 2: World of Fire," a three-issue,
black-and-white series also apparently written for the British weekly, was
released by Marvel Illustrated Books.

How the seven total issues in those two books equates to the six missing
Star Wars stories first mentioned by Marvel is beyond me. And to further
complicate things, "War on Ice" clearly begins in the middle of the story.
That raises the possibility that some other part of "War of Ice" remains
uncollected.

If anyone is familiar with the British Star Wars Weekly and whether or not
other Marvel Star Wars stories appeared in it, I'd like to know.

Star Wars (Nov. 81):

-- ??? "Way of the Wookiee" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Days before "A New Hope," Han and Chewie run afoul of an Imperial
colonel, Jabba the Hutt's traitorous operatives, and Chewie's vendetta with
another Wookiee while smuggling spice on the Kessel Run.
Notes: Continuity disagrees with Kevin J. Anderson's account of Han and
Chewie's fateful Kessel Run in "Jedi Search."

-- ??? "The Day After the Death Star" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: On the day after the Death Star battle, a giddy Luke goes for a
joyride in his X-Wing -- and learns a difficult lesson about war.

-- ??? "Weapons Master" Goodwin/Infantino
Story: Leia tells Luke the story of Giles Durane, who taught her how to wield
a blaster -- and how idealism can turn sour.

-- ??? "War on Ice" Goodwin/Cockrum
Story: Luke must rescue Leia from a huge Imperial fortress on the ice world
of Akuria Two.

Star Wars 2: World of Fire (Oct. 82):

-- ??? ""World of Fire!"         Claremont/Infantino
Story: After stealing the Staraker, an prototype Imperial warship, Luke,
Leia, and rebel operative Mici Shabandar find themselves stranded on the
haunted, deadly world of Alashan.

-- ??? "The Word for World is Death!" Claremont/Infantino
Story: Luke and Leia join forces with a stranded team of Imperials to explore
the ruins of Alashan.

-- ??? "The Guardian of Forever!" Claremont/Infantino
Story: Luke, Leia and Major Grau's Imperials duel with an alien sentinel in
Alashan's underworld.

III. THE STAR WARS CANON -- A MODEST PROPOSAL

In an unfortunate parallel with Star Trek, fans of Star Wars are becoming
increasingly concerned with questions about what Star Wars adventures are
canon -- and, in a related debate, how various chapters in the
constantly-expanding Star Wars saga fit together.

One easy way out of the canon dilemna is what could be called the
"Robin Hood defense." The adventures of Luke Skywalker and his friends, as
we all know, take place "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" -- time
enough for any number of legends to have sprung up arpund them since.
In a peaceful galaxy ruled by the restored Jedi Knights, it is logical that
every backwater planet would claim to be the site of some adventure or other
of Luke, Han, Chewie, or even Darth Vader. And it's equally logical that,
over thousands of generations, some inconsistent or downright contradictory
legends might be sprung up.

Thus, the inhabitants of Bespin boast that Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader's
first lightsaber duel took place in the carbonite chamber of Cloud City.
But the natives of Mimban tell a different story, one featuring a grim
battle in the Temple of Pomojema.  And the people of Monastery recall how
Luke and Vader met in single combat at the bidding of Sister Domina. (This
is nothing compared to the disputes on Ord Mantell, where different
factions tell the tale of "the Bounty Hunter of Ord Mantell" four of five
different ways!)

On the other hand, Kevin J. Anderson is at work on a James Michener-style
history of the Star Wars universe; efforts like his and the forthcoming
"Shadows of the Empire" are fueling the debate over, and desire for,
a single "canonical" chronology.

The Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson newspaper strips reprinted as
"Classic Star Wars" by Dark Horse have been very well-received; not a few
fans, in fact, greeted them more warmly than the grittier "Dark Empire."
The West End Games sourcebooks, while themselves "non-canon," have already
accepted the newspaper strips as fact. And Dark Horse is reprinting the only
Goodwin/Williamson issue (#98) from the regular run of the Marvel series.

No small amount of the appeal of the "Classic Star Wars" stories is
Williamson's fine art -- but credit should also go to Goodwin, who captures
the Flash Gordon spirit of Star Wars without neglecting the epic sweep of
the galactic civil war, the spiritual demands of the Force, or the real
love between Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewie.

One partial answer to the canon/chronology debate would be to elevate
Goodwin's stories (nearly all of which take place between "A New Hope" and
"The Empire Strikes Back") to canon status, and let the other (decidedly
inferior) Marvels remain apocrypha (most of the others have been, or will
be, supplanted by the new novels and "Shadows of the Empire," anyway).

The rebels' betrayal on the Wheel, Han Solo's duel with the space pirate
Crimson Jack, Darth Vader's search for the name of the pilot who destroyed
the Death Star, the treachery of the House of Tagge, the lonely quest of
Valance the Hunter -- these are exciting, entertaining stories which are
worthy additions to the Star Wars saga. There is time enough between
"A New Hope" and "Empire" to fit them and Archie Goodwin's newspaper strips
into a logical timeline, and ample reason for a new crop of Star Wars
fans to enjoy learning what befell the heroes of the movies between their
victory on Yavin and their defeat on Hoth.