Star Wars

The first Star Wars comic: a six-issue adaptation of the 1977 film that immediately became an ongoing, and then spent nine years inventing what a Star Wars story could be while nobody was watching too closely.

Marvel held the licence from 1977 to 1986 and published 107 issues plus three annuals. It began as a film adaptation by Roy Thomas and Howard Chaykin, passed through Archie Goodwin and Carmine Infantino, and ended with Jo Duffy and Cynthia Martin telling stories the films had no room for.

7.4

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Published: July 1977 – May 1986 (cover dates)
Issues: 107 issues + 3 annuals
Format: Ongoing
Continuity: Star Wars Legends
Era: Age of Rebellion
Writers: Roy Thomas, Archie Goodwin, David Michelinie, Jo Duffy, Mary Jo Duffy
Artists: Howard Chaykin, Carmine Infantino, Al Williamson, Walt Simonson, Ron Frenz, Cynthia Martin
Cover artists: Howard Chaykin, Carmine Infantino, Walt Simonson, Tom Palmer

The verdict

Wildly uneven, occasionally brilliant, and the only place the original trilogy era was allowed to keep moving for nine straight years.

The thing to understand about Marvel's Star Wars is that nobody at Marvel wanted it. The licence was taken on a hunch, the adaptation was assigned to Roy Thomas and Howard Chaykin, and the first issue carried a cover date of July 1977 while the film was still an unknown quantity. It then sold well enough that Marvel has spent five decades telling the story of how it saved the company.

Three books in one

Issues #1–6 are the film. Issues #7 onward are the interesting part, because the creative team had no map: no sequel, no continuity bible, no idea whether Darth Vader survived. What they had was a space-fantasy toolkit and a monthly deadline. The result is a run that swings from a seven-foot green rabbit to a genuinely tense siege story within a year.

Archie Goodwin and Carmine Infantino stabilise it from issue #11, and Goodwin's Empire Strikes Back adaptation with Al Williamson (#39–44) is the artistic high point of the entire licence — Williamson drawing this material is the closest comics ever came to the look of the films.

The last stretch

Jo Duffy took the book over for its final years and did the thing later Star Wars comics would take thirty years to attempt again: she wrote about the consequences. Post-Return of the Jedi issues deal with an Empire that has not gone anywhere, characters who have to govern rather than raid, and a Luke Skywalker who has won and does not know what he is for. Cynthia Martin's art is unlike anything else on the shelf in 1985.

Reading it now

It is Legends, all of it, and it contradicts almost everything published since. That is not a reason to skip it. Read it as the first draft of the whole enterprise — the place where "Star Wars can be a comic" was proved rather than assumed.

Structure

Story arcs

How the run divides, and where a reader can get on and off.

#1–6

Star Wars (film adaptation)

Roy Thomas and Howard Chaykin adapt the 1977 film, four of the six issues reaching shops before it opened.
#39–44

The Empire Strikes Back (film adaptation)

Archie Goodwin with Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon.

Every issue

Issue list — 110 of 107 catalogued

Number, title, cover date and credits. A dash means the field is not verified — not that it is empty.

Issue list: number, title, cover date, credits, story arc and notes
#	Title	Cover date	Writer	Artist	Cover artist	Arc	Notes
1	Star Wars	July 1977	Roy Thomas	Howard Chaykin	—	Star Wars (film adaptation)	Part one of the six-issue adaptation of the 1977 film. The first Star Wars comic ever published, on sale before the film opened. First appearances in comics of Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, C-3PO, R2-D2 and Darth Vader.
Annual 1	The Long Hunt	February 1980	Chris Claremont	Mike Vosburg	Walt Simonson	—	While Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia are on the planet Tirahnn they are attacked by a group of Catuman warriors under the orders of Kharys, the Majestrix of Skye. The first Star Wars Annual, written by Chris Claremont. Its second half was titled “A Duel of Eagles!” and the issue included a gallery of Marvel UK Star Wars Weekly covers.
2	Six Against the Galaxy	August 1977	Roy Thomas	Howard Chaykin	—	Star Wars (film adaptation)	Part two of the film adaptation: Mos Eisley, the cantina, and the deal with Han Solo.
Annual 2	Shadeshine	October 1982	David Michelinie	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Rudy Nebres	—	Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian, and C-3PO are running from Imperial stormtroopers when they happen across a convent containing a golden statue of Han Solo.
3	Death Star!	September 1977	Roy Thomas	Howard Chaykin	—	Star Wars (film adaptation)	Part three of the film adaptation: the Millennium Falcon is pulled aboard the battle station.
Annual 3	The Apprentice	December 1983	Jo Duffy	Klaus Janson	Klaus Janson	—	Darth Vader is on board a Star Destroyer speaking with several Imperial officers. The Dark Lord lays down a plan to subjugate the Belderone system, beginning with the planet Belderone, where the Empire has set up a secret factory.
4	In Battle with Darth Vader	October 1977	Roy Thomas	Howard Chaykin	—	Star Wars (film adaptation)	Part four of the film adaptation: the escape from the detention block and the duel that kills Obi-Wan Kenobi.
5	Lo, the Moons of Yavin!	November 1977	Roy Thomas	Howard Chaykin	—	Star Wars (film adaptation)	Part five of the film adaptation: the Rebel base, the briefing, and the run-up to the attack.
6	Is This — The Final Chapter?	December 1977	Roy Thomas	Howard Chaykin	—	Star Wars (film adaptation)	Part six of the film adaptation: the trench run and the destruction of the Death Star. The last issue of the adaptation. From #7 the series told original stories with no map of what came next.
7	New Planets, New Perils!	January 1978	Roy Thomas & Howard Chaykin	Howard Chaykin	Gil Kane & Tony DeZuniga	—	After bidding farewell to their Rebel friends, Han Solo and Chewbacca set out to return to Tatooine to pay off their debt to Jabba the Hutt. En route, they are hijacked by space pirate Crimson Jack and his gang of thugs. Introduces the pirate Crimson Jack and the gunslinger Jolli, both recurring characters in the run. It is the first Star Wars comic story set after the film.
8	Eight for Aduba-3	February 1978	Roy Thomas & Howard Chaykin	Howard Chaykin	Gil Kane & Tony DeZuniga	—	Han Solo and Chewbacca are hired by Ramiz, a moisture farmer on Aduba-3, to protect his village from a band of local thugs known as the Cloud-Riders, led by Serji-X Arrogantus. The famous one: the debut of Jaxxon, a six-foot green Lepi rabbit, alongside Amaiza Foxtrain, Don-Wan Kihotay, Serji-X Arrogantus and the Cloud-Riders. Marvel had no sequel to work from and improvised a Seven Samurai riff.
9	Showdown on a Wasteland World!	March 1978	Roy Thomas	Howard Chaykin	Gil Kane & Tony DeZuniga	—	Han Solo, Chewbacca, and the Star-Hoppers of Aduba-3 arrive at Ramiz's village Onacra, only to find it under attack by flying High-hounds.
10	Behemoth from the World Below	April 1978	Roy Thomas, Howard Chaykin & Don Glut	Alan Kupperberg & Howard Chaykin	Rick Hoberg	—	The Old One has summoned the Behemoth, a giant reptilian monster, to defend the village Onacra from the villainous Cloud-Riders.
11	Star Search!	May 1978	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Gil Kane & Tony DeZuniga	—	Han Solo and Chewbacca leave Aduba-3 in the Millennium Falcon, only to be captured once again by Crimson Jack and his gang of pirates.
12	Doomworld!	June 1978	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino	—	Luke Skywalker and the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are stranded on the water world Drexel.
13	Day of the Dragon Lords!	July 1978	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	John Byrne & Terry Austin	—	On Drexel, Luke Skywalker decides to join Governor Quarg's group in their battle against the Dragon Lords, at least for the time being.
14	The Sound of Armageddon!	August 1978	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Terry Austin	—	On the water world of Drexel, Governor Quarg has used his sonic jammer to cause the Millennium Falcon to crash into the water near his giant city-ship.
15	Star Duel!	September 1978	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Terry Austin	—	With Governor Quarg killed and his jamming equipment disabled, Crimson Jack's battlecruiser is fully operational and waiting for Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon to leave the surface of Drexel so Jack can exact some revenge.
16	The Hunter!	October 1978	Archie Goodwin	Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	—	Beilert Valance, bounty hunter and droid hater, leads his mercenary gang on a merciless attack of Anglebay Station on Telos IV. There, they find Don-Wan Kihotay, who recounts his adventure with the Star-Hoppers of Aduba-3. Introduces the cyborg bounty hunter Beilert Valance, a droid-hater who turns out to be part droid himself.
17	Crucible!	November 1978	Archie Goodwin & Chris Claremont	Herb Trimpe	Dave Cockrum & Bob McLeod	—	While Luke Skywalker is piloting the Millennium Falcon through space, his mind flashes back to his life back on Tatooine.
18	The Empire Strikes	December 1978	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	While training on board the Millennium Falcon, Luke Skywalker falls into a deep and mysterious trance. As Han Solo, Leia Organa, and Chewbacca pilot the Falcon toward medical help, they stumble across the remains of a House of Tagge merchant ship.
19	The Ultimate Gamble!	January 1979	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	The crew of the Millennium Falcon have split up aboard the gambler's paradise known as The Wheel.
20	Deathgame	February 1979	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	As part of a plot to discredit the Rebel Alliance, Senator Simon Greyshade sets up a scene where a pleasure yacht is attacked by an X-wing fighter only to be repelled by Imperial TIE fighters.
21	Shadow of a Dark Lord!	March 1979	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Terry Austin	—	Princess Leia escapes from Simon Greyshade's suite, where she was held captive, and finds Luke Skywalker, who has now recovered from his trance-like state.
22	To the Last Gladiator!	April 1979	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	Han Solo and Chewbacca are involved in the main event of The Big Game along with many other gladiators, and the two team up against the rest of the combatants to stay alive.
23	Flight into Fury!	May 1979	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	As Simon Greyshade and Princess Leia prepare to leave The Wheel, Commander Strom, realizing that he has been betrayed by Greyshade, sends his stormtroopers to stop them.
24	Silent Drifting	June 1979	Jo Duffy	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	After Han Solo skillfully pilots the Millennium Falcon to destroy two TIE fighters, Princess Leia mentions that Jedi pilots developed that same maneuver. She recounts one particular event involving Obi-Wan Kenobi.
25	Siege at Yavin!	July 1979	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	After their escape from the Wheel, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker arrive at Centares to trade in the Spoilt Sport for a more practical and less traceable ship.
26	Doom Mission!	August 1979	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	The Empire has set up a blockade of the Gordian Reach Sector and Luke and Leia, on their way back to the Rebel base on Yavin 4, are ambushed by two Imperial TIE fighters.
27	Return of the Hunter	September 1979	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino	—	The bounty hunter Beilert Valance has come to the world of Feriae Junction, where he shoots a cantina patron named Marko Tyne and then retreats to his agent, Skinker, to collect the bounty.
28	What Ever Happened to Jabba the Hut?	October 1979	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	A rough re-entry of the Millennium Falcon from hyperspace prompts Han Solo and Chewbacca to land on the Mid Rim world Orleon, a smuggler's hideout constantly besieged by rain. Marvel drew Jabba the Hutt as a green-skinned Nimbanel, years before Return of the Jedi established what a Hutt looks like. Later Legends material retconned the character into Mosep Binneed, an underling trading on Jabba’s name.
29	Dark Encounter	November 1979	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	Darth Vader discovers that Tyler Lucian, a Rebel deserter, knows the name of the Rebel pilot who destroyed the Death Star.
30	A Princess Alone!	December 1979	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	Princess Leia Organa travels to Metalorn on a mission to spread the message of hope to its residents.
31	Return to Tatooine!	January 1980	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	Luke Skywalker returns to Tatooine for the first time since leaving with Obi-Wan Kenobi. His mission is to recruit blockade runner pilots to help the Rebel Alliance evacuate their base on Yavin 4.
32	The Jawa Express	February 1980	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, and the droids are stranded in the Dune Sea of Tatooine after fleeing Imperial stormtroopers from Mos Eisley.
33	Saber Clash!	March 1980	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	As the Millennium Falcon and her crew depart Tatooine they recognize a House of Tagge Mining Explorer readying to jump to hyperspace. The Rebels decide to follow them to Feriae Junction where the Mining Explorer meets with an Imperial battlecruiser.
34	Thunder in the Stars!	April 1980	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	After his defeat at the hands of Luke Skywalker in a duel of lightsabers, Baron Orman Tagge has gone into a state of shock and is kept under heavy sedation on the orders of his brother Silas Tagge.
35	Dark Lord's Gambit	May 1980	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	Darth Vader finally learns the name of the boy who destroyed the Death Star I, and sets a plan in motion to get his revenge. He enlists the aid of General Ulric Tagge as well as his younger sister Sister Domina Tagge to help him in the endeavor.
36	Red Queen Rising!	June 1980	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	The Millennium Falcon is captured by an Imperial battlecruiser near Monastery, but Princess Leia causes a distraction on the cruiser allowing them to escape.
37	In Mortal Combat!	July 1980	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek	—	Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader enter the dangerous Crystal Valley as arranged by Domina Tagge, her plan is to not only have Luke killed, but Vader as well since he was a long time rival of her brother Baron Orman Tagge.
38	Riders in the Void!	August 1980	Michael Golden & Archie Goodwin	Michael Golden	Michael Golden	—	Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia were on a mission to transport medical supplies for the Rebellion when an Imperial Star Destroyer attacked their craft. Michael Golden co-wrote and drew this one-off, the last original story before the Empire Strikes Back adaptation took over the book.
39	The Empire Strikes Back: Beginning	September 1980	Archie Goodwin	Al Williamson & Carlos Garzon	Al Williamson & Carlos Garzon	The Empire Strikes Back (film adaptation)	The Rebel Alliance has established a new base on the ice planet called Hoth, but an Imperial probe droid discovers their location and transmits the data before it can be destroyed.
40	The Empire Strikes Back: Battleground Hoth	October 1980	Archie Goodwin	Al Williamson & Carlos Garzon	Al Williamson	The Empire Strikes Back (film adaptation)	At the medical center of Echo Base on Hoth, Luke Skywalker is recovering from wounds sustained from an attack by a wampa ice monster.
41	The Empire Strikes Back: Imperial Pursuit	November 1980	Archie Goodwin	Al Williamson & Carlos Garzon	Al Williamson	The Empire Strikes Back (film adaptation)	Luke Skywalker escapes from the downed snowspeeder just as the AT-AT approaches him.
42	The Empire Strikes Back: To Be a Jedi	December 1980	Archie Goodwin	Al Williamson & Carlos Garzon	Al Williamson	The Empire Strikes Back (film adaptation)	Luke Skywalker watches as his recently landed X-wing fighter begins to slowly sink into the swamps of Dagobah. He endeavors to set up camp until he meets a diminutive green gnome who unceremoniously begins rifling through his belongings. Chapter four of the six-part adaptation, and the first comic-book appearances of Boba Fett, Bossk, Dengar, IG-88B and 4-LOM.
43	The Empire Strikes Back: Betrayal at Bespin	January 1981	Archie Goodwin	Al Williamson & Carlos Garzon	Al Williamson	The Empire Strikes Back (film adaptation)	Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa arrive at Cloud City hoping to find refuge with Solo's old friend Lando Calrissian, but the Galactic Empire had arrived first and capture the Rebels.
44	The Empire Strikes Back: Duel a Dark Lord	February 1981	Archie Goodwin	Al Williamson & Carlos Garzon	Al Williamson	The Empire Strikes Back (film adaptation)	Luke Skywalker arrives in Cloud City and R2-D2 and they begin looking for their friends. Darth Vader delivers the frozen body of Han Solo over to Boba Fett and instructs the Ugnaught workers to reset the carbon-freezing chamber for Skywalker.
45	Death Probe	March 1981	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Larry Hama & Al Milgrom	—	Imperial Admiral Damon Krell sends a prototype Infiltrator probe droid on a direct course for a damaged Rebel ship of the line. The Probe smashes through the ship's hull and begins slaughtering the entire crew.
46	The Dreams of Cody Sunn-Childe!	April 1981	J. M. DeMatteis	Carmine Infantino	Ed Hannigan & Tom Palmer	—	While Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca are on their way to rescue Han Solo, the Millennium Falcon encounters problems while in hyperspace which causes them to enter another dimension.
47	Droid World!	May 1981	Archie Goodwin	Carmine Infantino	Frank Miller & James Sherman	—	The Rebel Alliance have captured a damaged new model of Imperial warbot on Xeron and decide to ask the assistance of the droid populated space station known as Kligson's Moon in repairing the droid so the Alliance technicians can study it.
48	The Third Law	June 1981	Larry Hama	Carmine Infantino	Carmine Infantino	—	Princess Leia Organa, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Rebellion finance minister Viscount Tardi arrive on the banking world of Aargau to complete the financing of a sale of X-wing fighters to the Rebellion.
49	The Last Jedi!	July 1981	Mike W. Barr	Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	—	Princess Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker and the droids take a Y-wing fighter to a jungle planet where they answer a beacon left behind by Prince Denid of Velmor.
50	The Crimson Forever!	August 1981	Archie Goodwin	Al Williamson	Tom Palmer	—	Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca pilot the Millennium Falcon from the site of a new Imperial base with TIE fighters in hot pursuit when a Rebel Blockade Runner fires into the TIEs' midst. “The Crimson Forever,” the run’s most reprinted single issue. Marvel reissued it on 1 May 2019 for the company’s 80th anniversary, and the story was continued 33 years later in Star Wars (1977) 108.
51	Resurrection of Evil	September 1981	David Michelinie	Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	—	General Rieekan receives word from Rebel spies that the Galactic Empire is constructing a new superweapon known as the Tarkin.
52	To Take the Tarkin	October 1981	David Michelinie	Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	—	The Rebels Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Chewbacca along with the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 have infiltrated the Imperial superweapon Tarkin with the intention of sabotaging it.
53	The Last Gift from Alderaan!	November 1981	Chris Claremont	Carmine Infantino & Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	—	Princess Leia Organa and Captain Chedaki pilot a blockade runner to investigate Imperial activity in the Shiva system, but as the two are entering a shuttle to go down to the planet Shiva IV, the ship is damaged by a space mine.
54	Starfire Rising!	December 1981	Chris Claremont	Carmine Infantino & Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	—	On the planet Shiva IV, General Sk'ar captures Aron Peacebringer and Princess Leia. As the two heroes struggle against their bonds, Aron discovers that his own protégé, Ygal Delois, has turned traitor and joined forces with Sk'ar.
55	Plif!	January 1982	David Michelinie	Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	—	Princess Leia Organa leads a survey team to the forest planet known as Arbra. It is her hope to establish a permanent Rebel Alliance base of operations after having been forced to evacuate their previous outpost on Hoth.
56	Coffin in the Clouds	February 1982	David Michelinie, Walt Simonson & Louise Jones	Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	—	Lando Calrissian returns to Cloud City only to find that it appears to have been completely abandoned. He soon discovers Imperial bombtroopers arriving to disarm a series of bombs left behind by disgruntled Ugnaught workers.
57	Hello, Bespin, Good-Bye!	March 1982	David Michelinie, Walt Simonson & Louise Jones	Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	—	The Imperial administrator of Cloud City, Captain Hugo Treece, kicks Lando Calrissian off of the edge of the city's rotunda. Lando begins falling through the tibanna gas clouds—to his death.
58	Sundown!	April 1982	David Michelinie & Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	—	Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian, and Chewbacca blast off of the planet Arbra in the Millennium Falcon. They enter hyperspace en route to meet a seedy merchant named Orion Ferret at a space station known as Bazarre.
59	Bazarre	May 1982	David Michelinie & Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	—	Lando Calrissian and Luke Skywalker arrive at the gigantic merchant station known as Bazarre, where they meet with a shifty administrator named Orion Ferret. Lando has dealt with Ferret in the past and does not trust him.
60	Shira's Story	June 1982	David Michelinie & Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	—	Members of Rogue Squadron pilot four TIE fighter ships and infiltrate the Imperial outpost on the planet, Spindrift. Swooping down, they begin strafing the command towers.
61	Screams in the Void	July 1982	David Michelinie & Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	—	An Imperial armada led by Admiral Mils Giel's flagship is transporting a captured Teezl to the Imperial capital.
62	Pariah!	August 1982	David Michelinie & Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	Walt Simonson	—	The news of Shira Brie's death reverberates throughout Salvation. Luke Skywalker is beside himself with grief and feels as if the Force has betrayed him, in allowing him to open fire on Shira's fighter.
63	The Mind Spider!	September 1982	David Michelinie & Walt Simonson	Tom Palmer	Tom Palmer	—	On the planet Shalyvane, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca and the Em'liy known as G'hinji stand before the visage of Darth Vader. They immediately go on the defensive until they realize that the image of Vader is merely a holographic recording.
64	Serphidian Eyes	October 1982	Michael Fleisher & David Michelinie	Joe Brozowski	Joe Brozowski & Brent Anderson	—	Princess Leia Organa learns that the monarch of Serphidi, King S'Shah, is entering into talks with the Galactic Empire to establish an Imperial base on their planet.
65	Golrath Never Forgets!	November 1982	David Michelinie & Walt Simonson	Tom Palmer	Tom Palmer	—	Luke Skywalker is placed on trial for the negligent death of Captain Shira Brie.
66	The Water Bandits!	December 1982	David Michelinie	Walt Simonson	Tom Palmer	—	Luke Skywalker, having sustained damage to his X-wing fighter is forced to land on the backwater world of Beheboth. He wanders into a moisture farm community in the nearby district of Garrotine.
67	The Darker	January 1983	David Michelinie	Ron Frenz	Tom Palmer	—	As the Rebel leaders discuss a plan to rescue the captured Han Solo; C-3PO, Chewbacca, Plif, and several other Hoojibs venture into the depths of some unexplored tunnels near the hidden Rebel base on Arbra.
68	The Search Begins	February 1983	David Michelinie	Gene Day	Gene Day	—	The Rebels continue their search for Han Solo, having just recently learned that Boba Fett was in league with another bounty hunter during the search for the Millennium Falcon. Leia Organa reaches Mandalore, whose capital this issue calls Kedalbe, and fights beside a Mandalorian who is not Boba Fett. The issue also spells Jabba as “Jabba the Hut,” the misspelling Marvel used throughout the run.
69	Death in the City of Bone!	March 1983	David Michelinie	Gene Day	—	—	Continuing where the last issue left off, Leia Organa and C-3PO have just been captured by the Galactic Empire, due to the duplicity of the bounty hunter, Dengar.
70	The Stenax Shuffle	April 1983	Jo Duffy	Kerry Gammill & Tom Palmer	Tom Palmer	—	Following the revelation in the previous issue, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, R2-D2, and Luke Skywalker make their way to the planet Stenos in the Millennium Falcon, hoping to find the bounty hunter that worked with Boba Fett during the search for the Millennium Falcon.
71	Return to Stenos	May 1983	Jo Duffy	Ron Frenz	Ron Frenz & Tom Palmer	—	Lando Calrissian, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, and R2-D2 land on the planet Stenos in the Millennium Falcon, intent on tracking down IG-88 and Bossk, who they believe one might have been working with Boba Fett during the search for the Millennium Falcon.
72	Fool's Bounty	June 1983	Jo Duffy	Ron Frenz	Ron Frenz & Tom Palmer	—	Following the events of the previous issue, Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian are surrounded by a group of bounty hunters led by IG-88 and Bossk.
73	Lahsbane	July 1983	Jo Duffy	Ron Frenz	Ron Frenz & Tom Palmer	—	Following Dani's joining of the Rebels in the previous issue. Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Lando Calrissian, R2-D2, C-3PO, and Dani have come to Lahsbane on a mission to recover the datatapes of a crashed Rebel pilot, Yom Argo.
74	The Iskalon Effect	August 1983	Jo Duffy	Ron Frenz	Tom Palmer	—	Following their expedition to Lahsbane in the previous issue, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, C-3PO, and R2-D2 have been sent to the planet of Iskalon to track down Yom Argo's partner, Tay Vanis, who has gone missing.
75	Tidal	September 1983	Jo Duffy	Ron Frenz	Tom Palmer	—	Following the destruction of the city of Pavillion in the previous issue, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, and Kendle are swept out into the oceans of Iskalon by the Iskalon Effect.
76	Artoo-Deetoo to the Rescue	October 1983	Jo Duffy	Ron Frenz	Tom Palmer	—	On the bridge of the Executor, Darth Vader is in a meeting with his officers as he discusses the situation in the Iskalon system.
77	Chanteuse of the Stars...	November 1983	Jo Duffy	Ron Frenz	Ron Frenz & Tom Palmer	—	Following their mission to Iskalon in the previous issue, Lando Calrissian, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2 return to Haven Base on Arbra and report the destruction on Iskalon, as well as their failure to locate Tay Vanis.
78	Hoth Stuff!	December 1983	David Michelinie & Bob Layton	Luke McDonnell	Bob Layton	—	Some time after the Battle of Hoth, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Lieutenant Barlon Hightower leave Arbra to investigate a crippled freighter which appears to have come from Hoth.
79	The Big Con	January 1984	Jo Duffy	Ron Frenz	Ron Frenz & Tom Palmer	—	After being sent on a search for Han Solo in a previous issue, Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca travel to the planet Arcan IV to interview some old contemporaries of Solo's, Lemo and Sanda's gang.
80	Ellie	February 1984	Jo Duffy	Ron Frenz	Ron Frenz & Tom Palmer	—	The search for Tay Vanis continues. On an unidentified planet that has been depopulated by the Empire, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and C-3PO have landed on the world in the Millennium Falcon posing as moisture processor traders.
81	Jawas of Doom	March 1984	Jo Duffy	Ron Frenz	Tom Palmer	—	Just after the Battle of Endor, Han Solo finds himself short of ready credits. Unfortunately, his credit isn't very good among his fellow Rebels.
82	Diplomacy	April 1984	Jo Duffy	Ron Frenz	Ron Frenz & Tom Palmer	—	Shortly after the Battle of Endor, Luke Skywalker is on the forest moon of Endor training with the local Ewoks, including Wicket W. Warrick.
83	Sweetheart Contract	May 1984	Linda Grant	Bob McLeod	Bob McLeod	—	===Arrival on Drogheda=== Lando Calrissian has come to the planet Drogheda, under the summons of Queen Sarna, an old flame. Upon arriving, Calrissian and his contact, the Queen's sister Danu, are attacked by men in sky-sleds.
84	Seoul Searching	June 1984	Roy Richardson	David Mazzucchelli	Roy Richardson & Tom Palmer	—	===The gambler's story=== Han Solo has been asked to invite planetary leaders to a Galactic Congress.
85	The Hero	July 1984	Jo Duffy	Bob McLeod	Bob McLeod	—	===Commendation for Drebble=== Inside a tavern on Keyorin, Barpotomous Drebble is speaking with his associates, Bossk, IG-88A, and two Stenaxes. In an extended rant, Drebble vows revenge against Lando Calrissian for cheating him years earlier.
86	The Alderaan Factor!	August 1984	Randy Stradley	Bob McLeod	Bob McLeod	—	Some time before the Battle of Endor, Leia Organa is running through a Rebel cruiser with Luke Skywalker at her heels. Leia is about to depart on a mission to the planet Yinchorr, and Skywalker tries to convince her to let him go with her.
87	Still Active After All These Years	September 1984	Jo Duffy	Tom Palmer	Tom Palmer	—	After meeting on the planet Iskalon, Luke Skywalker, Plif, Dani, Chihdo, Rik Duel, and Kiro make their way to the next planet on Luke's list, the Core World of Shawken.
88	Figurehead	October 1984	Jo Duffy	Bob McLeod	Bob McLeod & Tom Palmer	—	Mon Mothma, Leia Organa, and a delegation of the new Alliance of Free Planets have come to the planet Herdessa to meet with the powerful Herdessan Guild.
89	I'll See You in the Throne Room!	November 1984	Ann Nocenti	Bret Blevins	Bret Blevins	—	===Battle of Solay=== Following the Battle of Endor, many worlds have been enveloped in revolution as the Empire struggles to keep control over the galaxy despite the deaths of both the Emperor and Darth Vader.
90	The Choice!	December 1984	Jo Duffy	Bob McLeod	Bob McLeod & Tom Palmer	—	Following the events on Shawken, Luke Skywalker, Plif, Rik Duel, Chihdo, and Dani are rushing back to the forest moon of Endor to get medical care for Kiro.
91	Wookiee World	January 1985	Jo Duffy	Tony Salmons	Tony Salmons & Tom Palmer	—	Following their diplomatic mission to Keyorin, Lando Calrissian, Han Solo, and Chewbacca make their way to Kashyyyk, Chewbacca's homeworld.
92	The Dream	February 1985	Jo Duffy	Jan Duursema	Cynthia Martin & Bill Sienkiewicz	—	On the forest moon of Endor, Admiral Ackbar oversees a meeting of the Alliance where reports from different worlds indicate that there may still be well-organized Imperial forces in the galaxy, and that the Alliance fleet must remain ready.
93	Catspaw	March 1985	Jo Duffy	Sal Buscema	Cynthia Martin	—	Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo are on a diplomatic mission to Saijo when they see an X-wing fleeing from three Y-wings.
94	Small Wars	April 1985	Jo Duffy	Cynthia Martin	Cynthia Martin	—
95	No Zeltrons	May 1985	Jo Duffy	Cynthia Martin	Kent Williams	—
96	Duel with a Dark Lady!	June 1985	Jo Duffy	Cynthia Martin	Cynthia Martin	—	Luke Skywalker faces off with the Dark Lady Lumiya on Kinooine. Lumiya and her lightwhip soundly defeat Luke, whom Lumiya then captures; she has already captured the Zeltron, Dani.
97	Escape	July 1985	Jo Duffy	Cynthia Martin	Cynthia Martin & Art Nichols	—
98	Supply and Demand	August 1985	Archie Goodwin	Al Williamson	Bill Sienkiewicz	—	While Chewbacca is on leave to Kashyyyk, and Leia is meeting with some of the major players in the Alliance of Free Planets, Han is forced to go on a mission to a former Imperial prison planet, with Nien Nunb as his co-pilot on the Millennium Falcon.
99	Touch of the Goddess	September 1985	Jo Duffy	Ron Frenz	Ron Frenz & Sam de la Rosa	—	Luke is reminiscing about the recent "death" of Kiro at the Alliance's base on Endor. Lando's attempt to console Luke leads to a discussion about the rapidly escalating Nagai conflict.
100	First Strike	October 1985	Jo Duffy	Cynthia Martin	—	—	On the forest moon of Endor, Admiral Ackbar administers a pilot training program to several members of the new Alliance of Free Planets. Han Solo works outside the rules of the programming for maximum effect.
101	Far, Far Away	November 1985	Jo Duffy	Cynthia Martin	Bill Sienkiewicz	—
102	School Spirit!	December 1985	Jo Duffy	Sal Buscema	Kerry Gammill & Sam de la Rosa	—
103	Tai	January 1986	Jo Duffy	Cynthia Martin	Cynthia Martin & Steve Leialoha	—	Den Siva is aboard his ship lamenting over a holographic image of Dani; he's wondering where she is and realizing that she was the first Zeltron prisoner the Nagai ever had. He wants to see her again when he gets a message of a new prisoner on board.
104	Nagais and Dolls	March 1986	Jo Duffy	Cynthia Martin	Cynthia Martin & Steve Leialoha	—
105	The Party`s Over	May 1986	Jo Duffy	Cynthia Martin & Steve Leialoha	Cynthia Martin & Ken Steacy	—	Luke Skywalker and Plif are amused at seeing the ridiculous Hiromi at work. Tofs kick the door in, storm the room, and bully the Hiromi. Plif reads their minds to learn they're enemies of the Nagai from outside the galaxy.
106	My Hiromi	July 1986	Jo Duffy	Cynthia Martin	Cynthia Martin & Josef Rubinstein	—	Captain Hookyr of the Hiromi race are cheering their victory over their enemy in defeating part of the Tof army with the help of Luke Skywalker and the Hoojibs.
107	All Together Now	September 1986	Jo Duffy	Cynthia Martin	Cynthia Martin & Josef Rubinstein	—	Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Han Solo, and Dani, together with a mixed team of commandos, including their new-found Imperial and Nagai allies, Knife and Den Siva, are attacking the Tof-held world of Saijo, where the Tof field headquarters are located. The last issue of the original licence. Marvel would not publish another Star Wars comic until January 2015.

In print

Collected editions — 18

Trades, omnibuses and Epic Collections. ISBNs appear only where verified.

Collected editions of Star Wars
Edition	Format	Publisher	Year	Collects	ISBN
Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 1: Doomworld	TPB	Dark Horse Comics	2002	Star Wars (1977) #1-20	1569717540
Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 2: Dark Encounters	TPB	Dark Horse Comics	2002	Star Wars (1977) #21-38 and Star Wars Annual 1	1569717850
Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 3: Resurrection of Evil	TPB	Dark Horse Comics	2002	Star Wars (1977) #39-53	1569717869
Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 4: Screams in the Void	TPB	Dark Horse Comics	2003	Star Wars (1977) #54-67 and Star Wars Annual 2	1569717877
Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 5: Fool’s Bounty	TPB	Dark Horse Comics	2003	Star Wars (1977) #68-81 and Star Wars Annual 3	1569719063
Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 6: Wookiee World	TPB	Dark Horse Comics	2003	Star Wars (1977) #82-95	1569719071
Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 7: Far, Far Away	TPB	Dark Horse Comics	2003	Star Wars (1977) #96-107	9781569719084
Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago.... Volume 1	omnibus	Dark Horse Comics	2010	Star Wars (1977) #1-27	9781595824868
Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago.... Volume 2	omnibus	Dark Horse Comics	2010	Star Wars (1977) #28-53	1595825541
Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 1	omnibus	Marvel Comics	2015	Star Wars (1977) #1-44 and Star Wars Annual (1977) #1	978-0785191063
Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 2	omnibus	Marvel Comics	2015	Star Wars (1977) #45-78 and Star Wars Annual (1977) #2	9780785193425
Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 3	omnibus	Marvel Comics	2015	Star Wars (1977) #79-107, plus material from Pizzazz, Star Wars Weekly, The Empire Strikes Back Monthly and Star Wars Monthly	9780785193463
Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 1	Epic Collection	Marvel Comics	2016	Star Wars (1977) #1-23	9781302902216
Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 2	Epic Collection	Marvel Comics	2017	Star Wars (1977) #24-38 and Star Wars Annual (1977) #1	9781302906801
Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 3	Epic Collection	Marvel Comics	2018	Star Wars (1977) #39-55	9781302911331
Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 4	Epic Collection	Marvel Comics	2019	Star Wars (1977) #56-73 and Star Wars Annual (1977) #2	9781302918491
Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 5	Epic Collection	Marvel Comics	2021	Star Wars (1977) #74-88, Star Wars Annual (1977) #3 and Return of the Jedi #1-4	9781302929893
Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 6	Epic Collection	Marvel Comics	2023	Star Wars (1977) #89-107	9781302951580

Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 1: Doomworld — 336 pages. Also marketed as Classic Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... The seven-volume set reprints the complete Marvel run and all three annuals.
Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 2: Dark Encounters — 336 pages.
Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 3: Resurrection of Evil — 344 pages. Contains the complete Empire Strikes Back adaptation and “The Crimson Forever.”
Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 4: Screams in the Void — 376 pages.
Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 5: Fool’s Bounty — 376 pages.
Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 6: Wookiee World — 360 pages.
Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 7: Far, Far Away — 312 pages. The last volume: the Nagai and Tof war and the end of the Marvel licence.
Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago.... Volume 1 — 480 pages, published 2 June 2010. Dark Horse reprinting Marvel’s run while it held the licence — the reason two publishers appear on collections of the same comics.
Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago.... Volume 2 — 464 pages, published 29 September 2010.
Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 1 — 880 pages, published 27 January 2015, with a cover by Howard Chaykin and a variant by Greg Hildebrandt.
Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 2 — 848-page hardcover published 3 June 2015, with a Gene Day cover and a Greg Hildebrandt variant.
Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 3 — 1,136-page hardcover published 20 October 2015, with a Tom Palmer cover and a Greg Hildebrandt variant.
Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 1 — 496 pages, published 25 October 2016, cover by Rick Hoberg, Dave Cockrum and Chris Sotomayor.
Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 2 — 448 pages, published 11 July 2017, cover by Carmine Infantino and Veronica Gandini.
Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 3 — 488 pages, published 17 July 2018, cover by Walter Simonson and Tom Palmer.
Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 4 — 464 pages, published 6 August 2019, cover by Gene Day and Edgar Delgado.
Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 5 — 496 pages, published 3 August 2021, cover by Tom Palmer.
Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 6 — 544 pages, published 30 May 2023, cover by Cynthia Martin and Josef Rubinstein.

Dossiers

Who is in it

Encyclopedia entries for the figures this run develops.

Full dossier
Luke Skywalker
Human · Rebel Alliance / New Jedi Order
The farm boy the whole shelf is built around — and the character the two continuities disagree about most.
Full dossier
Leia Organa
Human · Rebel Alliance / New Republic / Resistance
A politician first, a fighter by necessity, and the character the novels have served best.
Full dossier
Han Solo
Human · Rebel Alliance / New Republic
The genre’s most durable scoundrel, and a surprisingly hard character to write well in prose.
Full dossier
Darth Vader
Human · Galactic Empire / Sith
Two characters in one suit, and the publishing programme has spent fifty years arguing about the seam.

Star Wars

Three books in one

The last stretch

Reading it now

Luke Skywalker

Leia Organa

Han Solo

Darth Vader