Star Wars (Marvel Comics, Vol. 1) #7-10 (1977-1978, Comic Book)

Format: Comic Book
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Total Reading Time: 1 hour, 19 minutes

Introduction

Issues 7-10 of the original Marvel Star Wars comic is the first arc set after the original film adaptation in issues 1-6. At this point the ongoing series is predominantly focusing on Han and Chewbacca. Essentially Han and Chewbacca leave the moon of Yavin 4 to go back to Tatooine and pay off Jabba the Hutt using money paid to them by the Rebellion (as mentioned in previous issues). Almost immediately Han and Chewie are attacked by space pirates and their new money is stolen. Since they are then unable to pay off the bounty on their heads Han decides they should lay low for a while and save up some money on the planet Aduba-3.

On Aduba-3 they are hired to take out a group of local thugs who rob the farmers every year. So the story is about Han and Chewie putting together a team and then fighting these thugs and all of the drama that comes along with it. Issue ten wraps up the main plotline with Han and Chewie (although the secondary plot with Luke and Leia continues past this issue). In addition, both the main writer (Roy Thomas) and penciller (Howard Chaykin) leave after this issue so I'm assuming the series will be going in a different direction.

Star Wars #7: New Planets, New Perils!

Writers: Roy Thomas and Howard Chaykin
Penciller: Howard Chaykin
Publication Date: October 11, 1977 (cover dated January 1978)
Reading Time: 19 minutes

In this issue I feel like the action and art is well done. Han and Chewie are slowly continuing their character arcs from the first movie of moving away from being smugglers. This issue feels like it is important even in the context of the movies and the way it touches on prejudice and various religious beliefs is well done.



Star Wars #8: Eight for Aduba-3

Writers: Roy Thomas and Howard Chaykin
Penciller: Howard Chaykin
Publication Date: November 8, 1977 (cover dated February 1978)
Reading Time: 21 minutes

In this issue Han and Chewie get hired by a local farmer on Aduba-3 to take out a group of local thugs who harass the locals every year. The issue essentially is composed of Han and Chewie trying to recruit people to deal with the thugs, and then at the end a scene showing what Luke is up to. Han deciding who to recruit is entertaining enough and pretty funny. The secondary plot also starts here with Luke going off to another planet to find a new location for a Rebel base.

Star Wars #9: Showdown on a Wasteland World!

Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciller: Howard Chaykin
Publication Date: December 13, 1977 (cover dated March 1978)
Reading Time: 22 minutes

This issue is almost pure action. It's basically a battle between the group and a bunch of flying bird people. Then the battle begins with the gang of thugs. There are actually some deaths in this issue so at least this allows the combat to feel like it has some real weight instead of it seeming as though everyone is going to make it through just for being the good guys. Also, there is an old man in this who everyone acts like is crazy because he has been trying to awaken an ancient monster for decades. Then, at the end of this issue he succeeds. Why is this time different than any other from the last few decades? It just feels contrived as if this is happening now because this is when Han and Chewie are there.

Star Wars #10: Behemoth from the World Below

Writers: Donald F. Glut, Howard Chaykin, and Roy Thomas
Pencillers: Howard Chaykin, Tom Palmer, and Alan Kupperberg
Publication Date: January 10, 1978 (cover dated April 1978)
Reading Time: 17 minutes

This issue is the big battle between the group and the monster. I think seeing Han wielding a lightsaber is pretty cool and the monster is legitimately frightening. Not too much to say about this one.





Overview

This story has some very weird contrast to it in that it features some heavier elements such as the death of particular characters, a lot of religious commentary, and the story seems to imply that the thugs kidnap the women and rape them (unless I'm just reading too far into it). However, the group that they put together includes a human sized anthropomorphic rabbit named Jaxxon (although he goes by Jax). It also features an old man who believes he is a Jedi knight and while it is somewhat left open to interpretation, the story is clearing leaning on the side of him just being crazy. Somehow these elements fit together a lot better than you would think within the context of the story.

This was a really enjoyable reading experience as it felt important in the context of the films along with having some nice character development. My only real complaint is that the secondary story in this involves Luke leaving Yavin 4 to go find a new location to establish a Rebel base and then Leia going after him. This contradicts the storyline which was going on in Pizzazz #1-9 at the same time (and by the same writer no less). In that story it picks up right after the original film with Luke and Leia leaving together to go warn another Rebel base about a possibly impending imperial attack. I guess it is hypothetically possible that the story in the ongoing series happens first before they get together and go off on the story in Pizzazz...but at least at this point the two stories seem to contradict one another which is disappointing.

Regardless of that, I would say that this is a very entertaining story. Jax seems to get a lot of flak in the online community. This means that either he starts to get annoying later on or those people haven't actually read these comics because Jax didn't seem to bother me here. If you're looking for a fun take on what happens after the events of A New Hope then this is a good place to start.